Hasil untuk "Other systems of medicine"

Ranjith Kumar R, Suresh Janadri, Manjunatha PM et al.

Background: Urolithiasis refers to the formation of stones in the urinary system. β-Caryophyllene, a bicyclic sesquiterpene found in herbs like cloves (Dīng Zǐ Xiāng), cinnamon (Ròu Guì), Black Pepper (Hú Jiāo) and Ginseng (Rén Shēn). Despite its potential, the antiurolithiatic activity of β-Caryophyllene, particularly in liposomal formulations, remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the antiurolithiatic effects of liposomal β-Caryophyllene in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in Wistar albino rats and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Materials & methods: IN-VITRO: Using various in-vitro methods like aggregation, nucleation and titrimetric assay the percentage inhibition of calcium oxalate using the calcium chloride (Caox) and sodium oxalate solutions against the liposomal β-carryophyllene was performed for assessing anti-urolithiatic effect.IN-VIVO: Ethylene glycol was used as the inducing agent. Albino rats were separated into 6 groups. Group-I named as normal diet. Group II-VI was given 0.75 % v/v EG was mixed in drinking water for causing renal stones, along with group III- V was treated with liposomal β-carryophyllene 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively. Group-VI was treated with standard drug, cystone (750 mg/kg). Results: The study proved that liposomal β-caryophyllene (BCP) significantly inhibits calcium oxalate crystal formation, aggregation, and dissolution in both in-vitro and in-vivo models. BCP significantly reduced serum and urine markers of renal dysfunction and oxidative stress, with the highest dose (400 mg/kg) demonstrating effects similar to the standard drug (cystone). Conclusion: Liposomal β-caryophyllene (BCP) shows promising therapeutic agent for urolithiasis, effectively preventing crystal formation and improving renal function. It demonstrated comparable efficacy to the standard treatment, suggesting its potential as a viable alternative or complementary therapy for managing urolithiasis.

Tone Jørgensen, Trine Brinkmann, Ann-Karina E. Henriksen et al.

Youths with restrictive eating disorders can be admitted to voluntary and involuntary treatment in acute psychiatric units for children and adolescents when their need for help is urgent or there is an emergency situation related to their vital functions. Providing sufficient nutrition for these patients is a key focus in treatment plans, making meal planning and calorie intake an essential part of the treatment. This article examines mealtime practices in the treatment of restrictive eating disorders at child and adolescent psychiatric acute hospitals in Norway. The analysis shows a complex interplay between treatment and coercion, where coercion underpins and ultimately ensures treatment compliance. The study contributes to the limited literature on coercion in inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry, and findings call for critical reflection to advance new ways of enforcing nutritional intake for patients with eating disorders admitted to involuntary treatment.The analysis is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted across three acute units in Norway. Drawing on Goffman's perspectives on frame analysis and his dramaturgical approach to social interaction, we examine how the establishment of frames in eating situations produces different meanings for this treatment activity. In our analysis, we demonstrate how three different frames (a biomedical therapeutic frame, a coercion frame, and a mealtime frame) constitute and regulate interactional behaviour in eating situations, and how participants negotiate these frames. It is argued that treatment and coercion are entangled in the routine treatment activity of meals, which makes coercion omnipresent in the treatment of restrictive eating disorders.

Оксана ПЛАМАДЯЛЭ, Валентина ВИЛК, Сергей ПИСАРЕНКО

TB/HIV coinfection remains a serious issue for healthcare systems, especially in resource-limited countries. This study highlights the main risk factors, including weakened immunity in HIV-infected patients, as well as socioeconomic and behavioral factors, such as poverty, smoking, alcohol abuse, and drug use. The importance of a comprehensive approach to the prevention and treatment of TB/HIV coinfection is emphasized, which includes preventive treatment of TB infection, regular monitoring of immune status, improvement of living conditions, and implementation of programs to enhance adherence to TB treatment and reduce barriers to healthcare access.

Joshua Hatherley

Recently, a growing number of experts in artificial intelligence (AI) and medicine have be-gun to suggest that the use of AI systems, particularly machine learning (ML) systems, is likely to humanise the practice of medicine by substantially improving the quality of clinician-patient relationships. In this thesis, however, I argue that medical ML systems are more likely to negatively impact these relationships than to improve them. In particular, I argue that the use of medical ML systems is likely to comprise the quality of trust, care, empathy, understanding, and communication between clinicians and patients.

R. Ohta, C. Sano

Family medicine is a vital medical specialty in an aging society. The scope of each family doctor’s training and practice varies according to the context of their work, their roles, the organization and resources of the health systems in each country, and their ability to adapt to the healthcare needs of their country. As societal requirements change, so does the role of family medicine. In Japan, family physicians’ educational systems were officially established in 2017 as the nineteenth specialty, following discussions among family physicians, general internal medicine physicians, and hospitalists. Family physicians’ specialization in systems could facilitate access to appropriate health resources with proper timing while respecting the culture and context of each patient. Therefore, family physicians can be systems specialists on the same basis as organ and other specialists. Family physicians include people and families in their ecological systems. Family physicians should therefore specialize in healthcare systems.

Lucia MAZUR-NICORICI, Victoria SADOVICI, Nicoleta CALUGARESCO et al.

Boala Castleman (BC) este o afecțiune foarte rară, care poate apărea la orice vârstă și care afectează 16:100000 pacienți/ani. BC se caracterizează prin simptome inflamatorii sistemice, limfadenopatie generalizată, proliferarea limfocitelor policlonale și disfuncții multiple ale sistemelor de organe, fiind adesea asociată cu tulburări autoimune, care pot precede, identificate concomitent sau urma diagnosticul. Lucrarea prezintă criteriile majore și minore în baza cărora se stabilește diagnosticul, precum și importanța lucrului interdisciplinar în identificarea și realizarea diagnosticului diferențial al bolii Castleman.

Laura Uccella, Ilenia Mascherona, Sebastiano Semini et al.

Background and importanceHealthcare professionals face significant workloads, as their roles are among the most demanding and stressful. Resilience serves as a crucial factor in helping them cope with the challenges encountered in their work environment and effectively manage stress. Assessing the level of resilience among healthcare workers and identifying potential variations across different groups is essential for effective public health management, preventing burnout, and ultimately enhancing patient care.ObjectiveTo assess the resilience of various categories of workers operating within a tertiary care multisite hospital and understanding if there are any differences in resilience, based on their characteristics, the type of department they work in, and personality traits.Design, setting and participantsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted in January 2024 at EOC, a multi-site tertiary care hospital located in Southern Switzerland. 1,197 hospital workers answered an online survey which included: (1) an ad hoc questionnaire on personal and job characteristics, well-being-related activities, satisfaction level regarding communication, collaboration, support, and training opportunities in the workplace, (2) the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10-Item on resilience, and (3) the Big Five Personality Inventory 10-item on personality traits.Outcome measures and analysisProportion of resilient and highly resilient individuals within the various categories of workers were analyzed with Bayesian approach and Bayesian robust regression.Main resultsBeing part of the hospitality staff, working as a doctor, and having a male sex were associated to the highest scores of resilience. Surgery and emergency departments had the highest proportion of highly resilient individuals. Male sex, older age, seniority, higher hierarchical rank, engagement in physical activities, relaxation or mindfulness practices, religiosity, perception of good collaboration, communication, support, and physical activity correlated with higher resilience skills.ConclusionThis cross-sectional study found that physicians and hospitality staff within our multi-site Swiss hospital are more resilient compared to other categories of hospital workers, and among departments, those working in surgery and Emergency Medicine. Enhancing our comprehension of resilience is crucial for more precise management of healthcare systems and the development of employment policies aimed at sustaining the capacity of healthcare systems to serve patients effectively, while also mitigating shortages of healthcare professionals.

Harbans Singh, G. Babu, Bhagwan Sahay Sharma et al.

Background: Bronchial Asthma (BA) is a major health concern that interferes with the quality of life. Better health-care strategies based on an integrative approach are still needed for the management of BA. In light of this, the scope of complementary and traditional medicine therapies should be explored. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy and safety of Ayurveda polyherbal formulations (Kantakaryavaleha and Eladi gutika) in mild, stable BA. Materials and Methods: The study design was a prospective, open-label, multicentric clinical trial. Overall, 83 diagnosed cases of mild stable BA, 18–60 years of age belonging to both genders, were analyzed based on the inclusion criteria. Ayurveda compounds Eladi gutika (1 g thrice daily) and Kantakaryavaleha (10 g twice daily) with equal amounts of warm water were administered for 84 days. The primary outcomes were measured by assessing the change in the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and the frequency of need for control medication before and after the trial interventions. The secondary outcomes were measured by comparing the changes in clinical features, Forced Expiratory Volume 1 s (FEV1), biomarkers such as serum C-reactive protein, IgE, and other laboratory parameters, and any adverse events. Results: A statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement in ACQ score was observed from 1.61 (0.45) to 0.61 (0.60) and FEV1 from 0.86 (0.05) to 0.93 (0.09) after 84 days of the trial period. Both interventions were found useful in managing the clinical features and biomarkers; no rescue medication was needed, and no clinically significant adverse events were observed during the trial and follow-up period. Conclusions: Kantakaryavaleha and Eladi gutika are remarkably useful and safe in managing mild, stable BA without any rescue and control medication. Further, a double-blind, randomized controlled trial may be planned with a more extended follow-up period to aid the present findings.

Sarah Foale, Yvonne Botma, Tanya Heyns

Abstract Background Mindfulness as a modality involves training the innate human capacity for present-moment awareness with a view to cultivating a more harmonious and integrated life experience, especially in the face of hardship. Over the past four decades, the field of mindfulness has grown rapidly. Despite a substantial body of literature outlining the many benefits of mindfulness practice within a range of contexts and populations, the authors noticed that studies addressing the adaptation, application and value of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for adults within socio-economically challenged setting were scant. To address this gap, we conducted a realist review of studies pertaining to MBIs within low socio-economic settings, to determine the extend and nature of research in this sector and culminating in a program theory which may be useful for the design of interventions going forward. Methods We selected realist review as the methodology as it is well suited to investigating the complex nature of social interventions. The value of realist review is that the exploration of the causal relationships between the mechanisms (M) within a specific context (C) towards particular outcomes (O) offers a deeper understanding of the intervention which may assist in more effective delivery going forward. The review follows the guidelines presented by the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis – Evolving Standards project. Results Of the 112 documents identified, 12 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these 12 studies, 10 were conducted in the United States, with little representation across the rest of the globe. The interventions described in these articles were varied. We identified mechanisms that offered beneficial outcomes for participants across a range of contexts, with indications of how interventions might be adapted towards greater accessibility, acceptability, and feasibility within communities. Conclusion By reviewing the various programs in their respective contexts, we developed a program theory for implementing socio-culturally adapted MBIs in low socio-economic settings. In the future, this program theory could be tested as a means to create a sense of wellbeing for people living in low socio-economic settings.

Xiaxia Jin, Wendi Dong, Kaile Chang et al.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of probiotics supplementation in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Weipu (VIP) database, Wanfang Database, Sinomed (CBM), PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and Web of Science databases for eligible studies from inception to January 4th, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTS) comparing the effects of probiotic supplements and placebo in patients with PD. Meta-analysis was conducted with the software Review Manager 5.4. The quality assessment was performed according to Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: A total of 11 RCTs with 756 PD patients were included in this study. We found that probiotics could increase the number of complete bowel movements (CBMs) per week and improved the scores of Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL) (SMD = 0.73, 95 % CI: 0.54 to 0.92, P < 0.00001, I2 = 45 %; SMD = − 0.79, 95 % CI: − 1.19 to − 0.39, P < 0.001, I2 = 55 %, respectively) compared with the placebo group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in improving fecal traits and defecation efforts in PD patients (SMD = 0.87, 95 % CI: 0.01 to 1.74, P = 0.05, I2 = 94 %; SMD = 1.24, 95 % CI: − 1.58 to 4.06, P > 0.05, I2 = 98 %, respectively). In terms of PD composite scale scores: after treatment, there was no significant difference in Movement Disorder Society-Unified-Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Ⅲ score (MDS-UPDRSⅢ) between the probiotic group and the placebo group (SMD = − 0.09, 95 % CI: − 0.35 to 0.16, P > 0.05, I2 = 0 %). Conclusions: In conclusion, based on the overall results of the available RCTs studies, our results suggested the potential value of probiotics in improving constipation symptoms in PD patients. Therefore, probiotics may be one of the adjuvant therapy for PD-related constipation patients. The findings of this study provide more proof supporting the effectiveness of probiotics, encouraging probiotics to be utilized alone or in combination with other therapies in clinical practice for PD patients. However, more well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes are required.

Ahmad Bin Afzal, Nabil Mohammed, Shehab Ahmed et al.

Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, posing significant challenges for power distribution systems. In response, this work presents a planning approach in order to enhance the resilience of distribution systems against climatic hazards. The framework systematically addresses uncertainties during extreme events, including weather variability and line damage. Key strategies include line hardening, backup diesel generators, and sectionalizers to strengthen resilience. We model spatio-temporal dynamics and costs through a hybrid model integrating stochastic processes with deterministic elements. A two-stage stochastic mixed-integer linear approach is developed to optimize resilience investments against load loss, generator operations, and repairs. Case studies on the IEEE 15-bus benchmark system and a realistic distribution grid model in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia demonstrate enhanced system robustness as well as cost efficiency of 10% and 15%, respectively.

Xiaofei Chen

This article explores the critical role of statistical analysis in precision medicine. It discusses how personalized healthcare is enhanced by statistical methods that interpret complex, multidimensional datasets, focusing on predictive modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data visualization techniques. The paper addresses challenges in data integration and interpretation, particularly with diverse data sources like electronic health records (EHRs) and genomic data. It also delves into ethical considerations such as patient privacy and data security. In addition, the paper highlights the evolution of statistical analysis in medicine, core statistical methodologies in precision medicine, and future directions in the field, emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

J. Doughari

Medicinal plants have been the mainstay of traditional herbal medicine amongst rural dwellers worldwide since antiquity to date. The therapeutic use of plants certainly goes back to the Sumerian and the Akkadian civilizations in about the third millenium BC. Hippocrates (ca. 460–377 BC), one of the ancient authors who described medicinal natural products of plant and animal origins, listed approximately 400 different plant species for medicinal purposes. Natural products have been an integral part of the ancient traditional medicine systems, e.g. Chinese, Ayurvedic and Egyptian (Sarker & Nahar, 2007). Over the years they have assumed a very central stage in modern civilization as natural source of chemotherapy as well as amongst scientist in search for alternative sources of drugs. About 3.4 billion people in the developing world depend on plant-based traditional medicines. This represents about 88 per cent of the world’s inhabitants, who rely mainly on traditional medicine for their primary health care. According to the World Health Organization, a medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its organs, contains substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes, or which are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi synthesis. Such a plant will have its parts including leaves, roots, rhizomes, stems, barks, flowers, fruits, grains or seeds, employed in the control or treatment of a disease condition and therefore contains chemical components that are medically active. These non-nutrient plant chemical compounds or bioactive components are often referred to as phytochemicals (‘phyto-‘ from Greek phyto meaning ‘plant’) or phytoconstituents and are responsible for protecting the plant against microbial infections or infestations by pests (Abo et al., 1991; Liu, 2004; Nweze et al., 2004; Doughari et al., 2009). The study of natural products on the other hand is called phytochemistry. Phytochemicals have been isolated and characterized from fruits such as grapes and apples, vegetables such as broccoli and onion, spices such as turmeric, beverages such as green tea and red wine, as well as many other sources (Doughari & Obidah, 2008; Doughari et al., 2009).

Firas Kobeissy, Mona Goli, Hamad Yadikar et al.

Neuroproteomics, an emerging field at the intersection of neuroscience and proteomics, has garnered significant attention in the context of neurotrauma research. Neuroproteomics involves the quantitative and qualitative analysis of nervous system components, essential for understanding the dynamic events involved in the vast areas of neuroscience, including, but not limited to, neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, mental illness, traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and other neurodegenerative diseases. With advancements in mass spectrometry coupled with bioinformatics and systems biology, neuroproteomics has led to the development of innovative techniques such as microproteomics, single-cell proteomics, and imaging mass spectrometry, which have significantly impacted neuronal biomarker research. By analyzing the complex protein interactions and alterations that occur in the injured brain, neuroproteomics provides valuable insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neurotrauma. This review explores how such insights can be harnessed to advance personalized medicine (PM) approaches, tailoring treatments based on individual patient profiles. Additionally, we highlight the potential future prospects of neuroproteomics, such as identifying novel biomarkers and developing targeted therapies by employing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). By shedding light on neurotrauma’s current state and future directions, this review aims to stimulate further research and collaboration in this promising and transformative field.

Hassan Sartaj, Shaukat Ali, Tao Yue et al.

Healthcare applications with the Internet of Things (IoT) are often safety-critical, thus, require extensive testing. Such applications are often connected to smart medical devices from various vendors. System-level testing of such applications requires test infrastructures physically integrating medical devices, which is time and monetary-wise expensive. Moreover, applications continuously evolve, e.g., introducing new devices and users and updating software. Nevertheless, a test infrastructure enabling testing with a few devices is insufficient for testing healthcare IoT systems, hence compromising their dependability. In this paper, we propose a model-based approach for the creation and operation of digital twins (DTs) of medicine dispensers as a replacement for physical devices to support the automated testing of IoT applications at scale. We evaluate our approach with an industrial IoT system with medicine dispensers in the context of Oslo City and its industrial partners, providing healthcare services to its residents. We study the fidelity of DTs in terms of their functional similarities with their physical counterparts: medicine dispensers. Results show that the DTs behave more than 92% similar to the physical medicine dispensers, providing a faithful replacement for the dispenser.

Ajit Appari, Ajit Appari, M. E. Johnson et al.

Helen Gelbrand, M. Miller-Petrie, Suraj Pant et al.

Aihua Deng, Fengying Liu, Xuchong Tang et al.

Abstract Background The “multiple-hit” hypothesis is currently the most widely accepted theory for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the water extract of artichoke (WEA) on NAFLD and its underlying mechanism. Methods Rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce NAFLD and then treated with WEA at three doses (0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 g/kg body weight, BW) for 8 weeks. At the end of the intervention, serum biochemical parameters, hepatic antioxidant capacity, hepatic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, liver histopathology, hepatic inflammatory gene and lipid metabolism gene expression, and Akt and p-Akt (S473) protein levels were determined. Results The body weight, liver weight, liver triglyceride (TG) and serum levels of TG, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, and insulin were all significantly reduced in the WEA-treated groups (0.8 and 1.6 g/kg BW) compared with the HFD group (P < 0.01). A significant decrease in hepatic content of malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) and glutathione (P < 0.01), as well as a significant increase in liver superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.01) were observed in WEA-treated groups (0.8 and 1.6 g/kg BW) compared to the HFD group. In addition, there was a marked decrease in the hepatic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the WEA-treated groups compared to the HFD group (P < 0.01). In line with these findings, the histopathology of the livers of rats treated with WEA (0.8 and 1.6 g/kg BW) showed a decrease in steatosis, ballooning, and lobular inflammation. Mechanistically, the reduced hepatic TG content might be related to the downregulation of lipogenic genes (SREBP1c, FASN, SCD1) and upregulation of lipolytic gene (PPARα), and the improved insulin signaling might be associated with the observed increase in antioxidant activity and reduction in inflammation in the WEA-treated groups. Conclusion The hepatoprotective role of WEA in NAFLD may be attributed to its anti-steatotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-insulin resistance effects.

Antonella Cabrini de Lima, Natália Medeiros Petitemberg, Flávia Moreira Lima et al.

O Programa Saúde Mental, parte da Residência Integrada Multiprofissional em Saúde do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), tenciona especializar profissionais para realizar o cuidado em saúde mental de acordo com as proposições da Reforma Psiquiátrica e do Paradigma da Atenção Psicossocial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi retratar a elaboração de um guia orientador para o residente do primeiro ano do Programa Saúde Mental. Metodologias empregadas: o Manual de Sobrevivência do R1 foi elaborado pela residente de psicologia do segundo ano com a finalidade de orientar e integrar os residentes ingressos em 2021. O Manual foi estruturado em três partes: 1) Rotinas da Residência em Saúde Mental; 2) Campo de atuação do 1º ano; 3) “Dicas de R2 para R1”. Resultados: Através deste manual, buscou-se acolher e integrar com os novos residentes, visando um cuidado humanizado bem como oferecer orientações sobre as rotinas da residência e cuidados adotados durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Também foi oportunizada a partilha de experiências e aproximação entre residentes, estimulando os sentimentos de pertencimento e solidariedade. Através do Manual de Sobrevivência do R1, foi trabalhado o acolhimento dos residentes ingressos no Programa Saúde Mental do HCPA e estimulada a criação de vínculo entre a equipe. A partir do contato com o manual, os novos residentes puderam se apropriar das rotinas e desafios dos processos assistenciais. Também foi possível a troca de percepções entre os profissionais, desmistificando processos e acalentando angústias, lembrando que a residência é um processo intenso permeado de novos aprendizados e experiências, mas passageiro. Palavras-chave: Guia. Assistência à Saúde Mental. Capacitação de Recursos Humanos em Saúde.  

Xiao Gan, Zixin Shu, Xinyan Wang et al.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) relies on natural medical products to treat symptoms and diseases. While clinical data have demonstrated the effectiveness of selected TCM-based treatments, the mechanistic root of how TCM herbs treat diseases remains largely unknown. More importantly, current approaches focus on single herbs or prescriptions, missing the high-level general principles of TCM. To uncover the mechanistic nature of TCM on a system level, in this work we establish a generic network medicine framework for TCM from the human protein interactome. Applying our framework reveals a network pattern between symptoms (diseases) and herbs in TCM. We first observe that genes associated with a symptom are not distributed randomly in the interactome, but cluster into localized modules; furthermore, a short network distance between two symptom modules is indicative of the symptoms' co-occurrence and similarity. Next, we show that the network proximity of a herb's targets to a symptom module is predictive of the herb's effectiveness in treating the symptom. We validate our framework with real-world hospital patient data by showing that (1) shorter network distance between symptoms of inpatients correlates with higher relative risk (co-occurrence), and (2) herb-symptom network proximity is indicative of patients' symptom recovery rate after herbal treatment. Finally, we identified novel herb-symptom pairs in which the herb's effectiveness in treating the symptom is predicted by network and confirmed in hospital data, but previously unknown to the TCM community. These predictions highlight our framework's potential in creating herb discovery or repurposing opportunities. In conclusion, network medicine offers a powerful novel platform to understand the mechanism of traditional medicine and to predict novel herbal treatment against diseases.