Antiprotozoan and Antiviral Activities of Non-cytotoxic Truncated and Variant Analogues of Mussel Defensin

We previously reported the crucial role displayed by loop 3of defensin isolated from the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilusgalloprovincialis, in antibacterial and antifungal activities.We now investigated antiprotozoan and antiviral activities ofsome previously reported fragments B, D, E, P and Q. Two fragments(D and P) efficiently killed Trypanosoma brucei (ID₅₀ 4–12µM) and Leishmania major (ID₅₀ 12–45 µM) ina time/dose-dependent manner. Killing of T. brucei started asearly as 1 h after initiation of contact with fragment D andreached 55% mortality after 6 h. Killing was temperature dependentand a temperature of 4°C efficiently impaired the abilityto kill T. brucei. Fragments bound to the entire external epitheliumof T. brucei. Prevention of HIV-1 infestation was obtained onlywith fragments P and Q at 20 µM. Even if fragment P wasactive on both targets, the specificity of fragments D and Qsuggest that antiprotozoan and antiviral activities are mediatedby different mechanisms. Truncated sequences of mussel defensin,including amino acid replacement to maintain 3D structure andincreased positive net charge, also possess antiprotozoan andantiviral capabilities. New alternative and/or complementaryantibiotics can be derived from the vast reservoir of naturalantimicrobial peptides (AMPs) contained in marine invertebrates.     

Complementary and alternative approaches to pain relief during labor

This review evaluated the effect of complementary and alternative medicine on pain during labor with conventional scientific methods using electronic data bases through 2006 were used. Only randomized controlled trials with outcome measures for labor pain were kept for the conclusions. Many studies did not meet the scientific inclusion criteria. According to the randomized control trials, we conclude that for the decrease of labor pain and/or reduction of the need for conventional analgesic methods: (i) There is an efficacy found for acupressure and sterile water blocks. (ii) Most results favored some efficacy for acupuncture and hydrotherapy. (iii) Studies for other complementary or alternative therapies for labor pain control have not shown their effectiveness.     

Immunology and homeopathy. 1. Historical background

Homeopathy was born as an experimental discipline, as can be seen from the enormous amount of homeopathic data collected over more than two centuries. However, the medical tradition of homeopathy has been separated from that of conventional science for a long time. Conventional scientific wisdom dictates that homeopathy should have no effect above placebo but experiments on ultra-high dilutions of solutes together with some clinical data suggest the intriguing possibility that it might do in some circumstances. Today, an osmotic process between disciplines, previously seen as in conflict, is facilitated because over the last few decades homeopathy has initiated the methods of current medical science and a substantial number of experimental studies-at molecular, cellular and clinical levels-are available. One area of dialogue and of common progress is that of inflammation and immunity, probably because these are closely related to the traditional 'vital force' of the body's self-healing power. In a series of papers we review the historical origins of homeopathy, the laboratory and animal models related to the field of immunopharmacology, the clinical evidence in favor and against the use of homeopathy in the inflammatory diseases and the hypotheses regarding its action mechanism(s). Finally, we will enlighten the specific characteristics of the homeopathic approach, which places great emphasis on identifying a cure for the whole organism.     

Essential Oil of Betula pendula Roth. Buds

The essential oil of Betula pendula Roth. buds was obtainedusing both hydrodistillation and microdistillation techniquesand their chemical compositions were analyzed using both gaschromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Overall, more than 50 compounds were identified representing80% and 92% for hydrodistillation and microdistillation, respectively.The main components (by hydrodistillation and microdistillation,respectively) found were -copaene (12% and 10%), germacreneD (11% and 18%) and -cadinene (11% and 15%) in the analyzedessential oils. The microdistillation technique proved to bea useful tool and compliant alternative when compared to hydrodistillation.     

Developing CAM Research Capacity for Complementary Medicine

This article describes initiatives that have been central to the development of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research capacity in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States over the last decade. While education and service delivery are essential parts of the development of CAM, this article will focus solely on the development of research strategy. The development of CAM research has been championed by both patients and politicians, primarily so that we may better understand the popularity and apparent effectiveness of these therapies and support integration of safe and effective CAM in health care. We hope that the perspective provided by this article will inform future research policy.     

Natural health products, modulation of immune function and prevention of chronic diseases

The immune system is increasingly found to be involved in the development of several chronic illnesses, for which allopathic medicine has provided limited tools for treatment and especially prevention. In that context, it appears worthwhile to target the immune system in order to modulate the risk of certain chronic illnesses. Meanwhile, natural health products (NHPs) are generating renewed interest, particularly in the prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases. Over 20 scientists from fields related to immune function and NHPs were thus convened to establish the state of knowledge on these subjects and to explore future research directions. This review summarizes the result of discussions held during the symposium. It thus seeks to be thought provoking rather than to comprehensively cover such broad areas of research. Notably, a brief overview of the immune system is presented, including potentially useful targets and strategies to keep it in an equilibrated state, in order to prevent certain disorders. The pertinence and limitations of targeting the immune system to prevent chronic diseases is also discussed. The paper then discusses the usefulness and limitations of current experimental tools available to study the immune modulating effects of NHPs. Finally, a concise review of some of the most studied NHPs showing promising immunomodulatory activity is given, and avenues for future research are described.     

Complementary and alternative medicine for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

To discuss challenges concerning treatment for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and review complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies being evaluated for this condition, we performed a comprehensive search of articles published from 1990-2005 using the PubMed, Medline databases. Data from the articles were abstracted and pooled by subject. Keywords cross-searched with CP/CPPS included: complementary, alternative, integrative, therapies, interventions, nutrition, antioxidants, herbs, supplements, biofeedback and acupuncture. Listed articles with no abstracts were not included. Various CAM therapies for CP/CPPS exist including biofeedback, acupuncture, hyperthermia and electrostimulation. Additionally, a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies testing herbal and nutritional supplements were found. Saw palmetto, cernilton and quercetin were the most frequently tested supplements for CP/CPPS. Although many CAM therapies demonstrate positive preliminary observations as prospective treatments for CP/CPPS, further exploratory studies including more randomized, controlled trials are necessary for significant validation as treatment options for this complex disorder.     

Exercise and Life-Satisfactory-Fitness: Complementary Strategies in the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Illnesses

Moderate training of an endurance nature, but also other exerciseactivities, not only has a preventive effect on various illnessesand pre-illness states such as the metabolic syndrome and cancer,but is also effective in treating patients in the rehabilitationphase after illness, e.g. cardiovascular or cancer. Our investigationdemonstrates that even low level physical activity has a verygood preventive effect too, which is enhanced when it is accompaniedby mental activity and psychological well-being. In total, weinvestigated 13 000 people on the basis of socio-economic panelpolls with respect to life contentment, health status and leisure-timeactivities. Life contentment is positively linked to contentmentwith labor, which seems to be an essential aspect with regardto the increasing number of unemployed people in Europe. Thesecond important factor is health-promoting activities duringleisure time. Exercise, especially, has a significant influenceon life satisfaction as a feeling of physical fitness feelingis regarded as synonymous with good health. The results underlinethe psycho-neuroimmunological network, which stabilizes ourhealth and shows that different activities in older adults havea significant effect on the aging process and age-related illnesses.Besides the various activities that are important in this arena,namely muscle and mental mobility (‘brawn and brain’),a third component must be taken into consideration: life contentmentin the form of a successful retrospective view and a positiveoutlook, embedded in a psychosocial family environment (‘brood’)and integrated in a stress-free biotope, where life does makesense. Alternative and complementary strategies should be consideredin light of these three aspects when we think about additionalanti-inflammatory strategies in preventing diseases or treatingthem and their relapses. Sport has made a few healthy people ill, but sport has alsomade a good few of ill people healthy! (Gerhard Uhlenbruck,Aphorisms)     

Hibiscus sabdariffa affects ammonium chloride-induced hyperammonemic rats

Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) is an edible medicinal plant, indigenous to India, China and Thailand and is used in Ayurveda and traditional medicine. Alcoholic extract of HS leaves (HSEt) was studied for its anti-hyperammonemic and antioxidant effects in brain tissues of ammonium chloride-induced hyperammonemic rats. Oral administration of HSEt (250 mg kg(-1) body weight) significantly normalizes the levels of ammonia, urea, uric acid, creatinine and non-protein nitrogen in the blood. HSEt significantly reduced brain levels of lipid peroxidation products such as thiobarbituric acid and reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides (HP). However, the administered extract significantly increased the levels of antioxidants such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in brain tissues of hyperammonemic rats. This investigation demonstrates significant anti-hyperammonemic and antioxidant activity of HS.     

A review of yoga programs for four leading risk factors of chronic diseases

Yoga, a form of physical activity, is rapidly gaining in popularityand has many health benefits. Yet healthcare providers havebeen slow to recognize yoga for its ability to improve healthconditions, and few interventions have been developed that takefull advantage of its benefits. The purpose of this articleis to review published studies using yoga programs and to determinethe effect of yoga interventions on common risk factors of chronicdiseases (overweight, hypertension, high glucose level and highcholesterol). A systematic search yielded 32 articles publishedbetween 1980 and April 2007. The studies found that yoga interventionsare generally effective in reducing body weight, blood pressure,glucose level and high cholesterol, but only a few studies examinedlong-term adherence. Additionally, not enough studies includeddiverse populations at high risk for diabetes and its relatedcommon health problems.     

Immunology and homeopathy. 2. Cells of the immune system and inflammation

Here we describe the results of some experimental laboratory studies aimed at verifying the efficacy of high dilutions of substances and of homeopathic medicines in models of inflammation and immunity. Studies carried out on basophils, lymphocytes, granulocytes and fibroblasts are reviewed. This approach may help to test under controlled conditions the main principles of homeopathy such as 'similarity' of drug action at the cellular level and the effects of dilution/dynamization on the drug activity. The current situation is that few and rather small groups are working on laboratory models for homeopathy. Regarding the interpretation of data in view of the simile principle, we observe that there are different levels of similarity and that the laboratory data give support to this principle, but have not yet yielded the ultimate answer to the action mechanism of homeopathy. Evidence of the biological activity in vitro of highly diluted-dynamized solutions is slowly accumulating, with some conflicting reports. It is our hope that this review of literature unknown to most people will give an original and useful insight into the 'state-of-the-art' of homeopathy, without final conclusions 'for' or 'against' this modality. This kind of uncertainty may be difficult to accept, but is conceivably the most open-minded position now.     

Curcumin in cell death processes: a challenge for CAM of age-related pathologies

Curcumin, the yellow pigment from the rhizoma of Curcuma longa,is a widely studied phytochemical which has a variety of biologicalactivities: anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative. In this reviewwe discuss the biological mechanisms and possible clinical effectsof curcumin treatment on cancer therapy, and neurodegenerativediseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, with particular attentionto the cell death processes induced by curcumin. Since oxidativestress and inflammation are major determinants of the agingprocess, we also argue that curcumin can have a more generaleffect that slows down the rate of aging. Finally, the effectsof curcumin can be described as xenohormetic, since it activatesa sort of stress response in mammalian cells.     

Biological basis for the use of botanicals in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a review

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip is a debilitating disease affecting more women than men and the risk of developing OA increases precipitously with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common form of inflammatory joint diseases, is a disease of unknown etiology and affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide, and unlike OA, generally involves many joints because of the systemic nature of the disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first drugs of choice for the symptomatic treatment of both OA and RA. Because of the risks associated with the use of NSAIDs and other limitations, the use of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and medicinal herbs, is on the rise and according to reports approximately 60-90% of dissatisfied arthritis patients are likely to seek the option of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This paper reviews the efficacy of some of the common herbs that have a history of human use and their anti-inflammatory or antiarthritic properties have been evaluated in animal models of inflammatory arthritis, in studies employing well defined and widely accepted in vitro models that use human chondrocytes/cartilage explants or in clinical trials. Available data suggests that the extracts of most of these herbs or compounds derived from them may provide a safe and effective adjunctive therapeutic approach for the treatment of OA and RA. This, in turn, argues for trials to establish efficacy and optimum dosage of these compounds for treating human inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases.     

Neurobiology of Acupuncture: Toward CAM

It has long been accepted that acupuncture, puncturing and scrapingneedles at certain points on the body, can have analgesic andanesthetic effects, as well as therapeutic effects in the treatmentof various diseases. This therapy, including acupuncture anesthesia,has drawn the attention of many investigators and become a researchsubject of international interest around the world. Numerousstudies have demonstrated that the nervous system, neurotransmitters,endogenous substances and Jingluo (meridians) may respond toneedling stimulation and electrical acupuncture. An abundanceof information has now accumulated concerning the neurobiologicalmechanisms of acupuncture, in relation to both neural pathwaysand neurotransmitters/hormonal factors that mediate autonomicregulation, pain relief and other therapeutics. Early studiesdemonstrated that the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture(EA) are mediated by opioid peptides in the periaqueductal gray.Recent evidence shows that nitric oxide plays an important rolein mediating the cardiovascular responses to EA stimulationthrough the gracile nucleus-thalamic pathway. Other substances,including serotonin, catecholamines, inorganic chemicals andamino acids such as glutamate and -aminobutyric acid (GABA),are proposed to mediate certain cardiovascular and analgesiceffects of acupuncture, but at present their role is poorlyunderstood. The increased interest in acupuncture health carehas led to an ever-growing number of investigators pursuingresearch in the processes of the sense of needling touch, transductionof needling stimulation signals, stimulation parameters andplacebos. In this Review, the evidence and understanding ofthe neurobiological processes of acupuncture research have beensummarized with an emphasis on recent developments of nitricoxide mediating acupuncture signals through the dorsal medulla-thalamicpathways.     

Studies of advanced stages of meditation in the tibetan buddhist and vedic traditions. I: a comparison of general changes

This article is the first of two comparing findings of studies of advanced practitioners of Tibetan Buddhist meditation in remote regions of the Himalayas, with established results on long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation programs. Many parallel levels of improvement were found, in sensory acuity, perceptual style and cognitive function, indicating stabilization of aspects of attentional awareness. Together with observed increases in EEG coherence and aspects of brain function, such changes are consistent with growth towards a state of total brain functioning, i.e. development of full mental potential. They are usually accompanied by improved health parameters. How they may be seen to be consistent with growth of enlightenment will be the subject of a second article.     

The Systemic Theory of Living Systems. Part IV: Systemic Medicine--The Praxis

This fourth lecture illustrates the praxis and results of Systemic Medicine (SM) in various therapeutic applications. SM's success has made it popular throughout Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The treatment of over 300,000 patients by 150 orthodox MD's, trained and qualified in SM, in 35 medical establishments with above average results corroborate its effectiveness as an eCAM in chronic degenerative diseases. Herein we provide a synopsis of results obtained in four such pathologies-the journal's necessary space restrictions somewhat limiting content-as well as clinical and photographic evidence. The validity of any medical theory is substantiated by its degree of effectivity and success. The workability of evidence-based SM corroborates Systemic Theory's transcendence.     

Evaluating effects of aromatherapy massage on sleep in children with autism: a pilot study

Previous studies have found beneficial effects of aromatherapy massage for agitation in people with dementia, for pain relief and for poor sleep. Children with autism often have sleep difficulties, and it was thought that aromatherapy massage might enable more rapid sleep onset, less sleep disruption and longer sleep duration. Twelve children with autism and learning difficulties (2 girls and 10 boys aged between 12 years 2 months to 15 years 7 months) in a residential school participated in a within subjects repeated measures design: 3 nights when the children were given aromatherapy massage with lavender oil were compared with 14 nights when it was not given. The children were checked every 30 min throughout the night to determine the time taken for the children to settle to sleep, the number of awakenings and the sleep duration. One boy's data were not analyzed owing to lengthy absence. Repeated measures analysis revealed no differences in any of the sleep measures between the nights when the children were given aromatherapy massage and nights when the children were not given aromatherapy massage. The results suggest that the use of aromatherapy massage with lavender oil has no beneficial effect on the sleep patterns of children with autism attending a residential school. It is possible that there are greater effects in the home environment or with longer-term interventions.