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http://www.webmedcentral.com/images/Header_Logo.giftext/html2011-02-09T16:51:01+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Susan M CohenMenopausal Symptom Management With Acupuncture For Women With Breast Cancer
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/1544
Background: Hormone therapy is often used for menopausal symptoms, yet non hormonal interventions are the focus when treating menopausal symptoms induced by chemotherapy. A significant need exists for menopausal symptom relief for women following treatment for breast cancer. Objective: To test acupuncture for menopausal symptom relief for women following treatment for breast cancer as well as changes in ovarian hormones and quality of life.Setting: The study was conducted through the Yale University. Data were collected in the General Clinical Research Center at Yale.Methods/Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial study.Participants: 39 women experiencing hot flashes following treatment for breast cancer were assigned to one of three groups: Specific Acupuncture (n=16), Non Specific Acupuncture (n=17), or Enhanced Usual Care (n=6). Intervention: The experimental treatment consisted of specific acupuncture points related to menopausal symptoms. The placebo treatment in this study consisted of acupuncture at points identified as irrelevant to the symptoms of menopause. The control group received educational materials related to symptom management and healthy life activities.Primary Outcome Measures: Hot flash frequency over time, quality of life, and ovarian hormone levels.Results: Both acupuncture groups demonstrated a reduced average number of hot flashes; the control group did not show a reduction in hot flashes. The Specific Acupuncture group experienced an average of three hot flashes fewer per day at study end, compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in average quality of life scores across the three groups. The average difference in ovarian hormone measurements across time was not different (p=0.542).Conclusion: All women in the study experienced reduction in hot flash frequency with greater reduction in the acupuncture groups, suggesting participants benefited from study membership. It may be that symptom monitoring by daily symptom recording impacts symptom perception in a positive way.
text/html2012-04-04T16:15:51+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Bill MisnerWhat are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/3214
Introduction: Cataract onset has a limited prognosis presenting a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Mild cataract-inhibited vision is typically managed by Doctors of Optometry with prescription eyeglasses to manage clouding of the lens or glare. If cataracts progress, surgical correction may be recommended.Case: A 72-year-old male presented with mild R>L cataract-inhibited vision requiring prescription eyeglasses. This patient was simultaneously examined in two separate eyewear clinics (by Doctors of Optometry) both before and after the patient self-administered 90-days solution N-Acetylcarnosine eye drops. At follow up, this patient's vision was so improved that both Optometrists concluded that new eyeglass prescriptions with lower lens strengths were necessary.Conclusion: The effects of N-Acetylcarnosine eye-drops in this subject may be associated with reducing the prescription-strength of his eyeglasses.text/html2010-10-21T17:30:08+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Lafayette BriggsFibromyalgia And Vehicular Trauma: A Case Report
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/1001
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in muscles, tendons and ligaments of susceptible individuals. The patient may also experience a litany of other associated health conditions, such as, chronic fatigue and/or migraine headaches, to name a few.Fibromyalgia occurs in about 1 to 2 % of the population in the United States [1, 2] and women are more likely to develop the disorder than men.[1, 2]Fibromyalgia symptoms have been observed to begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. [3] The diagnostic criteria and developing contributions to the scientific literature has increased considerably within a relatively short period of time.[4-6]The latent interest, in the author’s opinion, is probably due to the associated disability and the enormous economic affect the condition has on business and industry. Fibromyalgia was once ignored by a large segment of the traditional health care system and was generally dismissed and assumed to be the result of female hormonal imbalances or hysteria.[7-9] The prevailing attitudes in health care at that time made it difficult to provide care and/or manage this condition.[7] In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology set up criteria defining fibromyalgia as widespread pain of more than three months duration in combination with tenderness at 11 or more of 18 specific sites.[5] Widespread pain is define as pain on the left and right side of the body; as well as, pain above and below the waist.[5]text/html2010-12-10T19:37:48+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Ms. Olga KrotkovaSpecial Features Of The Reaction Of Monoamine Contents Thymus And Lien`s Structure Of Rats For Acupuncture
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/1285
The changes in the bioamine compound structures of the white rats thymus and spleen after acupuncture in 15 minutes, 1, 2 and 4 hours after acupuncture in acupuncture points GV 14 and LI 11 have been studied from the methods of the luminescent and immune histochemistry by usingfigures of the luminescent catecholamines and serotonine and also the serotonine index in ones capacity of criteria. The acupuncture has been carried out into the clinical effective acupuncture points LI 11 and GV 14. It was found in 15 minutes ten-minutes-acupuncture results in the increase of the content of the catecholamines and serotonine in the thymocytes of the cortical and brain substances and in the pre-medullar cells. After 4 hours of the experiment the level of the monoamine in the thymocytes of the brain substances and in subcapsular cells by degrees return to initial figures.text/html2011-02-01T12:57:52+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Susan M CohenSleep Disruptions and Hot Flashes in Post Menopausal Women with Breast Cancer
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/1478
Purpose:The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore the associations between the frequency of hot flashes and sleep disruptions experienced by post menopausal women with the diagnosis of breast cancer and received acupuncture treatments for hot flashes.Data Sources: Data were gathered for this secondary analysis from 47 African-American, Hispanic, and Caucasian women experiencing hot flashes after receiving treatment for breast cancer who were enrolled in an intervention study of acupuncture for menopausal hot flash reduction.Conclusions:Strong correlations were found between sleep disruptions, total hot flashes, daytime hot flashes, and night sweats at the conclusion of treatment and over the entire 12 weeks of follow-up. The results suggest that hot flashes and sleep disruptions are strongly correlated and that both acupuncture interventions resulted in a concomitant reduction in sleep disruptions.Implications for Clinical Practice:Nurses involved in holistic practice can recommend and/or provide the safe and effective alternative treatment of acupuncture for hot flash reduction and concomitant sleep disruptions. As a result, the quality of life for these women can be greatly improved.
text/html2011-04-15T08:30:42+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Derrick LonsdaleExaggerated Autonomic Asymmetry: A Clue to Nutrient Deficiency Dysautonomia
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/1854
Seventeen adult Caucasian subjects were diagnosed clinically with dysautonomia, based on symptoms. Sixteen had asymmetrically different blood pressures measured simultaneously in both arms. Fourteen admitted to craving for sweets, salt or reactions to ingestion of sugar. Of these, 9 had abnormal erythrocyte transketolase changes indicating loss of thiamine homeostasis. Beriberi is the prototype for functional dysautonomia in its early stages. It is hypothesized that excessive ingestion of simple carbohydrates results in defective oxidative metabolism in autonomic nervous system control mechanisms, resulting in exaggeration of normal asymmetric reflex action, an effect similar to that induced by mild chronic hypoxia. Abnormal thiamine homeostasis and dysautonomia have been reported in a number of degenerative brain diseases.
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Nutrient deficiency dysautonomia with asymmetric brachial pulse pressurestext/html2011-12-09T18:08:14+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Bill MisnerUbiquinone Increases Performance of an Elderly Runner: A Case Report
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/2596
Manufacturers of Coenzyme Q10 present different reports in marketing Ubiquinol or Ubiquinone. Each one suggests that their product is more favorable for resolving compromised health issues or poor energy metabolism associated with aging. This case study reports the running performance of a 71-year male runner while taking Ubiquinol, or Ubiquinone, each for 90-days, or taking neither supplement following a 14-day washout period. The subject's best performance time on the same course while taking Ubiquinone was 2.28% faster than his time on the same course after a 14-day washout period without supplement dose. The subject's best performance time on the same course while taking Ubiquinol was –1.16% slower than his time on the same course after a 14-day washout period without supplement dose. The results from a single-subject Case Report are definitively inconclusive, and thus call for more research by collecting dose-aided and dose-fasted timed performances from a larger contingent of male and female runners of all ages.text/html2014-12-15T13:18:51+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Mr. Muhammed R SiddiquiThe value of wet cupping as a therapy in modern medicine - An Islamic Perspective
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/4785
Cupping is a tradittional concept thought to help in medical conditions and has become increasingly more popular in certain environments. We present a review on cupping with its potential applications in modern medicine with a focus on the Islamic perspective of this technique.text/html2016-06-02T14:00:40+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Monika GandhiImmuno-modulatory effect of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Aloe Vera on cultured Polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and adherent mononuclear cells
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/5113
Complementary and alternative therapeutic measures off-late have gained significance because they have been shown to be clinically efficient with minimal side effects compared to mainstream treatments. Plant medicines are far and away safer, gentler and better for human health than synthetic drugs and with much less side effects. Aloe vera and Curcuma longa are two of such plants, which have been proven to have medicinal properties by several groups of researchers. However, the exact effect of these extracts on
cultured human adherent and non-adherent cells is still controversial. Very few studies have been done in this regard. Adherent and non-adherent cells in humans form a very important component of immune system. Studying the effect of Aloe vera and Curcuma longa on these cells, can go a long way in understanding the immuno-modulatory effects of these plants. In this study, we tested the immuno-modulatory effects of mannan from Aloe Vera and Curcumin from turmeric rhizome using human cells (PBMC). We used cell culture and Bradford's protein estimation methods and determined that mannan inhibits the proliferative response in human PBMCs, whereas Curcumin has a proliferative response towards human PBMCs.text/html2021-01-12T08:27:48+01:00http://www.webmedcentral.com/Dr. Ezzuddin A OkmiThe Effects of Wet Cupping on White Blood Cells Count: A Retrospective Study
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/5686
Background:
Wet cupping is the process of using a vacuum at different points on the body but with incisions in order to remove 'harmful' blood, which lies just beneath the surface of the skin. Cupping can be used on the neck, shoulders, back, sacral area, hip, abdomen, thigh, upper arms, and calves 1.
Although there is reason to believe the practice dates from as early as 3000 B.C., the earliest record of cupping is in Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world. It describes in 1,550 B.C. Egyptians used cupping. Archaeologists have found evidence in China of cupping dating back to 1,000 B.C. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates (c. 400 B.C.) used cupping for internal disease and structural problems. This method in multiple forms spread into medicine in Asian and European civilizations2.
It is known in the Arabic language as hijama. For Muslims, it has special importance because it was recommended by the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) on many occasions. For example, he said, "Indeed the best of remedies you have is hijama (cupping)". 3
Cupping Therapy can be divided into two broad categories: Dry Cupping and Wet Cupping. Dry Cupping Therapy tends to be practiced more commonly in the Far-East whereas Wet Cupping is favored in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. 4
Dry massage cupping is similar to dry cupping, but olive oil is applied to the skin (before applying the cups) in order to allow easy movement of the cups. 70% of diseases, pains, and ailments are due to the blood being unable to reach certain parts of the body. Dry cupping and dry massaging cupping allow the blood to reach these places. 5
Wet cupping therapy (WCT) is a simple and economical treatment that still needs scientific interpretation. It treated diseases effectively with different etiologies and pathogeneses, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hypertension, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), fibromyalgia, cellulitis, and others. 6
White blood cells (WBC) are a heterogeneous group of nucleated cells that can be found in circulation for at least a period of their life. Their normal concentration in the blood varies between 4000 and 10,000 per microliter. They play a most important role in phagocytosis and immunity and, therefore, in defense against infection. Leukocytes can be evaluated through several techniques of varying complexity and sophistication. Both quantitative and qualitative properties can be assessed in the laboratory. The simplest test is the WBC count and differential. 7
The mechanism of action of wet cupping therapy is not fully known despite its common use; wet cupping therapy might act through a lot of different mechanisms. We hypothesize that one of the mechanisms of action of wet cupping may be through the effect on differential white blood cell count and through it is immunomodulatory effect as it was reported in some studies about combined therapy in RA8 and cellulitis.9
There is a volume of anecdotal literature present; however, few scientific trials have investigated the effect of Cupping at various levels to the health.
Few studies have investigated the effect of wet cupping on White Blood Cells. The most relevant one is a study conducted in Iraq in 2014 by Al-Kazazz et al., who performed wet cupping on 10 healthy men between 23 and 58 years old. They measure total WBC and differential before the procedure and 2 weeks after it, including Total WBC and differential. The mean of Total WBC was 6430.00 ± 1597.2924, and after cupping, it was 7801.000± 2155.1099. The P value was 0.002, which was a statistically significant difference. 10
Another study conducted in Iran in 2009 by Mahdavi et al., who performed wet cupping on 56 healthy men between 20 and 40 years old. They did many blood tests before the procedure and 2 weeks after it, including Total WBC and differential. They reported a statistically insignificant decline in Total WBC count and differential after 2 weeks except for neutrophils, which showed a slight increase with mean of 62.67 % before wet cupping and 64.16% after it despite that increase of neutrophils was not statically significant with P value =0.509. 2
A study by Ahmed and colleagues was carried out in order to evaluate the efficiency of blood-letting cupping therapy in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Conventional therapy induced significant depression in white blood cell (WBC %) (p < 0.001) whereas combined therapy-induced marked (p < 0.001) elevation since the first month (8.44 +/- 1.58) compared to baseline (6.94 +/- 1.58). 8
All of these previous studies showed a statically significant elevation of total WBC and differential except the study conducted by Mahdavi et al., but we cannot generalize those results because it was a small sample size and they included only healthy men participants in the studies conducted by Mahdavi et al.,. and Al-Kazazz et al. Also, in the study carried out by Ahmed et al., the participant was only the patient diagnosed with RA. In the present study we included patients with wide verity of different complaints. To assess the effect of wet cupping on White Blood Cells count and differential in the patients who referred to al hijama clinic by comparing WBC count and differential before (at baseline) and after one month of the procedure.