A Group Intervention Combining Self-Hypnosis and Self-Care in Oncology: Implementation in Daily Life and Perceived Usefulness.

Multicomponent mind-body interventions are increasingly studied in oncology to improve patients' quality of life (QOL). However, the respective usefulness of each of their components or their long-term use by the participants are rarely assessed. In this study, 95 women with different cancer diagnoses participated in a self-hypnosis and self-care group. Different questionnaires were administrated before (T1), right after (T2), 3 to 4 months after (T3), and 1 year after (T4) the intervention. After the intervention, 97.5% of the participants regularly practiced any kind of relaxation (vs. 50% at baseline), especially hypnosis. The different components of the intervention (i.e., being in a group, hypnosis exercises during the sessions and at home, self-care tasks, and discussions during the group sessions) were all considered to be very useful (M = 6.91-7.75/10). One year after the intervention, the 10 most used techniques were mainly concrete activities to take care of oneself. This intervention seems very relevant for women who had cancer. Our results allow a first reflection about the mechanisms of action of our intervention.Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03144154). Registered on the 1st of May 2017.

Oral supplementation with fish cartilage hydrolysate in an adult population suffering from knee pain and function discomfort: results from an innovative approach combining an exploratory clinical study and an ex vivo clinical investigation.

BACKGROUND: Aging is frequently associated with impairments of the musculoskeletal system and many elderly people experience joint discomfort or pain which might reduce their ability to move and consequently alter their quality of life. A beneficial effect of fish cartilage hydrolysate (FCH) on pain and joint function has recently been shown in an ACLT/pMMx osteoarthritis rat model. METHODS: We therefore performed an exploratory, non-comparative, multi-centric clinical trial including 33 subjects with moderate knee joint discomfort and loss of functionality to investigate the efficacy of FCH on their algo-functional status. We further determined the potential health benefit of FCH in an original clinical ex vivo study investigating the role of FCH human metabolites on primary human chondrocytes. RESULTS: FCH significantly improved knee pain and function, as assessed by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Moreover, FCH significantly reduced pain at rest and while walking, and patient global assessment (PGA), as assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and improved patients' quality of life (SF-36). FCH metabolites decreased the synthesis of catabolic factors (MMP-13) and pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, PGE2) and limited the inhibitory effect of IL-1ß on the synthesis of cartilage matrix components (GAG and collagen). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, these data provide insights on the mode of action of FCH in humans and contribute to explain how FCH may relieve pain and improve joint function in subjects with knee discomfort. Although these preliminary data need to be confirmed in a randomized controlled trial, they strongly support the potential health benefit of such an active ingredient. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT04420091 (09/06/2020).

NASAFYTOL® supplementation in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 infection: results from an exploratory open-label randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The effect and safety of Nasafytol®, a food supplement combining curcumin, quercetin, and Vitamin D, on hospitalized COVID-19-positive patients as support to standard of care were to be assessed. Methods: This exploratory, open-label, randomized, controlled trial was carried out among hospitalized adults with COVID-19 infection. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Nasafytol® or Fultium® control. The improvement of the clinical condition and occurrence of (serious) adverse events were evaluated. The study was registered on clincaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT04844658. Results: Twenty-five patients received Nasafytol®, and 24 received Fultium®. Demographic characteristics were well balanced between the groups. On day 14 (or at hospital leave if < 14 days), no difference was observed between groups regarding their clinical condition, fever, or the need of oxygen therapy. At day 7, however, 19 participants had been discharged from the hospital in the Nasafytol® arm compared to 10 participants in the Fultium® arm. No participants were transferred to the ICU or died in the Nasafytol® arm, vs. 4 transfers and 1 death in the Fultium® arm. The clinical condition of participants in the Nasafytol® arm had improved, as evidenced by a decrease in the COVID-19 WHO score. Interestingly, five SAEs occurred with Fultium®, while no SAE was observed with Nasafytol®. Conclusion: Supplementation with Nasafytol®, in addition to standard-of-care treatment, led to a faster discharge from the hospital, improved clinical conditions of participants, and a reduced risk of serious outcomes, including transfer to the intensive care unit or death, in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Complementary treatment comparison for chronic pain management: A randomized longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: In chronic pain, it seems that the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is boosted when it is combined with hypnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of self-hypnosis combined with self-care (i.e., a type of CBT) compared to music/self-care, self-care and psychoeducation/CBT and to evaluate their long-term effects. METHODS: An open label randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with chronic pain and was carried out at the University Hospital of Liège (Belgium). Patients were randomized into four groups: self-hypnosis/self-care, music/self-care, self-care, psychoeducation/CBT (7 monthly sessions of 2 hours). Two follow-up sessions were delivered at 6- and 12-month. Levels of pain, fatigue intensity, anxiety, depression, insomnia severity, disability, health locus of control, mental and physical quality of life and attitudes (control, disability, harm, emotion, medical cure, medication, solicitude) towards pain were assessed before and after the treatments, and at follow-up. RESULTS: 203 patients were randomized: 52 in self-hypnosis/self-care, 59 in music/self-care, 47 in self-care, and 45 in psychoeducation/CBT. No group effect was found. A significant time effect was showed. Directly after the treatment, all groups decreased in pain attitudes and physical quality of life. Perceived control increased. At 6-month, all patients kept their levels of physical quality of life and perceived control, and showed decrease in pain intensity, harm, emotion and medical cure. At 12-month, scores that had change previously remained ameliorated, a decrease in insomnia severity and an increase in internal locus of control were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings are encouraging as they display long-term beneficial effects of complementary biopsychosocial-based treatments in chronic pain. It seems that patients continued to apply the learnt strategies as improvements were observed one year after the treatments had ended.