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Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Migraine is one of the most common diseases in highly developed countries, being even more common than diabetes and asthma. Migraines can affect emotional, social, and...
Migraine is one of the most common diseases in highly developed countries, being even more common than diabetes and asthma. Migraines can affect emotional, social, and physical wellbeing as well as professional life. The most common symptoms are severe headaches associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia and sonophobia, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity and emotional disorders. Many studies have been published to establish the best migraine-management drugs, but not many of them refer to plant extracts, which have been given more attention by patients lately. Among these generically called herbal medicines, the effect of tussilago hybrida standardized extract has been studied since the early twenties. This stands as the fundamental component of Neurasites and the reason for research on materials and methods, results on treatment schemes for diminishing migraine attack features, as well as migraine prevention. There are two directions of research (herbal and placebo medicine) considered to be of interest due to the actual trend toward natural medicine and against chemicals and associated drugs. For quantitative research, the research tool used was that of the Neurasites Questionnaire Survey (NQS). The obtained results prove the efficacy of treatment by reducing the duration of headache attacks, diminishing pain intensity and decreasing the frequency of migraine episodes. Further research development should focus on other dosages and treatment schemes and on other similar natural products to be used in migraine attack treatment.
PubMed: 38929892
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123364 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging as a promising non-invasive intervention for tinnitus by aiming to modulate abnormal brain activity. This...
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging as a promising non-invasive intervention for tinnitus by aiming to modulate abnormal brain activity. This study investigated the efficacy of dual-session tDCS for the relief of perception, distress, and loudness in patients with severe chronic subjective tinnitus and assessed the duration of tinnitus suppression effects compared to single-session and control groups over a 2-month follow-up. In a prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 30 participants with severe chronic subjective tinnitus underwent bifrontal tDCS. The control group (n = 9), single-session group (n = 10), and dual-session group (n = 11) received 2 mA stimulation for 20 min per session, twice a week for one month. The treatment response was monitored weekly using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), with additional assessments using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at the fourth and eighth weeks. The single- and dual-session groups showed statistically significant improvements in VAS, THI, and BDI scores compared to the control group. THI and BDI scores showed a significant difference between the single- and dual-session groups. The dual-session group demonstrated a more sustained tinnitus suppression effect than the single-session group. tDCS has been validated as an effective intervention for the suppression of tinnitus, with the dual-session protocol showing longer-term benefits. These findings support the potential of tDCS as a treatment for tinnitus, particularly in dual-session applications.
PubMed: 38929798
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060577 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024The focus on mild cognitive dysfunction in adults is of great interest, given the risk of worsening and conversion to dementia. Cognitive dysfunctions are characterized... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The focus on mild cognitive dysfunction in adults is of great interest, given the risk of worsening and conversion to dementia. Cognitive dysfunctions are characterized by a decrease in the weight and volume of the brain, due to cortical atrophy, with a widening of the grooves and flattening of the convolutions. Brain atrophy that mainly involves the hippocampus is related to the progression of cognitive impairment and the conversion from mild cognitive dysfunction to dementia. Currently, there is no treatment for MCI. Results from a trial on Alzheimer's disease (ASCOMALVA trial) suggest that a sustained cholinergic challenge can slow the progression of brain atrophy typical of Alzheimer's disease associated with vascular damage. This study intends to evaluate the efficacy of choline alphoscerate in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and associated vascular damage, in stabilizing and/or slowing brain atrophy typical of adult-onset cognitive dysfunction, and in improving and/or slowing the progression of cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with MCI. : This randomized controlled trial will recruit 60 patients that will be evaluated and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive choline alphoscerate (1200 mg/day) or placebo, for 12 months. Analyses will be carried out using SPSS vesion No 26 the Statistician in charge of this study, with the statistical significance level chosen as 0.05. : This trial may provide evidence about the efficacy of treatment with the cholinergic precursor choline alphoscerate in patients with mild cognitive dysfunction. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals. EudraCT number: 2020-000576-38.
Topics: Humans; Cognitive Dysfunction; Glycerylphosphorylcholine; Male; Female; Aged; Middle Aged; Cholinergic Agents; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38929542
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060925 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2024: Increasing evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of cooled radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for genicular nerves in patients with chronic knee... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of the Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of Genicular Nerves in Patients with Chronic Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Study.
: Increasing evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of cooled radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for genicular nerves in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) exists. However, no study has been conducted to eliminate the potential influence of a placebo effect associated with this procedure. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of cooled RFA compared with a sham procedure in patients with painful knees due to OA. : In this double-blind, randomized, controlled study, participants were randomly assigned to receive cooled RFA of the knee (cooled RFA group, n = 20) or a sham procedure (sham group, n = 20). The primary outcome was the proportion of successful responders at the three-month follow-up. The secondary outcomes were successful responders at one and six months; pain intensity of the knee; functional status; medication; and satisfaction at one, three, and six months after the procedures. : For the primary outcome, the successful responder rate was significantly higher in the cooled RFA group (76.5%) than in the sham group (33.3%) ( = 0.018). For the secondary outcome, more successful responders were observed in the cooled RFA group than in the sham group at one and six months after the procedure ( = 0.041 and 0.007, respectively). The decreased knee pain intensity was maintained throughout the six-month follow-up period in the cooled RFA group. No differences were observed in functional status, medication change, or satisfaction in both groups. : The cooled RFA of genicular nerves offers significant pain relief and surpasses the effects attributable to a placebo.
Topics: Humans; Double-Blind Method; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Female; Male; Radiofrequency Ablation; Middle Aged; Aged; Treatment Outcome; Chronic Pain; Pain Measurement; Knee Joint
PubMed: 38929474
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060857 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024The intake of specific collagen peptides (SCPs) has been shown to decrease activity-related knee pain in young, physically active adults. This trial investigated the... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The intake of specific collagen peptides (SCPs) has been shown to decrease activity-related knee pain in young, physically active adults. This trial investigated the effect of a 12-week SCP supplementation in a wider age range of healthy men and women over 18 years with functional knee and hip pain during daily activities. A total of 182 participants were randomly assigned to receive either 5 g of specific collagen peptides (CP-G) or a placebo (P-G). Pain at rest and during various daily activities were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks by a physician and participants using a 10-point numeric rating scale (NRS). The intake of 5 g SCP over 12 weeks significantly reduced pain at rest ( = 0.018) and during walking ( = 0.032) according to the physician's evaluation. Participants in the CP-G also reported significantly less pain when climbing stairs ( = 0.040) and when kneeling down ( < 0.001) compared to the P-G. Additionally, after 12 weeks, restrictions when squatting were significantly lower in the CP-G compared with the P-G ( = 0.014). The daily intake of 5 g of SCP seems to benefit healthy adults with hip and knee joint discomforts by reducing pain during daily activities.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Collagen; Middle Aged; Activities of Daily Living; Young Adult; Double-Blind Method; Knee Joint; Peptides; Lower Extremity; Aged; Hip Joint; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 38928934
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060687 -
Brain Sciences Jun 2024Porcine Liver Decomposition Product (PLDP) was obtained by treating pig liver homogenate with protease and filling it into capsules. We have already confirmed from three...
Porcine Liver Decomposition Product (PLDP) was obtained by treating pig liver homogenate with protease and filling it into capsules. We have already confirmed from three clinical trials that PLDP enhances visual memory and delays memory recall, and we believe that its activity is due to various phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine (PC). In this study, we clinically evaluated PLDP for depressive symptoms caused by a decline in cognitive function. This clinical trial was conducted using the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R). The HDS-R (maximum score is 30 points) is a test similar to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which is commonly used in Japan. Dementia is suspected if the score falls below 20 on the HDS-R. Additionally, in a previous clinical trial, there was no change in scores in the placebo group after three doses of the HDS-R. In order to clearly confirm the effectiveness of PLDP, this study was conducted under stricter conditions (HDS-R points of 15 to 23) than previous clinical trials (all participants had scores of 20 or higher). Therefore, from ethical considerations, a clinical trial was conducted using the scores before PLDP administration as a control. In this study, PLDP was administered orally at 4 capsules per day, and the HDS-R was confirmed 2 and 4 weeks after administration. A significant increase in HDS-R scores was observed at 2 and 4 weeks after PLDP administration. Additionally, regarding each item of the HDS-R, PLDP significantly increased 2 and 4 weeks after oral administration for the question items assessing delayed recall, and the question item assessing verbal fluency tasks was recognized. From the above results, we confirmed the reproducibility of the effect of PLDP in improving the delayed recall of verbal memories. Furthermore, increasing scores on verbal fluency tasks suggest that PLDP may enhance frontal lobe function and prevent or improve depressive symptoms. The effects observed in this study may differ from the mechanisms of action of existing antidepressants, and we believe that this may lead to the discovery of new antidepressants.
PubMed: 38928586
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060586 -
Biomedicines Jun 2024Vitamin D3 or calcitriol (VitD3) has been shown to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity in in vitro models and clinical studies. However, its effect on...
Vitamin D3 (Calcitriol) Monotherapy Decreases Tumor Growth, Increases Survival, and Correlates with Low Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in a Murine HPV-16-Related Cancer Model.
Vitamin D3 or calcitriol (VitD3) has been shown to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity in in vitro models and clinical studies. However, its effect on HPV-16-related cancer has been sparsely explored. In this study, we aimed to determine whether monotherapy or combination therapy with cisplatin (CP) reduces tumor growth and affects survival and systemic inflammation. Treatments were administered to C57BL/6 mice with HPV-16-related tumors (TC-1 cells) as follows: (1) placebo (100 µL vehicle, olive oil, orally administered daily); (2) VitD3 (3.75 µg/kg calcitriol orally administered daily); (3) CP (5 mg/kg intraperitoneally, every 7 days); and (4) VitD3+CP. Tumor growth was monitored for 25 days, survival for 60 days, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was evaluated on days 1 (baseline), 7, and 14. VitD3+CP showed greater success in reducing tumor volume compared to CP monotherapy ( = 0.041), while no differences were observed between CP and VitD3 monotherapy ( = 0.671). Furthermore, VitD3+CP prolonged survival compared to CP ( = 0.036) and VitD3 ( = 0.007). Additionally, at day 14 the VitD3 and VitD3+CP groups showed significantly lower NLR values than the CP group ( < 0.05, for both comparisons). Vitamin D3 could be a promising adjuvant in the treatment of cervical cancer or solid tumors and deserves further investigation.
PubMed: 38927564
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061357 -
Biomolecules Jun 2024Exogenous supplementation with ketone beverages has been shown to reduce plasma glucose levels during acute nutritional ketosis. It remains to be investigated whether... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Exogenous supplementation with ketone beverages has been shown to reduce plasma glucose levels during acute nutritional ketosis. It remains to be investigated whether growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15)-an anorexigenic hormone-is involved in this process. The aim was to investigate the effect of a ketone ester beverage delivering β-hydroxybutyrate (KEβHB) on plasma levels of GDF-15, as well as assess the influence of eating behaviour on it. The study was a randomised controlled trial (registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03889210). Individuals were given a KEβHB beverage or placebo in a cross-over fashion. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 min after ingestion. Eating behaviour was assessed using the three-factor eating questionnaire. GDF-15 levels were not significantly different ( = 0.503) after the KEβHB beverage compared with the placebo. This finding remained consistent across the cognitive restraint, emotional eating, and uncontrolled eating domains. Changes in the anorexigenic hormone GDF-15, irrespective of eating behaviour, do not appear to play a major role in the glucose-lowering effect of exogenous ketones.
Topics: Humans; Growth Differentiation Factor 15; Male; Ketosis; Adult; 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; Female; Cross-Over Studies; Young Adult; Beverages; Blood Glucose; Feeding Behavior
PubMed: 38927068
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060665 -
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Jun 2024Skin rejuvenation has always been of great concern. Although salicylic acid (SA) has multiple properties, it is mainly used in dermatology as a superficial peeling...
BACKGROUND
Skin rejuvenation has always been of great concern. Although salicylic acid (SA) has multiple properties, it is mainly used in dermatology as a superficial peeling agent that can improve photodamaged epidermis. However, the effect of SA on the photoaging dermis is unclear.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of supramolecular SA alone for treating photoaged skin, and the effect of SSA on photoaged dermis.
METHODS
This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. 36 patients with photodamaged hands were enrolled. One hand was randomly selected as SSA treated side. 30% SSA biweekly and 2% SSA daily was applied for 4 months; an additional follow-up was performed 2 weeks after the last treatment. Skin photoaging score (SPS), global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS), viscoelasticity, ultrasound parameters, color and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were assessed.
RESULTS
SSA treatment induced a significant increase in collagen density and skin elasticity, accompanied by an increase in dermal thickness and a decrease in melanin index and TEWL. As result, the GAIS and the SPS were improved significantly after SSA treatment. No adverse events were observed after SSA treatments, and 98% of the subjects were satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment.
CONCLUSION
SSA can increase collagen density and skin elasticity to alleviate skin photoaging effectively and safely.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
PubMed: 38926250
DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-04180-1 -
Psychoneuroendocrinology Jun 2024Hormonal changes in ovarian hormones like estradiol (E2) during the menstrual cycle affect emotional processes, including emotion recognition, memory, and regulation. So...
Hormonal changes in ovarian hormones like estradiol (E2) during the menstrual cycle affect emotional processes, including emotion recognition, memory, and regulation. So far, the neural underpinnings of the effect of E2 on emotional experience have been investigated using task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional connectivity. In the present study, we examined whether the intrinsic network dynamics at rest (i.e., directed effective connectivity) related to emotion regulation are (1) modulated by E2 levels and (2) linked to behavioral emotion regulation ability. Hence, 29 naturally cycling women participated in two resting-state fMRI scans in their early follicular phase after being administered a placebo or an E2 valerate, respectively. Emotion regulation ability was assessed using a standard emotion regulation task in which participants were asked to down-regulate their emotions in response to negative images. The regions of two functionally predefined neural networks related to emotional down-regulation and reactivity were used to investigate effective connectivity at rest using spectral dynamic causal modelling. We found that E2, compared to placebo, resulted in changes in effective connectivity in both networks. In the regulation network, prefrontal regions showed distinct connectivity in the E2 compared to the placebo condition, while mixed results evolved in the emotional reactivity network. Stepwise regressions revealed that in the E2 condition a connection from the parietal to the prefrontal cortex predicted regulation ability. Our results demonstrate that E2 levels influence effective connectivity in networks underlying emotion regulation and emotional reactivity. Thus, E2 and its potential modification via hormonal administration may play a supporting role in the treatment of mental disorders that show a dysregulation of emotions.
PubMed: 38924828
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107103