Alternative Medicine Review back issues from September 2008:
The time for environmental medicine is now!(Editorial)
Sep 01, 2008; ... In July of 2006, an Associated Press (AP) story revealed, "Despite ... air quality testing by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in November that detected formaldehyde levels at FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] trailer holding stations on the Gulf Coast as high as ...
Nutritional therapies for ocular disorders: part three.(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Abstract Parts one and two of this series discussed nutritional and botanical treatments for cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal diseases(maculardegeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of the newborn, and retinitis pigmentosa).This review discusses nutritional treatments ...
Clinical applications of urinary organic acids. Part 1: detoxification markers.(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Abstract Modern instrumentation allows the measurement of organic acids in urine in their physiological concentration ranges. Eight of the compounds that are reported can serve as markers for specific toxicant exposure or detoxification challenges. Xylene exposure causes ...
The methylation, neurotransmitter, and antioxidant connections between folate and depression.(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Abstract Depression is common--one-fourth of the U.S. population will have a depressive episode sometime in life. Folate deficiency is also relatively common in depressed people, with approximately one-third of depressed individuals having an outright deficiency. Folate is a ...
Natural approaches to prevention and treatment of infections of the lower urinary tract.(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Abstract Infections of the lower urinary tract are common occurrences in young women, during pregnancy, and in peri- and postmenopausal women. Because of the chronic nature of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the potential for antibiotic resistance, a natural approach to ...
Phosphatidylserine.(Monograph)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Introduction Phosphatidylserine (PS), a ubiquitous, endogenously occurring phospholipid, is the major acidic phospholipid in the brain. PS and other phospholipids make up the basic structural components of the cell membrane. These membrane phospholipids play an important role in ...
Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw).(Monograph)(Drug overview)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Introduction Historically, Harpagopbytum procumbens (devil's claw) has been used as an analgesic, a remedy for fevers and allergies, and as a bitter by San bushmen in Africa to stimulate gastric enzymes and digestion. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recommends devil's claw as a ...
Integrated Medicine for Neurological Disorders Herbs and Nutrients for: Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Migraine, Seizures.(Book review)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Integrated Medicine for Neurological Disorders Herbs and Nutrients for: Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Migraine, Seizures Sidney Kurn, MD, and Sheryl Shook, PhD [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The topic of integrative approaches to ...
Mayo Clin Proc: Simvastatin vs therapeutic lifestyle changes and supplements: randomized primary prevention trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVE: To compare the lipid-lowering effects of an alternative regimen (lifestyle changes, red yeast rice, and fish oil) with a standard dose of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized trial enrolled 74 patients with ...
Am J Cardiol: Effect of Xuezhikang, an extract from red yeast Chinese rice, on coronary events in a Chinese population with previous myocardial infarction.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Results of well-controlled prospective clinical trials showed the efficacy of lipid-lowering therapies in the reduction of cardiovascular (CV) events in western populations, but they were not reported with a Chinese population. This multicenter study was conducted to determine the effects ...
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab: Efficacy of plant sterols in novel matrices on blood lipid profiles: medium-chain triglycerides and low-fat products consumed with or without a meal.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk can be lowered by introduction of plant sterols (PSs) to the diet, since PSs have been shown to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Given that the efficacy of PSs as cholesterol-lowering agents depends on their appropriate solubilization, ...
Obstet Gynecol: Sinecatechins, a defined green tea extract, in the treatment of external anogenital warts: a randomized controlled trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVE: To estimate the clinical efficacy of topical sinecatechins, a defined green tea extract, in the treatment of external genital and perianal warts. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial involving 502 male and female patients aged 18 years and ...
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr: L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. Tea is known to be a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants. However tea also contains a unique amino acid, L-theanine that may modulate aspects of brain function in humans. Evidence from human electroencephalograph (EEG) ...
Clin Nutr: Effect of green tea extract on obese women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... AIMS: To examine the effect of green tea extract (GTE) on obese women and to explore the relationship between GTE and obesity-related hormone peptides. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from July 2006 to June 2007 in Taipei Hospital, ...
Stroke: Reduction in the recurrence of stroke by eicosapentaenoic acid for hypercholesterolemic patients: subanalysis of the JELIS trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The JELIS trial examined the preventive effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) against coronary artery diseases. Hypercholesterolemic patients received statin only (no EPA group: n=9319) or statin with EPA (EPA group: n=9326) for around 5 years. EPA significantly ...
J Am Coll Nutr: Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk factors: results from a double blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVE: Flaxseed is a rich source of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), fiber and lignans, making it a potentially attractive functional food for modulating cardiovascular risk. We studied the effects of flaxseed on markers of cardiovascular risk in hypercholesterolemic adults. METHODS: ...
Am J Clin Nutr: Correlation between changes in blood fatty acid composition and visual sustained attention performance in children with inattention: effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids containing phospholipids.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence supports n-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation for patients with psychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the exact metabolic fate of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on different ...
J Am Diet Assoc: Algal-oil capsules and cooked salmon: nutritionally equivalent sources of docosahexaenoic acid.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Food and nutrition professionals question whether supplement-sourced nutrients appear to be equivalent to those derived from natural food sources. We compared the nutritional availability of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from algal-oil capsules to that from assayed cooked salmon in 32 healthy ...
Wound Repair Regen: Omega-3 fatty acids effect on wound healing.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Physiological events in the initial inflammatory stage of cutaneous wound healing influence subsequent stages. Proinflammatory cytokines coordinate molecular and cellular processes during the inflammatory stage. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) alter proinflammatory cytokine production, ...
J Investig Med: Effects of n-3 fatty acids on hepatic triglyceride content in humans.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Because dietary n-3 fatty acids reduce plasma triglycerides, they may also decrease hepatic triglyceride content. If so, n-3 fatty acids might constitute a therapy for fatty liver. METHODS: Twenty-two subjects were recruited into a study designed to test the effects of n-3 ...
J Nutr: The lipid-lowering effects of phytosterols and (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids are synergistic and complementary in hyperlipidemic men and women.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Fish oils rich in (n-3) long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) can reduce circulating triglycerides and raise HDL-cholesterol. Phytosterols have been shown to reduce total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in normocholesterolemic and hyperlipidemic populations. We investigated the combined effects of ...
J Nutr: Fish oil in combination with high or low intakes of linoleic acid lowers plasma triacylglycerols but does not affect other cardiovascular risk markers in healthy men.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Both (n-3) long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) and linoleic acid [LA, 18:2(n-6)] improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, but a high-LA intake may weaken the effect of (n-3) LCPUFA. In a controlled, double-blind, 2 x 2-factorial 8-wk intervention, we investigated whether fish oil combined ...
Clin Endocrinol: No difference between strontium ranelate and calcium
Sep 01, 2008; ... Objective: To evaluate the effect of strontium ranelate (SR) on bone turnover markers in women with established osteoporosis previously treated with teriparatide (TPTD--recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-34). Design--patients: Twenty-two postmenopausal Caucasian women (aged 65.7 +/- ...
Int J Cancer: Dairy products, polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene and colorectal adenoma recurrence.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Vitamin D receptor (VDR) activation inhibits proliferation and angiogenesis in the colorectal epithelium, and inhibits metastasis of colorectal tumors. Polymorphisms in the VDR gene alter receptor cellular levels and functioning, and may confer altered susceptibility to colorectal ...
J Nutr: The bioavailability of vitamin D from fortified cheeses and supplements is equivalent in adults.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... There is a need to increase the options for vitamin D fortification. We have developed a method to fortify hard cheese with vitamin D. Our aim was to characterize the bioavailability of vitamin D from fortified cheeses. Eighty adults were randomized to weekly servings of fortified cheddar ...
Arch Intern Med: Independent association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: In cross-sectional studies, low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and disease. This study aimed to determine whether endogenous 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels are related to all-cause ...
Ann Intern Med: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and risk for hip fractures.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) vitamin D] concentration and hip fractures is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To see whether low serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations are associated with hip fractures in community-dwelling women. DESIGN: Nested case-control ...
BMC Musculoskelet Disord: Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid supplementation as an adjunct to calcium/vitamin D3 stimulates markers of bone formation in osteopenic females: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence supports a physiological role for silicon (Si) as orthosilicic acid (OSA, Si(OH)4) in bone formation. The effect of oral cholinestabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA) on markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) was investigated in a double-blind ...
Am J Clin Nutr: Selenium status of term infants fed selenium-supplemented formula in a randomized dose-response trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: The optimal form and dose of selenium supplementation required to achieve indicators of selenium status equivalent to those in breastfed infants are unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the effect of fortifying infant formula (6 microg Se/L) with 2 concentrations ...
Int J Cancer: Impact of antioxidant supplementation on chemotherapeutic toxicity: a systematic review of the evidence from randomized controlled trials.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Much debate has focused on whether antioxidants interfere with the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. The objective of this study is to systematically review the randomized, controlled clinical trial evidence evaluating the effects of concurrent use of antioxidants with chemotherapy on toxic ...
Mini Rev Med Chem: Organoselenium compounds in cancer chemoprevention.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Selenium is an important trace element involved in different physiological functions of human body. Knowledge of selenium in biology of cancer has increased at rapid rate especially during last two decades. Basic research and clinical studies involving animal models and more recently ...
Exp Gerontol: Targeting oxidative stress in surgery: effects of ageing and therapy.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... In the current era cardiac surgeons are being called upon to operate upon older, sicker patients. The effect is to augment oxidative stress and increase the rate of post-operative complications and ultimately mortality. We have developed antioxidant-based pre-treatment regimes initially ...
Am J Clin Nutr: Effect of cinnamon and turmeric on urinary oxalate excretion, plasma lipids, and plasma glucose in healthy subjects.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: High oxalate intake resulting from consuming supplemental doses of cinnamon and turmeric may increase risk of hyperoxaluria, a significant risk factor for urolithiasis. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed urinary oxalate excretion from supplemental doses of cinnamon and turmeric as ...
Anaesthesia: Effect of magnesium sulphate on urinary catecholamine excretion in severe tetanus.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Severe tetanus is characterised by muscle spasms and autonomic dysfunction. We recently reported the results of a randomised placebo controlled trial of magnesium sulphate infusions for the treatment of severe tetanus which showed magnesium was associated with improved muscle spasm and ...
Zhong, Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao: Red peony root decoction in treatment of severe acute pancreatitis: a randomized controlled trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of red peony root decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and rhubarb in treating severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: A total of 96 consecutive patients with objectively-graded SAP were randomly divided into treatment ...
J Nutr: A meal enriched with soy isoflavones increases nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in healthy postmenopausal women.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Evidence from infusion studies suggests that soy isoflavones influence nitric oxide-dependent vasorelaxation. It is uncertain whether orally consumed isoflavones have similar effects. Healthy postmenopausal women (n = 22) consumed 2 low-fat test meals in random order 1 wk apart, with 80 mg ...
Toxicol Sci: MRP2 and the DMPS- and DMSA-mediated elimination of mercury in TR- and control rats exposed to thiol s-conjugates of inorganic mercury.(multidrug resistance protein, 3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid)(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy)-S-conjugates of inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)) are transportable species of Hg(2+) that are taken up readily by proximal tubular cells. The metal chelators, 2, 3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid (DMPS) and meso-2, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), have ...
Anesth Analg: Preoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.(Reprint)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Many patients have preoperative anxiety; therefore, the development of a strong anxiolytic with minimal psychomotor impairment for premedication may be desirable. METHODS: In this study, 60 patients were randomized into two groups to receive either oral Passiflora incarnata ...
BMC Cancer: Phase II trial of isoflavone in prostate-specific antigen recurrent prostate cancer after previous local therapy.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Data exist that demonstrate isoflavones' potent antiproliferative effects on prostate cancer cells. We evaluated the efficacy of isoflavone in patients with PSA recurrent prostate cancer after prior therapy. We postulated that isoflavone therapy would slow the rate of rise of ...
BMC Dermatol: A systematic review of natural health product treatment for vitiligo.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a hypopigmentation disorder affecting 1 to 4% of the world population. Fifty percent of cases appear before the age of 20 years old, and the disfigurement results in psychiatric morbidity in 16 to 35% of those affected. METHODS: Our objective was to complete a ...
Am J Clin Nutr: The influence of supplemental lutein and docosahexaenoic acid on serum, lipoproteins, and macular pigmentation.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Lutein and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lutein is a component of macular pigment. DHA is in the retina. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this 4-too study was to determine the effects of lutein (12 rag/d) and DHA (800 mg/d) on ...
J Pain: A pilot study of potassium supplementation in the treatment of hypokalemic patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been described as having significantly low serum potassium concentrations than that in healthy subjects. We assessed the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of oral potassium supplement dissolved in grape juice in female hypokalemic patients ...
Nutr J: The effect of walnut intake on factors related to prostate and vascular health in older men.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Tocopherols may protect against prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: We assessed the effect of walnuts, which are rich in tocopherols, on markers of prostate and vascular health in men at risk for prostate cancer. We conducted an 8-week walnut supplement ...
Clin Cancer Res: Phase II trial of curcumin in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... PURPOSE: Pancreatic cancer is almost always lethal, and the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies for it, gemcitabine and erlotinib, produce objective responses in < 10% of patients. We evaluated the clinical biological effects of curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a ...
J Altern Complement Med: Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Abstract Objectives: Study aims were to evaluate effects of Bacopa monnieri whole plant standardized dry extract on cognitive function and affect and its safety and tolerability in healthy elderly study participants. Design: The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ...
Rev Recent Clin Trials: Results of endovesical hyaluronic acid/ chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to test the effect of a more viscous compound than existent hyaluronic acid formulation in helping to restore a defective glycosaminoglycan layer, and therefore in improving Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome (IC/ PBS) symptoms when ...
Pediatrics: Effectiveness of zinc supplementation plus oral rehydration salts compared with oral rehydration salts alone as a treatment for acute diarrhea in a primary care setting: a cluster randomized trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate whether education about zinc supplements and provision of zinc supplements to caregivers is effective in the treatment of acute diarrhea and whether this strategy adversely affects the use of oral rehydration salts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ...
J Child Neurol: Melatonin for chronic insomnia in Angelman syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Previous studies suggested that melatonin improves sleep in insomniac patients with Angelman syndrome. To assess the efficacy of melatonin, a randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted in 8 children with Angelman syndrome with idiopathic chronic insomnia. After a 1-week baseline ...
Diabetologia: Oral benfotiamine plus alpha-lipoic acid normalises complication-causing pathways in type 1 diabetes.(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We determined whether fixed doses of benfotiamine in combination with slow-release alpha-lipoic acid normalise markers of reactive oxygen species-induced pathways of complications in humans. METHODS: Male participants with and without type 1 diabetes were studied in the ...
Biol Pharm Bull: Chronic effects of berberine on blood, liver glucolipid metabolism and liver PPARs expression in diabetic hyperlipidemic rats.(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor )(Author abstract)(Clinical report)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Berberine is one of the main alkaloids of Rhizoma coptidis which has been used as a folk medicine to treat diabetes mellitus for more than 1400 years in China. To investigate the chronic effect of berberine on diabetic hyperlipidemic rats, fasted rats were intraperitoneally injected 35 ...
Events calendar.(Calendar)
Sep 01, 2008 ... September 4-7, 2008: International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists 17th Annual Scientific Symposium in Baltimore, MD. Contact: IAACN, 15280 Addison Road, Suite 130, Addison, TX 75001. (972) 407-9089. www.iaacn.org September 17-21, 2008: American Academy of ...