Alternative Therapy

2012 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (03) ◽  
pp. 102-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. U. Nitzsche ◽  
J. J. Laubenberger ◽  
Almut Einert ◽  
E. Moser ◽  
G. H. Simon

SummaryMedullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a rare tumor. Its prognosis is mainly linked to surgery, because there is no valid alternative therapy to improve patients outcome. In this report, we discuss the recurrence of such a tumor in a 64-year-old female, focusing on magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography evaluation of this tumor.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Diah Evawanna Anuhgera ◽  
Eka Fitria Panjaitan ◽  
Desika Wali Pardede ◽  
Desika Wali Pardede ◽  
Nikmah Jalilah Ritonga ◽  
...  

Spending colostrum in post-cesarean section mothers is difficult in the first week postpartum. Efforts to overcome colostrum disruption can use non-pharmacological methods, namely breast care and endorphin massage. This study aims to determine the expenditure of colostrum by giving breast care and endorphin massage to post-cesarean mothers. This research is a quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent design posttest control group design. This research was carried out in the midwifery room of the second floor of Grand Medistra Lubuk Pakam Hospital during the June-July 2019 period. There were 48 participants selected using purposive sampling, with 18 assigned in breast care, endorphin massage and combination of breast care and endorphin massage. The time of spending colostrum expenditure is assessed every day while the amount of colostrum expenditure is assessed after intervening. Analysis of the data used is one-way Annova. The results showed that the combination of breast care and endorphin massage was the most effective action in the time of spending colostrum and the amount of colostrum with a value of p = 0,000. The combination of breast care and endorphin massage could be applied as an alternative therapy post-cesarean mothers    


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awinita Barpujari ◽  
Michael A Erdek

Aim: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is used to clinically manage and/or treat several chronic pain etiologies. A limited amount is known about the influence on patients' use of opioid pain medication. This retrospective analysis evaluated SCS effect on opioid consumption in patients presenting with chronic pain conditions. Materials & methods: Sixty-seven patients underwent a temporary trial device, permanent implant or both. Patients were divided for assessment based on the nature of their procedure(s). Primary outcome was change in morphine equivalent dose (MED), ascertained from preoperative and postoperative medication reports. Results: Postoperative MED was significantly lower in patients who received some form of neuromodulation therapy. Pretrial patients reported an average MED of 41.01 ± 10.23 mg per day while post-trial patients reported an average of 13.30 ± 5.34 mg per day (p < 0.001). Pre-implant patients reported an average MED of 39.14 ± 13.52 mg per day while post-implant patients reported an average MED of 20.23 ± 9.01 mg per day (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between pre-trial and pre-implant MED, nor between post-trial and post-implant MED. Of the 42 study subjects who reported some amount of pre-intervention opioid use, 78.57% indicated a lower MED (n = 33; p < 0.001), 16.67% indicated no change (n = 7) and 4.76% (n = 2) indicated a higher MED, following intervention. Moreover, SCS therapy resulted in a 26.83% reduction (p < 0.001) in the number of patients with MED >50 mg per day. Conclusion: Spinal cord stimulation may reduce opioid use when implemented appropriately. Neuromodulation may represent alternative therapy for alleviating chronic pain which may avoid a number of deleterious side effects commonly associated with opioid consumption.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 720
Author(s):  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Ruenn Chai Lai ◽  
Wei Kian Sim ◽  
Andre Boon Hwa Choo ◽  
Ellen Birgit Lane ◽  
...  

Severe psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease is increasingly being effectively managed by targeted immunotherapy but long-term immunotherapy poses health risk and loss of response. Therefore, there is a need for alternative therapy strategies. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) exosomes are widely known for their potent immunomodulatory properties. Here we investigated if topically applied MSC exosomes could alleviate psoriasis-associated inflammation. Topically applied fluorescent exosomes on human skin explants were confined primarily to the stratum corneum with <1% input fluorescence exiting the explant over a 24-h period. Nevertheless, topically applied MSC exosomes in a mouse model of imiquimod (IMQ) psoriasis significantly reduced IL-17 and terminal complement activation complex C5b-9 in the mouse skin. MSC exosomes were previously shown to inhibit complement activation, specifically C5b-9 complex formation through CD59. Infiltration of neutrophils into the stratum corneum is characteristic of psoriasis and neutrophils are a major cellular source of IL-17 in psoriasis through the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). We propose that topically applied MSC exosomes inhibit complement activation in the stratum corneum and this alleviates IL-17 release by NETS from neutrophils that accumulate in and beneath the stratum corneum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s263-s263
Author(s):  
Jenna Reynolds ◽  
Lynn Chan ◽  
Raelene Trudeau ◽  
Maria Teresa Seville

Background: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) screening has been utilized to identify colonized patients to prevent transmission. However, little is known about the utility of screening to guide antibiotic therapy. We assessed the appropriateness of definitive therapy in patients with a VRE screen and evaluate the predictive value of screening for the development of a VRE infection. Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated VRE screening of patients aged 18 years admitted between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2018, to a 280-bed, academic, tertiary-care hospital. Rectal swabs were tested using Cepheid Xpert. Screening was performed routinely on admission for hematologic malignancy and liver transplantation patients. Only the first screen result was included for patients who had multiple VRE screens. The patient was classified as having a VRE infection if any Enterococcus isolates were vancomycin resistant. The primary outcome was appropriateness of antibiotic therapy in patients who had a VRE screen. Appropriateness of VRE-directed therapy was defined as therapy with linezolid or daptomycin for patients who had a positive VRE culture and an identifiable source of infection, or who had no clinical improvement on alternative therapy, or who had a documented β-lactam allergy. If appropriateness was unclear, 2 infectious diseases specialists determined appropriateness. Results: In total, 1,374 patients who had a rectal VRE screen met inclusion criteria. Of these, 1,053 (88%) had a negative screen. We detected no difference in the appropriateness of VRE-directed therapy between patients with a positive screen and those with a negative screen (59.3% vs 61.0%; P = .8657). The VRE screen had a sensitivity of 60% (95% CI, 43%–74%), specificity of 90% (95% CI, 88%–92%), positive predictive value of 18% (95% CI, 12%–25%), and negative predictive value of 98% (95% CI, 97%–99%) for VRE infection. Conclusions: Although VRE screening may have utility to detect colonization in high-risk patients, a positive VRE screen is of limited value in determining the need for VRE-directed therapy. Patients with a negative VRE screen have a low likelihood of developing a VRE infection, and a negative screen could be used to identify patients who may not require empiric coverage for VRE. Further research is needed to determine optimal utilization of VRE screening for prediction and treatment of VRE infections.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1109
Author(s):  
Cristina Adriana Dehelean ◽  
Iasmina Marcovici ◽  
Codruta Soica ◽  
Marius Mioc ◽  
Dorina Coricovac ◽  
...  

Despite the recent advances in the field of chemically synthetized pharmaceutical agents, nature remains the main supplier of bioactive molecules. The research of natural products is a valuable approach for the discovery and development of novel biologically active compounds possessing unique structures and mechanisms of action. Although their use belongs to the traditional treatment regimes, plant-derived compounds still cover a large portion of the current-day pharmaceutical agents. Their medical importance is well recognized in the field of oncology, especially as an alternative to the limitations of conventional chemotherapy (severe side effects and inefficacy due to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance). This review offers a comprehensive perspective of the first blockbuster chemotherapeutic agents of natural origin’s (e.g. taxol, vincristine, doxorubicin) mechanism of action using 3D representation. In addition is portrayed the step-by-step evolution from preclinical to clinical evaluation of the most recently studied natural compounds with potent antitumor activity (e.g. resveratrol, curcumin, betulinic acid, etc.) in terms of anticancer mechanisms of action and the possible indications as chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents and sensitizers. Finally, this review describes several efficient platforms for the encapsulation and targeted delivery of natural compounds in cancer treatment


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. Anselmino ◽  
M. V. Baglioni ◽  
F. Malizia ◽  
N. Cesatti Laluce ◽  
C. Borini Etichetti ◽  
...  

AbstractDrug repositioning refers to new uses for existing drugs outside the scope of the original medical indications. This approach fastens the process of drug development allowing finding effective drugs with reduced side effects and lower costs. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages, when the probability of chemotherapy resistance is higher. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancer, highly metastatic and difficult to treat. For both tumor types, available treatments are generally associated to severe side effects. In our work, we explored the effect of combining metformin and propranolol, two repositioned drugs, in both tumor types. We demonstrate that treatment affects viability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migratory potential of CRC cells as we described before for TNBC. We show that combined treatment affects different steps leading to metastasis in TNBC. Moreover, combined treatment is also effective preventing the development of 5-FU resistant CRC. Our data suggest that combination of metformin and propranolol could be useful as a putative adjuvant treatment for both TNBC and CRC and an alternative for chemo-resistant CRC, providing a low-cost alternative therapy without associated toxicity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Sheng Zhu ◽  
Victor Häussling ◽  
Romina H. Aspera-Werz ◽  
Tao Chen ◽  
Bianca Braun ◽  
...  

Co-culture models have become mandatory for obtaining better insights into bone homeostasis, which relies on the balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Cigarette smoking (CS) has been proven to increase the risk of osteoporosis; however, there is currently no proven treatment for osteoporosis in smokers excluding cessation. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are classical anti-osteoclastic drugs that are commonly used in examining the suitability of bone co-culture systems in vitro as well as to verify the response to osteoporotic stimuli. In the present study, we tested the effects of BPs on cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-affected cells in the co-culture of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Our results showed that BPs were able to reduce CSE-induced osteoporotic alterations in the co-culture of osteoblasts and osteoclasts such as decreased matrix remodeling, enhanced osteoclast activation, and an up-regulated receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kB-ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) ratio. In summary, BPs may be an effective alternative therapy for reversing osteoporotic alterations in smokers, and the potential mechanism is through modulation of the RANKL/OPG ratio.


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