The role of complementary and alternative therapies in cardiac rehabilitation: a systematic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Presently, complementary and alternative medicine, including both therapies and herbal/oral supplements, is used globally. Few studies have examined the use of specific therapies, separate from herbal/oral supplements, in cardiac rehabilitation. This paper presents a systematic evaluation of current research evidence related to use of specific complementary and alternative medicine therapies in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, with a view to making recommendations for cardiac rehabilitation. DESIGN AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using complementary and alternative medicine websites, Medline, Allied and Complementary Medicine, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, EMBASE, SportDiscus, Clinical Evidence, and Evidence-Based Practice to locate research-based scientific evidence related to the use of complementary and alternative medicine in cardiac rehabilitation. Search keywords included heart, cardiac, cardiovascular, coronary, myocardial and rehabilitation, combined with particular therapies. Herbal/oral supplements were not included in this evaluation. RESULTS: Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies may be useful to patients by themselves or coupled with traditional cardiac rehabilitation. Tai chi, as a complement to existing exercise interventions, can be utilized for low and intermediate risk patients. transcendental meditation may be used as a stress reduction technique. There was insufficient evidence found for the use of acupuncture or chelation therapy in cardiac rehabilitation or secondary prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies hold promise for patients in cardiac rehabilitation. Further research is essential, however, in all areas of complementary and alternative medicine to confirm its usefulness as an adjunct to cardiac rehabilitation.     

Effect of high up front charges on access to surgery for poor patients at a public hospital in New Mexico

Background  

A public hospital in New Mexico required collection of 50% of estimated costs prior to elective surgeries for self-pay patients. This study assesses the impact of this policy on access to elective surgical procedures.     

Human hepatocellular carcinoma tumor xenografts

Castrated or sham-operated male athymic mice were inoculated with cells from the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line PLC/PRF/5. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the number of animals developing tumors, the time to tumor development, or the subsequent rate of increase in either tumor base area or mouse serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration. Androgen receptors were assayed in nuclei obtained from three separate liver cancer cell lines and from normal adult human liver. Similar concentrations, ranging from 235 to 550 fmol/mg DNA, of nuclear androgen receptors were detected in all tissues. Low percentages of androgen receptors were retained on DNA-cellulose. Although the presence of receptors implies the potential for metabolic effects of androgens in normal and malignant liver, our in vivostudies suggest that castration does not alter significantly the growth of liver cancer xenografts in athymic mice.     

Chemiluminescence from Acetaldehyde Oxidation by Xanthine Oxidase Involves Generation of and Interactions with Hydroxyl Radicals

The ability of acetaldehyde to generate free radicals is often ascribed to its oxidation by xanthine oxidase, with the subsequent production of reactive oxygen intermediates. Chemiluminescence associated with the oxidation of acetaldehyde by xanthine oxidase was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, catalase, or several hydroxyl radical scavenging agents, and was stimulated by the addition of EDTA or ferric-EDTA. This suggests that the light emission is primarily due to the production of hydroxyl radicals via an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss type of reaction. Chemiluminescence with hypoxanthine as substrate for xanthine oxidase was much lower than that found with acetaldehyde, yet rates of hydroxyl radical production were greater with hypoxanthine. Acetaldehyde increased light emission in the presence of hypoxanthine by a greater than additive effect. These results suggest a complex role for acetaldehyde in catalyzing xanthine oxidase-dependent chemiluminescence. It appears that besides being a substrate for xanthine oxidase, acetaldehyde also reacts with the generated hydroxyl radical to produce acetaldehyde radicals, which yield chemiluminescence upon their decay. Further studies will be required to evaluate whether the production of such species contributes to or plays a role in the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates and toxicity associated with acetaldehyde metabolism.