33 research outputs found
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Common respiratory diseases.
The self-medication phenomenon in upper respiratory tract infections, rhinosinusitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are significant and will continue to increase. Current level of evidence is poor because of the small number of good quality studies, small sample size, short duration, and variation in the composition of the herbal interventions or therapies. The current review points to several potential therapies that could be effective either alone, or as adjuncts to conventional therapies
A Mediterranean Low-Glycemic-Load Diet alone or in Combination with a Medical Food Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Reduces Inflammation in Women with Metabolic Syndrome
Aim: To determine the effects of a Mediterranean-style low-glycemic load diet alone or in combination with a medical food (MF) on insulin resistance and inflammation in women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Study design: Two groups, Parallel study with control. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA. The study was carried out from September of 2009 to May 2010. Methodology: Eighty three women (20-75 y) with MetS. Participants were randomly allocated to consume diet alone (control group) or the diet plus the MF (MF group) for 12 wk. Body composition was measured at baseline, week 8 and week 12 by use of bioelectrical impedance in all participants while Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry was used for 37 of the subjects. Insulin resistance, plasma insulin, leptin, adiponectin and the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), adhesion molecules, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, were measured at the same time points. Results: Independent of group allocation, women had decreases in body mass index (p \u3c 0.0001) and body and trunk fat (p \u3c 0.0001). Plasma insulin, insulin resistance, and leptin were also significantly decreased over time (p \u3c 0.0001), while plasma adiponectin levels did not change. Regarding inflammatory markers, significant reductions were found in TNF-α (p \u3c 0.0001) and sICAM-1 levels (p \u3c 0.001), but not in IL-6 or sVCAM-1. At 12 wk, sICAM was reduced only in the MF group (
Anti-microbial Activity of Urine after Ingestion of Cranberry: A Pilot Study
We explore the anti-microbial activity of urine specimens after the ingestion of a commercial cranberry preparation. Twenty subjects without urinary infection, off antibiotics and all supplements or vitamins were recruited. The study was conducted in two phases: in phase 1, subjects collected the first morning urine prior to ingesting 900 mg of cranberry and then at 2, 4 and 6 h. In phase 2, subjects collected urine on 2 consecutive days: on Day 1 no cranberry was ingested (control specimens), on Day 2, cranberry was ingested. The pH of all urine specimens were adjusted to the same pH as that of the first morning urine specimen. Aliquots of each specimen were independently inoculated with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Candida albicans. After incubation, colony forming units/ml (CFU ml−1) in the control specimen was compared with CFU ml−1 in specimens collected 2, 4 and 6 h later. Specimens showing ≥50% reduction in CFU ml−1 were considered as having ‘activity’ against the strains tested. In phase 1, 7/20 (35%) subjects had anti-microbial activity against E. coli, 13/20 (65%) against K. pneumoniae and 9/20 (45%) against C. albicans in specimens collected 2–6 h after ingestion of cranberry. In phase 2, 6/9 (67%) of the subjects had activity against K. pneumoniae. This pilot study demonstrates weak anti-microbial activity in urine specimens after ingestion of a single dose of commercial cranberry. Anti-microbial activity was noted only against K. pneumoniae 2–6 h after ingestion of the cranberry preparation
Searching biomedical databases on complementary medicine: the use of controlled vocabulary among authors, indexers and investigators
BACKGROUND: The optimal retrieval of a literature search in biomedicine depends on the appropriate use of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), descriptors and keywords among authors and indexers. We hypothesized that authors, investigators and indexers in four biomedical databases are not consistent in their use of terminology in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). METHODS: Based on a research question addressing the validity of spinal palpation for the diagnosis of neuromuscular dysfunction, we developed four search concepts with their respective controlled vocabulary and key terms. We calculated the frequency of MeSH, descriptors, and keywords used by authors in titles and abstracts in comparison to standard practices in semantic and analytic indexing in MEDLINE, MANTIS, CINAHL, and Web of Science. RESULTS: Multiple searches resulted in the final selection of 38 relevant studies that were indexed at least in one of the four selected databases. Of the four search concepts, validity showed the greatest inconsistency in terminology among authors, indexers and investigators. The use of spinal terms showed the greatest consistency. Of the 22 neuromuscular dysfunction terms provided by the investigators, 11 were not contained in the controlled vocabulary and six were never used by authors or indexers. Most authors did not seem familiar with the controlled vocabulary for validity in the area of neuromuscular dysfunction. Recently, standard glossaries have been developed to assist in the research development of manual medicine. CONCLUSIONS: Searching biomedical databases for CAM is challenging due to inconsistent use of controlled vocabulary and indexing procedures in different databases. A standard terminology should be used by investigators in conducting their search strategies and authors when writing titles, abstracts and submitting keywords for publications
Low HDL cholesterol is associated with increased atherogenic lipoproteins and insulin resistance in women classified with metabolic syndrome
Both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and elevated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We hypothesized that low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) would further increase CVD risk in women having both conditions. To assess this, we recruited 89 women with MetS (25-72 y) and LDL-C ≥ 2.6 mmol/L. To determine whether plasma HDL-C concentrations were associated with dietary components, circulating atherogenic particles, and other risk factors for CVD, we divided the subjects into two groups: high HDL-C (H-HDL) (≥ 1.3 mmol/L, n = 32) and low HDL-C (L-HDL) (< 1.3 mmol/L, n = 57). Plasma lipids, insulin, adiponectin, apolipoproteins, oxidized LDL, Lipoprotein(a), and lipoprotein size and subfractions were measured, and 3-d dietary records were used to assess macronutrient intake. Women with L-HDL had higher sugar intake and glycemic load (P < 0.05), higher plasma insulin (P < 0.01), lower adiponectin (P < 0.05), and higher numbers of atherogenic lipoproteins such as large VLDL (P < 0.01) and small LDL (P < 0.001) than the H-HDL group. Women with L-HDL also had larger VLDL and both smaller LDL and HDL particle diameters (P < 0.001). HDL-C was positively correlated with LDL size (r = 0.691, P < 0.0001) and HDL size (r = 0.606, P < 0.001), and inversely correlated with VLDL size (r = -0.327, P < 0.01). We concluded that L-HDL could be used as a marker for increased numbers of circulating atherogenic lipoproteins as well as increased insulin resistance in women who are already at risk for CVD
Recommended from our members
Common respiratory diseases.
The self-medication phenomenon in upper respiratory tract infections, rhinosinusitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are significant and will continue to increase. Current level of evidence is poor because of the small number of good quality studies, small sample size, short duration, and variation in the composition of the herbal interventions or therapies. The current review points to several potential therapies that could be effective either alone, or as adjuncts to conventional therapies
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Use of complementary and alternative medicine among the ethnic elderly.
We sought to explore whether the elderly are high users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and to determine which modalities they use. We also sought to describe patterns and positive predictors of CAM use among 3 ethnically diverse groups of community-residing elderly.A 7-page questionnaire was developed and translated into Spanish and Vietnamese.A population of 525 community-residing elderly completed personal interviews.Two hundred and fifty-one respondents (47.8%) reported using CAM over the past year. Dietary supplements (47.4%), chiropractic (16.3%), home remedies (15.9%), acupuncture (15.1%), and Oriental medicine (12.8%), were the most frequently cited therapies. The majority of CAM users (62.4%) did not inform their physicians that they were using it, but 58% consulted their physician for the same problem for which they used CAM. Family and friends were most relied upon for making the choice of therapy. Among the 3 ethnic groups studied, Asians were higher users of acupuncture (28%) and Oriental medicine (31%), Hispanics were higher users of dietary supplements (56%), home remedies (25%), and curanderos (8%), while white non-Hispanics were higher users of chiropractic (42%), massage (20%), vitamins (20%), diet (17%), and psychospiritual (15%) modalities. Pain was a higher indicator of CAM use among Asians, gastrointestinal problems and diabetes among Hispanics, and stress/fatigue and cardiovascular problems among white non-Hispanics.Findings indicated a high use of CAM among the elderly and emphasize the likelihood that elderly immigrants use those therapies with which they are familiar. Modalities and conditions varied with the ethnicity of respondents