Association of mindfulness with female sexual dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) affects women of all ages. It is often a multifactorial problem with a strong psychosocial component. Mindfulness may help alleviate FSD with nonjudgmental, present-moment awareness and decreased emotional reactivity. The goal of this study was to assess the association between dispositional or trait mindfulness and FSD. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study at a tertiary care women's health clinic, 1718 cisgender women (mean age, 51.9 years) completed the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Regression analysis was used to test the associations of mindfulness, sexual function, and sexual distress with univariate and multivariable analyses, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Within the sample, 57% of women met FSD criteria (FSFI scores ≤26.55 and FSDS-R ≥ 11). On univariate analysis, higher MAAS scores, signifying greater mindfulness, were associated with higher (better) sexual function scores, lower sexual distress scores, and lower odds of FSD. This association persisted on multivariable analysis after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Higher trait mindfulness was associated with better sexual function, lower sexual distress, and lower likelihood of FSD. Further studies are needed to assess the role of mindfulness in mitigating FSD.

Metal-plant frameworks in nanotechnology: An overview.

BACKGROUND: Since ancient times, potential of plants in research and medicine have found pronounced applications, due to better therapeutic value. To meet the mounting demands for commercial nanoparticles, novel eco-friendly methods of synthesis has led to a remarkable progress via unfolding a green synthesis protocol towards metallic nanoparticles synthesis. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: This review highlights the biological synthesis of various metallic nanoparticles as safe, cost effective process, where the phytochemicals present in extract such as flavonoid, phenols, terpenoids act as capping, reducing and stabilizing agents. Moreover, due to their nano size, the nanoparticles directly bind to bacterial strains leading to higher antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSION: Nano-sized dosage systems have a potential for enhancing the activity and overcoming problems associated with phyto medicines. Hence, synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using various plant extracts, emerge as safe alternative to conventional methods for biomedical applications.

Antiviral activity of crude extracts of Eugenia jambolana Lam. against highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus.

Crude extracts of leaves and bark of E. jambolana were tested for antiviral activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) by CPE reduction assay in three different layouts to elucidate virucidal, post-exposure and preexposure antiviral activity of the extracts. The cold and hot aqueous extracts of bark and hot aqueous extract of leaves of E. jambolana showed significant virucidal activity (100% inhibition) which was further confirmed in virus yield reduction assay (-98 to 99% reduction) and by egg based in ovo assay. The selective index (CC50/EC50) of hot aqueous extract (248) and cold aqueous extract (43.5) of bark of E. jambolana showed their antiviral potential against H5N1 virus. The significant virucidal activity of leaves and bark of E. jambolana merits further investigation as it may provide alternative antiviral agent for managing avian influenza infections in poultry farms and potential avian-human transmission.

Potential for interactions between dietary supplements and prescription medications.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of clinically significant interactions caused by concurrent use of dietary supplements and prescription medication. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, point-of-care survey and combined the findings with a review of patient medical records. Patients treated at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn) in 6 different specialty clinics were surveyed for their use of dietary supplements. Concurrent use of prescription medications was obtained from patients' medical records. We used the Lexi-Interact online medication and dietary supplement interaction analysis program to assess the potential clinical significance of each interaction. RESULTS: We surveyed 1818 patients; 1795 responded (overall response rate of 98.7%) and 710 (39.6%) reported use of dietary supplements. In total, 107 interactions with potential clinical significance were identified. The 5 most common natural products with a potential for interaction (garlic, valerian, kava, ginkgo, and St John's wort) accounted for 68% of the potential clinically significant interactions. The 4 most common classes of prescription medications with a potential for interaction (antithrombotic medications, sedatives, antidepressant agents, and antidiabetic agents) accounted for 94% of the potential clinically significant interactions. No patient was harmed seriously from any interaction. CONCLUSIONS: A small number of prescription medications and dietary supplements accounted for most of the interactions. The actual potential for harm was low.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine treatments by patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the proportion of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) reporting previous or current use and interest in future use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, point-of-care, anonymous survey. SETTING: Sleep disorders center at a Midwest tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred forty-six consecutive patients undergoing polysomnography. MEASUREMENTS: The survey instrument comprised 45 items specifically related to CAM therapies, in addition to obtaining baseline data. RESULTS: Response rate was 81% (522/646). A total of 406/522 (78%) patients were diagnosed with OSAHS. Mean age +/- SD was 57 +/- 14 years, and 267 participants (66%) were men. Overall, 237 (58%) participants reported ever using CAM. Ever and current CAM use specifically for improving sleep was reported by 20% and 7% of the participants, respectively. Twenty-six percent of participants reported ever using biologic products, and 52% reported ever using nonbiologic CAM treatments. A high proportion (58%) of the participants showed interest in future CAM use for improving sleep. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of patients with OSAHS report previous or current use, and interest in future use, of CAM treatments. This underscores the need to conduct further research in this field.

Publication bias for CAM trials in the highest impact factor medicine journals is partly due to geographical bias.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of publication bias and its relation to geographical bias in clinical trials involving complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) published in the highest impact factor general medicine journals. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: All CAM clinical trials published in the four highest impact factor general medicine journals, Lancet and British Medical Journal (European), and New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of American Medical Association (U.S.), between 1965 and 2004 were abstracted using Medline. Three reviewers abstracted data from the individual studies. In a multivariate analysis, factors predictive of a positive study were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 259 studies met the inclusion criteria. CAM trials published in the European journals were significantly more likely to be positive compared to those published in the U.S. journals (76% vs. 50%, odds ratio [OR]=3.15, P<0.0001). Studies originating outside of the United States were significantly more likely to be positive compared to the U.S. studies (75% vs. 49%, P<0.0001). Adjusting for location and other variables in a multivariate model, the OR for European vs. U.S. journals to publish a positive CAM trial was 1.95 (P=0.11). CONCLUSION: Publication bias related to CAM trials among the highest impact factor general medicine journals is partly due to geographical bias.

Complementary treatments for tobacco cessation: a survey.

Little information is available regarding the prevalence of use and interest in future use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for tobacco cessation among tobacco users. We conducted a self-administered anonymous survey among 1,175 patients seen at a midwestern outpatient tobacco treatment specialty clinic between November 2003 and July 2005. Patient use of CAM for tobacco cessation, perceived efficacy of these treatments, and interest in future use of CAM were ascertained. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression models were used to determine the characteristics associated with past CAM use or interest in future use of CAM for tobacco cessation. All of the patients who received the survey completed it. A total of 27% of patients reported previous use of CAM for tobacco cessation. The interventions most commonly used were hypnosis, relaxation, acupuncture, and meditation. CAM treatments most commonly perceived to be efficacious were yoga, relaxation, meditation, and massage therapy. A total of 67% of the patients reported interest in future use of CAM for tobacco cessation. The treatments of greatest interest for use in the future were hypnosis, herbal products, acupuncture, relaxation, and massage therapy. Female gender, previous use of conventional tobacco cessation products, previous use of CAM treatments, and a higher level of education were significantly associated with interest in future CAM use. The high level of interest in CAM among tobacco users underscores the need to conduct further research in this field.

Cochrane systematic reviews in acupuncture: methodological diversity in database searching.

BACKGROUND: Since the early 1970s, the efficacy of acupuncture for treating clinical conditions has been evaluated in several hundred randomized trials. Results from these trials have been synthesized in systematic reviews. A well-designed systematic review provides the highest level of evidence for establishing the efficacy of a clinical intervention. OBJECTIVES: The present study assesses the source of original literature contributing to Cochrane reviews on acupuncture. Databases searched to retrieve original studies are evaluated. The distribution of controlled trials in acupuncture across different topic areas and journals, the ability of the reviews to provide conclusive results, and the proportion of original studies indexed with MEDLINE are evaluated. METHODS: Systematic reviews on acupuncture were extracted from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The key search term used was "acupuncture." When more than one systematic review was retrieved on the same topic, the most recent review was included. Indexing of individual clinical trials with MEDLINE was searched using the Single Citation Matcher in PubMed. RESULTS: A total of 94 papers were retrieved from the Cochrane database, of which 10 were included in the analysis. The most common subject areas were related to chronic pain. Considerable heterogeneity was observed in the number of databases searched (median 5, range 3-12). A total of 69% (74/108) papers were indexed with PubMed. Only 13% (14/108) of the papers were published in the primary acupuncture journals. Conclusive statements about the efficacy of acupuncture were made in only 2 of the 10 systematic reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable methodological diversity exists in the comprehensiveness of database searches for Cochrane systematic reviews on acupuncture. This diversity makes the reviews prone to bias and adds another layer of complexity in interpreting the acupuncture literature.