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Orthopedic NursingKnee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes pain and adversely affects functional status and holistic well-being. This randomized... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes pain and adversely affects functional status and holistic well-being. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of Reiki on pain, functional status, and holistic well-being in patients with knee OA. The sample consisted of 42 patients. The control group received standardized treatment only, whereas the intervention group received face-to-face Reiki (nine positions; 39 minutes) and distance Reiki on two consecutive days in addition to standardized treatment. The Reiki group had lower pain scores than the control group as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (p < .001) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index pain score (p < .001). Those participating in the Reiki group had improved holistic well-being scores specifically for the subscales of Sadness, Perception of Sadness, Spiritual Disruption, Cognitive Awareness, and General mood. Reiki is a safe, noninvasive, and cost-effective alternative treatment technique that has the potential to reduce symptoms of pain and improve holistic well-being in patients with knee OA.
Topics: Humans; Functional Status; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Pain; Pain Measurement; Therapeutic Touch
PubMed: 38546686
DOI: 10.1097/NOR.0000000000001017 -
Eye (London, England) Mar 2024Programmed axon death is a druggable pathway of axon degeneration that has garnered considerable interest from pharmaceutical companies as a promising therapeutic target... (Review)
Review
Programmed axon death is a druggable pathway of axon degeneration that has garnered considerable interest from pharmaceutical companies as a promising therapeutic target for various neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we highlight mechanisms through which this pathway is activated in the retina and optic nerve, and discuss its potential significance for developing therapies for eye disorders and beyond. At the core of programmed axon death are two enzymes, NMNAT2 and SARM1, with pivotal roles in NAD metabolism. Extensive preclinical data in disease models consistently demonstrate remarkable, and in some instances, complete and enduring neuroprotection when this mechanism is targeted. Findings from animal studies are now being substantiated by genetic human data, propelling the field rapidly toward clinical translation. As we approach the clinical phase, the selection of suitable disorders for initial clinical trials targeting programmed axon death becomes crucial for their success. We delve into the multifaceted roles of programmed axon death and NAD metabolism in retinal and optic nerve disorders. We discuss the role of SARM1 beyond axon degeneration, including its potential involvement in neuronal soma death and photoreceptor degeneration. We also discuss genetic human data and environmental triggers of programmed axon death. Lastly, we touch upon potential therapeutic approaches targeting NMNATs and SARM1, as well as the nicotinamide trials for glaucoma. The extensive literature linking programmed axon death to eye disorders, along with the eye's suitability for drug delivery and visual assessments, makes retinal and optic nerve disorders strong contenders for early clinical trials targeting programmed axon death.
PubMed: 38538779
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-024-03025-0 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Mar 2024To compare the effectiveness of using a 0.454% stannous fluoride-containing dentifrice twice daily in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) in a Chinese population. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVES
To compare the effectiveness of using a 0.454% stannous fluoride-containing dentifrice twice daily in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) in a Chinese population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a single-centre, randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, three-treatment-arm, parallel-group study in participants with clinically diagnosed DH. Subjects who met inclusion criteria (n = 197) were randomly allocated into 3 groups: test group (n = 66)-using a 0.454% stannous fluoride-containing dentifrice twice daily; positive control group (n = 64)-using a 5.0% calcium sodium phosphosilicate-containing dentifrice twice daily; negative control group (n = 67)-using a 1150 ppm of NaF dentifrice twice daily. Status of DH was assessed at week 4 and week 8 by the same independent examiner. Changes from baseline in Schiff sensitivity score, tactile threshold and Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ) score were analysed using analysis of covariance models. The DHEQ evaluated subject-perceived oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).
RESULTS
Statistically significant improvements in mean Schiff scores (p < 0.0001 for all products at Weeks 4 and 8), tactile threshold (p < 0.0001 for test and negative control at Weeks 4 and 8: Week 4 p = 0.0040 and Week 8 p < 0.0001 for positive control) and all DHEQ scores (p < 0.01 for all groups) were observed. No statistically significant differences were observed in the adjusted mean between all dentifrices at both timepoints, potentially driven by a placebo effect. Forty-two treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported (n = 32 subjects), with 2 serious AEs (n = 1) in the test group. TEAEs were not considered treatment-related.
CONCLUSIONS
All groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in Schiff score, tactile threshold and OHRQoL. However, due to a possible placebo effect in the negative control, there were no statistically significant differences between the dentifrices.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This study adds to the growing research exploring why the placebo effect is a common phenomenon in DH studies.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04950465.
Topics: Humans; Tin Fluorides; Dentifrices; Sodium Fluoride; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Dentin Sensitivity; Phosphates; Dentin Desensitizing Agents; Double-Blind Method; Touch; China; Fluorides
PubMed: 38530474
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-024-05610-9 -
Medicinal Research Reviews Mar 2024As the world population ages, there will be an increasing need for effective therapies for aging-associated neurodegenerative disorders, which remain untreatable.... (Review)
Review
As the world population ages, there will be an increasing need for effective therapies for aging-associated neurodegenerative disorders, which remain untreatable. Dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading neurological diseases in the aging population. Current therapeutic approaches to treat this disorder are solely symptomatic, making the need for new molecular entities acting on the causes of the disease extremely urgent. One of the potential solutions is to use compounds that are already in the market. The structures have known pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicity profiles, and patient data available in several countries. Several drugs have been used successfully to treat diseases different from their original purposes, such as autoimmunity and peripheral inflammation. Herein, we divulge the repurposing of drugs in the area of neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on the therapeutic potential of antineoplastics to treat dementia due to AD and dementia. We briefly touch upon the shared pathological mechanism between AD and cancer and drug repurposing strategies, with a focus on artificial intelligence. Next, we bring out the current status of research on the development of drugs, provide supporting evidence from retrospective, clinical, and preclinical studies on antineoplastic use, and bring in new areas, such as repurposing drugs for the prion-like spreading of pathologies in treating AD.
PubMed: 38530106
DOI: 10.1002/med.22033 -
Journal of Clinical Psychology Jul 2024People with personality disorders (PDs) are often difficult to reach emotionally in therapy. As music therapy (MT) provides an entry point to emotions and facilitates...
People with personality disorders (PDs) are often difficult to reach emotionally in therapy. As music therapy (MT) provides an entry point to emotions and facilitates contact and communication, it is regularly used with this target group. This study presents a case study of a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with a PD not otherwise defined. "Nina" experienced depressive and physical symptoms, including severe anxiety. Previous treatments had failed. In MT, she experienced a sense of safety. Over the course of the treatment, she experimented with making herself heard, learned to listen to herself and recognize her own physical signals, permitted closeness and cooperation, and began setting boundaries and taking initiative. She got in touch with and learned to regulate emotions such as sadness and fear. Self-criticism gave way to a more compassionate self. Nina began to experience positive feelings and showed progress in her work and social interactions. The findings suggest that MT can directly connect to clients' emotions, behaviors, and thoughts in a way they perceive as safe. This is of the utmost importance for clients who are hard to reach. The use of MT can potentially prevent dropout and further entrapment in personality problems.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Personality Disorders; Music Therapy; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 38523589
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23682 -
Biomaterials Jun 2024Community-associated and hospital-acquired infections caused by bacteria continue to yield major global challenges to human health. Bacterial contamination on abiotic...
Community-associated and hospital-acquired infections caused by bacteria continue to yield major global challenges to human health. Bacterial contamination on abiotic surfaces is largely spread via high-touch surfaces and contemporary standard disinfection practices show limited efficacy, resulting in unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes. New strategies that offer non-specific and broad protection are urgently needed. Herein, we report our novel ceria-silver nanozyme engineered at a molar ratio of 5:1 and with a higher trivalent (Ce) surface fraction. Our results reveal potent levels of surface catalytic activity on both wet and dry surfaces, with rapid, and complete eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin resistant S. aureus, in both planktonic and biofilm form. Preferential electrostatic adherence of anionic bacteria to the cationic nanozyme surface leads to a catastrophic loss in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration, DNA damage, osmodysregulation, and finally, programmed bacterial lysis. Our data reveal several unique mechanistic avenues of synergistic ceria-Ag efficacy. Ag potentially increases the presence of Ce sites at the ceria-Ag interface, thereby facilitating the formation of harmful HO, followed by likely permeation across the cell wall. Further, a weakened Ag-induced Ce-O bond may drive electron transfer from the E band to O, thereby further facilitating the selective reduction of O toward HO formation. Ag destabilizes the surface adsorption of molecular HO, potentially leading to higher concentrations of free HO adjacent to bacteria. To this end, our results show that HO and/or NO/NO/NO are the key liberators of antibacterial activity, with a limited immediate role being offered by nanozyme-induced ROS including O and OH, and likely other light-activated radicals. A mini-pilot proof-of-concept study performed in a pediatric dental clinic setting confirms residual, and continual nanozyme antibacterial efficacy over a 28-day period. These findings open a new approach to alleviate infections caused by bacteria for use on high-touch hard surfaces.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Hydrogen Peroxide; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Silver; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 38518591
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122527 -
Targeted Oncology Mar 2024Patients with non-small cell lung cancer harbouring mesenchymal-epithelial transition exon 14 (METex14) skipping typically demonstrate poorer prognosis than overall...
Modelling the Effectiveness of Tepotinib in Comparison to Standard-of-Care Treatments in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Harbouring METex14 Skipping in the UK.
BACKGROUND
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer harbouring mesenchymal-epithelial transition exon 14 (METex14) skipping typically demonstrate poorer prognosis than overall non-small cell lung cancer. Until recently, no targeted treatments were available for patients with non-small cell lung cancer harbouring METex14 skipping in the UK, with limited treatments available.
OBJECTIVE
This study estimates the long-term survival and quality-adjusted life-year benefit of MET inhibitor tepotinib versus current standard of care from a UK perspective.
METHODS
A partitioned-survival model assessed the survival and quality-adjusted life-year benefits of tepotinib versus immunotherapy ± chemotherapy and chemotherapy for untreated and previously treated patients, respectively, using evidence from the single-arm VISION trial (NCT02864992). Two approaches were used to inform an indirect treatment comparison: (1) published clinical trials in overall non-small cell lung cancer and (2) real-world evidence in the METex14 skipping population. Results are presented as median and total quality-adjusted life-year gain and survival for progression-free survival and overall survival. Survival curves were validated against the external literature and uncertainty assessed using a probabilistic sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS
Using the indirect treatment comparison against the published literature, tepotinib is estimated to have a median progression-free survival gain versus pembrolizumab ± chemotherapy (11.0 and 9.2 months) in untreated patients, and docetaxel ± nintedanib (5.1 and 6.4 months) in previously treated patients. Across the populations, tepotinib is estimated to have a median survival gain of 15.4 and 9.2 months versus pembrolizumab ± chemotherapy in untreated patients and 12.8 and 5.1 months versus docetaxel ± nintedanib in previously treated patients. The total quality-adjusted life-year gain ranges between 0.56 and 1.17 across the untreated and previously treated populations. Results from the real-world evidence of indirect treatment comparisons are consistent with these findings.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the limitations of the evidence base, the numerous analyses conducted have consistently indicated positive outcomes for tepotinib versus the current standard of care.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Docetaxel; Exons; United Kingdom; Piperidines; Pyridazines; Pyrimidines
PubMed: 38492157
DOI: 10.1007/s11523-024-01038-z -
Explore (New York, N.Y.) Mar 2024The present study was conducted in order to determine the effects of Reiki on the menopausal symptoms of women.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted in order to determine the effects of Reiki on the menopausal symptoms of women.
METHODS
This study having a randomized controlled experimental design was carried out involving 48 individuals (24 in Reiki, 24 in control). Study data were collected between November 2018 and February 2019 by using a personal information form, The Menopause Rating Scale.
RESULTS
The mean menopausal symptoms score of women decreased after Reiki intervention and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Reiki reduced the menopausal symptoms levels of women having menopause.
CONCLUSION
It has been found that distant Reiki application is effective in reducing somatic, psychological and urogenital complaints in women during menopause.
PubMed: 38490826
DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.03.001 -
Journal of Clinical Psychology Jun 2024Treating perpetrators of aggressive behavior, like verbal aggression, intimidation, and bullying behavior resulting in aggressive incidents with others, is difficult....
Treating perpetrators of aggressive behavior, like verbal aggression, intimidation, and bullying behavior resulting in aggressive incidents with others, is difficult. This group is often diagnosed with personality disorders and when legal measures applied, they are more often treated in a forensic setting for their problems. This article presents the case of a 54-year-old man, diagnosed with Borderline personality disorder, narcissistic and antisocial traits, mild depressive symptoms, and loss and grief, who has voluntarily had treatment in a forensic outpatient center to reduce aggression and change destructive patterns in relationships. Hating, judging, and self-defeating were the main reasons why the patient found himself ending up in the same situation repeatedly. The client received individual drama therapy sessions. The drama therapeutic approach included schema therapeutic elements, such as schema mode work with cards, as well as roleplay, imagery (with rescripting), improvisation, and psycho drama elements. As a result of drama therapy, the client reported less (active) aggression, less aggression in his relationships (partners/children/friends), but also an increased level of loneliness, and mild depressive symptoms. The client was more in touch with his vulnerability and was able to behave in a more adequate healthy way in relationships. Although self-esteem was still building up, there was a decrease of aggression and less conflict-seeking behavior as a result. Risk assessment tools (FARE-2 & HONOS) and Schema therapy scales (YSQ and SMI) were used pre- and posttreatment confirming the improvements. This case promotes the use of dramatherapy in forensic outpatient care to be valuable in lowering risk recidivism and changing deeply rooted behavioral patterns.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Domestic Violence; Aggression; Criminals; Borderline Personality Disorder; Psychotherapy; Drama; Forensic Psychiatry
PubMed: 38470474
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23674