Green Tea for Cancer Prevention.

Editor's note: The mission of Cochrane Nursing is to provide an international evidence base for nurses involved in delivering, leading, or researching nursing care. Cochrane Corner provides summaries of recent systematic reviews from the Cochrane Library. For more information, see https://nursing.cochrane.org.

The role played by traditional Chinese medicine in preventing and treating COVID-19 in China.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an ancient system of alternative medicine, played an active role in the prevention and control of COVID-19 in China. It improved the clinical symptoms of patients, reduced the mortality rate, improved the recovery rate, and effectively relieved the operating pressure on the national medical system during critical conditions. In light of the current global pandemic, TCM-related measures might open up a new channel in the control of COVID-19 in other countries and regions. Here, we summarize the TCM-related measures that were widely used in China, including TCM guidelines, the Wuchang pattern, mobile cabin hospitals, integrated treatment of TCM and modern medicine for critical patients, and non-medicine therapy for convalescent patients, and describe how TCM effectively treated patients afflicted with the COVID-19. Effective TCM therapies could, therefore, be recommended and practiced based on the existing medical evidence from increased scientific studies.

The Association Between Care Coordination and Preventive Care Among Children With Special Health Care Needs.

Care coordination (CC) has shown positive outcomes among children with special health care needs (CSHCN); however, the association between CC and well-child care (WCC) visits is unknown. We hypothesize that CSHCN who receive CC are more likely to attend the recommended WCC visits. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of patients aged 15 months attending the Arizona Children's Center clinic. Logistic regression models explored the association between children receiving CC and attending the recommended minimum WCC visits before 15 months of age. CC was associated with higher odds of proper WCC attendance (any CC service, adjusted odds ratio = 2.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.75-2.62; high level of CC, adjusted odds ratio = 2.61, 95% confidence interval = 1.73-3.94). Pediatric CC is associated with greater up-to-date status of the WCC schedule among CSHCN 15 months of age, and higher odds among children who receive higher levels of CC. Further research is needed to validate findings.

Preventive Treatment for Episodic Migraine.

Episodic migraine is a debilitating condition. Preventive therapy is used to reduce frequency, duration, or severity of attacks. This review discusses principles of preventive treatment with a focus on preventive treatment options for people with episodic migraine. Specifically discussed is evidence and use of new migraine-specific treatment options for episodic migraine, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies, a noninvasive transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device, and a single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulator device. Also discussed are evidence-based updates from the 2012 American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society guidelines regarding major medication classes recommended for preventive episodic migraine treatment.

Handover of care and of information by community midwives, maternity care assistants and Preventive Child Healthcare professionals, a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Handover of care has been internationally acknowledged as an important aspect in patient safety. Families who are vulnerable due to low socio-economic status, a language barrier or poor health skills, benefit especially from a decent handover of care from one healthcare professional to another. The handover from primary midwifery care and maternity care to Preventive Child Healthcare (PCHC) is not always successful, especially not in case of vulnerable families. AIM: Obtaining insight in and providing recommendations for the proces of handover of information by primary midwifery care, maternity care and PCHC in the Netherlands. METHODS: A qualitative research through semi-structured interviews was conducted. Community midwives, maternity care nurses and PCHC nurses from three municipalities in the Netherlands were invited for interviews with two researchers. The interviews took place from February to April 2017. The qualitative data was analyzed using NVivo11 software (QSR International). RESULTS: A total of 18 interviews took place in three different municipalities with representatives of the three professions involved with the handover of care and of information concerning antenatal, postnatal and child healthcare: six community midwives, six maternity care assistants and six PCHC nurses. All those interviewed emphasized the importance of good information transfer in order to provide optimum care, especially when problems within the family ar present. In order to improve care, a large number of healthcare professionals prefered a fully digitized handover of information, providing the privacy of the client is warrented and the system works efficiently. To provide high quality care, it is considered desirable that healthcare workers get to know each other and more peer agreements are prepared. The 'obstetric collaborative network' or another structured meeting was considered most suitable for this exchange. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the handover of care and of information between professionals in the fields of antenatal, postnatal and child healthcare is gaining awareness, but a more rigorous chain of care and collaboration between these disciplines is desired. Digitizing seems important to improve the handover of information.

Hematologic Manifestations of Nutritional Deficiencies: Early Recognition is Essential to Prevent Serious Complications.

Nutritional deficiencies, including deficiencies of vitamin B12, copper, and vitamin C, may result in cytopenias and hematologic symptoms. Early recognition of these deficiencies is imperative for prompt treatment and improvement in hematologic and other manifestations. We describe 5 cases which illustrate the hematologic manifestations of nutritional deficiencies and challenges to initial diagnosis and management. Supplementation of the deficient vitamin or micronutrient in all of these cases resulted in rapid resolution of cytopenias, hemorrhage, and other associated hematologic symptoms. We also review other nutritional deficiencies that manifest with hematologic symptoms and compile recommendations on treatment and expected time to response.

Medicina supresora y medicina estimulante: una mirada penetrante de la práctica médica / Suppressive medicine and stimulant medicine: a penetrating view in medical practice

Resumen: La teoría de la medicina supresora (MS) y la medicina estimulante (ME) destaca dos formas radicalmente distintas de entender la enfermedad y de enfrentarla. Para la MS es un objeto extraño o ajeno al organismo que hay que disminuir o destruir (suprimir); para la ME es un trastorno de la armonía interna que requiere fortalecer o avivar el organismo para restablecerla (estimular). En la medicina moderna, el poder de la industria de la salud favorece el predominio de la MS, por su alta rentabilidad, y la marginación de las medicinas alternativas (MA), poco rentables que, al igual que la vacunación o las terapias sustitutivas y regenerativas, son formas de ME. El efecto placebo (EP) inherente a la práctica médica, revelador de fuerzas curativas endógenas susceptibles de estimulación, da sentido a la ME y credibilidad a las MA. La dirección del EP de lo macro (psicosocial) a lo micro (físico-químico) explica su alta especificidad y ausencia de efectos secundarios. El efecto farmacológico de lo micro a lo macro, opuesto a las fuerzas endógenas, conlleva indefectiblemente efectos secundarios que requieren ulteriores supresiones y dosis repetidas indefinidamente. Se analizan equívocos de la ciencia con respecto al EP y al imponer a las MA criterios metódicos propios de la MS, que las desvirtúa, descalifica y excluye como objetos de conocimiento. Se insiste en la necesidad de reconocer la ME y rescatar las MA para la indagación, a fin de explorar sinergias, complementos o reemplazos con relación a la MS en la búsqueda del bien vivir.

Abstract: The theory of suppressive (SuM) and stimulant (StM) medicine highlights two radically different ways of understanding and coping with diseases. For SuM it is a strange or foreign object to the organism that must be diminished or destroyed (suppressed); for StM it is a disorder of internal harmony that requires strengthening or enlivening the body to re-establish it (stimulate). In modern medicine, the power in the health industry favors the predominance of SuM, because of its high profitability, and the marginalization of low-cost alternative medicines (AM) that, like vaccination or substitutive and regenerative therapies, are forms of StM. The placebo effect (PE) inherent to medical practice, revealing of endogenous curative forces susceptible to stimulation, gives meaning to StM and credibility to AM. The direction of the PE from the macro (psychosocial) to the micro (physical-chemical) explains its high specificity and absence of side effects. The pharmacological effect of the micro to the macro, opposed to the endogenous forces, inevitably entails side effects that require further suppression and indefinite repetition of doses. Scientific assertions that misunderstand PE, and impose on the AM methodical criteria of the SuM that detract, disqualify and exclude them as objects of knowledge, are analyzed. The emphasis is on the need to recognize the StM and rescue the AM for inquiry in order to explore synergies, complements or replacements in relation to the SuM, in the quest for to live well.

[Medicina supresora y medicina estimulante: una mirada penetrante de la práctica médica]. / Suppressive medicine and stimulant medicine: a penetrating view in medical practice.

La teoría de la medicina supresora (MS) y la medicina estimulante (ME) destaca dos formas radicalmente distintas de entender la enfermedad y de enfrentarla. Para la MS es un objeto extraño o ajeno al organismo que hay que disminuir o destruir (suprimir); para la ME es un trastorno de la armonía interna que requiere fortalecer o avivar el organismo para restablecerla (estimular). En la medicina moderna, el poder de la industria de la salud favorece el predominio de la MS, por su alta rentabilidad, y la marginación de las medicinas alternativas (MA), poco rentables que, al igual que la vacunación o las terapias sustitutivas y regenerativas, son formas de ME. El efecto placebo (EP) inherente a la práctica médica, revelador de fuerzas curativas endógenas susceptibles de estimulación, da sentido a la ME y credibilidad a las MA. La dirección del EP de lo macro (psicosocial) a lo micro (físico-químico) explica su alta especificidad y ausencia de efectos secundarios. El efecto farmacológico de lo micro a lo macro, opuesto a las fuerzas endógenas, conlleva indefectiblemente efectos secundarios que requieren ulteriores supresiones y dosis repetidas indefinidamente. Se analizan equívocos de la ciencia con respecto al EP y al imponer a las MA criterios metódicos propios de la MS, que las desvirtúa, descalifica y excluye como objetos de conocimiento. Se insiste en la necesidad de reconocer la ME y rescatar las MA para la indagación, a fin de explorar sinergias, complementos o reemplazos con relación a la MS en la búsqueda del bien vivir.The theory of suppressive (SuM) and stimulant (StM) medicine highlights two radically different ways of understanding and coping with diseases. For SuM it is a strange or foreign object to the organism that must be diminished or destroyed (suppressed); for StM it is a disorder of internal harmony that requires strengthening or enlivening the body to re-establish it (stimulate). In modern medicine, the power in the health industry favors the predominance of SuM, because of its high profitability, and the marginalization of low-cost alternative medicines (AM) that, like vaccination or substitutive and regenerative therapies, are forms of StM. The placebo effect (PE) inherent to medical practice, revealing of endogenous curative forces susceptible to stimulation, gives meaning to StM and credibility to AM. The direction of the PE from the macro (psychosocial) to the micro (physical-chemical) explains its high specificity and absence of side effects. The pharmacological effect of the micro to the macro, opposed to the endogenous forces, inevitably entails side effects that require further suppression and indefinite repetition of doses. Scientific assertions that misunderstand PE, and impose on the AM methodical criteria of the SuM that detract, disqualify and exclude them as objects of knowledge, are analyzed. The emphasis is on the need to recognize the StM and rescue the AM for inquiry in order to explore synergies, complements or replacements in relation to the SuM, in the quest for to live well.

Bacteriotherapy for preventing recurrent upper respiratory infections in children: a real-world experience.

Background Recurrent upper respiratory infections (RURI) constitute a social problem for both their pharmaco-economic impact and the burden for the family. Bacteriotherapy could be an interesting preventive option. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of RURI in children. Design The study was designed as spontaneous, and was conducted in real-life seting. Globally, 80 children (40 males, mean age 5.26 (2.52) years) with RURI were enrolled. Children were treated with Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB and Streptococcus oralis 89a: nasal spray 2 puffs per nostril twice/day for a week for 3 monthly courses. Number of URI, and school and work absences were evaluated and compared with the past year. Results Bacteriotherapy significantly halved the mean number of URI episodes being 5.98 (2.30) in the past year and 2.75 (2.43) after the treatment (p<0.0001). Bacteriotherapy also induced an over 35% reduction both in the number of school days and in the number of working days missed per month from 4.50 (2.81) to 2.80 (3.42) and from 2.33 (2.36) to 1.48 (2.16) respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusions This and real-life study provides the first evidence that Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB and Streptococcus oralis 89a nasal spray could be effective in preventing RURI in children.

Respuesta al artículo: «Brote de bacteriemia por Serratia marcescensen hemodiálisis». Comentarios al artículo: «Brote de bacteriemia por Serratia marcescens en pacientes portadores de catéteres tunelizados en hemodiálisis secundario a colonización de la solución antiséptica. Experiencia en 4 centros» / Answer to the article: «Serratia marcescens bacteraemia outbreak in hemodialysis». Comment on «Serratia marcescens bacteraemia outbreak in haemodialysis patients with tunnelled catheters due to colonisation of antiseptic solution. Experience at 4 hospitals»

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How do general practitioners put preventive care recommendations into practice? A cross-sectional study in Switzerland and France.

OBJECTIVES: We previously identified that general practitioners (GPs) in French-speaking regions of Europe had a variable uptake of common preventive recommendations. In this study, we describe GPs' reports of how they put different preventive recommendations into practice. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2015 in Switzerland and France. 3400 randomly selected GPs were asked to complete a postal (n=1100) or online (n=2300) questionnaire. GPs who exclusively practiced complementary and alternative medicine were not eligible for the study. 764 GPs (response rate: postal 47%, online 11%) returned the questionnaire (428 in Switzerland and 336 in France). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We investigated how the GPs performed five preventive practices (screening for dyslipidaemia, colorectal and prostate cancer, identification of hazardous alcohol consumption and brief intervention), examining which age group they selected, the screening frequency, the test they used, whether they favoured shared decision for prostate cancer screening and their definition of hazardous alcohol use. RESULTS: A large variability was observed in the way in which GPs provide these practices. 41% reported screening yearly for cholesterol, starting and stopping at variable ages. 82% did not use any test to identify hazardous drinking. The most common responses for defining hazardous drinking were, for men, ≥21 drinks/week (24%) and ≥4 drinks/occasion for binge drinking (20%), and for women, ≥14 drinks/week (28%) and ≥3 drinks/occasion (21%). Screening for colorectal cancer, mainly with colonoscopy in Switzerland (86%) and stool-based tests in France (93%), was provided every 10 years in Switzerland (65%) and 2 years in France (91%) to patients between 50 years (87%) and 75 years (67%). Prostate cancer screening, usually with shared decision (82%), was provided yearly (62%) to patients between 50 years (74%) and 75-80 years (32%-34%). CONCLUSIONS: The large diversity in the way these practices are provided needs to be addressed, as it could be related to some misunderstandingof the current guidelines, to barriers for guideline uptake or, more likely, to the absence of agreement between the various recommendations.

Predicting the Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Maintenance Approach from Cultural and Spiritual Perspectives.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health maintenance approach is widespread among the lay public as a tool of health maintenance and disease prevention across the globe. This study aims to investigate the factors that exert influences on the intention to adopt or continue using TCM health maintenance approach under the guideline of the extended theory of planned behavior. Based on an online survey on a Chinese national sample of 800 valid responses, this study indicates the respondents' spirituality and Chinese cultural orientation positively predict their attitude toward TCM health maintenance approach. In turn, their attitude, perceived behavioral control and norms positively predict the intention to adopt or continue using TCM health maintenance approach, as postulated in hypotheses. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Health Care Professionals' Usage and Documentation of a Swedish Quality Registry Regarding Preventive Nutritional Care.

OBJECTIVES: To describe health care staff members' usage and documentation in a Swedish quality registry focusing on a preventive care process regarding the risk area of malnutrition among persons with dementia. The preventive care process includes risk assessment, analysis of underlying causes, planning and performing interventions, as well as evaluating effects. METHODS: Data were collected from 2 Swedish quality registries, Senior Alert and the Swedish Dementia Register (Svedem). In total, 1929 people with dementia were assessed and 1432 registered as being at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. RESULTS: Performed nutritional interventions were registered in approximately 65% of cases. In more than 80% of registrations, the analyses of underlying causes were missing. Those who had registered underlying causes had significantly more interventions and the evaluation of the performed intervention was registered. The time between assessment and evaluation depended on care setting and ranged from 0 to 702 days. CONCLUSIONS: Limitations in registration were noted; however, the register allows staff to focus on nutritional care and has resulted in many risk assessments. Rarely people were registered in all steps of the preventive care process. Large variances in when the performed interventions were evaluated makes it difficult to measure improvements.

[Changes in lipid content of RBC membranes in divers working on low and moderate depths.]

The study covered lipid content of RBC membranes in divers exposed to extreme hyperbaric factors at work. Findings are that prophylactic intake of biologically active additive nutrient "Kalifen" made of viburnum berries preserved physiologic characteristics of RBC and recovery of lipid components in their membranes.

Preventative Care in the Patient with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: What Is New?

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) do not receive routine preventative care at the same rate as general medical patients. This patient population is at increased risk of vaccine preventable illness such as influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. This review will discuss health maintenance needs and preventative care issues in patients with IBD.