Dhiraj Gurjar, Neelam Bodhale, Divanshu Shukla
et al.
Leishmania, a macrophage-residing parasite, expresses virulence factors that intercept macrophage signaling and inflicts leishmaniasis. Recently described virulence factors- eEF-1α (eukaryotic elongation factor), LmjF_36_3850 (Leishmania major F_36_3850), LdTyrPIP_22 (LDBPK_220120.1) and LmjMAPK (L. major mitogen activated protein kinase)-4/12 selectively modulate the activities of kinases, phosphatases and metabolism of phosphatidylinositol influencing the infection outcome. LmjF_36_3850, abundant in virulent L. major, interferes with PKC (Protein kinase C) activation; OAG (1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol) supplementation enhanced PKC phosphorylation, increasing IL-12, but reducing IL-10, production and increased disease-promoting T cells. LdTyrPIP_22, a dual-specificity phosphatase, dephosphorylates phosphotyrosine residues and PI(3)P/PI(4)P, within the flagellar pocket and vesicles, suggesting a role in phosphoinositide (PI) signaling during differentiation. Its L. mexicana ortholog, LmDUSP1 (Dual-specificity Phosphatase), is a virulence factor linked to infectivity. 170 PX-domain-containing proteins in Kinetoplastea are implicated in phosphoinositide-mediated signaling, transport, and membrane trafficking. This review constructs a new framework of virulence factor-modulated host cell signaling as a bi-directional host–parasite interaction.
Katharina Gaertner, Klaus von Ammon, Philippa Fibert
et al.
Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are an established research method to investigate the effects of an intervention. Several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs with homeopathic interventions have identified shortcomings in design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of trials. Guidelines for RCTs in homeopathic medicine are lacking. Objectives: This paper aims to fill this gap in order to enhance the quality of RCTs in the field of homeopathy. Methods: Identification of the homeopathy-specific requirements for RCTs by reviewing literature and experts’ communications. Systematization of the findings using a suitable checklist for planning, conducting, and reporting RCTs, namely the SPIRIT statement, and high-quality homeopathy RCTs as examples. Cross-checking of the created checklist with the RedHot-criteria, the PRECIS criteria, and a qualitative evaluation checklist. Consideration of the REFLECT statement and the ARRIVE Guidelines 2.0 for veterinary homeopathy. Results: Recommendations for future implementation of RCTs in homeopathy are summarized in a checklist. Alongside, identified useful solutions to the issues encountered when designing and conducting homeopathy RCTs are presented. Conclusions: The formulated recommendations present guidelines additional to those in the SPIRIT checklist, on how to better plan, design, conduct, and report RCTs in homeopathy.
Introduction:
The number and type of health related disorders are increasing day by day across the globe and India is not an exception. The emergence of COVID 19 in India is also fuelling health related disorders among Indians. The present study is focused on understanding general health related disorders, medical treatment preferences, and health management practices in South Indians using an exploratory approach.
Methods:
A survey method was followed to conduct the study using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed based on a focus group discussion with the experts and researchers in the general medicine field. A convenience sampling method and online survey method were used to collect the data from the respondents.
Results:
The top six health related disorders reported in the study were skin related problems, eye problems, menstrual problems, mental stress, dental problems, and vitamin and nutritional deficiencies. The most preferred treatment option is allopathy medicine, followed by ayurveda and homeopathy. The preferred place for the treatment were private hospitals, followed by clinics and then government hospitals. A list of 22 positive and negative health related practices currently followed by the respondents was also identified in the study.
Discussion:
The results of the study will be helpful to understand a comprehensive overview of the study topic by the health professionals, hospital authorities, health researchers, and policymakers to develop strategies to manage the health related disorders, provide effective medical treatment, and enhance the current health management practices.
Conclusion:
Effective treatment for the top six health-related disorders identified in the study and more awareness programs and training will help achieve better health management.
<i>Arnica montana</i> L. has been recognized for centuries as an herbal remedy to treat wounds and promote healing. It also has a long tradition of use in homeopathy. Depending on its medicinal utilization, standardization regulations allow different manufacturing processes, implying different raw materials, such as the whole arnica plant in its fresh or dried state. In this study, an untargeted metabolomics approach with UHPLC-HRMS/MS was used to cross-compare the phytochemical composition of mother tinctures of <i>A. montana</i> that were prepared from either fresh whole plant (fMT) matter or from oven-dried whole plant (dMT) matter. The multivariate data analysis showed significant differences between fMT and dMT. The dereplication of the HRMS and MS/MS spectra of the more discriminant compounds led to annotated quinic acid, dicaffeoyl quinic acids, ethyl caffeate, thymol derivatives and dehydrophytosphingosine, which were increased in fMT, while Amadori rearrangement products (ARP) and methoxyoxaloyl-dicaffeoyl quinic acid esters were enhanced in dMT. Neither sesquiterpene lactones nor flavonoids were affected by the drying process. This is the first time that a sphingosine, ethyl caffeate and ARP are described in <i>A. montana</i>. Moreover, putative new natural products were detected as 10-hydroxy-8,9-epoxy-thymolisobutyrate and an oxidized proline fructose conjugate, for which isolation and full structure elucidation will be necessary to verify this finding.
The COVID-19, the most infectious pandemic disease arising due to SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has caused huge issues globally. In this review, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the immune system of the human body and the protective mechanisms of the host immune system opposing viral infections. Here, we summarize the effect of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease on the immune system such as sleep and Behavioral Immune System (BIS) together with consideration of researcher’s observation points of view. We draw particular attention to recent up-to-date reports concerning COVID-19 drugs as well as information about the landscape document for COVID-19 vaccines released by WHO (World Health Organization), and some adverse events of COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, can take part in the preventive appraise in opposition within this pandemic severe COVID-19 infections disease may affect some outcome in physical exercise, physical movement, healthy diets, and good nutrition are significant for supporting the immune systems and summarize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Indian medicinal systems guidelines for immunity boosting procedures during COVID-19 pandemic.
Solomon Tsekohol Agu, Christian Okechukwu Ezihe, Paul Friday Itodo
et al.
Abstracts Background Chemotherapy is associated with male infertility. Cisplatin (CP), an antineoplastic agent has been successfully used for the treatment of diverse kinds of malignancies, however, the use of this effective agent could induce oxidative stress injury, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and testicular damage. Combined CP chemotherapy with plant extracts can diminish the toxicity and enhance the antitumor efficacy of the drug. The objective of the study was to determine the protective effect Lophira lanceolata leaf extract (LLLE) on CP-induced toxicity on male reproductive organs. Methods The study was carried out with 30 (n = 30) male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). The rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 5 rats each. Rats in group 1 (Control) were administered distilled water per os. Rats in group 2 were administered 5 mg/kg of CP intraperitoneally (i.p). Rats in groups 3 and 4 were administered per os LLLE at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight and rats in groups 5 and 6 were administered 5 mg/kg body weight of CP + LLLE at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively. Results The results showed a significant decrease in the sperm parameters in the group treated with CP alone when compared with the control and there in the sperm parameters in the groups administered CP + LLLE. The body and organ weights of the rats were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the CP treated group relative to the control. However, there was an increase in the weight of the organs in the LLLE pretreated groups. The photomicrographs showed degenerative changes in the testicular tissues of the rats administered CP alone whereas the group pretreated with the LLLE showed amelioration induced by the CP. Our study revealed that CP treatment has deleterious effects on sperm parameters and testicular tissues and the accessory sex organs (Epididymis, prostate, seminal vesicles) of the rats. Oral administration of LLLE at 200 and 400 mg/kg bodyweight for 26 days conferred protective effects against testicular damage induced by CP. Conclusion This study revealed that pretreatment with LLLE protected against CP-induced testicular toxicity.
Alina Mornea Petrache, Vlad Falup, Svetlana Micle
et al.
The damage caused by Mycosphaerella fragariae infection is one of the main foliar diseases of wild strawberries. The leaf spot disease decreases significantly the photosynthetic area and the quality of the fruits. This fungal disease caused by Mycosphaerella fragaria is an important factor that is limiting the crop production and it causes high costs due to yield losses and expensive pesticide applications. Traditionally, the main procedure for disease control in wild strawberry production depends on chemical treatments and pre-plant fumigation. Recently, alternative methods of disease control have been sought and researched, because of the increasing request for organic food. This study evaluates the effect of two organic treatments for the leaf spot disease on wild strawberry irrigated crop.
Ali A. Jigam, Rachael Musa, Abdulkadir Abdullahi
et al.
Abstract Background The treatment inadequacy and toxicity associated with conventional anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs has called for the search of alternatives from medicinal plants, particularly, their phytochemicals with inherent pharmacological properties. In the present study, purified fraction of M. senegalensis leaf was evaluated for antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Method Antimalarial study was conducted against Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium berghei using 4 days suppressive test, while anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies were conducted using egg albumin induced paw oedema and acetic acid induced pain model respectively. Sub-acute toxicity was assessed using serum biochemical parameters following 3 weeks administrations of the purified fraction. Results The purified fraction of M. senegalensis leaf shows dose dependent antiplasmodial activity with percentage curative effects of 15.24 ± 0.89, 45.70 ± 3.43 and 48.50 ± 4.56 at 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg bw against Plasmodium chabaudi and % curative effects of 44.25 ± 3.21, 72.74 ± 6.54 and 76.30 ± 8.32 respectively against Plasmodium berghei. The purified fraction exhibited 53.16 ± 4.09 and 60.76 ± 7.54 anti-inflammatory effect, 43.35 ± 4.98% and 44.83 ± 3.86% analgesic effect at 75 and 150 mg/kg bw respectively. GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of 20α)-3-hydroxy-2-oxo-24-nor-friedela-1(10),3,5,7-tetraen-carboxylic acid-(29)-methylester, 2(4H)-Benzofuranone, 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro- and 3-hydroxy-20(29)-lupen-28-ol and a terpenes (phytol) as the major antimalarial compounds in the fraction. The purified fraction increases the serum total proteins and transaminases concentrations but had no effect on serum levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride and glucose in the mice. Conclusion The purified fraction of M. senegalensis leaf exhibited promising antimalarial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, could serve as a template for the synthesis of new drug.
In an attempt to improve the living standards, millions of individuals have migrated to cities and the current estimates reveal that 50% of the global population are living in cities. However, the life in a city poses a wide gamut of challenges and it is important to understand that health standards are not only determined by access to health system but also by supporting infrastructure and facilities. All these facts emphasize the need to create such kind of cities that can shield and promote health through the implementation of appropriate policies, structural reforms, and launch of health programs. The creation of a healthy city requires some key issues to be addressed, including mental illness, physical inactivity, consumption of unhealthy diet, pollution and environmental health hazards, road traffic injuries, and urban violence. In conclusion, the creation of a healthy city should be looked upon as an opportunity to not only improve the well-being of the general population but also will aid in the accomplishments of universal health coverage, national, and global goals for development.
The 1930s neo-hippocratism movement materialized with the organisation of the first International Congress of neo-hippocratic Medicine in Paris in July 1937. This congress staged the meeting of faculty professors, who in this respect were part of the academic medicine of their time, with homeopathic doctors, who tend to be historiographically perceived as practitioners of « alternative medicines ». All these doctors agreed on a synthetic medicine that took into account the complexity of the human personality and its many relationships with its environment. This claim can be understood as a response to the developments of laboratory medicine, often considered too reductionist. A detailed analysis of homeopathic medicine’s internal evolutions, which led to this meeting, allows us to discuss the dichotomy between academic medicine and alternative medicine and to argue for the study of alternative medicines through their doctrinal specificities, in relation to medical holism, rather than through their relations with academic medicine.
Sylvester Languon MSc, Isaac Tuffour MPhil, Emmanuel Ekow Quayson BSc
et al.
There are numerous herbal products on the Ghanaian market that are purported to cure various ailments, including cancer. However, scientific investigations on efficacy and toxicity of most of these products are not done. The aim of the study was to assess the anticancer potentials of herbal products on the Ghanaian market. Antiproliferative effects of Kantinka BA (K-BA), Kantinka Herbaltics (K-HER), Centre of Awareness (COA), a stomach (STO) and multicancer (MUT) product were evaluated in vitro using liver (Hep G2), breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC-3 and LNCaP), and blood (Jurkat) cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity of the medicinal products was assessed using tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay, and total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the products were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively. Phytochemical screening resulted in the detection of terpenoids and flavonoids in most of the products, and alkaloids were detected in only MUT. Tannins were absent from all the products. The highest and lowest concentrations of phenolics were recorded for MUT and K-BA, respectively. The highest and lowest antioxidant activities were measured for MUT and K-HER, respectively. Only 2 products (STO and MUT) were cytotoxic to Hep G2 cells; with MUT being the only product that was cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells. All but K-BA were cytotoxic to PC-3 cells, while all products except K-HER were cytotoxic to LNCaP and Jurkat cells. The study thus confirms that the herbal products have selective cytotoxic activities against the tested cancer cell lines. However, comprehensive toxicity studies must be conducted to establish their safety.
Christa Raak, Wolfram Scharbrodt, Bettina Berger
et al.
Abstract Background Spinal disc herniation is a frequently occurring degenerative disease of the spine. Many patients undergoing surgery suffer from radicular pain, known as memory pain, beginning from the third post-operative day. This results in the prescription of high-dose opioid medications. In homeopathy, Hypericum perforatum is known as a remedy for unbearable, shooting or jabbing pain especially when neural damage is involved. Reduction of pain after application of H. perforatum has been observed in previous studies. This study is aimed to investigate whether homeopathic H. perforatum in a potentisation of C200 leads to the reduction of post-operative pain and a decrease of pain medication compared to placebo. Methods/design This is a monocentric, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery at the Community Hospital Herdecke, Germany. One hundred study participants are being recruited from inpatients undergoing elective, monosegmental, lumbar microdiscectomy surgery. Patients are randomly allocated to receive homeopathic treatment or placebo in addition to usual pain management after surgery. The primary clinical outcome is pain reduction after 3 days of inpatient care as measured by pain reduction of subjective pain on a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the third post-operative day. Statistical analysis will be carried out by means of a covariance model with adjustment for baseline values and patient expectation for all randomised patients. Discussion This study is the first trial of classical homeopathy that will evaluate the efficacy of homeopathic H. perforatum after monosegmental spinal microdiscectomy. We intend to clarify the potential of homoeopathic H. perforatum to reduce surgery-associated pain. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register, ID: DRKS00007913. Registered on 17 October 2014. EudraCT – Nr: 2013–001383-31. Data sets from the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS, Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien) are updated every 4 weeks automatically to the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform of World Health Organisation: http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/. Responsibilities Sponsor: Witten/Herdecke University Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50 58,448 Witten Deputy of the sponsor: Dr. Wolfgang Eglmeier (Head of Centre for Clinical Trials Witten/Herdecke) Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50 58,448 Witten E-mail: wolfgang.eglmeier@uni-wh.de Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. med. Wolfram Scharbrodt Community Hospital Herdecke Department for Neurosurgery Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4 58,313 Herdecke w.scharbrodt@gemeinschaftskrankenhaus.de Project coordination: Christa Raak Faculty for Health (Department for Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine) University Witten/Herdecke gGmbh Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4 58,313 Herdecke christa.raak@uni-wh.de Project manager/data analysis/biometry: Prof. Dr. Thomas Ostermann Faculty for Health (Department for Psychology and Psychotherapy) University Witten/Herdecke gGmbh Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50 58,448 Witten thomas.ostermann@uni-wh.de
Azadeh Hamedi PhD, Mehdi Afifi PharmD, Hamed Etemadfard MPhil
Hydrosol soft drinks in Persian nutrition culture are produced as side products of the essential oil industry to be used as safe remedies for treatment of some ailments. This study investigated hydrosols for women’s hormonal health conditions. Detailed information was gathered by questionnaires. Chemical constituents of these mono- or poly-herbal hydrosols were identified after liquid/liquid extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Hierarchical cluster and K-means analysis (SPSS software) were used to find their relevance. A literature survey was also performed. In most cases, thymol, carvacrol, and carvone were the major constituents except for dill, white horehound, willow, Moderr, and yarrow hydrosols, whose their major components were dill ether, menthol, phenethyl alcohol, linalool, or camphor. Based on clustering methods, some similarities could be found in their constituents with some exceptions. None of them have been studied scientifically before. These investigations may lead to the development of some functional drinks or even new lead components.
Mind-body practices that intentionally generate positive emotion could improve health professionals’ well-being and compassion. However, the feasibility and impact of clinician training in these practices is unknown. Data were analyzed from 3 online modules offered to health professionals: ( a ) Gratitude, ( b ) Positive Word, and ( c ) Loving-kindness/Compassion meditation. Paired t tests were used to assess pre- to posttraining changes in gratitude (Gratitude Questionnaire), well-being (World Health Organization Well-Being Index), self-compassion (Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale), and confidence in providing compassionate care (Confidence in Providing Calm, Compassionate Care Scale). The 177 enrollees included diverse practitioners (nurses, physicians, social workers, and others). Training was associated with statistically significant improvements in gratitude (38.3 ± 4.6 to 39.5 ± 3.3), well-being (16.4 ± 4.0 to 17.9 ± 4.2), self-compassion (39.5 ± 8.1 to 43.1 ± 7.6), and confidence in providing compassionate care (73.3 ± 16.4 to 80.9 ± 13.8; P < .001 for all comparisons). Brief, online training appeals to diverse health professionals and improves their gratitude, well-being, self-compassion, and confidence in providing compassionate care.
This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of peppermint ( Mentha piperita L.) on the performance of broiler chicks. 500 Ross broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatment groups of 4 replications in a completely randomized design format. The diets were ISO-caloric and ISO-nitrogenous ones and contained 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 g/kg of peppermint powder. At start, growing, and end periods, the effects of peppermint powder on average daily weight gain, feed conversation ratio, and mortality rate were studied. The results of the present study showed that over a production period of 42 days peppermint had a significant effect on average daily weight gain and feed conversation ratio when compared with the control group ( P < .05). The level of 4.5 g/kg had the highest average daily weight gain (52.78 g), and control treatment with 46.98 g had the least average daily weight gain among different levels of peppermint. The level of 4.5 g/kg and 6 g/kg of peppermint had the least mortality compared to control treatment during training period ( P < .05). From this experiment, we can conclude that treatment with 4.5 g/kg peppermint powder has better performance and carcass characteristics in broilers.
Few homeopathic complexes seemed to produce significant effects in osteoarthritis; still, individualized homeopathy remained untested. We evaluated the feasibility of conducting an efficacy trial of individualized homeopathy in osteoarthritis. A prospective, parallel-arm, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted from January to October 2014 involving 60 patients (homeopathy, n = 30; placebo, n = 30) who were suffering from acute painful episodes of knee osteoarthritis and visiting the outpatient clinic of Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India. Statistically significant reduction was achieved in 3 visual analog scales (measuring pain, stiffness, and loss of function) and Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores in both groups over 2 weeks ( P < .05); however, group differences were not significant ( P > .05). Overall, homeopathy did not appear to be superior to placebo; still, further rigorous evaluation in this design involving a larger sample size seems feasible in future. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI/2014/05/004589).