Benefits of homeopathic complementary treatment in patients with breast cancer: A retrospective cohort study based on the French nationwide healthcare database

International audienceBackgroundComplementary therapy in oncology aims to help patients better cope with the illness and side effects (SEs) of cancer treatments that affect their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to assess the benefits of homeopathic treatment on the health-related QOL (HRQOL) of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer (BC) prescribed in post-surgical complementary therapy.Patients and methodsAn extraction from the French nationwide healthcare database targeted all patients who underwent mastectomy for newly diagnosed BC between 2012 and 2013. HRQOL was proxied by the quantity of medication used to palliate the SEs of cancer treatments.ResultsA total of 98,009 patients were included (mean age: 61 ± 13 years). Homeopathy was used in 11%, 26% and 22% of patients respectively during the 7–12 months before surgery, the 6 months before, and 6 months after. Thereafter, the use remained stable at 15% for 4 years. Six months after surgery, there was a significant overall decrease (RR = 0.88, confidence interval (CI)95 = 0.87–0.89) in the dispensing of medication associated with SEs in patients treated with ≥ 3 dispensing of homeopathy compared to none. The decrease appeared to be greater for immunostimulants (RR = 0.79, (CI)95 = 0.74–0.84), corticosteroids (RR = 0.82, (CI)95 = 0.79–0.85), and antidiarrheals (RR = 0.83, (CI)95 = 0.77–0.88).ConclusionThe study showed an increasing use of homeopathy in patients with BC following diagnosis. This use was maintained after surgery and seemed to play a role in helping patients to better tolerate the SEs of cancer treatments.Micro-abstractThis study evaluated the benefits of homeopathy on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer (BC). There is an increasing use of homeopathy in patients with BC after diagnosis, leading to an overall decrease in medications that palliate the side effects of cancer treatment. This may indicate that QOL is improved in patients with BC who use homeopathy

Anti-inflammatory effects of fermented and non-fermented <it>Sophora flavescens</it>: a comparative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The roots of <it>Sophora flavescens </it>(Leguminosae) have been used in East Asian countries as an herbal medicine and a food ingredient for thousands of years. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of <it>S. flavescens </it>fermentation on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>EIU was induced in rats via a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Immediately after the LPS inoculation, fermented and non-fermented extracts of <it>S. flavescens </it>(FSE and NFSE, respectively) were administered orally, and the aqueous humor was collected from both eyes 24 hours later. The anti-inflammatory effects of FSE and NFSE were examined in terms of regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation and the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The regulation of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) levels and polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) infiltration by FSE and NFSE were also examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment with FSE significantly inhibited LPS-induced increases in IL-1β and TNF-α production and the expression of iNOS, ICAM-1 and COX-2. Moreover, FSE suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activation, and reduced both MDA levels and infiltration by PMN.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that solid state fermentation may enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of <it>S. flavescens</it>.</p