Integrative multidisciplinary approaches by the Integrative Medicine Research Group (IMRG): a new frontier in cancer setting.

This conference addresses the topic of integrative, multidisciplinary approaches to cancer settings according to evidence-based medicine. The multidisciplinary approach of the researchers involved characterizes this new and complex scenario. The Integrative Medicine Research Group (IMRG) has always been committed to the activities and dissemination of CAM in cancer patients, focusing on the safety and efficacy of these approaches. Thus, one of the main goals of IMRG is to demonstrate that CAM can support cancer patients during treatment and improve their quality of life and survival. In addition, IMRG's multidisciplinary network is ever vigilant in assessing the risks of interactions between cancer drugs and nutraceuticals. We hope that the integrative medicine approach can be transferred to the level of all chronic diseases, including oncology.

Combined pulses of light and sound in the retina with nutraceuticals may enhance the recovery of foveal holes.

The present manuscript stems from evidence, which indicates that specific wavelength produce an activation of the autophagy pathway in the retina. These effects were recently reported to synergize with the autophagy-inducing properties of specific phytochemicals. The combined administration of photo-modulation and phytochemicals was recently shown to have a strong potential in eliciting the recovery in the course of retinal degeneration and it was suggested as a non-invasive approach named "Lugano protocol" to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Recent translational findings indicate that the protective role of autophagy may extend also to acute neuronal injuries including traumatic neuronal damage. At the same time, very recent investigations indicate that autophagy activation and retinal anatomical recovery may benefit from sound exposure. Therefore, in the present study, the anatomical rescue of a traumatic neuronal loss at macular level was investigated in a patient with idiopathic macular hole by using a combined approach of physical and chemical non-invasive treatments. In detail, light exposure was administered in combination with sound pulses to the affected retina. This treatment was supplemented by phytochemicals known to act as autophagy inducers, which were administered orally for 6 months. This combined administration of light and sound with nutraceuticals reported here as Advanced Lugano's Protocol (ALP) produced a remarkable effect in the anatomical architecture of the retina affected by the macular hole. The anatomical recovery was almost complete at roughly one year after diagnosis and beginning of treatment. The structural healing of the macular hole was concomitant with a strong improvement of visual acuity and the disappearance of metamorphopsia. The present findings are discussed in the light of a synergism shown at neuronal level between light and sound in the presence of phytochemicals to stimulate autophagy and promote proliferation and neuronal differentiation of retinal stem cells.

Antinociceptive properties of the methanolic extract obtained from Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br.

Ipomoea pes-caprae is a medicinal plant used in many countries for the treatment of several ailments, including inflammatory and algesic processes. The present study describes the antinociceptive effects of the methanolic extract and two fractions obtained from aerial parts of this plant. The results indicated that both methanolic extract and two fractions (ethyl acetate and aqueous) exhibited considerable antinociceptive activity against two classical models of pain in mice. Methanolic extract presented a calculated ID50 value of 33.8 mg/kg, i.p. against writhing test and also inhibited both phases of pain (neurogenic and inflammatory) of the formalin test with ID50 of 37.7 and 12.5 mg/kg, i.p. for the first and second phase, respectively. Preliminary phytochemical analysis suggested the presence of steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids. These findings support, at least in part, the popular use of I. pes-caprae to treat dolorous processes.

Isolation and identification of compounds with antinociceptive action from Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br.

This study describes the isolation and identification of several constituents from Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br., a medicinal plant frequently employed in folk medicine of many countries as a remedy against several diseases, including inflammation and pain. Our results demonstrate that some of these compounds, such as glochidone, betulinic acid, alpha- and beta-amyrin acetate, isoquercitrin, etc. showed pronounced antinociceptive properties in the writhing test and formalin test in mice. These data confirm our previous work concerning the antinociceptive action of the hydroalcoholic extract of I. pes-caprae and justify, at least in part, the popular use of this plant for the treatment of dolorous processes.

Allergenic cross-reactivity among peach, apricot, plum, and cherry in patients with oral allergy syndrome: an in vivo and in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Oral allergy syndrome in response to fruits and vegetables frequently occurs as clusters of hypersensitivity to members of the same botanical family, for which the immunologic basis lies in a number of common allergens, most of them still unidentified. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the in vivo and in vitro cross-reactivity between fruits of the Prunoideae subfamily (i.e., peach, cherry, apricot, and plum) and to identify their major allergens and the cross-reactivity of the peach extract with grass and birch pollen. METHODS: The in vivo study was conducted by skin prick tests and open food challenges with fresh fruits in 23 patients with oral allergy syndrome for peach and positive skin prick test and RAST results for the other Prunoideae. In vitro sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was followed by immunoblotting and immunoblotting-inhibition. RESULTS: A 13 kd component was identified as the only major allergen common to all the Prunoideae, the other major allergens were found at 14 kd in peach and at 30 kd in cherry. Immunoblotting inhibition showed wide cross-reactivity within the Prunoideae, whereas grass and birch pollen partially inhibited the peach blotting. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical cross-reactivity to Prunoideae is essentially due to a common 13 kd IgE-binding component, which seems to be the most important major allergen of this subfamily, not shared with grass and birch pollen.

Caffeine-induced potentiation of GABA effects on frog spinal cord: an electrophysiological study.

A parasagittal slice of the frog spinal cord was kept in vitro for electrophysiological recordings from dorsal and ventral roots. Low concentrations of caffeine (50 microM) which had relatively small effects on baseline electrical activity, increased the depolarizing action of GABA on dorsal root fibres by 50%. A similar result was also obtained when GABA motoneuronal responses were tested. On dorsal roots the potentiation of GABA responses by caffeine was reflected by a significant decrease in GABA ED50 value without change in the maximal response amplitude; this enhancing action of caffeine was not blocked by bicuculline (5 microM) but was abolished by flurazepam (5 microM) or by Ca2+ antagonists (Mn2+ and Cd2+). Blockade of interneuronal activity by procaine left the potentiating action of caffeine unchanged. High doses of caffeine (up to 1 mM) produced a seemingly non-competitive antagonism of GABA responses. We suggest that caffeine can modulate GABA responses through two different mechanisms: a potentiation of GABA effects (seen with low doses of caffeine) probably due to Ca2+ mobilization and an antagonism of GABA responses (typically seen with large doses of caffeine) perhaps caused by block of GABA receptor-activated channels. This novel caffeine-GABA interaction may be useful to interpret some of the effects of caffeine on mammalian behaviour.