Homeopathic Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: An Open, Single-Arm, Non-Comparative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (04) ◽  
pp. 272-282
Author(s):  
Rashmi Sharma ◽  
Raj K. Manchanda

Abstract Background Acne is often treated at homeopathic clinics in India based on existing literature without using any measurable parameters and the outcomes are seldom reported, hence this study. Objective To evaluate the effects of homeopathy on the treatment of acne using specific outcome measures related to severity and disability. Methods It is an open, single-arm, non-comparative study undertaken at a clinic located in rural India using individualised homeopathy. Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) scores and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) scores were analysed at baseline and post medication at 3 and 6 months using one-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 to assess the outcomes of intervention. Results Eighty-four patients enrolled in the study were analysed under modified intention to treat approach. Nat-m (n = 14), Calc-s (n = 14), Sulph (n = 13), Kali-br (n = 10) and Hep-s (n = 9) were the most frequently used remedies. Significant differences were found in the severity of the disease and quality of life (QoL) from baseline to 6 months in terms of GAGS (mean difference, 15.47; standard error [SE], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 13.79–17.16; p < 0.001) and CADI (mean difference, 6.94; SE, 0.33; 95% CI, 6.12–7.75; p < 0.001) scores. A one–way repeated measures ANOVA was calculated and significant effects were found for GAGS scores (Wilks's lambda = 0.142; F [2, 82] = 248.50; p < 0.001; effect size = 0.748) and CADI scores (Wilks's lambda = 0.159; F [2, 82] = 217; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.786) at baseline and 3 and 6 months post medication. There was a positive correlation between the GAGS and CADI: r = 0.585, n = 84, p < 0.001. Conclusions Acne can be effectively treated at homeopathic clinics along with improvement in QoL of patients. Increase in severity of acne was associated with worsening of QoL. Further pragmatic studies with comparative cohort is desirable.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-298
Author(s):  
Rian Tri Prayogo ◽  
Sendy Mohamad Anugrah ◽  
Ardhika Falaahudin ◽  
Dody Tri Iwandana ◽  
Rifqi Festiawan

Pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat akibat penyebaran virus covid-19 telah mengubah olahraga di Indonesia sehingga memaksa para atlet untuk melakukan latihan mandiri di tempat tinggalnya masing-masing dengan program latihan yang dibuat oleh para pelatihnya. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah membandingkan kapasitas aerobik, aspek kelincahan, dan daya tahan otot lokal atlet pencak silat sebelum dan sesudah masa latihan mandiri. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskritptif dengan melibatkan 12 atlet pencak silat putra kategori tanding Kabupaten Karawang. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa terjadi penurunan signifikan pada kapasitas aerobik (p= 0.025) dan performa kelincahan (0.042) namun pada daya tahan otot lokal tidak terdapat perbedaan. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah terjadi penurunan pada kapasitas aerobik dan aspek kelincahan pada atlet pencak silat Kabupaten Karawang setelah masa latihan di tempat tinggalnya masing-masing akibat dari pemberlakukan pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat (PPKM), namun pada komponen daya tahan otot-otot lokal tidak terdapat perubahan.The sports activity of badminton and responses to changes in blood uric acid at productive age AbstractThis study aims to determine whether there was a response to changes in uric acid levels due to the physical activity of badminton. The design of this study is a quasi-experimental. The sample used in this study was eight respondents with certain criteria. Treat physical activity twice on different days with 4 measurements of uric acid levels. The method of this study is repeated measure analysis. When subjects are measured repeatedly, requiring fewer subjects per experiment, then repeated measures analysis can be used. The results showed that the treatment of badminton had a significant effect on changes in uric acid levels with a probability value of 0,038. These results were obtained by using the Greenhouse-Geisser test where the assumptions of normality and homogeneity were satisfied. From the marginal test results using pairwise comparisons, there was a significant difference in the average uric acid levels at 15 minutes after exercise and 9 hours the following day, where there was a decrease of 1.169 mg/dl. Badminton can reduce uric acid levels, which is indicated by a decrease of 0.15 mg/dl at 09.00 the next day compared to before exercise. Marginally, this decrease is not statistically significant, but regular badminton can be an option for physical activity for those who want to reduce uric acid levels.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Swathi ◽  
Raghavendra Bhat ◽  
Apar Avinash Saoji

Background and Objective: Attention and memory are essential aspects of cognitive health. Yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation have shown to improve cognitive functions. There has been no assessment of Trataka (yogic visual concentration) on working or on spatial memory. The present study was planned to assess the immediate effects of Trataka and of eye exercise sessions on the Corsi-block tapping task (CBTT).Methods: A total of 41 healthy volunteers of both genders with age 23.21 ± 2.81 years were recruited. All participants underwent baseline assessment, followed by 2 weeks of training in Trataka (including eye exercise). Each training session lasted for 20 min/day for 6 days a week. After completion of the training period, a 1-week washout period was given. Each participant then was assessed in two sessions in Trataka and in eye exercise on two separate days, maintaining the same time of the day. Repeated measure analysis of variance with Holm’s adjustment was performed to check the difference between the sessions.Results: Significant within-subjects effects were observed for forward Corsi span andforward total score (p &lt; 0.001), and also for backward Corsi span (p &lt; 0.05) and backward total score (p &lt; 0.05). Post hoc analyses revealed Trataka session to be better than eye exercises and baseline. The eye exercise session did not show any significant changes in the CBTT.Conclusion: The result suggests that Trataka session improves working memory, spatial memory, and spatial attention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-289
Author(s):  
Angkit Kinasih ◽  
Ronaldo Lomi Djara ◽  
Ferry Fredy Karwur

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui ada tidaknya respon perubahan pada kadar asam urat akibat aktivitas olahraga bulu tangkis.  Desain penelitian ini adalah quasi eksperimen. Sampel yang digunakan sebanyak delapan responden dengan kriteria tertentu. Perlakukan aktivitas fisik dilakukan dua kali pada hari yang berbeda dengan 4 kali pengukuran kadar asam urat. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah repeated measure analysis. Ketika subyek diukur berulang kali dengan jumlah yang sedikit per percobaan maka repeated measures analysis dapat digunakan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakukan olahraga bulu tangkis memberikan respon perubahan yang signifikan terhadap perubahan kadar asam urat dengan nilai probabilitas sebesar 0,038. Hasil ini diperoleh dengan menggunakan uji Greenhouse-Geisser dimana asumsi normalitas dan homogenitas telah terpenuhi. Pada hasil uji marginal menggunakan pairwise comparisons, terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada rata-rata kadar asam urat 15 menit setelah olahraga dan jam 09.00 hari berikutnya, dimana terjadi penurunan sebesar 1,169 mg/dl. Olahraga bulu tangkis dapat menurunkan kadar asam urat yang ditandai dengan adanya penurunan sebesar 0,15 mg/dl pada jam 09.00 hari berikutnya dibandingkan dengan sebelum olahraga. Secara marginal, penurunan ini tidak signifikan secara statistik, namun olahraga bulu tangkis yang rutin dapat menjadi salah satu pilihan aktifitas fisik bagi yang ingin menurunkan kadar asam urat.The sports activity of badminton and responses to changes in blood uric acid at productive ageAbstractThis study aims to determine whether there was a response to changes in uric acid levels due to the physical activity of badminton. The design of this study is a quasi-experimental. The sample used in this study was eight respondents with certain criteria. Treat physical activity twice on different days with 4 measurements of uric acid levels. The method of this study is repeated measure analysis. When subjects are measured repeatedly, requiring fewer subjects per experiment, then repeated measures analysis can be used. The results showed that the treatment of badminton had a significant effect on changes in uric acid levels with a probability value of 0,038. These results were obtained by using the Greenhouse-Geisser test where the assumptions of normality and homogeneity were satisfied. From the marginal test results using pairwise comparisons, there was a significant difference in the average uric acid levels at 15 minutes after exercise and 9 hours the following day, where there was a decrease of 1.169 mg/dl. Badminton can reduce uric acid levels, which is indicated by a decrease of 0.15 mg/dl at 09.00 the next day compared to before exercise. Marginally, this decrease is not statistically significant, but regular badminton can be an option for physical activity for those who want to reduce uric acid levels.


Author(s):  
Zi Di Lim ◽  
Edwin Pheng ◽  
Evelyn Tai Li Min ◽  
Hans Van Rostenberghe ◽  
Ismail Shatriah

Platelets are a primary source of pro- and anti-angiogenic cytokines. However, the evidence of their role in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is controversial. This retrospective study aimed to compare mean weekly platelet counts between infants with and without ROP over the first 6 weeks of life. A total of 93 infants matched by gestational age and birth weight were recruited (31 with ROP, 62 without ROP). Weekly mean platelet counts and other related risk factors were documented. The repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the repeated measure analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare mean platelet counts over time between the two groups, with and without adjusting for confounders. We found significant differences in the weekly mean platelet counts of infants with and without ROP over the first 6 weeks of life (p = 0.002). These differences disappeared after adjusting for covariates (p = 0.489). Lower mean platelet counts in ROP infants are not directly related to ROP, but rather to the presence of other risk factors for ROP, such as culture-proven sepsis, blood transfusion and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.


Author(s):  
Samer Mheissen ◽  
Haris Khan ◽  
Mohammed Almuzian ◽  
Emad Eddin Alzoubi ◽  
Nikolaos Pandis

Summary Background In orthodontic trials, longitudinal designs with multiple outcome measurements over time are common. The aim of this epidemiological study was to examine whether optimal statistical analysis approaches have been used in longitudinal orthodontic trials. Methods Pubmed was searched in August 2021 for longitudinal orthodontic trials with at least three time points of outcome assessment published in the 2017–20 period. Study selection and data extraction were done independently and in duplicate. The analysis approaches undertaken were tabulated and associations between study characteristics and the use of optimal analysis or not were assessed using Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression. Results One hundred forty-seven out of 563 unique records were deemed eligible for inclusion. Only 26.50% of these trials used an optimal statistical analysis for longitudinal data where the data structure is accounted for. None of the study characteristics except the statistical significance of the results were associated with the appropriateness of the statistical analysis. The odds of significant results in studies with suboptimal analyses were higher than that in studies with optimal longitudinal analyses (odds ratio: 3.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.62, 7.46, P = 0.001). For the studies with optimal analysis, the most frequent test was repeated-measure analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). The reporting of the statistical analysis section was suboptimal in the majority of the trials. Conclusion Most longitudinal orthodontic trials are not analysed using optimal statistical approaches. Inferences and interpretation of their results are likely to be compromised.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
Martina Đodan ◽  
Tomislav Dubravac ◽  
Sanja Perić

Background and Purpose: Recently raised questions on adaptability of native tree species to climate changes pointed to Douglas-fir as a species suitable for rapid reforestation and increase of stand resistance. The first results on provenance research need to be confirmed in later stages of stand development, so the paper answers the following two questions: (i) are there differences in growth of 14 Douglas-fir provenances still in the fifth decade of stand development, and (ii) which provenances should be used and which omitted from further use in the hilly area of Croatia? Materials and Methods: Productivity of 14 provenances was evaluated on the basis of height, diameter at breast height and volume in the 46th year after planting. Growth dynamics was also statistically analysed using a repeated measure analysis of variance, for which purpose we partially used published data from the 2010. Results: The analysis excluded Castle Rock and Shady Cove (Oregon) provenances due to their low values of all analysed growth indicators, as well as Castle Rock, Elma and Hvidilde provenances due to their high values. Average values of tree volume ranged from 0.53 m3 (Shady Cove) to 2.05 m3 (Castle Rock), while the tallest trees belonged to Elma provenance (29.6 m). Conclusions: Different growth dynamics of provenances were confirmed for later development stage, so further monitoring is still required. Clear guidelines for the selection of provenances for practical forestry distinguish provenances from lower altitudes of the State of Washington, Denmark and Bulgaria as the most productive. Shady Cove and Salmon Arm provenances are not advised to be used in the future.


2001 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary C. Galbraith ◽  
Bernadine Bagasan ◽  
Jane Sulahian

The human brainstem frequency-following response reflects neural activity to periodic auditory stimuli. Responses were simultaneously recorded from one vertically oriented and three horizontally oriented electrode derivations. Nine participants each received a total of 16,000 tone repetitions, 4,000 for each of four stimulus frequencies: 222, 266, 350, and 450 Hz. The responses were digitally filtered, quantified by correlation and spectral analysis, and statistically evaluated by repeated measure analysis of variance. While the various horizontal derivation responses did not differ from each other in latency (values tightly clustered around M = 2.60 msec), the vertical derivation response occurred significantly later ( M = 4.38 msec). The smaller latency for the horizontal responses suggests an origin within the acoustic nerve, while the larger latency for the vertical response suggests a central brainstem origin. The largest response amplitude resulted from gold “tiptrode” electrodes placed in each auditory meatus, suggesting that this electrode derivation provided the most accurate (noninvasive) assessment of short-latency events originating at the level of the auditory nerve.


2010 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Zanna ◽  
Ludovica Filippucci ◽  
Maria Chiara Castiglioni

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 621-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Piccione ◽  
M. Rizzo ◽  
F. Arfuso ◽  
C. Giannetto ◽  
S. Di Pietro ◽  
...  

Abstract During early post-partum period both neonatal foals and peripartum mares are most susceptible to diseases. The aim of this study was to establish physiologic modifications of leukogram during the first month after foaling in mares and their newborn foals. To this end blood samples were collected from nine mares and nine foals (T0-T10), every three days from the 1st day until the 30th day after foaling. Samples were analysed for white blood cell (WBC) count and differential leucocyte counts. Two-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed, in postpartum mares WBC showed significant higher values at T0 (9.02±0.76) in respect to other time points, and at T2 (8.08±0.53) and T3 (7.92±0.59) compared to T1 (6.98±0.43), whereas in foals lower WBC values at T0 (6.11±0.49) compared to other experimental periods except T1 (6.90±0.94), and at T1 compared to T8 (7.95±0.61) and T10 (7.90±0.36) were observed. The differential leucocyte counts showed significant modifications in the percentage of neutrophils (π<0.001) and lymphocytes (p<0.001) both in postpartum mares and in foals during the experimental period. Furthermore ANOVA showed significant differences between postpartum mares and foals (P<0.01) in all studied parameters, and between postpartum mares and control mares in WBC and neutrophils values. The obtained results provide suitable information about the influence of foaling on leukogram of periparturient mares and reveal WBC dynamics in newborn foals during the first month post-partum.


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