The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review.

Ayahuasca is an original Amazonian brew made from the vines and leaves of Psychotroa viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi. Both P. viridis and B. caapi give this brew its unique psychedelic properties which have been revered over centuries. In recent years, ayahuasca has gained attention as a potential therapeutic tool for mental health disorders, including substance abuse and depression. The uniqueness of ayahuasca's therapeutic potential is that it is an amalgamation of its biochemical makeup and the ritual guided by a shaman, along with the interpretation of the participant of their experience. The boom of "ayahuasca tourism" has brought forth testimonies of feeling "cured" of depression, and substance abuse and an improvement in overall well-being. This systematic literature review focuses on summarizing the recently available research on the effectiveness of ayahuasca as a treatment for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also focuses on understanding the effects it has on personality traits that play a significant role in the manifestation of the above-listed mental health conditions effects. Additionally, the review investigates the importance and role the ritual itself plays, often described as the "mystical experience". This systematic literature review aims to explore the current state of knowledge regarding the use of ayahuasca for numerous mental health conditions by analyzing medical research papers published no earlier than September 2017 to no later than May 2023 from Google Scholar and PubMed. A total of 43 articles met the criteria and were used for detailed analysis. This review will synthesize the findings of the studies, examining the potential therapeutic effects of ayahuasca on multiple mental health disorders, the significance of the "mystical experience," and the mechanisms of action underlying its effects. Through the review, ayahuasca proves to be a worthwhile therapeutic tool that if used in the right setting influences mind, body, and spirit. It is important to note that most studies used in this article relied on surveys and self-reporting proving to be a limitation as no clear standard has been achieved to test the efficacy of ayahuasca. The respect for the culture and origin needs to be retained as Western medicine dwells deeper into ayahuasca's benefits.

The multi-faceted nature of age-associated osteoporosis.

Age-associated osteoporosis (AAOP) poses a significant health burden, characterized by increased fracture risk due to declining bone mass and strength. Effective prevention and early treatment strategies are crucial to mitigate the disease burden and the associated healthcare costs. Current therapeutic approaches effectively target the individual contributing factors to AAOP. Nonetheless, the management of AAOP is complicated by the multitude of variables that affect its development. Main intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to AAOP risk are reviewed here, including mechanical unloading, nutrient deficiency, hormonal disbalance, disrupted metabolism, cognitive decline, inflammation and circadian disruption. Furthermore, it is discussed how these can be targeted for prevention and treatment. Although valuable as individual targets for intervention, the interconnectedness of these risk factors result in a unique etiology for every patient. Acknowledgement of the multifaceted nature of AAOP will enable the development of more effective and sustainable management strategies, based on a holistic, patient-centered approach.

The Bitemporal Lens Model-toward a holistic approach to chronic disease prevention with digital biomarkers.

Objectives: We introduce the Bitemporal Lens Model, a comprehensive methodology for chronic disease prevention using digital biomarkers. Materials and Methods: The Bitemporal Lens Model integrates the change-point model, focusing on critical disease-specific parameters, and the recurrent-pattern model, emphasizing lifestyle and behavioral patterns, for early risk identification. Results: By incorporating both the change-point and recurrent-pattern models, the Bitemporal Lens Model offers a comprehensive approach to preventive healthcare, enabling a more nuanced understanding of individual health trajectories, demonstrated through its application in cardiovascular disease prevention. Discussion: We explore the benefits of the Bitemporal Lens Model, highlighting its capacity for personalized risk assessment through the integration of two distinct lenses. We also acknowledge challenges associated with handling intricate data across dual temporal dimensions, maintaining data integrity, and addressing ethical concerns pertaining to privacy and data protection. Conclusion: The Bitemporal Lens Model presents a novel approach to enhancing preventive healthcare effectiveness.

Potential Benefits of Green Tea in Prostate Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Comprehensive Review.

Prostate cancer is a prevalent and debilitating disease that necessitates effective prevention and treatment strategies. Green tea, a well-known beverage derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, contains bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including catechins and polyphenols. This comprehensive review aims to explore the potential benefits of green tea in prostate cancer prevention and treatment by examining existing literature. Green tea possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties attributed to its catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate. Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse association between green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk, with potential protection against aggressive forms of the disease. Laboratory studies demonstrate that green tea components inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis, and modulate signaling pathways critical to prostate cancer development and progression. Clinical trials and human studies further support the potential benefits of green tea. Green tea consumption has been found to be associated with a reduction in prostate-specific antigen levels, tumor markers, and played a potential role in slowing disease progression. However, challenges remain, including optimal dosage determination, formulation standardization, and conducting large-scale, long-term clinical trials. The review suggests future research should focus on combinatorial approaches with conventional therapies and personalized medicine strategies to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from green tea interventions.

Microbial bionic nano-aromatic drugs for prevention of depression induced by chronic stress.

Depression is a mood disorder mainly clinically characterized by significant and persistent low spirits. Chronic stress is the leading cause of depression. However, traditional medicine has severe side effects in treating depression, ineffective treatment, and easy recurrence. Therefore, it is of great significance to prevent depression in the environment of chronic stress. In this study, aromatherapy was used for the prevention of depression. To solve the defects of intense volatility and inconvenience in using essential oils, we designed bionic nano-aromatic drugs and adhered them to the wallpaper. Inspired by the moldy wallpaper, we successively prepared the morphology-bionic nano-aromatic drugs, the function-bionic nano-aromatic drugs, and the bionic plus nano-aromatic drugs by referring to the morphology of microorganisms and substances in bacterial biofilms. Bionic nano-aromatic drugs remarkably promoted their adhesion on wallpaper. Molecular dynamics simulation explored its molecular mechanism. The essential oils, which were slowly released from the bionic nano-aromatic drugs, showed excellent biosecurity and depression prevention. These sustainedly released essential oils could significantly increase monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain under a chronic stress environment and had excellent neuroprotection. Besides, the bionic nano-aromatic drugs with simple preparation process and low cost had excellent application potential.

Food Allergy Risk: A Comprehensive Review of Maternal Interventions for Food Allergy Prevention.

Food allergy represents a global health problem impacting patients' and caregivers' quality of life and contributing to increased healthcare costs. Efforts to identify preventive measures starting from pregnancy have recently intensified. This review aims to provide an overview of the role of maternal factors in food allergy prevention. Several studies indicate that avoiding food allergens during pregnancy does not reduce the risk of developing food allergies. International guidelines unanimously discourage avoidance diets due to potential adverse effects on essential nutrient intake and overall health for both women and children. Research on probiotics and prebiotics during pregnancy as preventive measures is promising, though evidence remains limited. Consequently, guidelines lack specific recommendations for their use in preventing food allergies. Similarly, given the absence of conclusive evidence, it is not possible to formulate definitive conclusions on the supplementation of vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), and other antioxidant substances. A combination of maternal interventions, breastfeeding, and early introduction of foods to infants can reduce the risk of food allergies in the child. Further studies are needed to clarify the interaction between genetics, immunological pathways, and environmental factors.

How traditional Chinese medicine can prevent recurrence of common bile duct stones after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography?

Common bile duct stones, as a type of cholelithiasis, are a benign biliary obstruction that easily acute abdominalgia, and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is usually the first choice for clinical treatment. However, the increasing recurrence rate of patients after treatment is troubling clinicians and patients. For the prevention of recurrence after ERCP, there is no guideline to provide a clear drug regimen, traditional Chinese medicine however has achieved some result in the treatment of liver-related diseases based on the "gut-liver-bile acid axis". On the basis of this, this article discusses the possibility of traditional Chinese medicine to prevent common bile duct stones (CBDS) after ERCP, and we expect that this article will provide new ideas for the prevention of recurrence of CBDS and for the treatment of cholelithiasis-related diseases with traditional Chinese medicine in future clinical and scientific research.

Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their potential therapeutic role in protozoan infections.

Protozoa exert a serious global threat of growing concern to human, and animal, and there is a need for the advancement of novel therapeutic strategies to effectively treat or mitigate the impact of associated diseases. Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-PUFAs), including Omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6), are constituents derived from various natural sources, have gained significant attention for their therapeutic role in parasitic infections and a variety of essential structural and regulatory functions in animals and humans. Both ω-3 and ω-6 decrease the growth and survival rate of parasites through metabolized anti-inflammatory mediators, such as lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins, and have both in vivo and in vitro protective effects against various protozoan infections. The ω-PUFAs have been shown to modulate the host immune response by a commonly known mechanism such as (inhibition of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic process, production of anti-inflammatory mediators, modification of intracellular lipids, and activation of the nuclear receptor), and promotion of a shift towards a more effective immune defense against parasitic invaders by regulation the inflammation like prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxane, are involved in controlling the inflammatory reaction. The immune modulation may involve reducing inflammation, enhancing phagocytosis, and suppressing parasitic virulence factors. The unique properties of ω-PUFAs could prevent protozoan infections, representing an important area of study. This review explores the clinical impact of ω-PUFAs against some protozoan infections, elucidating possible mechanisms of action and supportive therapy for preventing various parasitic infections in humans and animals, such as toxoplasmosis, malaria, coccidiosis, and chagas disease. ω-PUFAs show promise as a therapeutic approach for parasitic infections due to their direct anti-parasitic effects and their ability to modulate the host immune response. Additionally, we discuss current treatment options and suggest perspectives for future studies. This could potentially provide an alternative or supplementary treatment option for these complex global health problems.

Inflammation and physical activity in multiple sclerosis patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Due to the inflammatory nature of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most widely used therapeutic approach targets the immune response but can comprise side effects (e.g. secondary immunosuppression). For these reasons, among non-pharmaceutical interventions without known side effects, physical activity (PA) gained importance because it is feasible, safe and a supportive complementary treatment strategy to alleviate symptoms in MS subjects. Consequently, the main aim of this systematic review is to analyze the effect of PA protocols, as a complementary therapy, on inflammatory status in MS patients. METHODS: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL) were systematically searched up to 01 June 2023 (Prospero Protocol ID=CRD42021244418). The refined search strategy was based on three concepts: "MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS" AND "PHYSICAL ACTIVITY" AND "INFLAMMATION". RESULTS: three main findings emerged: 1) untrained subjects showed a negative modulation of inflammatory biomarkers concentrations when compared to trained people (-0.74, 95 %C.I.-1.16, -0.32); 2) training modulated positively inflammatory biomarkers (+0.47, 95 %C.I. 0.24,0.71); 3) Aerobic PA protocol enhance higher positive influence on inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent, low-grade inflammation in MS could be upregulated by non-pharmacological complementary therapies, in particular by regular aerobic PA that could reduce and positively modulate inflammation.

Features of d-vitamin status in young children in the Kazakh population.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: The purpose of the article is to form the parameters of vitamin D status in young children in the ethnic group of Kazakh nationality with the factor of highlighting the necessary recommendations for the prevention of hypovitaminosis D. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Methods for the study of the highlighted problem are the diagnosis of young children in the parameter of clinical and anamnestic research, which includes the collection of anamnestic data of children of Kazakh nationality within the framework of the identified data based on a questionnaire of parents, an evaluation component in the child's health factor at the level of his initial state, and laboratory analysis to determine 25(OH)D to identify the content of vitamin D using the method of electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. RESULTS: Results: Analysis of vitamin D levels revealed significant differences among age groups. In the 0-28-day group, average vitamin D was 13.35 ng/ml, with 92.8% deficient. In the 1-6-month group, it was 21.47 ng/ml, with 84% deficient. In the over 6-month group, it was 33.58 ng/ml, with 40% sufficient. Formula-fed children had the lowest levels (average 15.21 ng/ml), while breastfed children had insufficiency (average 23.91 ng/ml). Children with vitamin D supplementation averaged 25.9 ng/ml, compared to 19.01 ng/ml without supplementation. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The results point to a widespread deficiency of vitamin D and offer practical recommendations for its prevention, such as creating a unified system of timely diagnosis, implementing preventive measures in pregnant women and young children, including a balanced diet enriched with vitamin D, staying outdoors in the bright hours of the day.

Multivitamin Use Among Hispanic Women of Reproductive Age in the United States, 2013-2022.

Background: The U.S. Public Health Service and the Institute of Medicine recommend that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 µg of folic acid daily to help prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Hispanic women are at higher risk of having babies with NTDs than non-Hispanic White women. This study assessed multivitamin (MV) use, a main source of folic acid, among Hispanic women of reproductive age using a survey of solely U.S. Hispanic adults. Materials and Methods: MV use was assessed as part of Porter Novelli's Estilos survey, fielded annually through the largest online U.S. Hispanic panel, Offerwise's QueOpinas. During the study period of 2013-2022, 9,999 surveys were completed; selection was weighted to match the U.S. Census American Community Survey proportions. Log-binomial regression models were applied to estimate MV use trends by age groups, acculturation levels, and pregnancy intention. Results: Among 3,700 Hispanic women of reproductive age, overall no MV use increased from 39.3% in 2013 to 54.7% in 2022 (p for trend <0.0001), especially among Hispanic women aged 18-34 years and those classified as acculturated. Among women planning to get pregnant, daily MV use was 31.1% in 2013 compared with 18.7% in 2020-2022 (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Given the increase in no MV use among Hispanic women of reproductive age, targeted interventions may help reach at-risk groups for NTDs prevention.

Dietary intake with supplementation of vitamin D, vitamin B6, and magnesium on depressive symptoms: a public health perspective.

Objective: This study aims to understand the impact of dietary intake through supplementation of vitamins D, B6, and magnesium on elevated depressive symptoms, a mental health illness that is a leading contributor to global disability and a public health concern. Methods: Multiple datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-March 2020 investigated the associations between vitamin D, B6, and magnesium on depression screening scores. A cross-sectional sample of adults over 20 was extracted (n = 9,232). Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the associations. Results: Individuals with low amounts of vitamin D (p = 0.0481) were more likely to report elevated depressive symptoms relative to those with low amounts of vitamin B6 (p = 0.0225). These results remained significant among those with high magnesium (p = 0.0133) proportionate to high vitamin B6 (p = 0.0225). In the age-adjusted model, a lower intake of vitamin D, vitamin B6, and magnesium showed a relationship with elevated depressive symptoms (Vitamin D: OR = 0.611, 95% CI 0.382-0.980 Vitamin B6: OR = 0.503, 95% CI 0.291-0.867 Magnesium: OR = 0.458, 95% CI 0.277-0.759). The fully adjusted regression model (gender, race/ethnicity, and household food security) showed that a lower intake of vitamin B6 and magnesium correlated with elevated depressive symptoms (Vitamin B6: OR = 0.439, 95% CI 0.260-0.738 Magnesium: OR = 0.465, 95% CI 0.303-0.714). Conclusion: Preventive measures could be addressed by identifying the risks of vitamin deficiencies. Further epidemiological research is needed for the individual effects of vitamin supplementation and depression screening scores. Future prospective cohort studies exploring these associations, focusing on daily dietary intake, are needed to validate the direction of causation further and understand the underlying mechanisms.

Risk factors for smoking in adolescence: evidence from a cross-sectional survey in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking during adolescence is a major public health concern with far-reaching health implications. Adolescents who smoke are at an increased risk of developing long-term health problems and are more likely to continue smoking into adulthood. Therefore, it is vital to identify and understand the risk factors that contribute to adolescent smoking - which in turn facilitate the development of targeted prevention and intervention programs. METHODS: Data was drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted between October and December 2021, encompassing adolescents of adolescents aged 14 to 19 residing in Switzerland (n = 2,683). Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to explore which demographic, household, behavioural and psychographic factors are associated with current smoking status. RESULTS: The regression results showed higher odds of smoking for female respondents (OR 1.39; p-value 0.007); older adolescents (OR 1.30; p-value < 0.001); those living in the French-speaking part of Switzerland (OR 1.39; p-value 0.021), in suburban areas (OR 1.35; p-value 0.023) and with a smoker in the same household (OR 2.41; p-value < 0.001); adolescents consuming alcohol (OR 4.10; p-value < 0.001), cannabis products (OR 6.72; p-value < 0.001) and hookah (OR 5.07; p-value < 0.001) at least once a month; respondents not engaging in sports (OR 1.90; p-value < 0.001) or music (OR 1.42; p-value 0.031) as top five leisure activities and those experiencing high stress levels at home (OR 1.74; p-value < 0.001). Adolescents with high scores in health awareness (OR 0.33; p-value < 0.001), on the relational self-esteem scale (OR 0.78; p-value 0.054) and on the general well-being scale (OR 0.52; p-value 0.022) were less likely to smoke than their counterparts with lower scores. High risk-seeking was associated with higher odds of smoking (OR 2.15; p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the importance of a comprehensive approach at both individual and institutional levels to reduce smoking rates in adolescents. More specifically, a holistic strategy that encompasses adolescents, families, schools and policymakers ranging from strengthening adolescents' self-esteem, smoking cessation support for parents, to increasing engagement in musical and physical activities, and enhancing health awareness in the school curriculum.

Pseudomyopia treated with auricular point sticking combined with periocular needle-embedding therapy and prevention of true myopia: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. / è€³ç©´è´´åŽ‹è”åˆçœ¼å‘¨æ¿é’ˆæŠ€æœ¯é¢„é˜²å‡æ€§è¿‘è§†å‘çœŸæ€§è¿‘è§†è¿›å±•ï¼šå¤šä¸­å¿ƒéšæœºå¯¹ç §è¯•éªŒ.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical effect and safety of auricular point sticking combined with periocular needle-embedding therapy for pseudomyopia and prevention of true myopia. METHODS: A total of 269 children with pseudomyopia were randomized into an observation group (134 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (135 cases, 5 cases dropped out). In the control group, the healthy education was provided. In the observation group, besides the intervention as the control group, the auricular point sticking was delivered at gan (CO12), pi (CO13), xin (CO15) and yan (LO5) on one ear in each treatment, combined with periocular needle-embedding technique at bilateral Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yuyao (EX-HN 4) and Sibai (ST 2). There were 2 weeks of interval after 4 weeks of treatment. One course of treatment was composed of 6 weeks and 2 courses were required. Separately, before treatment, after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and after 12 weeks (the 1st follow-up visit) and 24 weeks (the 2nd follow-up visit) of treatment completion, the spherical equivalent (SE), SE progression, axial length (AL) progression, accommodative amplitude (AMP), the score of the TCM symptom and the general symptom were observed in the two groups. The safety and compliance were evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, SE increased when compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and AMP was larger than that before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the progression of SE was slower in the observation group compared with that in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.001). After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the progression of AL in the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001); and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, AMP of the observation group was larger when compared with that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001). After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the total scores of TCM symptom and general symptom were reduced in comparison with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05); after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, the total scores of TCM symptom and general symptom were lower than those before treatment in the control group (P<0.05). In the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits, the difference of the total score of TCM symptom and general symptom in the observation group was larger than that of the control group (P<0.05). In the observation group, compared with the control group, the scores for pale/dark complexion in the 1st and 2nd follow-up visits and that for lassitude in the 2nd follow-up visit were lower (P<0.05), the score for poor concentration after 12 weeks of treatment and that for poor sleep and memory in the 2nd follow-up visit were lower (P<0.05). There were no adverse reactions in the two groups. The compliance was 98.5% in the observation group and was 96.3% in the control group, without statistical difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of health education, auricular point sticking combined with periocular needle-embedding therapy can effectively prevent from true myopia, control the increase of SE, delay the growth of AL and improve AMP in children with pseudomyopia. This compound therapeutic regimen can relieve the general symptom and comprehensively prevent from myopia through multiple approaches, with high safety and satisfactory compliance.

Evidence-based cesarean delivery: preoperative management (part 7).

Preoperative preparation for cesarean delivery is a multistep approach for which protocols should exist at each hospital system. These protocols should be guided by the findings of this review. The interventions reviewed and recommendations made for this review have a common goal of decreasing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality related to cesarean delivery. The preoperative period starts before the patient's arrival to the hospital and ends immediately before skin incision. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends showering with either soap or an antiseptic solution at least the night before a procedure. Skin cleansing in addition to this has not been shown to further decrease rates of infection. Hair removal at the cesarean skin incision site is not necessary, but if preferred by the surgical team then clipping or depilatory creams should be used rather than shaving. Preoperative enema is not recommended. A clear liquid diet may be ingested up to 2 hours before and a light meal up to 6 hours before cesarean delivery. Consider giving a preoperative carbohydrate drink to nondiabetic patients up to 2 hours before planned cesarean delivery. Weight-based intravenous cefazolin is recommended 60 minutes before skin incision: 1-2 g intravenous for patients without obesity and 2 g for patients with obesity or weight ≥80 kg. Adjunctive azithromycin 500 mg intravenous is recommended for patients with labor or rupture of membranes. Preoperative gabapentin can be considered as a way to decrease pain scores with movement in the postoperative period. Tranexamic acid (1 g in 10-20 mL of saline or 10 mg/kg intravenous) is recommended prophylactically for patients at high risk of postpartum hemorrhage and can be considered in all patients. Routine use of mechanical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis is recommended preoperatively and is to be continued until the patient is ambulatory. Music and active warming of the patient, and adequate operating room temperature improves outcomes for the patient and neonate, respectively. Noise levels should allow clear communication between teams; however, a specific decibel level has not been defined in the data. Patient positioning with left lateral tilt decreases hypotensive episodes compared with right lateral tilt, which is not recommended. Manual displacers result in fewer hypotensive episodes than left lateral tilt. Both vaginal and skin preparation should be performed with either chlorhexidine (preferred) or povidone iodine. Placement of an indwelling urinary catheter is not necessary. Nonadhesive drapes are recommended. Cell salvage, although effective for high-risk patients, is not recommended for routine use. Maternal supplemental oxygen does not improve outcomes. A surgical safety checklist (including a timeout) is recommended for all cesarean deliveries.

Tai chi, irisin and cognitive performance: a clinical and biological investigation in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle is the main source of circulating irisin, both at rest and during physical activity. Previous studies have suggested that irisin can improve cognitive abilities. AIMS: We explored whether six months of Tai Chi (TC) practice can modulate such a relationship in healthy older persons. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical study to evaluate the effects of TC practice as compared with low intensity exercise (LI) and no exercise (NE) control groups on plasmatic irisin levels and cognitive performance. Forty-two healthy older persons were stratified into three groups according to physical activities. Biochemical assay and cognitive functions were assessed at the baseline and after six months. RESULTS: A significant change was found in circulating irisin levels in TC as compared with NE group (p = 0.050) across time. At six months in TC group irisin levels significantly correlated with a verbal memory test (p = 0.013) controlled by age and education. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the potential benefits for cognitive health of TC practice by irisin levels modulation.

Anti-tumoral Immunity and Chemo-preventive Effectiveness of Herbal Extracts of Curcumin, Ginger, Clove and Amygdaline in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma-Challenging Mice.

BACKGROUND: Due to its systemic toxicity, traditional chemotherapy of tumors is being taken into consideration. Herbal therapy, containing phytochemical polyphenol derivatives such as Curcumin (Cur), Ginger (Gin), Cloves (Clov) and Amygdaline (Amyg), is one of the numerous complementary and alternative approaches as an anti-cancer therapy and holds great promise for cancer chemo-prevention with fewer side effects. AIM: The current study was designated to assess anti-tumoral immunity and anti-cancer and chemo-preventive effectiveness of herbal extracts of Cur, Ginger, Clov and Amyg in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC)-challenging mice. METHODS: Chemo-preventive efficacy of herbal extracts of Cur, Gin, Clov and Amyg were analyzed in vivo by examination of the apoptosis rate of EAC tumor cells by flow cytometry. The total numbers of EAC cells, splenocytes counts and leucocytes count with their differentials relative % in peripheral blood (PB) of EACchallenging mice were investigated. RESULTS: EAC-challenging mice treated with herbal extracts of Cur, Gin, Clov and Amyg showed a marked decline in EAC tumor cell count and a noticeable increase in apoptosis rate of EAC tumor cells, a remarkable decrease in serum level of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) with an obvious increase in the number of splenocytes comparing to that in EAC-challenging mice treated with PBS alone. Moreover, the data indicated an insignificant change in the total leucocytes count and their differentials relative % of eosinophil, neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes in EAC-challenging mice treated with Cur and Amyg, but these parameters were markedly increased in EAC-challenging mice injected with Gin and Clov compared to that in EAC-challenging mice treated with PBS alone. CONCLUSION: To conclude, the herbal extracts of Cur, Gin, Clov and Amyg may have anti-tumoral immunity and anti-cancer potency and potential to reduce the resistance to cancer conventional chemotherapy and exert cancer chemo-protective approaches with low adverse effects. Further research is necessary to determine the regimen's toxicity on various tissues and organs and to connect the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches used in the regimen's biomedical use.

Real-world experience of Fuzheng Yiqing granule as chemoprophylaxis against COVID-19 infection among close contacts: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether the use of traditional Chinese medicine, Fuzheng Yiqing granule (FZYQG), was associated with a reduced infection risk of COVID-19 in close contacts. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study across 203 quarantine centres for close contacts and secondary contacts of COVID-19 patients in Yangzhou city. FZYQG group was defined as quarantined individuals who voluntarily took FZYQG; control group did not take FZYQG. The primary outcome was the coronavirus test positive rate during quarantine period. Logistic regression with propensity score inverse probability weighting was used for adjusted analysis to evaluate independent association between FZYQG and test positive rate. RESULTS: From July 13, 2021 to September 30, 2021, 3438 quarantined individuals took FZYQG and 2248 refused to take the granule. Test positive rate was significantly lower among quarantined individuals who took FZYQG (0.29% vs. 1.73%, risk ratio 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08-0.34, p < 0.001). On logistic regression, odds for test positive were decreased in FZYQG group (odds ratio: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.08-0.32, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Close and secondary contacts of COVID-19 patients who received FZYQG had a lower test positive rate than control individuals in real-world experience. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100049590) on August 5, 2021.

Efficiency of Protective Interventions on Irinotecan-Induced Diarrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Irinotecan is widely used in the treatment of various solid tumors, but the adverse effects from it, especially diarrhea, limit its use. Several clinical trials of prophylactic treatment of irinotecan-induced diarrhea (IID) have been ongoing, and some of the data are controversial. This encouraged us to conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of interventions on preventing IID. METHOD: This systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA statement. We performed literature searches from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The number registered in PROSPERO is CRD42022368633. After searching 1034 articles in the database and references, 8 studies were included in this meta-analysis. RESULT: The RR of high-grade diarrhea and all-grade diarrhea were 0.31 (I2 = 51%, 95% CI: 0.14-0.69; P = .004) and .76 (I2 = 65%, 95% CI: 0.62-0.93; P < .008) respectively, thus the use of intervention measures for preventing IID is effective, and the risk reduction of high-grade diarrhea was more significant. Subgroup analysis revealed that the monotherapy group (RR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.21-1.13, I2 = 0%) and combination therapy group (RR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06-0.32, I2 = 0%) in the risk of high-grade diarrhea had no significant heterogeneity within the groups, and traditional herbal medicines (Kampo medicine Hangeshashin-to, PHY906 and hot ironing with Moxa Salt Packet on Tianshu and Shangjuxu) were effective preventive measures (RR:0.20, 95% CI: 0.07-0.60, I2 = 0%). The Jadad scores for traditional herbal medicines studies were 3, and the follow-up duration was only 2 to 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that preventive treatments significantly reduced the risk of high-grade and all-grade diarrhea, confirming the efficacy in the incidence and severity of IID, among which traditional herbal medicines (baicalin-containing) provided a protective effect in reducing the severity of IID. However, the traditional herbal medicines studies were of low quality. Combined irinotecan therapy can obtain better preventive effects than monotherapy of IID. These would be helpful for the prevention of IID in clinical practice.

Clinical and ex-vivo effect of LASERs on prevention of early-enamel caries: systematic review & meta-analyses.

To investigate the in vivo and in situ effect of different types of lasers in prevention of enamel demineralization in high caries risk cases (around orthodontic brackets, around restoration and in caries susceptible pits and fissures). PubMed was searched using the following keyword sequence; (Laser therapy OR laser irradiation OR laser application) AND (enamel caries prevention OR enamel demineralization OR enamel remineralization OR early enamel caries OR early-enamel caries OR enamel resistance OR enamel decalcification OR white spot lesions WSLs OR incipient lesion OR enamel decay OR enamel Dissolution OR enamel microhardness) AND (clinical trial OR Randomized clinical trial OR In situ study). The latest literature search was ended by "30 January 2023". PubMed was used as a primary data base for study selection. Scopus, EBSCO, and Google scholar are checked in our study after results of systematic search on PubMed. Only duplicates were found. Two meta-analyses were carried out. The first, clinical meta-analysis on incidence of white spot lesions (WSLs) following CO2 laser irradiation of enamel. The second meta-analysis on ex-vivo/in situ effect of CO2 laser on microhardness of enamel. In each meta-analysis three studies were included. Risk of bias was assessed. The search identified eight studies (four ex-vivo and four clinical trials). Regarding the clinical meta-analysis, the overall standardized mean difference was 0.21 [ 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.30, p < 0.00001]. This indicates that the incidence of new WSLs in patients who received low power CO2 laser treatment was highly significantly lower than placebo groups. The heterogeneity was considerable (I2 = 71%). In the second meta-analysis, the overall standardized mean difference was 49.55 [ 95% confidence interval (CI): 37.74, 61.37, p < 0.00001]. This indicates that microhardness of enamel receiving low power (0.4-5 W) CO2 laser irradiation is highly significantly lower than control untreated enamel. The heterogeneity was substantial (I2 = 48%). Within the limitations of this study, Low level laser therapy concept with CO2 laser seems to be effective in preventing enamel caries.Prospero registration number: CRD42023437379.