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January, 2020 - VOL. 26, NO. 1 | |
January, 2020 |
| Delayed Spontaneous Resorption of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation: A Case Report |
| In-Hyuk Ha, KMD, MKMSc; You Jin Jung, KMD; Me-riong Kim, KMD, BKMSc; Jinho Lee, KMD, MKMSc; Yoon Jae Lee, KMD, PhD; Joon-Shik Shin, KMD, PhD |
| Background • Large intervertebral disc herniation is often managed with surgery, but it is not uncommon for spontaneous resorption of herniated disc material to occur. Although the majority of spontaneous disc resorption occurs in the acute phase, an unusual case of delayed intervertebral disc regression at 18 mo postonset is presented.
Case Presentation • A 32-y-old female patient presented with acute low-back pain and pain in both legs a Korean medicine hospital specializing in spinal disorders. Massive intervertebral disc herniation was found on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and inguinal and genital pain and numbness was suggestive of risk of cauda equina syndrome. Although she was recommended for surgery, the patient steadfastly refused surgical intervention and continued to receive nonsurgical Korean medicine treatment. Imaging studies including computed tomography scans and MRIs were taken in consideration of possible spontaneous disc regression at 3 and 6 mo, and 1 y after onset of symptoms with no initial disc resorption. However, delayed spontaneous regression of most of the herniated disc material was observed at 18 mo, and the majority of pain symptoms and functional disability recovered up to 2 y postonset.
Conclusions • Delayed intervertebral disc resorption was observed in a case of large disc herniation well past the acute phase, and there was noticeable time difference in resolution on MRI and subsequent improvement in pain and functional recovery. |
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January, 2020 - VOL. 26, NO. 1 | |
January, 2020 |
| The Effects of Acupressure on Quality of Life and Dyspnea in Lung Cancer: A Randomized, Controlled Trial |
| Nurhan Dogan, RN, PhD; Sultan Tasci, PhD, RN |
| Context • Dyspnea is the most common symptom of lung cancer. Acupressure is an important application in the management of dyspnea for lung cancer patients.
High-powered, well-planned work is needed on the topic.
Objectives • The study was conducted to determine the effects of acupressure on quality of life and dyspnea level for individuals with lung cancer.
Design •The study was a randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial.
Setting • The study took place in the Oncology Day Treatment Unit of a university hospital in Turkey.
Participants • Participants were patients in the unit who were receiving chemotherapy and had experienced dyspnea.
Intervention • Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) an intervention group receiving acupressure, and (2) a control group receiving standard care. The P6-Lu1-Lu10 acupuncture points in the hand, forearm, and chest were used, with acupressure being applied 2 times per day for 4 wk, for a total of 56 sessions.
Outcome Measures • Data were collected at baseline and postintervention. Sociodemographic and disease-related data were collected using the Patient Identification Form. Quantitative data were collected with the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (Borg scale) and the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire and through measurements of participants’ heart rates, respiratory rates, oxygen saturation, and walking distance before and after the 6-mile walk test. Qualitative data were collected using the semistructured “Patients’ Views Form on Acupressure Experience.”
Results • The 4-wk acupressure intervention demonstrated a significant reduction in the participants’ levels of dyspnea, and at the same time, significant increases in their quality of life. The quantitative findings of this study were supported with qualitative findings.
Conclusions • Acupressure can be a helpful adjunct treatment that enhances the quality of life and reduces dyspnea in individuals with lung cancer. It is an easily applicable method without serious side effects. |
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January, 2020 - VOL. 26, NO. 1 | |
January, 2020 |
| The Effectiveness of Acupuncture on Sleep Disorders: A Narrative Review |
| Fung Kei Cheng, PhD |
| Background • Sleep disorders erode quality of life and increase public medical expenditure. Aside from mainstream therapies, complementary and alternative medicines have been widely adopted, among which the use of acupuncture is rising.
Primary Study Objective • This narrative review analyses research outcomes, and then provides an overview of the effects of acupuncture on sleep problems caused by various factors.
Method • This research reviews 79 empirical projects with 6589 participants in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Germany, Iran, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, aged 15to 85 years, which are retrieved from 29 promising electronic databases in English and Chinese.
Results • The findings support the usefulness of this method to deal with sleep disturbances through different forms of acupuncture, including traditional, sham, shock wave, venom, and Mongolian modes, as well as acupressure, either applied standalone or coupled with other therapies.
Conclusion • This review sheds light on the modernisation of acupuncture to expand medical options for both health care professionals and patients with sleep difficulties. Despite this, improvements in research design are suggested to attain better credibility in order to substantiate the curative, remedial, rehabilitative, and preventive treatments of acupuncture to enhance sleep quality. |
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January, 2020 - VOL. 26, NO. 1 | |
January, 2020 |
| Assessment of in vitro Effects of Anthocyanins on Platelet Function |
| Natalie Colson, PhD; Almottesembellah Abdalruhman Gaiz, MB, ChB, PhD(c); Avinash R Kundur, PhD; Sapha Shibeeb, PhD; Indu Singh, PhD |
| Background • Increased platelet activity plays a significant role in the development of arterial thrombosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Natural antioxidants including anthocyanin (AC) have gained considerable interest due to their hypothesized antithrombotic potential.
Primary Study Objective • Our study aimed to examine the in vitro effect of AC compounds on platelet activation and aggregation.
Methods • Fasting blood samples were collected from healthy volunteers (n = 13). A full blood examination was done to exclude any abnormal specimen. Flow cytometer assessed platelet activity by recording platelet surface markers expression of P-selectin (CD62P) and PAC-1. Platelet aggregation studies were performed by stimulating platelets using three different agonists adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and arachidonic acid (AA).
Setting • The study was done in the school of Medical Sciences, Griffith University.
Participants • Thirteen healthy adult participants were involved for blood collection.
Intervention • AC was prepared using hemicellulose capsules sourced from Bilberries and Black Currants.
Results • Anthocyanin (50 mg/L) significantly inhibited AA-induced platelet aggregation. Expression of P-selectin was significantly suppressed by 50 mg/L AC as measured by flow cytometer.
Conclusions • AC attenuates platelet function by suppressing P-selectin expression and influencing Thromboxane A2 pathway (AA stimulation). These results provide further evidence for the effect of AC and the possible mechanism by which AC reduces platelet aggregation and activation. This study supports future human intervention trials to show that AC may act as a complement to other antiplatelet agents in reducing the risk of thrombosis. |
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January, 2020 - VOL. 26, NO. 1 | |
January, 2020 |
| Innovations in Medical Foods and Supplements That Your Patients Should Know About |
| Ken Redcross, MD |
| As an independent and Western-trained physician I enjoy the freedom to employ alternative and complementary modalities in my daily practice. Over the years I have found these products and methods to be preferable to standard drug treatments and invasive procedures for those with non-life-threatening conditions and those seeking to optimize and maintain general wellness.
I approach my practice based upon the three pillars of: nutrition, movement and spirituality. Medical foods and supplements are consistent with my core beliefs. Unfortunately, the ecosystem for these products within the established medical system is still in its nascent stage, suffering from ill-defined regulatory framework and insufficient distribution and insurance infrastructure.
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January, 2020 - VOL. 26, NO. 1 | |
January, 2020 |
| Balneotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial |
| Zeynep Ates, MD; Kagan Ozkuk, MD |
| Context • To date, the number of studies investigating the effects of balneotherapy (BT) on chronic shoulder pain is small.
Objective • This study intended to investigate the effects of BT on pain, disability, and quality of life for patients with chronic shoulder pain.
Design • The research team designed a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded study.
Setting • The study took place in the Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology at the Bolu Izzet Baysal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital (Bolu, Turkey).
Participants • Participants were 60 patients with shoulder pain who were admitted to the outpatient clinic at the hospital between April 2016 and September 2016.
Intervention • Participants were divided randomly into
2 groups: a control group receiving physical therapy (PT) only, the PT group, and an intervention group receiving PT plus BT, the BT group. All participants received 3 wk of treatment.
Outcome Measures • The study measured pain, disability, and quality of life using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) at baseline, immediately postintervention, and at 1 mo postintervention.
Results • Statistically significant improvements were found on the VAS, SPADI, and NHP at both postintervention timepoints for both groups compared with baseline (P < .05). When the difference scores were compared between the groups, the BT group showed significantly greater improvements at both postintervention timepoints for the VAS and SPADI compared with the PT group (P < .05). For the NHP, the BT group showed significantly greater improvements compared with the PT group immediately postintervention for the pain and energy level subscales and for the total score (P < .05). At 1 mo postintervention, the BT group again showed significantly greater improvements on the NHP compared the PT group for the pain, physical activity, energy level, and sleep subscales and for the total score (P < .05).
Conclusion • The results of the study suggest that BT can have positive effects on pain and disability. BT may be an alternative for patients with chronic shoulder pain. |
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