Anticancer Effect of Fucoidan in Combination with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Lapatinib

Background:. Despite a number of in vitro and in vivo studies reporting the efficacy of fucoidan in treating various cancers, few studies have measured the efficacy of dietary fucoidan (DF) in combination with cancer drugs. Thus, we examined the sensitivity of DF in combination with the EGFR/ERBB2-targeting reagent lapatinib on cancer cells. Method. We selected six EGFR/ERBB2-amplified cancer cell lines (OE19, NCI-N87, OE33, ESO26, MKN7, and BT474) as an in vitro model and tested their sensitivity to DF alone and to DF in combination with the well-known EGFR/ERBB2-targeting reagent lapatinib. Result. Overall, in drug independent sensitivity test, DF alone did not significantly inhibit the growth of EGFR/ERBB2-amplified cancer cells in vitro. When DF was given in combination with lapatinib, however, it tended to synergistically inhibit cell growth in OE33 but antagonized the action of lapatinib in ESO26, NCI-N87, and OE19. Conclusion:. This study suggests that DF has the potential to increase or decrease the effects of certain anticancer drugs on certain cancer cell types. Further study is needed to explore the mechanism of interaction and synergistic antitumor activity of DF in combination with chemotherapy and targeted therapy

Exploring gender differences in the relationship between gut microbiome and depression - a scoping review

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) exhibits gender disparities, and emerging evidence suggests the involvement of the gut microbiome, necessitating exploration of sex-specific differences.MethodsA review was conducted, encompassing a thorough examination of relevant studies available in Medline via Ovid, Embase via OvidSP, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases from their inception to June 2023. The search strategy employed specific keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms tailored to major depressive disorder in women, encompassing unipolar depression, depressive symptoms, and dysbiosis.ResultsFive studies were included. Among the four studies, alterations in alpha (n=1) and beta diversity (n=3) in the gut microbiome of individuals with MDD were revealed compared to controls. Gender-specific differences were observed in four studies, demonstrating the abundance of specific bacterial taxa and highlighting potential sex-specific implications in MDD pathophysiology. Correlation analyses (n=4) indicated associations between certain bacterial taxa and the severity of depressive symptoms, with varying patterns between males and females. Studies (n=3) also highlighted promising findings regarding the potential utility of microbial markers in diagnosing MDD, emphasizing the crucial role of sex stratification in understanding the disease pathophysiology.ConclusionsThe findings underscore the importance of recognizing gender-specific differences in the composition of the gut microbiome and its relationship with MDD. Further comprehensive robust studies are required to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying these disparities

Effects of Qigong on Depression: A Systemic Review

Physical exercises and relaxation have been found to be beneficial for depression. However, there is little evidence on the use of Qigong, a mind-body practice integrating gentle exercise and relaxation, in the management of depression. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of Qigong on depression. The paper examined clinical trials measuring the effect of Qigong on depression within six large-scale medical research databases (PubMed, Medline, ProQuest, Science Direct, EMBASE, and PsycInfo) till October 2011. Key words “Qigong,” “depression,” and “mood” were used. Ten studies were identified as original randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies investigating the effect of Qigong on depression as primary (n = 2) or secondary outcome (n = 8). Four studies reported positive results of the Qigong treatment on depression; two reported that Qigong effect on depression was as effective as physical exercise. One study reported that Qigong was comparable to a conventional rehabilitation program, but the remaining three studies found no benefits of Qigong on depression. While the evidence suggests the potential effects of Qigong in the treatment of depression, the review of the literature shows inconclusive results. Further research using rigorous study designs is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of Qigong in depression

Physical and Psychological Health Outcomes of Qigong Exercise in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Physical limitations, depression and anxiety are prevalent among older adults. Mild to moderate exercise can promote physical and psychological health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Qigong, a type of Chinese traditional medicine exercise, has demonstrated beneficial effects on physical ability and mental health in adults with chronic conditions. The purpose of this review was to systematically assess the effects of Qigong exercise on physical and psychological health outcomes in older adults. A total of 1282 older adults aged 62 to 83 years with depressive symptoms, frailty or chronic medical illnesses were included in this review. The meta-analysis showed that Qigong exercise resulted in significantly improved physical ability compared with active control or usual care (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.00 and 1.20, respectively). The pooled effects of studies with thrice weekly Qigong sessions had the greatest effect (SMD=1.65) on physical ability in older adults. Lower quality studies demonstrated larger effect sizes than those of higher quality. Although Qigong exercise showed favorable effects on depression, balance and functioning, the overall effects did not reach statistical significance. No significant adverse events were reported. The findings suggest that the Qigong exercise may be an option for older adults to improve physical ability, functional ability, balance and to lessen depression and anxiety. However, the number of RCTs that enroll older adults is limited. More methodologically sound RCTs are needed to confirm the efficacy of Qigong exercise on physical and psychological health in older adults with chronic illnesses

Feasibility and Acceptability of Qigong Exercise in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the United States

Objectives:Qigong exercise has been shown to improve physical and psychological well-being in adults with chronic conditions, but little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of engaging in a qigong exercise program in community-dwelling older adults in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility, acceptance, and adherence to an 8-week qigong exercise intervention in community-dwelling American older adults. Design: An exploratory study design. Setting: Two senior centers in southern Connecticut. Subjects: Forty-five community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 85 years enrolled. Intervention: A supervised 1-h health qigong exercise session twice weekly for 8 weeks. Outcome measures: An investigator-designed questionnaire with seven items that were rated on a 1 to 6 scale, with higher scores indicating better results, and nine open-ended questions were used to obtain data on feasibility and acceptability. Adherence was calculated as the proportion of the 16 planned sessions attended. Results: Of the 45 older adults enrolled, 6 never started and 6 withdrew, with 33 evaluable at the end of the intervention. The mean age of the sample was 74.8 years; the majority were female (84.4%) and white (91.1%). Mean scores on aspects of difficulty, acceptability, suitability, or effectiveness of qigong exercise were all ≥5. Participants identified benefits of qigong exercise, such as calming and relaxing feelings, inner peace, better balance, and flexibility. Attendance rate was 78.8%, with 94% performing qigong exercise at least once weekly outside the class. All participants indicated that they would recommend qigong exercise to others. No adverse events occurred. Conclusion: An 8-week qigong exercise program was feasible, acceptable, and safe for American older adults. Future robust randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings

Accreditation Standard Guideline Initiative for Tai Chi and Qigong Instructors and Training Institutions

Evidence of the health and wellbeing benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong (TQ) have emerged in the past two decades, but TQ is underutilized in modern health care in Western countries due to lack of promotion and the availability of professionally qualified TQ instructors. To date, there are no government regulations for TQ instructors or for training institutions in China and Western countries, even though TQ is considered to be a part of Traditional Chinese medicine that has the potential to manage many chronic diseases. Based on an integrative health care approach, the accreditation standard guideline initiative for TQ instructors and training institutions was developed in collaboration with health professionals, integrative medicine academics, Tai Chi and Qigong master instructors and consumers including public safety officers from several countries, such as Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Korea, Sweden and USA. In this paper, the rationale for organizing the Medical Tai Chi and Qigong Association (MTQA) is discussed and the accreditation standard guideline for TQ instructors and training institutions developed by the committee members of MTQA is presented. The MTQA acknowledges that the proposed guidelines are broad, so that the diversity of TQ instructors and training institutions can be integrated with recognition that these guidelines can be developed with further refinement. Additionally, these guidelines face challenges in understanding the complexity of TQ associated with different principles, philosophies and schools of thought. Nonetheless, these guidelines represent a necessary first step as primary resource to serve and guide health care professionals and consumers, as well as the TQ community

The Safety and Tolerability of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Pilot Study The Safety and Tolerability of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Pilot Study

Abstract Background: Use of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) by cancer patients is growing although scientific evidence on their safety and efficacy is limited. Method: A pilot study of CHM06, comprising 12 herbs, was conducted to assess the associated safety, tolerability and toxicity in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients with metastatic cancer who were about to receive a new line of chemotherapy started CHM06 a week prior to chemotherapy. Patients were assessed full blood counts and liver function were recorded at the commencement of CHM06, before each cycle, and at the end of cycle 3 chemotherapy for their toxicity, tolerability, and adverse events. Results: Of the 16 participants, 11 completed all 3 cycles of treatment and used 80% of the prescribed CHM. In the patients that completed the study, there was no significant difference in white blood cell (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb) and platelet counts after the use of CHM06 alone prior to commencement of chemotherapy. Fourteen patients tolerated the CHM06 well while tolerance was poor in 2 patients. Conclusion: This study suggests that CHM06 was well tolerated and accepted by patients undergoing chemotherapy. To further evaluate the safety and efficacy of CHM06 in conjunction with chemotherapy, randomised trials will be required