Use of black vulture (<it>Coragyps atratus</it>) in complementary and alternative therapies for cancer in Colombia: A qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although <it>Coragyps atratus</it> has been used as a traditional therapy for patients with cancer, the scientific literature does not contain enough information on how this therapy is used or the mechanisms that explain this therapeutic practice.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To understand the methods of use and the reasons given by patients and caregivers for the use of <it>Coragyps atratus</it> in cancer treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study used a qualitative design based on twenty in-depth interviews of patients with cancer or caregivers of patients with the disease. The analysis of the text was based on an inductive thematic approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Resistance to disease and immune enhancement are properties attributed to <it>Coragyps atratus</it> when used for cancer treatment. The most recommended method of use is fresh blood ingestion, and the associated mechanism of action is transfer of immune factors to the individual who consumes it.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Use of <it>Coragyps atratus</it> as a treatment for cancer is a popular alternative therapy in Colombia. More studies are needed to understand the clinical effects of this intervention in cancer patients.</p> <p>Spanish abstract</p> <p>Introducción</p> <p>Aunque <it>Coragyps atratus</it> se usa tradicionalmente como terapia para pacientes con cáncer, no existe suficiente información en la literatura científica sobre su forma de utilización ni sobre los mecanismos explicativos que subyacen a esta práctica terapéutica.</p> <p>Objetivos</p> <p>Conocer métodos de utilización y mecanismos explicativos dados por los pacientes y cuidadores de pacientes sobre el uso de <it>Coragyps atratus</it> en el tratamiento del cáncer.</p> <p>Materiales y métodos</p> <p>Diseño cualitativo basado en veinte entrevistas en profundidad de pacientes con cáncer o cuidadores de pacientes con esta enfermedad. Análisis de texto basado en enfoque temático inductivo.</p> <p>Resultados</p> <p>Al <it>Coragyps atratus</it> se le atribuyen propiedades de resistencia y fortalecimiento del sistema inmune de personas enfermas de cáncer. La forma de utilización mas común es la ingesta de la sangre fresca y el mecanismo de acción asociado es la transferencia de defensas a quien lo consume.</p> <p>Conclusiones</p> <p>La utilización del <it>Coragyps atratus</it> como tratamiento para el cáncer es una terapia alternativa usada popularmente en Colombia. El uso de este animal debe estudiarse más a fondo para conocer los efectos clínicos en los pacientes con cáncer.</p

Diabetes and Myocardial Fibrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the association of diabetes and glycemic control with myocardial fibrosis (MF). Background MF is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and death. Diabetes may influence the development of MF, but evidence is inconsistent. Methods We searched EMBASE, Medline Ovid, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for observational and interventional studies investigating the association of diabetes, glycemic control, and antidiabetic medication with MF assessed by histology and cardiac magnetic resonance (ie, extracellular volume fraction [ECV%] and T1 time). Results A total of 32 studies (88% exclusively on type 2 diabetes) involving 5,053 participants were included in the systematic review. Meta-analyses showed that diabetes was associated with a higher degree of MF assessed by histological collagen volume fraction (n = 6 studies; mean difference: 5.80; 95% CI: 2.00-9.59) and ECV% (n = 13 studies; mean difference: 2.09; 95% CI: 0.92-3.27), but not by native or postcontrast T1 time. Higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels were associated with higher degrees of MF. Conclusions Diabetes is associated with higher degree of MF assessed by histology and ECV% but not by T1 time. In patients with diabetes, worse glycemic control was associated with higher MF degrees. These findings mostly apply to type 2 diabetes and warrant further investigation into whether these associations are causal and which medications could attenuate MF in patients with diabetes

Rivaroxaban with or without aspirin in stable cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether rivaroxaban alone or in combination with aspirin would be more effective than aspirin alone for secondary cardiovascular prevention. METHODS: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 27,395 participants with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease to receive rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin (100 mg once daily), rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily), or aspirin (100 mg once daily). The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. The study was stopped for superiority of the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group after a mean follow-up of 23 months. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group than in the aspirin-alone group (379 patients [4.1%] vs. 496 patients [5.4%]; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86; P<0.001; z=−4.126), but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group (288 patients [3.1%] vs. 170 patients [1.9%]; hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.05; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in intracranial or fatal bleeding between these two groups. There were 313 deaths (3.4%) in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group as compared with 378 (4.1%) in the aspirin-alone group (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.96; P=0.01; threshold P value for significance, 0.0025). The primary outcome did not occur in significantly fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group than in the aspirin-alone group, but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease, those assigned to rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin had better cardiovascular outcomes and more major bleeding events than those assigned to aspirin alone. Rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily) alone did not result in better cardiovascular outcomes than aspirin alone and resulted in more major bleeding events