Clinical effects of overwintered-stressed Chondrus Crispus and non-overwintered-stressed Chondrus crispus dietary supplementations

Background: Chondrus crispus is red seaweed widespread in the northern Atlantic coasts due to the high proteins, burden it is quite helpful supplement for some symptoms such as fatigue, asthenia, and weakness and for supporting skeletal muscles in sports athletes.Aims and Objectives: This retrospective observational "not inferiority" study investigates and compares the clinical effects of overwintered-stressed Chondrus Crispus and non-overwintered-stressed Chondrus crispus dietary supplementations for the treatment of musculoskeletal and articular symptomatology related diseases.Materials and Methods: Eighty patients were retrospectively reviewed through the Second Opinion Medical Network. Patients were prescribed 3 capsules/day after the main meals for 3 weeks of overwintered-stressed Chondrus Crispus or non-overwintered stressed Chondrus crispus dietary supplementations. Quality of life (QOL) assessment was evaluated by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire before starting the treatment and after the third week. Benefits declared by patients were also reported after the treatment in addition to some subjective observations related to the symptomatology and to the health status.Results: Fifty patients were treated with overwintered-stressed Chondrus Crispus and 30 patients were treated with the non-overwintered-stressed Chondrus crispus dietary supplementation. The general benefit of treatment with overwintered-stressed Chondrus Crispus was 76%, while that obtained with non-overwintered-stressed Chondrus crispus was 33.3% (P <0.01). Results of SF-36 general health status after the treatment demonstrated that 37 patients (74%) and 11 patients (36.7%) felt better than before in the overwintered-stressed Chondrus Crispus group and non-overwintered-stressed Chondrus crispus group, respectively (P < 0.01). A great improvement of subjective exhaustion, fatigue, pain, digestive, and peristalsis disturbances symptoms, in addition to mood and concentration amelioration that would be a consequence of symptomatology regression, was also observed.Conclusions: This retrospective observational comparative study evidences that overwintered-stressed Chondrus Crispus improved musculoskeletal and articular symptomatology related diseases better than non-overwintered-stressed Chondrus crispus.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.9(6) 2018 7-1

High-power Magnetotherapy: A New Weapon in Urinary Incontinence?

Objective: Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most common urinary system diseases that mostly affects women but also men. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) as potential UI treatment with improvements in the pelvic floor musculature, urodynamic tests and quality of life. Methods: A total of 20 UI patients (10 females and 10 men, mean age 64, 14 years), including 10 with stress UI, four with urgency UI and six with mixed UI, were treated with FMS (20 min/session) twice a week for 3 weeks. The patients\u2019 impressions, records in urinary diaries, and scores of three life stress questionnaires (overactive bladder symptom questionnaire [OAB-q], urogenital distress inventory questionnaire-short form [UDI-6], incontinence impact questionnaire-short form [IIQ-7]) were performed pre- and post-treatment. Results: Significant reductions (P &lt; 0.01) of micturition number and nocturia after magnetic treatment were evi- denced. The urodynamic tests recorded a significant increase in cystometric capacity (147 \ub1 51.3%), in maximum urethral closure pressure (110 \ub1 34%), in urethral functional length (99.8 \ub1 51.8%), and in pressure transmission ratio (147 \ub1 51.3%) values compared with the baseline values. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that FMS with Magneto STYM (twice weekly for 3 weeks) improves the UI and may be an effective treatment for this urogenital disease

Learning new words: Memory reactivation as a mechanism for strengthening and updating a novel word´s meaning

In the present study we explored the post-learning changes in a novel word’s definition using a cue-induced memory reactivation. Native speakers of Spanish (N=373) learned low-frequency words with their corresponding definitions. The following day, reactivated groups were exposed to a reminder and provided a subjective assessment of reactivation for each word, while control groups did not receive a reactivation. Study A demonstrated that memory reactivation enhances both explicit recall and semantic integration of new meanings. Study B investigated the effect of memory reactivation in the modification of the new meanings, through three different experiments. Results show an improvement of the updated definitions according to each word´s reactivation strength. In addition, congruence with previous knowledge was suggested to be a boundary condition, while consolidation time had a positive modulatory effect. Our findings call attention to reactivation as a factor allowing for malleability as well as persistence of long-term memories for words.Fil: Laurino, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Forcato, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Coaker, Nicole. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Pedreira, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Kaczer, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; Argentin

The FIT therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological disorders related symptoms: A retrospective observational study

Background: Far Infrared Waves (FIW) with frequency range among few hundreds gigahertz (GHz) and few terahertz (THz) display some positive effects on neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. Aims and Objectives: Our retrospective observational study describes the benefits observed by the administration of an infrared –trapping and focusing plaster (FIT-PATCH) in patients affected by different musculoskeletal and neurological symptoms. Materials and Methods: 100 patients were retrospectively reviewed through the Second Opinion Medical Network. Each patient sticked a FIT-PATCH every 5 days for 1 month upon the skin in the painful/inflamed area. Quality of life (QOL) assessment was evaluated by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire before starting the treatment and after the fourth week and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) completed the pre-post treatment subjective pain record. Results: SF-36 showed significantly improvement of the pre-post treatment scores (P < 0.03), pain score (P < 0.02), general health score (P < 0.03) and in the emotional component scores (P < 0.03). The VAS pain score was either improved (P < 0.02) after plaster administration. No side effects or allergenic skin reactions were reported along the study. Conclusions: The FIT patches improved the symptoms probably through a mechanism involving the sebaceous/sweat glands system spreading the fit irradiating infrared THz waves energy, to the surrounding tissues with both a thermal and electromagnetic putative effect.The occlusive mechanism of the patch on the skin surface increasing the local thermic gradient cannot be adequately supposed to be therapeutically effective, because the FIT patch locally applied induces haemodynamic microvascular modification, not only locally but also remote. Thus, the intrinsic chemical properties of the FIT formulation absorbs and concentrates the endogenous infrared waves amplifying and reverberating them into the underlying tissues near and far, through low-Q-factor helical antennas of the sweat glands spreading the energy all over the body. Hence, the claim is that fit basically absorbs and concentrates the endogenous infrared waves into the affected districts and accelerates symptoms recovery

Mechanisms and therapeutic effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in oncology

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Available treatments are associated with numerous side effects and only a low percentage of patients achieve complete remission. Therefore, there is a strong need for new therapeutic strategies. In this regard, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy presents several potential advantages including non-invasiveness, safety, lack of toxicity for non-cancerous cells, and the possibility of being combined with other available therapies. Indeed, PEMF stimulation has already been used in the context of various cancer types including skin, breast, prostate, hepatocellular, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, bladder, thyroid, and colon cancer in vitro and in vivo. At present, only limited application of PEMF in cancer has been documented in humans. In this article, we review the experimental and clinical evidence of PEMF therapy discussing future perspectives in its use in oncology

Implantación de un protocolo para gerenciamiento de caídas en hospital: resultados de cuatro años de seguimiento

Inpatient falls are common occurrences with negative effects for patients and institutions. The objective of this descriptive study was to present the results of a fall management protocol used in a private hospital located in São Paulo, Brazil. Follow-up consisted of reviewing the fall rates and performing a descriptive analysis of the data. Subjects were the patients admitted between 2005 and 2008, accounting for 284 falls in 207,067 patient-days. The rates showed a monthly variability, with reductions following the implementation of interventions and rises in rates after management actions and training. In 2008, falls were more frequent among patients in clinical units of greater complexity - the elderly - using drugs that affected the central nervous system or having an impaired gait. The performed actions caused a reduction in fall rates, and the characterization of the events permitted staff to redirect interventions focusing on patients who were more susceptible to falls, as well as strengthen educational actions.Las caídas en pacientes hospitalizados son eventos frecuentes con efectos negativos para pacientes e instituciones. Estudio descriptivo que objetivó presentar los resultados de un protocolo de gerenciamiento de caídas implantado en hospital privado de São Paulo, Brasil. El seguimiento se realizó mediante índice de caídas y se efectuó análisis descriptivo de datos. Se incluyeron los pacientes internados entre 2005 y 2008, representándose 284 caídas en 207.067 pacientes-día. El índice presentó variabilidad mensual, con disminuciones derivadas a implantación de intervenciones y elevaciones posteriores a acciones gerenciales y entrenamientos. En 2008, las caídas incrementaron frecuencia entre pacientes de unidades clínicas de mayor complejidad - ancianos utilizando medicamentos que alteran el Sistema Nervioso Central o con dificultad de marcha. Las acciones realizadas se reflejaron en el índice de caídas y la caracterización de eventos permitió reencaminar intervenciones orientadas a los pacientes más susceptibles y al refuerzo de las acciones educativas.Quedas em pacientes hospitalizados são eventos frequentes com efeitos negativos para pacientes e instituições. Este estudo descritivo objetivou apresentar os resultados de um protocolo de gerenciamento de quedas implantado em um hospital privado na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. O seguimento foi feito por meio do índice de quedas e foi feita uma análise descritiva dos dados. Foram incluídos os pacientes internados entre 2005 e 2008, representando 284 quedas em 207.067 pacientes-dia. O índice apresentou variabilidade mensal, com diminuições subsequentes à implantação das intervenções e elevações após ações gerenciais e treinamentos. Em 2008, as quedas foram mais frequentes entre os pacientes de unidades clínicas de maior complexidade - idosos - fazendo uso de medicamentos que alteram o sistema nervoso central ou com dificuldade de marcha. As ações realizadas refletiram no índice de quedas e a caracterização dos eventos permitiu redirecionar intervenções voltadas aos pacientes mais susceptíveis e ao reforço das ações educacionais.Hospital Samaritano de São PauloHospital Samaritano de São Paulo Pronto-Socorro InfantilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Enfermagem Programa de Pós-GraduaçãoHospital Samaritano de São Paulo Unidade PediátricaUNIFESP, Depto. de Enfermagem Programa de Pós-GraduaçãoSciEL

Oxidative stress, plasma/salivary antioxidant status detection and health risk factors

Background: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of several diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, neurodegeneration.Aims and Objectives: Our study evaluated the oxidant/antioxidant status on a cohort of healthy patients matched with some independent variables as a basic individual redox balance monitor on a disease-prevention perspective.Materials and Methods: The anecdotic, retrospective and observational study included 200 apparently healthy volunteers after formal informed consent release whose personal history and physical examination had been recorded specifically on the following items: age, previous diseases, sport activities, smoking habit, balanced/unbalanced nutrition, current absence/presence of inflammatory processes, oral health hygiene, administration of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. No drug treatment was admitted in the recruited patients, up to 6 months before the evaluation. The laboratory instruments used were Point of care FRAS 4 Evolvo (H&D, Parma, Italy) measuring the oxidative stress in plasma samples and antioxidant capacity in plasma and saliva samples.Results: Two-hundred patients were recruited. Statistically relevant differences were observed in oxidative stress-related variables, namely a significant relationship between plasma oxidative stress level and female gender (p<0.01), between saliva antioxidant level and age (p=0.01), between plasma antioxidant level and unbalanced diet (p<0.01), between plasma oxidative stress level and inflammation in the oral cavity (p=0.04), and between saliva antioxidant level and inflammation in the oral cavity (p<0.01).Conclusions: A relationship between oxidative/antioxidant status and health risk factors has been outlined in our study; the achieved data are quite helpful, in the clinical practice, providing additional information on individual general health conditions, putatively related to prevention diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment effectiveness in some specific diseases.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(1) 2017 32-4

Synoviology: a new chapter entitled to joints care

In order to extensively investigate on the synovial membrane – related diseases, we outlined a specific medical branch named "Synoviology", targeted to the physiopathology and therapy of synovial membrane dysfunction. We searched Pubmed/Medline using the terms "synovial disease", "therapy", "synovial membrane", "joints" and "drugs", alone and combined. Selected papers from 1960 to 2015 were chosen based on their content (evidence-based quality and reliability). Clinical and experimental articles were included. Viscosupplementation with structurally different hyaluronic acid compounds, for restoration of the synovial membrane, and cartilage. The impact of other old and new medical treatments either locally or systemically administered was also included. Synoviology integrates biological, clinical and biochemical info for the progress of new therapeutic options in osteo-articular pathology.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(3) 2017 1-1

Respiratory rehabilitation: a physiotherapy approach to the control of asthma symptoms and anxiety

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to verify the degree of anxiety, respiratory distress, and health-related quality of life in a group of asthmatic patients who have experienced previous panic attacks. Additionally, we evaluated if a respiratory physiotherapy program (breathing retraining) improved both asthma and panic disorder symptoms, resulting in an improvement in the health-related quality of life of asthmatics. METHODS: Asthmatic individuals were assigned to a chest physiotherapy group that included a breathing retraining program held once a week for three months or a paired control group that included a Subtle Touch program. All patients were assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, the Sheehan Anxiety Scale, the Quality of Life Questionnaire, and spirometry parameter measurements. RESULTS: Both groups had high marks for panic disorder and agoraphobia, which limited their quality of life. The Breathing Retraining Group program improved the clinical control of asthma, reduced panic symptoms and agoraphobia, decreased patient scores on the Sheehan Anxiety Scale, and improved their quality of life. Spirometry parameters were unchanged. CONCLUSION: Breathing retraining improves the clinical control of asthma and anxiety symptoms and the health-related quality of life in asthmatic patients