Hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: results of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation is well documented. However, due to relapse rates and side effects, hypnotherapy is gaining attention as an alternative treatment option. The aim of this one-center randomized study was to compare the efficacy of hypnotherapy alone, as well as hypnotherapy with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), to conventional NRT in patients hospitalized with a cardiac or pulmonary illness. METHODS: We evaluated self-reported and biochemically verified 7-day prevalence smoking abstinence rates at 12 and 26 weeks post-hospitalization. Patients (n=164) were randomized into one of three counseling-based treatment groups: NRT for 30 days (NRT; n=41), a 90-min hypnotherapy session (H; n=39), and NRT with hypnotherapy (HNRT; n=37). Treatment groups were compared to a "self-quit" group of 35 patients who refused intervention. RESULTS: Hypnotherapy patients were more likely than NRT patients to be nonsmokers at 12 weeks (43.9% vs. 28.2%; p=0.14) and 26 weeks after hospitalization (36.6% vs. 18.0%; p=0.06). Smoking abstinence rates in the HNRT group were similar to the H group. There was no difference in smoking abstinence rates at 26 weeks between "self quit" and participants in any of the treatment groups. In multivariable regression analysis adjusting for diagnosis and demographic characteristics, H and HNRT were over three times more likely than NRT participants to abstain at 26-weeks post-discharge (RR=3.6; p=0.03 and RR=3.2; p=0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION: Hypnotherapy is more effective than NRT in improving smoking abstinence in patients hospitalized for a smoking-related illness, and could be an asset to post-discharge smoking cessation programs.

Dietary vitamin D intake, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and premenstrual syndrome in a college-aged population.

High dietary intake of vitamin D may reduce the risk of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), perhaps by affecting calcium levels, cyclic sex steroid hormone fluctuations, and/or neurotransmitter function. Only a small number of previous studies have evaluated this relationship and none have focused on young women. We assessed this relationship in a cross-sectional analysis within the UMass Vitamin D Status Study. Between 2006 and 2008, 186 women aged 18-30 (mean age=21.6 years) completed a validated food frequency questionnaire, additional questionnaires to assess menstrual symptoms and other health and lifestyle factors, and provided a fasting blood sample collected during the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Among all study participants, results suggested the possibility of an inverse association between intake of vitamin D from food sources and overall menstrual symptom severity, though were not statistically significant; mean intakes in women reporting menstrual symptom severity of none/minimal, mild, and moderate/severe were 253, 214, and 194 IU/day, respectively (P=0.18). From among all study participants, 44 women meeting standard criteria for PMS and 46 women meeting control criteria were included in additional case-control analyses. In these women, after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking status and total calcium intake, higher intake of vitamin D from foods was associated with a significant lower prevalence of PMS. Women reporting vitamin D intake from food sources of >or=100 IU/day had a prevalence odds ratio of 0.31 compared to those reporting<100 IU/day (95% confidence interval=0.10-0.98). Late luteal phase 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were not associated with prevalent PMS. Results from this pilot study suggest that a relationship between vitamin D and PMS is possible, though larger studies are needed to further evaluate this relationship and to investigate whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in the follicular or early luteal phases of the menstrual cycle may be related to PMS risk.

Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine-mediated red blood cell interactions.

BACKGROUND: Investigations were performed to assess the effect of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc) fiber slurry-mediated hemostasis by interactions with red blood cells. METHODS: Red blood cell aggregation studies were performed using test material-coated microscope slides and multiphoton microscopic measurements. Enzymatic removal of red blood cell surface proteins was achieved using trypsin and neuraminidase treatment. Zeta-potential measurements (surface charge) were performed. RESULTS: Red blood cells interact directly with poly-N-acetyl glucosamine polymers through ionic interactions and cell-surface proteins. The effective concentration of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine fiber material for 50% red blood cell aggregation was 0.28 mg/mL. The p-GlcNAc beta-configuration fibers and an alpha-configuration structural modification of the fibers both produced maximal responses because of their zeta-potentials, whereas other chemically modified p-GlcNAcs and chitosans were ineffective. CONCLUSION: Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine-induced red blood cell aggregation is mediated by interactions with red blood cell surface charges.