Women who have had gynaecological cancer are invited to learn more about how yoga can benefit them at Yeovil District Hospital later this month.
The GOSSIP patient support group provides advice and information for women with gynaecological cancer. It was founded by the Gynaecological Cancer Specialist Nurses based in Yeovil and Taunton in partnership with women from across Somerset and Dorset who have had gynaecological cancers (i.e. cancers of the ovary, womb, vulva or cervix).
Attending meetings enables patients to meet with other women who have a similar diagnosis and may have had similar treatments. Partners, family members and friends are welcome to go along as well. A specialist nurse is present at meetings and will be happy to answer questions and discuss concerns on a one-to-one basis.
The talk on the benefits of yoga will be given by Carol Watkins, at Yeovil Women's Hospital on Monday 23 August between 5 and 6.30pm.
Please telephone the gynaecology department at Yeovil District Hospital on 01935 384454 for more information.
четверг, 29 сентября 2011 г.
понедельник, 26 сентября 2011 г.
Tai Chi And Qigong Show Significant Health Benefits
An across-the-board review of the health effects of Qigong and Tai Chi finds these practices offer many physical and mental health advantages with benefits for the heart, immune system and overall quality of life.
The review, which appears in the July/August issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, included 77 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Qigong or Tai Chi interventions published in peer-reviewed journals between 1993 and 2007. Taken together, there were 6,410 participants in the studies.
"We see this as moving the understanding of the potential of Qigong and Tai Chi forward, with an emphasis on combining the evidence across these practices," said co-author Linda Larkey, Ph.D., of Arizona State University College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation.
The authors say that the review provides a "stronger evidence base" for bone health, cardio-respiratory fitness, physical function, balance, quality of life, fall prevention and psychological benefits.
Qigong is a "very general term to describe exercises that will enhance qi flow or balance," said Shin Lin, Ph.D., a professor at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. Qigong combines "qi" for energy and "gong" for work or exercise.
Tai Chi is much more specific, focusing on a series of 24 to 108 movements that have a long written history over 19 generations, said Lin, a member of the National Advisory Council for Complimentary and Alterative Medicine
"The research studies reviewed here showed that simplified routines that are more practical for RCTs are in fact quite effective in health enhancement." With that in mind, individuals could "forego learning complicated routines except for cultural or artistic purposes," said Lin, who had no affiliation with the review.
Of the studies analyzed 27 considered psychological symptoms, 23 looked at falls and related risk factors, 19 looked at cardiopulmonary effects and 17 evaluated quality of life. Other included studies looked at bone density, physical function and immune function. Participants' average age was 55, and for studies that looked at balance, 80 was the average age.
Larkey said that there was not a way to "combine the studies statistically and determine effect sizes that is, how strong the evidence is for many of the outcomes reviewed since the interventions, study design quality and measures were so wide ranging."
Nevertheless, she said, the authors found quite consistent evidence of several benefits from this particular category of exercise.
"Tai Chi and Qigong have many health benefits and therefore should be considered a high priority when one is selecting an exercise to practice," Lin said.
Jahnke R, et al. A comprehensive review of health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi. Am J Health Promot 24(6), 2010.
The review, which appears in the July/August issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, included 77 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Qigong or Tai Chi interventions published in peer-reviewed journals between 1993 and 2007. Taken together, there were 6,410 participants in the studies.
"We see this as moving the understanding of the potential of Qigong and Tai Chi forward, with an emphasis on combining the evidence across these practices," said co-author Linda Larkey, Ph.D., of Arizona State University College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation.
The authors say that the review provides a "stronger evidence base" for bone health, cardio-respiratory fitness, physical function, balance, quality of life, fall prevention and psychological benefits.
Qigong is a "very general term to describe exercises that will enhance qi flow or balance," said Shin Lin, Ph.D., a professor at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. Qigong combines "qi" for energy and "gong" for work or exercise.
Tai Chi is much more specific, focusing on a series of 24 to 108 movements that have a long written history over 19 generations, said Lin, a member of the National Advisory Council for Complimentary and Alterative Medicine
"The research studies reviewed here showed that simplified routines that are more practical for RCTs are in fact quite effective in health enhancement." With that in mind, individuals could "forego learning complicated routines except for cultural or artistic purposes," said Lin, who had no affiliation with the review.
Of the studies analyzed 27 considered psychological symptoms, 23 looked at falls and related risk factors, 19 looked at cardiopulmonary effects and 17 evaluated quality of life. Other included studies looked at bone density, physical function and immune function. Participants' average age was 55, and for studies that looked at balance, 80 was the average age.
Larkey said that there was not a way to "combine the studies statistically and determine effect sizes that is, how strong the evidence is for many of the outcomes reviewed since the interventions, study design quality and measures were so wide ranging."
Nevertheless, she said, the authors found quite consistent evidence of several benefits from this particular category of exercise.
"Tai Chi and Qigong have many health benefits and therefore should be considered a high priority when one is selecting an exercise to practice," Lin said.
Jahnke R, et al. A comprehensive review of health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi. Am J Health Promot 24(6), 2010.
пятница, 23 сентября 2011 г.
NHS Should Stop Funding Alternative Therapies, Say UK Top Doctors
Some eminent British doctors are urging the National Health Service (NHS) to stop paying for alternative therapies. They argue that these 'bogus' therapies are not proven according to 'solid evidence'. While UK patients are being denied such drugs as Herceptin, the NHS, which is strapped for cash, should not be paying for 'unproven or disproved treatments', such as homeopathy.
Prince Charles disagrees. In a speech at the World Health Assembly, Geneva, he said there should be a proper mix of proven complementary, traditional and modern remedies. He believes a proper mix can help create a powerful healing force in the world. He explained that several complementary therapies used today are rooted in ancient traditions. Traditions which understood how important it is to have good balance and harmony with our minds, bodies and the natural world. Orthodox medicine, he said, has much to learn from proven alternative therapies.
Thirteen top doctors sent a letter, organised by Michael Baum, emeritus professor of surgery at University College London, to 476 acute and primary care trusts in the UK.
The letter criticises a government-funded guide on homeopathy for patients. It also attacks the Smallwood report, which was commissioned by Prince Charles. The report said there should be more access to NHS funded complementary therapies - therapies which would bring about enormous benefits.
The thirteen doctors said homeopathy reviews have never produced any convincing evidence of effectiveness. They went on to say that modern medicine must be open to new discoveries. But it should not be open to everything just as a matter of principle. They argued that as the NHS has limited resources, they would be better spent on therapies that are based on solid evidence.
The thrust of their argument is that all therapies should undergo the same strict rules for approval as modern drugs and orthodox medical procedures.
There was criticism regarding ??20 million for the refurbishment of the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital.
The UK Department of Health leaves it up to doctors and trusts to decide what NHS treatments their patients should have. As decisions on alternative therapies are taken locally, central government does not know exactly how much is spent nationally on alternative and complementary medicines. It is estimated that about 50% of UK general practitioners (GPs) use alternative therapies or refer their patients to alternative therapists.
Editor's Opinion:
If doctors are allowed to decide whether to use alternative therapies for themselves, why not let them continue to do so.
We have received many emails on this theme. Perhaps the ones below reflect the opinions of most people who have written in:
(Name withheld - England)
"I am not trying to knock orthodox medicine. It is wonderful and has saved many lives. However, there are times it is blind to what can be done to improve the health of people. Five years ago my GP, who is a personal friend, found that I was pre-diabetic. He arranged for me to go to a local gym three times a week. I had a personal trainer who also helped me improve my eating habits. Within a year I was no longer pre-diabetic. I paid for the gym and the trainer out of my own pocket. I am sure, had I not taken this preventive action, that today I would be a diabetes 2 patient and a very expensive burden on the NHS for the rest of my life. I am 62 - I could have been an NHS burden for the next 20 years. I call what I did 'alternative treatment'. Orthodox medicine would more likely have helped me with drugs when diabetes 2 arrived. Surely, funding what I did would, in the long term, make for a healthier nation and save the NHS money."
(Name Withheld - Ireland)
"Proven therapies are fine. However, they are only effective for people who have become very sick. They do nothing for people to prevent the sickness from coming in the first place or helping the person from getting sick again. Yes, statins can deal with cholesterol build up and prevent strokes and heart attacks. But there are many people out there who are not genetically predisposed to cholesterol build up who would have benefited from lifestyle training from their doctors - rather than just being given drugs. Orthodox medicine is weak in this area."
View drug information on Herceptin.
Prince Charles disagrees. In a speech at the World Health Assembly, Geneva, he said there should be a proper mix of proven complementary, traditional and modern remedies. He believes a proper mix can help create a powerful healing force in the world. He explained that several complementary therapies used today are rooted in ancient traditions. Traditions which understood how important it is to have good balance and harmony with our minds, bodies and the natural world. Orthodox medicine, he said, has much to learn from proven alternative therapies.
Thirteen top doctors sent a letter, organised by Michael Baum, emeritus professor of surgery at University College London, to 476 acute and primary care trusts in the UK.
The letter criticises a government-funded guide on homeopathy for patients. It also attacks the Smallwood report, which was commissioned by Prince Charles. The report said there should be more access to NHS funded complementary therapies - therapies which would bring about enormous benefits.
The thirteen doctors said homeopathy reviews have never produced any convincing evidence of effectiveness. They went on to say that modern medicine must be open to new discoveries. But it should not be open to everything just as a matter of principle. They argued that as the NHS has limited resources, they would be better spent on therapies that are based on solid evidence.
The thrust of their argument is that all therapies should undergo the same strict rules for approval as modern drugs and orthodox medical procedures.
There was criticism regarding ??20 million for the refurbishment of the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital.
The UK Department of Health leaves it up to doctors and trusts to decide what NHS treatments their patients should have. As decisions on alternative therapies are taken locally, central government does not know exactly how much is spent nationally on alternative and complementary medicines. It is estimated that about 50% of UK general practitioners (GPs) use alternative therapies or refer their patients to alternative therapists.
Editor's Opinion:
If doctors are allowed to decide whether to use alternative therapies for themselves, why not let them continue to do so.
We have received many emails on this theme. Perhaps the ones below reflect the opinions of most people who have written in:
(Name withheld - England)
"I am not trying to knock orthodox medicine. It is wonderful and has saved many lives. However, there are times it is blind to what can be done to improve the health of people. Five years ago my GP, who is a personal friend, found that I was pre-diabetic. He arranged for me to go to a local gym three times a week. I had a personal trainer who also helped me improve my eating habits. Within a year I was no longer pre-diabetic. I paid for the gym and the trainer out of my own pocket. I am sure, had I not taken this preventive action, that today I would be a diabetes 2 patient and a very expensive burden on the NHS for the rest of my life. I am 62 - I could have been an NHS burden for the next 20 years. I call what I did 'alternative treatment'. Orthodox medicine would more likely have helped me with drugs when diabetes 2 arrived. Surely, funding what I did would, in the long term, make for a healthier nation and save the NHS money."
(Name Withheld - Ireland)
"Proven therapies are fine. However, they are only effective for people who have become very sick. They do nothing for people to prevent the sickness from coming in the first place or helping the person from getting sick again. Yes, statins can deal with cholesterol build up and prevent strokes and heart attacks. But there are many people out there who are not genetically predisposed to cholesterol build up who would have benefited from lifestyle training from their doctors - rather than just being given drugs. Orthodox medicine is weak in this area."
View drug information on Herceptin.
вторник, 20 сентября 2011 г.
AMTA Consumer Survey Shows Men Neglecting Massage Therapy In Past Year
Results from the 14th annual consumer survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) indicate the use of massage among men has dropped from 18 percent in 2009 to 10 percent in 2010, a drop that is attributed to the lagging economy these past two years. The survey results were announced at the AMTA National Convention in Minneapolis, September 22-25, 2010.
Recent statistics have indicated men have been putting off their healthcare appointments this year including visits for regular check-ups, screenings and vaccinations. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) about 57 percent of men have visited a physician within the past year, compared with about 74 percent of women. This trend is now impacting massage therapy in men.
Massage use among women only dropped from 26 percent in 2009 to 25 percent in 2010. Because of the lower use of massage by men, the percentage of all adults who had a massage in the previous 12 months dropped from 22 percent in 2009 to 18 percent in 2010.
"We know from our AMTA survey results in the last 14 years that massage therapy usage has been on an overall upward trend, as people are realizing the health benefits of massage to manage pain and keep them active, as well as being an excellent means to relieve stress" says Kathleen Miller-Read, AMTA president. "We believe that as the economic climate improves, men will return to massage therapy as part of their regular health maintenance plan."
Americans Are Reaching to Massage for Pain Relief
There have been a growing number of people in recent years seeking massage as part of health care and an increase in physician referrals to massage therapists. Because of this trend and a steadily rising number of massage therapists working in health care environments, this year's AMTA convention includes educational sessions on massage for the relief of pain stemming from a variety of causes, as well as for pregnancy, sports injuries and cancer. The vast majority of Americans, 86 percent, still agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain, a number that has held strong from 2009, while 84 percent agree massage can be beneficial for health and wellness. More than half of the men and women surveyed said they have had a massage to relieve pain.
Americans Still See the Benefits of Massage, Particularly Those Who are Stressed
About 40 percent of stressed out Americans are getting massages to relieve their stress, which has increased from 32 percent in 2009.
"Stress, among other factors, is a popular reason why people get massage," says Miller-Read. "In a year where the economy is such a stress inducer, AMTA is pleased that people are increasingly turning to massage for stress relief."
Recent statistics have indicated men have been putting off their healthcare appointments this year including visits for regular check-ups, screenings and vaccinations. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) about 57 percent of men have visited a physician within the past year, compared with about 74 percent of women. This trend is now impacting massage therapy in men.
Massage use among women only dropped from 26 percent in 2009 to 25 percent in 2010. Because of the lower use of massage by men, the percentage of all adults who had a massage in the previous 12 months dropped from 22 percent in 2009 to 18 percent in 2010.
"We know from our AMTA survey results in the last 14 years that massage therapy usage has been on an overall upward trend, as people are realizing the health benefits of massage to manage pain and keep them active, as well as being an excellent means to relieve stress" says Kathleen Miller-Read, AMTA president. "We believe that as the economic climate improves, men will return to massage therapy as part of their regular health maintenance plan."
Americans Are Reaching to Massage for Pain Relief
There have been a growing number of people in recent years seeking massage as part of health care and an increase in physician referrals to massage therapists. Because of this trend and a steadily rising number of massage therapists working in health care environments, this year's AMTA convention includes educational sessions on massage for the relief of pain stemming from a variety of causes, as well as for pregnancy, sports injuries and cancer. The vast majority of Americans, 86 percent, still agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain, a number that has held strong from 2009, while 84 percent agree massage can be beneficial for health and wellness. More than half of the men and women surveyed said they have had a massage to relieve pain.
Americans Still See the Benefits of Massage, Particularly Those Who are Stressed
About 40 percent of stressed out Americans are getting massages to relieve their stress, which has increased from 32 percent in 2009.
"Stress, among other factors, is a popular reason why people get massage," says Miller-Read. "In a year where the economy is such a stress inducer, AMTA is pleased that people are increasingly turning to massage for stress relief."
суббота, 17 сентября 2011 г.
Painful Menstrual Cramps May Be Relieved By Chinese Herbal Medicine
Women with menstrual cramps are often offered either non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral contraceptives. Many women, however, find that this treatment does not work or they can not take the drugs, and more women would prefer a non-drug alternative.
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for centuries in China, being used in public hospitals to treat unexplained cramps that occur during menstruation (primary dysmenorhoea). A team of Cochrane Researchers has found evidence that CHM may provide one possible form of treatment.
This evidence came from studying 39 randomised controlled trials that together involved 3,475 women. CHM gave significant improvements in pain relief when compared to pharmaceutical drugs. It also reduced overall symptoms. The research revealed that CHM was also better at alleviating pain than acupuncture or heat compression.
"All available measures of effectiveness confirmed the overall superiority of Chinese herbal medicine to placebo, no treatment, NSAIDs OCP, acupuncture and heat compression, and, at the same time, there were no indications that CHM caused any adverse events," says lead author Xiaoshu Zhu who works at the Center for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for centuries in China, being used in public hospitals to treat unexplained cramps that occur during menstruation (primary dysmenorhoea). A team of Cochrane Researchers has found evidence that CHM may provide one possible form of treatment.
This evidence came from studying 39 randomised controlled trials that together involved 3,475 women. CHM gave significant improvements in pain relief when compared to pharmaceutical drugs. It also reduced overall symptoms. The research revealed that CHM was also better at alleviating pain than acupuncture or heat compression.
"All available measures of effectiveness confirmed the overall superiority of Chinese herbal medicine to placebo, no treatment, NSAIDs OCP, acupuncture and heat compression, and, at the same time, there were no indications that CHM caused any adverse events," says lead author Xiaoshu Zhu who works at the Center for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
среда, 14 сентября 2011 г.
Older People In Pain Receive Relief From Drug-Free Treatments
Mind-body therapies, which focus on the interactions between the mind, body and behavior, and the ways in which emotional, mental, social and behavioral factors can affect health, may be of particular benefit to elderly chronic pain sufferers. A new study published in Pain Medicine provides a structured review of eight mind-body interventions for older people, including progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, tai chi and yoga.
All eight treatments were found to be feasible for older adults, and no adverse events or safety issues were reported. The article finds evidence that, in particular, progressive muscle relaxation may be effective for older people with osteoarthritis pain, while meditation and tai chi appear to improve function and coping with low back pain and osteoarthritis.
Chronic pain is common among older people. Sufferers are often unable to receive adequate treatment because of limited physician training in pain management for the elderly and the increased likelihood of side effects from pain medication.
"The trials we reviewed indicated that mind-body therapies were especially well suited to the older adult with chronic pain," concludes lead author Natalia E. Morone, M.D., MSc. "This was because of their gentle approach, which made them suitable for even the frail older adult. Additionally, their positive emphasis on self-exploration was a potential remedy for the heavy emotional, psychological and social burden that is a hallmark of chronic pain."
This study is published in Pain Medicine.
Natalia E. Morone, M.D., MSc is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Morone has written extensively on the treatment of chronic pain in older people, and has conducted research on complementary therapies for pain.
Pain Medicine is a multi-disciplinary journal dedicated to the pain clinician, teacher and researcher. It is the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine and of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The journal is devoted to the advancement of pain management, education and research. For more information, please visit blackwell-synergy/loi/pme.
All eight treatments were found to be feasible for older adults, and no adverse events or safety issues were reported. The article finds evidence that, in particular, progressive muscle relaxation may be effective for older people with osteoarthritis pain, while meditation and tai chi appear to improve function and coping with low back pain and osteoarthritis.
Chronic pain is common among older people. Sufferers are often unable to receive adequate treatment because of limited physician training in pain management for the elderly and the increased likelihood of side effects from pain medication.
"The trials we reviewed indicated that mind-body therapies were especially well suited to the older adult with chronic pain," concludes lead author Natalia E. Morone, M.D., MSc. "This was because of their gentle approach, which made them suitable for even the frail older adult. Additionally, their positive emphasis on self-exploration was a potential remedy for the heavy emotional, psychological and social burden that is a hallmark of chronic pain."
This study is published in Pain Medicine.
Natalia E. Morone, M.D., MSc is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Morone has written extensively on the treatment of chronic pain in older people, and has conducted research on complementary therapies for pain.
Pain Medicine is a multi-disciplinary journal dedicated to the pain clinician, teacher and researcher. It is the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine and of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The journal is devoted to the advancement of pain management, education and research. For more information, please visit blackwell-synergy/loi/pme.
воскресенье, 11 сентября 2011 г.
Warning Over Unlicensed 'Herbal Valium'
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is warning people of the dangers of taking unlicensed herbal medicines containing aconite.
Aconite has recently been portrayed in the media as 'herbal valium', however, it is actually an extremely poisonous plant that is toxic to the heart.
It is also known as monkshood and herbal products containing this ingredient could be fatal or cause serious illness if consumed.
The MHRA has received two reports of suspected adverse reactions to aconite, one where a patient suffered kidney problems and another where the person was hospitalised after suffering dizziness and paresthesia.
MHRA Head of Herbal Policy, Richard Woodfield, said it was vital people did not confuse herbal medicines and homeopathic ones.
"Registered homeopathic products that contain aconite are considered acceptably safe as the active ingredient, aconite, is sufficiently diluted," he said.
"Herbal medicines are made from plants and so can have a very significant effect on the body. In certain cases, such as with aconite, the medicine can be extremely potent.
"This is a classic case where 'natural' does not mean 'safe'."
Mr Woodfield said recent media attention focused on a celebrity who allegedly took a product containing aconite to calm wedding day nerves.
"With unlicensed herbal medicines, people need to be aware that the standards vary widely and can be poor.
"However, an increasing range of herbal medicines made to assured standards are available on the UK market."
Registered and licensed herbal medicines can be identified by the traditional herbal registration (THR) or the product licence (PL) number on the label.
Registered homeopathic products can also be identified by checking the label which should say 'Homeopathic medicinal product without approved therapeutic indications', as well as a homeopathic registration number prefixed with the letters HR.
Any side effects to herbal and homeopathic products can be reported to the MHRA via the Yellow Card Scheme yellowcard.mhra.uk/
Source
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Aconite has recently been portrayed in the media as 'herbal valium', however, it is actually an extremely poisonous plant that is toxic to the heart.
It is also known as monkshood and herbal products containing this ingredient could be fatal or cause serious illness if consumed.
The MHRA has received two reports of suspected adverse reactions to aconite, one where a patient suffered kidney problems and another where the person was hospitalised after suffering dizziness and paresthesia.
MHRA Head of Herbal Policy, Richard Woodfield, said it was vital people did not confuse herbal medicines and homeopathic ones.
"Registered homeopathic products that contain aconite are considered acceptably safe as the active ingredient, aconite, is sufficiently diluted," he said.
"Herbal medicines are made from plants and so can have a very significant effect on the body. In certain cases, such as with aconite, the medicine can be extremely potent.
"This is a classic case where 'natural' does not mean 'safe'."
Mr Woodfield said recent media attention focused on a celebrity who allegedly took a product containing aconite to calm wedding day nerves.
"With unlicensed herbal medicines, people need to be aware that the standards vary widely and can be poor.
"However, an increasing range of herbal medicines made to assured standards are available on the UK market."
Registered and licensed herbal medicines can be identified by the traditional herbal registration (THR) or the product licence (PL) number on the label.
Registered homeopathic products can also be identified by checking the label which should say 'Homeopathic medicinal product without approved therapeutic indications', as well as a homeopathic registration number prefixed with the letters HR.
Any side effects to herbal and homeopathic products can be reported to the MHRA via the Yellow Card Scheme yellowcard.mhra.uk/
Source
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
четверг, 8 сентября 2011 г.
Acupuncture Relieves Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia, Mayo Clinic Study Finds
Evidence suggests acupuncture reduces the symptoms of fibromyalgia, according to a Mayo Clinic study.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder considered disabling by many, and is characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain and symptoms such as fatigue, joint stiffness and sleep disturbance. No cure is known and available treatments are only partially effective.
Mayo's study involved 50 fibromyalgia patients enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial to determine if acupuncture improved their symptoms. Symptoms of patients who received acupuncture significantly improved compared with the control group, according to the study published in the June issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
"The results of the study convince me there is something more than the placebo effect to acupuncture," says David Martin, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the acupuncture article and a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist. "It affirms a lot of clinical impressions that this complementary medical technique is helpful for patients."
Increasingly, patients are interested in pursuing complementary medicine techniques in conjunction with their mainstream medical care, Dr. Martin says. But often, such techniques lack scientific evidence to justify a patient's expense and time.
The study lends credence to patients' belief that nontraditional methods may improve their health. In Mayo's trial, patients who received acupuncture to counter their fibromyalgia symptoms reported improvement in fatigue and anxiety, among other symptoms. Acupuncture was well tolerated, with minimal side effects.
Mayo's acupuncture study is one of only three randomized and controlled studies involving fibromyalgia patients. Of the other studies, one found acupuncture to be helpful, while the other reported it was ineffective for pain relief.
Dr. Martin says Mayo's study demonstrates that acupuncture is helpful, and also proves physicians can conduct a rigorous, controlled acupuncture study. Future research could help physicians understand which medical conditions respond best to acupuncture, how to apply it to best relieve symptoms, and how long patients can expect to their symptoms to decrease after each treatment.
Dr. Martin performed the study at Mayo Clinic Rochester with co-authors Ines Berger, M.D.; Christopher Sletten, Ph.D.; and Brent Williams.
A peer-review journal, Mayo Clinic Proceedings publishes original articles and reviews dealing with clinical and laboratory medicine, clinical research, basic science research and clinical epidemiology. Mayo Clinic Proceedings is published monthly by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research as part of its commitment to the medical education of physicians. The journal has been published for more than 75 years and has a circulation of 130,000 nationally and internationally. Articles are available online at mayoclinicproceedings/
To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to mayoclinicproceedings/. MayoClinic (mayoclinic) is available as a resource for your health stories.
Contact: John Murphy
Mayo Clinic
Fibromyalgia is a disorder considered disabling by many, and is characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain and symptoms such as fatigue, joint stiffness and sleep disturbance. No cure is known and available treatments are only partially effective.
Mayo's study involved 50 fibromyalgia patients enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial to determine if acupuncture improved their symptoms. Symptoms of patients who received acupuncture significantly improved compared with the control group, according to the study published in the June issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
"The results of the study convince me there is something more than the placebo effect to acupuncture," says David Martin, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the acupuncture article and a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist. "It affirms a lot of clinical impressions that this complementary medical technique is helpful for patients."
Increasingly, patients are interested in pursuing complementary medicine techniques in conjunction with their mainstream medical care, Dr. Martin says. But often, such techniques lack scientific evidence to justify a patient's expense and time.
The study lends credence to patients' belief that nontraditional methods may improve their health. In Mayo's trial, patients who received acupuncture to counter their fibromyalgia symptoms reported improvement in fatigue and anxiety, among other symptoms. Acupuncture was well tolerated, with minimal side effects.
Mayo's acupuncture study is one of only three randomized and controlled studies involving fibromyalgia patients. Of the other studies, one found acupuncture to be helpful, while the other reported it was ineffective for pain relief.
Dr. Martin says Mayo's study demonstrates that acupuncture is helpful, and also proves physicians can conduct a rigorous, controlled acupuncture study. Future research could help physicians understand which medical conditions respond best to acupuncture, how to apply it to best relieve symptoms, and how long patients can expect to their symptoms to decrease after each treatment.
Dr. Martin performed the study at Mayo Clinic Rochester with co-authors Ines Berger, M.D.; Christopher Sletten, Ph.D.; and Brent Williams.
A peer-review journal, Mayo Clinic Proceedings publishes original articles and reviews dealing with clinical and laboratory medicine, clinical research, basic science research and clinical epidemiology. Mayo Clinic Proceedings is published monthly by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research as part of its commitment to the medical education of physicians. The journal has been published for more than 75 years and has a circulation of 130,000 nationally and internationally. Articles are available online at mayoclinicproceedings/
To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to mayoclinicproceedings/. MayoClinic (mayoclinic) is available as a resource for your health stories.
Contact: John Murphy
Mayo Clinic
понедельник, 5 сентября 2011 г.
Green Tea Slows Down Plaque Formation In Huntington's Disease
She was able to show in an in vitro experiment that the substance epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), extracted from green tea, interferes with very early events in the aggregation process of the mutant huntingtin protein. Cytoxicity is also reduced.
Moreover, the mobile function of transgenic flies carrying the Huntington's gene improved when
they were fed the green tea substance. The journal Human Molecular Genetics has now published these research findings (Vol. 15, Nr. 18, 15. September 2006, pp. 2743-2751; advanced online access on August 7, 2006). Dr. Wanker, who is also a professor at the Charit? - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin, and his colleagues hope that these findings can be a starting point for the development of a medical treatment for Huntington's disease and related diseases.
Huntington's disease, along with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, belong to the family of
neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding.
Jerky, uncontrolled movements, an unsteady gait and grimaces have given Huntington's disease
(HD) its original common name that is still in use today: Huntington's chorea (Old Greek for
"dance").
"Huntington's" in the name goes back to the American doctor George Huntington, who became
the first to publish a detailed description of the disease in 1872.
The incurable disease is hereditary and has a prevalence of 1 in every 15,000 persons. In Germany, about 8,000 cases are currently known whereas in the US, 30,000 people have HD.
If a child inherits a mutated Huntington's gene from one affected parent, the disease inevitably
develops, usually between the ages of 30 and 50. As a result, the nerve cells progressively
degenerate in the areas of the brain that control movement and that are involved in memory and emotions. Ten to 30 years after the onset of the disease, Huntington's chorea leads to death. Foundation under Public Law Directors: Prof. Walter Birchmeier, PhD., Dr. jur. Stefan Schwartze Member of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of National Research Centres
In 1993, scientists discovered the gene that encodes the protein huntingtin. A mutation in this
protein causes the disease and results in the aggregation of the mutant huntingtin protein within the cell nuclei of brain neurons.
In 1997, Dr. Wanker was able to demonstrate that these deposits or aggregates consist of
misfolded huntingtin molecules. In the protein factories of the nerve cells of people with
Huntington's disease, too many glutamine building blocks have been inserted into the amino acid sequence of huntingtin.
Due to the elongated polyglutamine chains which are formed, the protein loses its normal structure and can no longer be disposed of. Scientists hypothesize that these protein aggregates are toxic to nerve cells.
According to the findings of Dagmar Ehrnhoefer and Dr. Wanker, however, the substance
epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) extracted from green tea slows down this aggregation process.
The research group hopes that these findings will be the starting point for developing a novel drug treatment for HD and related diseases in which misfolded proteins occur.
At the four-day conference, which began in Berlin-Buch on September 6th, around 200 genome
researchers and clinicians from Canada, Europe, Japan, and the US discuss the latest findings on neurodegenerative diseases achieved with the aid of gene and protein research.
The organizers of the conference under the umbrella of the National Genome Research Network
(NGFN), which is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, were
the MDC, the Charit? - University Medical School, and the University of Bonn.
Max Delbr?ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch
mdc-berlin.de
Moreover, the mobile function of transgenic flies carrying the Huntington's gene improved when
they were fed the green tea substance. The journal Human Molecular Genetics has now published these research findings (Vol. 15, Nr. 18, 15. September 2006, pp. 2743-2751; advanced online access on August 7, 2006). Dr. Wanker, who is also a professor at the Charit? - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin, and his colleagues hope that these findings can be a starting point for the development of a medical treatment for Huntington's disease and related diseases.
Huntington's disease, along with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, belong to the family of
neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding.
Jerky, uncontrolled movements, an unsteady gait and grimaces have given Huntington's disease
(HD) its original common name that is still in use today: Huntington's chorea (Old Greek for
"dance").
"Huntington's" in the name goes back to the American doctor George Huntington, who became
the first to publish a detailed description of the disease in 1872.
The incurable disease is hereditary and has a prevalence of 1 in every 15,000 persons. In Germany, about 8,000 cases are currently known whereas in the US, 30,000 people have HD.
If a child inherits a mutated Huntington's gene from one affected parent, the disease inevitably
develops, usually between the ages of 30 and 50. As a result, the nerve cells progressively
degenerate in the areas of the brain that control movement and that are involved in memory and emotions. Ten to 30 years after the onset of the disease, Huntington's chorea leads to death. Foundation under Public Law Directors: Prof. Walter Birchmeier, PhD., Dr. jur. Stefan Schwartze Member of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of National Research Centres
In 1993, scientists discovered the gene that encodes the protein huntingtin. A mutation in this
protein causes the disease and results in the aggregation of the mutant huntingtin protein within the cell nuclei of brain neurons.
In 1997, Dr. Wanker was able to demonstrate that these deposits or aggregates consist of
misfolded huntingtin molecules. In the protein factories of the nerve cells of people with
Huntington's disease, too many glutamine building blocks have been inserted into the amino acid sequence of huntingtin.
Due to the elongated polyglutamine chains which are formed, the protein loses its normal structure and can no longer be disposed of. Scientists hypothesize that these protein aggregates are toxic to nerve cells.
According to the findings of Dagmar Ehrnhoefer and Dr. Wanker, however, the substance
epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) extracted from green tea slows down this aggregation process.
The research group hopes that these findings will be the starting point for developing a novel drug treatment for HD and related diseases in which misfolded proteins occur.
At the four-day conference, which began in Berlin-Buch on September 6th, around 200 genome
researchers and clinicians from Canada, Europe, Japan, and the US discuss the latest findings on neurodegenerative diseases achieved with the aid of gene and protein research.
The organizers of the conference under the umbrella of the National Genome Research Network
(NGFN), which is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, were
the MDC, the Charit? - University Medical School, and the University of Bonn.
Max Delbr?ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch
mdc-berlin.de
пятница, 2 сентября 2011 г.
Non-White Med Students Reject Therapies Associated With Their Culture
Non-white medical students are more likely to embrace orthodox medicine and reject therapies traditionally associated with their cultures. That is one finding from an international study that measures the attitudes of medical students toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). While seemingly counter-intuitive, white students view CAM more favorably than their non-white counterparts, the study authors say.
CAM is the common, collective term that describes non-orthodox therapies considered not intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture.
Despite the growing popularity of CAM, many medical schools do not include CAM teachings within basic medical education. So researchers at four medical schools (Peninsula, UK; Birmingham, UK; Georgetown, USA; and Auckland, NZ) conducted two surveys to measure the attitudes of medical students toward CAM during their first and fourth year of medical training in schools that offer some CAM education either at the undergraduate or graduate level. The study is published online in Medical Teacher.
"The first study we conducted with first-year medical students indicated that overall, students wanted more information about CAM in their curriculum," said Hakima Amri, PhD, director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program at Georgetown University Medical Center, the only science-based CAM Master's program at an academic institution in the United States. Amri is a co-investigator and the lead author of the US component of the study. "Our follow-up study measured attitude changes about CAM during medical training. We didn't observe a significant change in overall attitude between the first and fourth year, but we did spot some other interesting trends."
Amri says in the first study, U.S. medical students wanted more courses about CAM than students in Hong Kong, for example. (The Hong Kong school was not included in the 2nd survey of fourth year students.) The second study continued to support that trend with the least interest in CAM measured in Asian and black students.
Amri also noted the polarization observed in the second survey. She says, overall, females, older students and those who had used CAM had more positive attitudes towards holistic treatment of health conditions and became more positive in their attitude over time. However, males and non-CAM users had more negative tendencies toward the effectiveness of CAM therapies and continued to become more negative over time.
"One explanation for the decrease in positive attitude about CAM may result from the students' increased medical knowledge and contact with skeptical clinicians, which are not counter-balanced by CAM teaching," Amri explains.
Survey Methodology
Researchers used a survey called Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire (IMAQ), which included 28 questions relevant to CAM, with each item accompanied by a 7-point Likert scale (point scale with responses ranging from strongly disagree to absolutely agree plus don't know). The IMAQ include three major foci: Attitudes toward holism; effectiveness, credibility and value of CAM; and focus on the doctor-patient relationship, reflection and self-care.
The IMAQ also asked questions about students' age, gender, race, specialty choice, whether they had used CAM or seen a CAM practitioner previously and whether they were interested in or had already undertaken a CAM course.
A total of 604 first-year medical students at six schools completed the questionnaire. Only students who indicated willingness to complete the second questionnaire were contacted to participate in the second survey three years later. A total of 154 out of 487 (31.6 percent) of fourth year students at four schools completed the questionnaire.
The authors note limitations of the study and recommend additional research to understand more about attitude change over time with respect to CAM practices.
In addition to Amri, authors include
Charlotte Rees, Peninsula Medical School, UK;
Sheila Greenfield, University of Birmingham, UK;
Andy M. Wearn, University of Auckland, NZ, and
Ian Dennis, University of Plymouth, UK.
Amri's work is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The authors report no disclosures.
About Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through our partnership with MedStar Health). Our mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and Health Studies, both nationally ranked, the world-renowned Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), home to 60 percent of the university's sponsored research funding.
CAM is the common, collective term that describes non-orthodox therapies considered not intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture.
Despite the growing popularity of CAM, many medical schools do not include CAM teachings within basic medical education. So researchers at four medical schools (Peninsula, UK; Birmingham, UK; Georgetown, USA; and Auckland, NZ) conducted two surveys to measure the attitudes of medical students toward CAM during their first and fourth year of medical training in schools that offer some CAM education either at the undergraduate or graduate level. The study is published online in Medical Teacher.
"The first study we conducted with first-year medical students indicated that overall, students wanted more information about CAM in their curriculum," said Hakima Amri, PhD, director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program at Georgetown University Medical Center, the only science-based CAM Master's program at an academic institution in the United States. Amri is a co-investigator and the lead author of the US component of the study. "Our follow-up study measured attitude changes about CAM during medical training. We didn't observe a significant change in overall attitude between the first and fourth year, but we did spot some other interesting trends."
Amri says in the first study, U.S. medical students wanted more courses about CAM than students in Hong Kong, for example. (The Hong Kong school was not included in the 2nd survey of fourth year students.) The second study continued to support that trend with the least interest in CAM measured in Asian and black students.
Amri also noted the polarization observed in the second survey. She says, overall, females, older students and those who had used CAM had more positive attitudes towards holistic treatment of health conditions and became more positive in their attitude over time. However, males and non-CAM users had more negative tendencies toward the effectiveness of CAM therapies and continued to become more negative over time.
"One explanation for the decrease in positive attitude about CAM may result from the students' increased medical knowledge and contact with skeptical clinicians, which are not counter-balanced by CAM teaching," Amri explains.
Survey Methodology
Researchers used a survey called Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire (IMAQ), which included 28 questions relevant to CAM, with each item accompanied by a 7-point Likert scale (point scale with responses ranging from strongly disagree to absolutely agree plus don't know). The IMAQ include three major foci: Attitudes toward holism; effectiveness, credibility and value of CAM; and focus on the doctor-patient relationship, reflection and self-care.
The IMAQ also asked questions about students' age, gender, race, specialty choice, whether they had used CAM or seen a CAM practitioner previously and whether they were interested in or had already undertaken a CAM course.
A total of 604 first-year medical students at six schools completed the questionnaire. Only students who indicated willingness to complete the second questionnaire were contacted to participate in the second survey three years later. A total of 154 out of 487 (31.6 percent) of fourth year students at four schools completed the questionnaire.
The authors note limitations of the study and recommend additional research to understand more about attitude change over time with respect to CAM practices.
In addition to Amri, authors include
Charlotte Rees, Peninsula Medical School, UK;
Sheila Greenfield, University of Birmingham, UK;
Andy M. Wearn, University of Auckland, NZ, and
Ian Dennis, University of Plymouth, UK.
Amri's work is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The authors report no disclosures.
About Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through our partnership with MedStar Health). Our mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and Health Studies, both nationally ranked, the world-renowned Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), home to 60 percent of the university's sponsored research funding.
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