Use and reporting of risk of bias tools in 825 systematic reviews of acupuncture: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the use and reporting of risk of bias (RoB) tools in systematic reviews (SRs) of acupuncture. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We extracted and analyzed information relating to RoB in acupuncture SRs via Medline, Embase and the Chinese CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), WanFang and VIP databases from their inception to 24 November 2017. Three subgroup analyses were used to check the influence of language, journal type and impact factor, following which we used descriptive analysis. RESULTS: We included 825 acupuncture SRs, of which 48% used the Cochrane RoB tool. Only 36% used the latest version of the Cochrane Handbook (version 5.1.0 at time of writing) with higher proportions among Cochrane SRs (65%) versus non-Cochrane SRs (34%), and high impact factor journals (58%) versus low or no impact factor journals (28% and 38%, respectively). In the last decade, there were notable increases in the use of the Cochrane RoB tool and Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0, of 43% and 19%, respectively. Chinese-language SRs demonstrated proportionally higher tendencies to report an incorrect Cochrane Handbook version, increasing by 14% in the last 5 years. Additionally, 7% SRs did not report any results, and only 10% reported relatively complete and adequate RoB assessment. Cochrane SRs reported more complete assessments than Chinese-language or non-Cochrane English-language SRs. CONCLUSION: Use and reporting of RoB tools were suboptimal. Proportionally, use of the Cochrane RoB tool and Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0 was low but rising. Our results highlight the prevalence and concerns of using unsuitable tools and the issue of incomplete RoB reporting. RoB tool application requires further improvement.

Assessment of the quality of reporting in studies of acupuncture for patients with cancer using the STRICTA guidelines.

INTRODUCTION: There has been a burgeoning of research evaluating acupuncture for various symptoms of cancer and the side-effects associated with its treatment. A systematic review was conducted to examine the quality of reporting in published studies of acupuncture in cancer according to the STRICTA (STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture) guidelines. METHODS: Systematic review of published research of acupuncture for symptoms of cancer and the side-effects associated with its treatment. Databases searched were: Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane (all databases), Scopus, and PubMed from their inception to December 2014. Clinical trials, pilot/feasibility studies, observational studies, and case studies were included. Only full journal papers published in English were included. The quality of reporting was evaluated using STRICTA guidelines. Each included paper was assessed by two independent reviewers, with disagreements adjudicated by a third reviewer. RESULTS: 88 papers were identified which met the inclusion criteria. The median number of STRICTA items reported in trials with a control or comparator arm (n=47) was 14 out of 17 (range 8 to 17, IQR 4). For studies without a control or comparator arm the median was 11 out of a possible 15 (range 5 to 15, IQR 3). Key weaknesses in reporting included details of other components of treatments, and details of the acupuncturist administering treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the widespread use of the STRICTA guidelines in acupuncture research, adherence remains poor for a few specific items. Further research is required to explore the reasons why authors fail to report those items, and to develop strategies to improve the adherence to the guidelines.

Acupuncture in adults with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze and synthesize knowledge about the effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in adults with cancer. METHOD: the method used was a Systematic Review. Potential articles were identified by searching in the PubMed of National Library of Medicine, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Cochrane Central and Scopus. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses strategy, 607 articles were identified. After removing the duplicates, all titles and abstracts were reviewed, and seven articles were selected for full review. After the full review, five studies were selected for inclusion. RESULTS: of the five articles included, four were cohort studies and one was a quasi-experimental study. All articles showed that acupuncture was associated with an improvement in the peripheral neuropathy, but the type of protocol, use of medications, time of treatment, and different outcome measures made it difficult to compare the studies. CONCLUSION: the use of acupuncture appears to be associated with an improvement in the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and has no side effects. In order to improve the evidence about benefits associated with acupuncture, more experimental studies using both subjective and objective measures are needed.

Hypnosis-Aided Awake Surgery for the Management of Intrinsic Brain Tumors versus Standard Awake-Asleep-Awake Protocol: A Preliminary, Promising Experience.

BACKGROUND: Hypnosis is a technique that could aid awake surgery protocols. The aim of the present study is to describe the results of a preliminary experience of a cohort of patients operated on with an original protocol of hypnosis-aided awake surgery (HAS). METHODS: All patients were operated on with the aid of HAS and their data were retrospectively reviewed. A thorough literature review was conducted to compare the results of HAS with the standard awake surgery protocol regarding 1) the incidence of intraoperative pain; 2) the overall incidence of complications; 3) the length of time in which the patients were suitable for intraoperative neuropsychological testing; and 4) the incidence of gross total resection. The comparison presented a notably high statistical impact (1-ß = 0.90-0.93 for α = 0.05; effect size, 0.5). RESULTS: The final cohort comprised 6 patients from our institution and 43 records retrieved in the relevant literature underwent HAS for intrinsic brain tumor treatment. This cohort was compared with cohorts of patients who were considered eligible through a literature review. HAS showed a statistically significant superiority in the first 3 outcome variables, whereas the incidence of gross total resection favored the standard awake approaches. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, hypnosis-aided resection of intrinsic brain tumor located in eloquent areas is safe and effective, although dissociation phenomena deserve further investigation to be completely understood.

Effects of Physical-Agent Pain Relief Modalities for Fibromyalgia Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Purpose: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of the following physical-agent modalities for pain relief in fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Methods: We identified randomized controlled studies of adults with FM in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PEDro databases. The primary outcome measure was pain relief measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS), and the secondary outcome measures of interest were subjective improvements in the number of tender points, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and quality of life (QOL) scores. Results: Eleven studies were included in our review. The studies' physical-agent modalities were low-level laser therapy (LLLT), thermal therapy, electromagnetic field therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). LLLT did not reduce VAS scores, but it significantly reduced both the number of tender points and FIQ score. Thermal therapy was associated with significantly reduced VAS scores, tender points, and FIQ scores. Electromagnetic field therapy was associated with significantly reduced VAS score and FIQ score. TENS significantly reduced VAS scores. Conclusion: Our analyses revealed that thermal therapy and LLLT had a partial effect on pain relief in FM patients, and this beneficial effect may have a positive influence on FM patients' health status.

Spirituality and its relationship with positive adjustment following traumatic brain injury: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the extent of research which has investigated spirituality or closely related meaning-making constructs after traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: A scoping review was employed to capture the broadest possible range of studies. METHODS: Search terms 'spirituality', 'religion', 'beliefs', 'faith', 'hope', 'meaning', 'purpose in life', 'sense of coherence' and 'posttraumatic growth' were combined with search terms related to TBI. Findings were restricted to empirical studies published in English, in peer-reviewed journals and conducted over a 20-year period between 1997 and 2016. RESULTS: Nine studies were identified, conducted in the USA, Canada and the UK. These included eight quantitative studies and one qualitative study. Definitions and measurement of spirituality varied widely among the studies. Findings revealed that spirituality was closely related to a number of positive outcomes following TBI including psychological coping, physical health, mental health, productivity, life satisfaction, functional independence and posttraumatic growth. CONCLUSIONS: The limited research conducted into spirituality following TBI suggests it can play an important role in the recovery process. Further research is necessary to identify the particular spiritual needs of this population, and how clinical staff may be supported to address such needs.

Láser de baja potencia en Ortodoncia / Low-level laser in orthodontics

Introducción: durante los últimos años la Ortodoncia demanda tratamientos más cortos. La duración del tratamiento depende del diagnóstico, complejidad del caso, plan de tratamiento, aparatología, experiencia clínica y cooperación del paciente, entre otros, y generalmente oscila entre 24 y 36 meses. Existen estudios que avalan el láser de baja potencia acelera el movimiento ortodóntico, sin embargo, los mecanismos de la fotobiomodulación asociados a esto están claros. Objetivo: describir la evidencia asociada a la fotobiomodulación por láser de baja potencia en el movimiento ortodóntico y sus mecanismos. Métodos: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sobre la relación existente entre la fotobiomodulación por láser de baja potencia en el movimiento ortodóntico y sus mecanismos en MEDLINE, PubMed y SciELO. La búsqueda se orientó a artículos publicados fundamentalmente en los últimos 5 años sin hacer distinciones de idioma. Los tópicos consultados en la revisión estuvieron referidos a estudios experimentales en humanos, animales e in vitro que incluyeran los láseres que emiten luz infrarroja (780-820 nm), debido a que la absorción infrarroja de la hemoglobina es menor que la del rojo visible. Los láseres que emiten luz infrarroja (780-820 nm) son los mejores para estimular las células óseas porque sus longitudes de onda penetran más profundamente en el tejido blando, alcanzando el tejido óseo. Resultados: se profundiza en el tema de la fotobiomodulación y las bases modulares del empleo de esta técnica en Ortodoncia. El láser de baja potencia acelera el movimiento ortodóntico, sin embargo, no se ha determinado una ventana terapéutica específica para la dosimetría y el mecanismo de acción a nivel de tipos de células individuales. Conclusiones: la evidencia sugiere que el láser de baja potencia acelera el movimiento ortodóntico. Sobre los mecanismos celulares implicados en el movimiento ortodóntico cuando son irradiados con láser, aún la evidencia clínica es insuficiente(AU)

Introduction: recent years have witnessed a demand for ever shorter treatments in orthodontics. Treatment duration depends on diagnosis, case complexity, treatment plan, equipment, clinical experience and patient cooperation, among other factors, and generally ranges between 24 and 36 months. Some studies support the idea that low-level laser speeds up orthodontic movement; however, the photobiomodulation mechanisms involved are clear. Objective: describe the evidence of low-level laser photobiomodulation in orthodontic movement and its mechanisms. Methods: a bibliographic review was conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed and SciELO about the relationship between low-level laser photobiomodulation in orthodontic movement and its mechanisms. The search was aimed at papers published in any language mainly in the last five years. The topics consulted in the review had to do with experiments on humans, animals and in vitro in which infrared lasers (780-820 nm) were used, since infrared absorption of hemoglobin is lower than that of visible red. Infrared lasers (780-820 nm) are the best to stimulate bone cells, because their wavelengths go deeper into soft tissue, reaching the bone. Results: details are provided about photobiomodulation and the modular bases of the use of this technique in orthodontics. Low-level laser speeds up orthodontic movement; however, a specific therapeutic window has not been determined for its dosimetry and mechanism of action in individual cell types. Conclusions: evidence suggests that low-level laser speeds up orthodontic movement. Clinical evidence is still insufficient about the cellular mechanisms involved in orthodontic movement when laser radiation is used(AU)

Human Ischaemic Cascade Studies Using SH-SY5Y Cells: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Low translational yield for stroke may reflect the focus of discovery science on rodents rather than humans. Just how little is known about human neuronal ischaemic responses is confirmed by systematic review and meta-analysis revealing that data for the most commonly used SH-SY5Y human cells comprises only 84 papers. Oxygen-glucose deprivation, H2O2, hypoxia, glucose-deprivation and glutamate excitotoxicity yielded - 58, - 61, - 29, - 45 and - 49% injury, respectively, with a dose-response relationship found only for H2O2 injury (R2 = 29.29%, p < 0.002). Heterogeneity (I2 = 99.36%, df = 132, p < 0.0001) was largely attributable to the methods used to detect injury (R2 = 44.77%, p < 0.000) with cell death assays detecting greater injury than survival assays (- 71 vs - 47%, R2 = 28.64%, p < 0.000). Seventy-four percent of publications provided no description of differentiation status, but in the 26% that did, undifferentiated cells were susceptible to greater injury (R2 = 4.13%, p < 0.047). One hundred and sixty-nine interventions improved average survival by 34.67% (p < 0.0001). Eighty-eight comparisons using oxygen-glucose deprivation found both benefit and harm, but studies using glutamate and H2O2 injury reported only improvement. In studies using glucose deprivation, intervention generally worsened outcome. There was insufficient data to rank individual interventions, but of the studies reporting greatest improvement (> 90% effect size), 7/13 were of herbal medicine constituents (24.85% of the intervention dataset). We conclude that surprisingly little is known of the human neuronal response to ischaemic injury, and that the large impact of methodology on outcome indicates that further model validation is required. Lack of evidence for randomisation, blinding or power analysis suggests that the intervention data is at substantial risk of bias.

Infants born preterm, stress, and neurodevelopment in the neonatal intensive care unit: might music have an impact?

AIM: The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides life-saving medical care for an increasing number of newborn infants each year. NICU care, while lifesaving, does have attendant consequences which can include repeated activation of the stress response and reduced maternal interaction, with possible negative long-term impacts on brain development. Here we present a neuroscientific framework for considering the impact of music on neurodevelopment in the NICU of infants born preterm and evaluate current literature on the use of music with this population to determine what is most reliably known of the physiological effects of music interventions. METHOD: Using online academic databases we collected relevant, experimental studies aimed at determining effects of music listening in infants in the NICU. These articles were evaluated for methodological rigor, ranking the 10 most experimentally stringent as a representative sample. RESULTS: The selected literature seems to indicate that effects are present on the cardio-pulmonary system and behavior of neonates, although the relative effect size remains unclear. INTERPRETATION: These findings indicate a need for more standardized longitudinal studies aimed at determining not only whether NICU music exposure has beneficial effects on the cardio-pulmonary system, but also on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, brain structures, and cognitive behavioral status of these children as well. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Provides a neuroscience framework for considering how music might attenuate stress in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants. Considers how repeated stress may cause negative neurodevelopmental impacts in infants born preterm. Posits epigenetics can serve as a mechanistic pathway for music moderating the stress response.

Substituting the Target After Unsatisfactory Outcome of Deep Brain Stimulation in Advanced Parkinson's Disease: Cases From the NSTAPS Trial and Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus pars interna (GPi) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) are established treatment option in Parkinson's disease (PD). If DBS does not provide the desired effect, re-operation to the alternative target is a treatment option, but data on the effect of re-operation are scarce. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical effect of re-operation the alternative target after failure of initial STN or GPi DBS for Parkinson's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We descriptively analyzed the baseline characteristics, the effect of initial surgery and re-operation of eight NSTAPS (Netherlands SubThalamic and Pallidal Stimulation) patients and six previously published cases that underwent re-operation to a different target. RESULTS: In the NSTAPS cohort, two of the eight patients showed more than 30% improvement of off-drug motor symptoms after re-operation. The initial DBS leads of these patients were off target. In the cases from the literature, 30% off-drug motor improvement was seen in all three patients re-operated from GPi to STN and none of the three patients re-operated from STN to GPi. Only one of the three cases from the literature where any improvement was seen with the operation had a confirmed on target lead location after the first surgery, while the other two patients did not undergo post-operative imaging after the first surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Re-operation to a different target due to lack of effect appears to have a limited chance of leading to objective improvement if the leads were correctly placed during initial surgery.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Phytomedicines in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Review.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that can cause cognition, mobility, and sensory impairments. It is considered one of the most common non-traumatic causes of disability in the world. The aim of the present article was to review the clinical evidence related to medicinal plants in the management of MS symptoms. Electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, and Scopus, were searched for entries from 1966 to February 2017. Only clinical studies were included in this review. Different medicinal plants have positive effects on MS, including Andrographis paniculata, Boswellia papyrifera, Ruta graveolens, Vaccinium spp., Camellia sinensis, Panax ginseng, Aloysia citrodora, Ginkgo biloba, Oenothera biennis, and Cannabis sativa. C. sativa had the highest level of clinical evidence, supporting its efficacy in MS symptoms. Proanthocyanidins, ginkgo flavone glycosides, ginsenosides, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, cannabinoids (including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol), boswellic acid, and andrographolide were presented as the main bioactive components of medicinal plants with therapeutic benefits in MS. The main complications of MS in which natural drugs were effective include spasticity, fatigue, scotoma, incontinence, urinary urgency, nocturia, memory performance, functional performance, and tremor. Herbal medicines were mostly well tolerated, and the adverse effects were limited to mild to moderate. Further well-designed human studies with a large sample size and longer follow-up period are recommended to confirm the role of medicinal plants and their metabolites in the management of MS.

Herb-Drug Interactions of Commonly Used Chinese Medicinal Herbs.

With more and more popular use of traditional herbal medicines, in particular Chinese herbal medicines, herb-drug interactions have become a more and more important safety issue in the clinical applications of the conventional drugs. Researches in this area are increasing very rapidly. Herb-drug interactions are complicated due to the fact that multiple chemical components are involved, and these compounds may possess diverse pharmacological activities. Interactions can be in both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Abundant studies focused on pharmacokinetic interactions of herbs and drugs. Herbs may affect the behavior of the concomitantly used drugs by changing their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Studies on pharmacodynamics interactions of herbs and drugs are still very limited. Herb-drug interactions are potentially causing changes in drug levels and drug activities and leading to either therapeutic failure or toxicities. Sometime it can be fatal. The exposures to drugs, lacking of knowledge in the potential adverse herb-drug interactions, will put big risk to patients' safety in medical services. On the contrary, some interactions may be therapeutically beneficial. It may be used to help develop new therapeutic strategies in the future. This chapter is trying to review the development in the area of herb-drug interactions based on the recently published research findings. Information on the potential interactions among the commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs and conventional drugs is summarized in this chapter.

Alzheimer's Disease and Chinese Medicine as a Useful Alternative Intervention Tool: A Mini-Review.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is a serious and complex neurodegenerative disease. Currently, there are about 44 million people suffering from AD all over the world and this number is expected to rapidly grow due to demographic changes. The disease can be treated both pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically. Unfortunately, it cannot be cured yet. Nevertheless, the drugs for the treatment of AD are quite expensive, have different side effects and only delay symptoms of this disease. Therefore researchers suggest the use of various non-pharmacological therapies. Apart from relatively popular in western world such as physical activities, cognitive training or healthy diet, Chinese medicine starts to be practiced in Europe. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this mini-review is to discuss the concept of Chinese medicine and explore its most common and effective forms in the treatment of AD. METHODS: This was done by conducting a literature search in the world´s acknowledged databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Springer. RESULTS: Five randomized controlled clinical trial studies were analyzed and their findings were discussed. CONCLUSION: The authors of this mini-review list the key benefits (e.g., positive results of the reviewed randomized clinical trials studies for the improvement of cognitive decline in AD) and limitations (e.g., low awareness of benefits of TCM in Europe) of Chinese medicine therapy for the treatment of AD.

Herbal Supplements Association with Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a clinico-radiologic syndrome characterized by thunderclap headache and reversible multifocal arterial constrictions that resolves within 3 months. RCVS can be either spontaneous or related to a trigger; vasoactive drugs including over-the-counter medicine are common culprits. Nevertheless, there are sparse data on the association of herbal supplements in the genesis of unexplained RCVS. METHODS: We describe a case of RCVS with a temporal association with the consumption of a diet pill composed of green tea, L-carnitine, and conjugated linoleic acid. We reviewed the literature describing RCVS cases associated with consumption of herbal supplements or plants. RESULTS: A 50-year-old black woman presented at the emergency room with a thunderclap headache less than 1 week after beginning a new herbal supplement with weight loss purpose. Angiographic study revealed multiple arterial constriction of virtually all intracranial territories that were reversed 28 days later. The patient was discharged with minimal symptoms. From our review, we identified 5 previous reports of herbal product-related triggers. CONCLUSIONS: Different factors can trigger RCVS. Besides our case, at least 5 other nutraceutical products were described to be associated with the disorders, 3 of them in patients without any other clear cause. Clinicians should be aware of the possible role of herbal supplements in RCVS, and their use should be systematically assessed in large RCVS cohorts to clarify this association.

Herbal Highs: Review on Psychoactive Effects and Neuropharmacology.

BACKGROUND: A new trend among users of new psychoactive substances' the consumption of "herbal highs": plant parts containing psychoactive substances. Most of the substances extracted from herbs, in old centuries were at the centre of religious ceremonies of ancient civilizations. Currently, these herbal products are mainly sold by internet web sites and easily obtained since some of them have no legal restriction. OBJECTIVE: We reviewed psychoactive effects and neuropharmacology of the most used "herbal highs" with characterized active principles, with studies reporting mechanisms of action, pharmacological and subjective effects, eventual secondary effects including intoxications and/or fatalities Method: The PubMed database was searched using the following key.words: herbal highs, Argyreia nervosa, Ipomoea violacea and Rivea corymbosa; Catha edulis; Datura stramonium; Piper methysticum; Mitragyna speciosa. RESULTS: Psychoactive plants here reviewed have been known and used from ancient times, even if for some of them limited information still exist regarding subjective and neuropharmacological effects and consequent eventual toxicity when plants are used alone or in combination with "classical" drugs of abuse. CONCLUSION: Some "herbal highs" should be classified as harmful drugs since chronic administration has been linked with addiction and cognitive impairment; for some others taking into consideration only the recent trends of abuse, studies investigating these aspects are lacking.

Imagery rescripting as a clinical intervention for aversive memories: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Literature suggests that imagery rescripting (ImRs) is an effective psychological intervention. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis of ImRs for psychological complaints that are associated with aversive memories. Relevant publications were collected from the databases Medline, PsychInfo, and Web of Science. RESULTS: The search identified 19 trials (including seven randomized controlled trials) with 363 adult patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (eight trials), social anxiety disorder (six trials), body dysmorphic disorder (two trials), major depression (one trial), bulimia nervosa (one trial), or obsessive compulsive disorder (one trial). ImRs was administered over a mean of 4.5 sessions (range, 1-16). Effect size estimates suggest that ImRs is largely effective in reducing symptoms from pretreatment to posttreatment and follow-up in the overall sample (Hedges' g = 1.22 and 1.79, respectively). The comparison of ImRs to passive treatment conditions resulted in a large effect size (g = 0.90) at posttreatment. Finally, the effects of ImRs on comorbid depression, aversive imagery, and encapsulated beliefs were also large. LIMITATIONS: Most of the analyses involved pre-post comparisons and the findings are limited by the small number of randomized controlled trials. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that ImRs is a promising intervention for psychological complaints related to aversive memories, with large effects obtained in a small number of session.

Evidences for the Anti-panic Actions of Cannabidiol.

BACKGROUND: Panic disorder (PD) is a disabling psychiatry condition that affects approximately 5% of the worldwide population. Currently, long-term selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line treatment for PD; however, the common side-effect profiles and drug interactions may provoke patients to abandon the treatment, leading to PD symptoms relapse. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the major non-psychotomimetic constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant with antianxiety properties that has been suggested as an alternative for treating anxiety disorders. The aim of the present review was to discuss the effects and mechanisms involved in the putative anti-panic effects of CBD. METHODS: electronic database was used as source of the studies selected selected based on the studies found by crossing the following keywords: cannabidiol and panic disorder; canabidiol and anxiety, cannabidiol and 5-HT1A receptor). RESULTS: In the present review, we included both experimental laboratory animal and human studies that have investigated the putative anti-panic properties of CBD. Taken together, the studies assessed clearly suggest an anxiolytic-like effect of CBD in both animal models and healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: CBD seems to be a promising drug for the treatment of PD. However, novel clinical trials involving patients with the PD diagnosis are clearly needed to clarify the specific mechanism of action of CBD and the safe and ideal therapeutic doses of this compound.

Brain-computer interfaces for patients with disorders of consciousness.

The disorders of consciousness refer to clinical conditions that follow a severe head injury. Patients diagnosed as in a vegetative state lack awareness, while patients diagnosed as in a minimally conscious state retain fluctuating awareness. However, it is a challenge to accurately diagnose these disorders with clinical assessments of behavior. To improve diagnostic accuracy, neuroimaging-based approaches have been developed to detect the presence or absence of awareness in patients who lack overt responsiveness. For the small subset of patients who retain awareness, brain-computer interfaces could serve as tools for communication and environmental control. Here we review the existing literature concerning the sensory and cognitive abilities of patients with disorders of consciousness with respect to existing brain-computer interface designs. We highlight the challenges of device development for this special population and address some of the most promising approaches for future investigations.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment in neurological diseases: Systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present systematic review is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of OMT as an adjuvant therapy in the management of patients with neurological diseases. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted and the findings were reported following the PRISMA statement. Twelve databases were searched for articles reporting the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment in neurological disorders. Each article was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Jadad score. RESULTS: 10 articles were included. OMT was used to test its efficacy and/or effectiveness in treating tension-type headache, migraine, cerebral palsy and gait analysis in patients affected by Parkinson's Disease. The general quality of the included trials ranged from very low, to low and moderate according to Cochrane standards. High heterogeneity between studies was found for the type of intervention, control and outcome measures used. CONCLUSION: Results showed that studies on the efficacy and/or effectiveness of OMT treatments are scarce, heterogeneous, and of low methodological quality. Further studies should be conducted including a more pragmatic methodology, an exhaustive description of all investigated and concurrent interventions, and a systematic report of adverse events, so as to obtain robust and generalizable results.