Additive homeopathy in cancer patients: Retrospective survival data from a homeopathic outpatient unit at the Medical University of Vienna

AbstractZinc is a trace element that plays an important role in the immune system and cell growth. The role of zinc in cancer treatment has been discussed for some time, however without reaching an evidenced-based consensus. Therefore, we aim to critically examine and review existing evidence on the role of zinc during cancer treatment. In January 2019, a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsychINFO, CINAHL and PubMed) to find studies concerning the use, effectiveness and potential harm of zinc therapy on cancer patients. Out of initial 5244 search results, 19 publications concerning 23 studies with 1230 patients were included in this systematic review. The patients treated with zinc were mainly diagnosed with head and neck cancer and underwent chemo-, radio- or concurrent radio-chemotherapy. Interventions included the intake of different amounts of zinc supplements and oral zinc rinses. Outcomes (primary endpoints) investigated were mucositis, xerostomia, dysgeusia, pain, weight, dermatitis and oral intake of nutrients. Secondary endpoints were survival data, quality of life assessments and aspects of fatigue, immune responses and toxicities of zinc. The studies were of moderate quality reporting heterogeneous results. Studies have shown a positive impact on the mucositis after radiotherapy. No protection was seen against mucositis after chemotherapy. There was a trend to reduced loss of taste, less dry mouth and oral pain after zinc substitution. No impact was seen on weight, QoL measurements, fatigue, and survival. The risk of side effects from zinc appears to be relatively small. Zinc could be useful in the prevention of oral toxicities during irradiation. It does not help in chemotherapy-induced side effects.

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Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Emerging Technologies in Brachytherapy ◽

10.1201/9781315120966-19 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 277-284

Author(s):

Christian Kirisits ◽

Maximilian P. Schmid ◽

Nicole Nesvacil ◽

Richard Pötter

Keyword(s):

University Of Vienna ◽

Medical University

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Unplanned attendances of cancer patients to an outpatient unit in a low-income country: A prospective study from Sudan

South African Journal of Oncology ◽

10.4102/sajo.v4i0.126 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Moawia M.A. Elhassan ◽

Safa I.H. Taha ◽

Maha M.A. Maatoug

Keyword(s):

Prospective Study ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Low Income ◽

Income Country ◽

Low Income Country ◽

Outpatient Unit ◽

A Prospective Study

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Acceptance of animal research in our science community

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.8169.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 282

Author(s):

Konstantin Bergmeister ◽

Bruno Podesser

Keyword(s):

Animal Research ◽

Communication To The Public ◽

Single Center ◽

The Public ◽

Staff Members ◽

University Of Vienna ◽

Single Center Study ◽

Science Community ◽

Medical University ◽

Center Study

Animal research is debated highly controversial, as evident by the “Stop Vivi-section” initiative in 2015. Despite widespread protest to the initiative by researchers, no data is available on the European medical research community’s opinion towards animal research. In this single-center study, we investigated this question in a survey of students and staff members at the Medical University of Vienna. A total of 906 participants responded to the survey, of which 82.8% rated the relevance of animal research high and 62% would not accept a treatment without prior animals testing. Overall, animal research was considered important, but its communication to the public considered requiring improvement.

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P4: CIRCULATING MIRNA PROFILES POINT TO DYSREGULATION IN TGFBETA/SMAD3 TUMOR SUPPRESSOR SIGNATURE IN BRCA POSITIVE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Journal of Investigative Medicine ◽

10.1136/jim-2016-000080.44 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 818.2-818

Author(s):

I Shapira ◽

T Bhuiya ◽

S Arora ◽

N Mukhi ◽

S Datla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Tumor Suppressor ◽

Real Time ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Survival Data ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Germ Line ◽

Germline Mutations ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Mean Differences

Purpose of StudyOver 240,000 individuals are diagnosed with breast cancer (BrCa) of which 12,000 individuals carry BRCA germline mutations. MicroRNA dysregulation is common in malignancy and may correlate with germline mutations.Aims:1. Analyze microRNAs in patients with breast cancer with or without BRCA germ line mutations, with and without cancer.2. Identify molecular BRCA mutant patients to deduct reasons for accelerated malignancy.Methods UsedWe analyzed plasma miR expression from 94 br cancer patients (41 BRCA positive) relative to 24 normal controls. All samples were collected between 2010 and 2014 and survival data was known for all cancer patients. TaqMan Open Array panel was used to simultaneously run hundreds of microRNA assays in the Applied Biosystem Open array real time PCR. Using AB open array real time PCR, 756 miRNA species were detected. Two-sample t-test was used for all 2-sample comparison and ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD post-hoc test to compare the miRs mean differences. All tests were 2-tailed and results with a p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.Summary of ResultsBRCA+underexpressed hsa-mir-10a and hsa-mir-376c and over-expressed Hsa- mir- 326 and Hsa-mir-143 relative to BRCA-; p<0.05.Using Coremine data mining linking genes and diseases differentially expressed circulating miRs are linked to tumor suppressor TGFbeta/SMAD3.ConclusionsThe early onset of breast cancer in BRCA mutant patients may recapitulate the pro-oncogenic effects of TGF-β. The context dependent SMAD3 binding & tumor suppression TGF-β effects are abrogated in BRCA mutant patients. TGF-β/Smad3 tumor-suppressor signature suppresses local inflammation in the tumor microenvironment.

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