Narrow Results

Lentinula edodes mycelia extract (L.E.M.) is extensively utilized as an herbal medicine. However, its safety and effectiveness have not yet been scientifically verified. In this study, we investigated its safety and its influence on quality of life (QOL) and the immune response in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Seven patients were studied in total. The patients were undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer (n = 3) or gastrointestinal cancer (n = 2), or were receiving chemotherapy to prevent recurrence of gastrointestinal cancer (n = 2). The first course of treatment was chemotherapy alone and the second was chemotherapy plus concomitant administration of L.E.M. Adverse events and changes in the QOL score, lymphocyte subpopulations, lymphocyte activity and serum immune indices were evaluated during the study period. No adverse events attributable to L.E.M. were observed. Compared to the pre-chemotherapy state, no changes in QOL or immune parameters were noted after the first chemotherapy course. In contrast, following the second course of combined therapy, improvements were noted in QOL (p < 0.05), NK cell activity (p < 0.05) and immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) (p < 0.01) levels. Although a future large-scale investigation is necessary to confirm these results, these data suggest that the concomitant of L.E.M. with chemotherapy is safe and improves the QOL and immune function of patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are a common complaint in competitive swimmers and can adversely affect performance. No intervention has yet been shown to reduce URI incidence in intensively trained athletes. The University of Virginia varsity swim team received three weeks of training in qigong for the purpose of reducing stress and improving health. Our primary objective was to assess the relationship between qigong practice and symptoms of URI during a time when swimmers would be at high URI risk. Secondary objectives were to assess degree of compliance with a qigong practice regimen, to evaluate differences between qigong practitioners and non-practitioners, and to determine the response-rate and reliability of a newly developed internet-based, self-report survey. The design was observational, cross-sectional, and prospective. Weekly data on cold and flu symptoms, concurrent health problems and medication use, and qigong practice were gathered for seven weeks. Retrospective information on health and qigong training response was also collected. Participants were 27 of the 55 members of the University of Virginia Swim Team in the Virginia Athletic Department. Main outcomes were measures of aggregated cold/flu symptoms and Qigong practice. Survey completion was 100%, with no missing data, and reliability of the instrument was acceptable. Cold and flu symptoms showed a significant non-linear association with frequency of qigong practice (R² = 0.33, p < 0.01), with a strong, inverse relationship between practice frequency and symptom scores in swimmers who practised qigong at least once per week (R² = 0.70, p < 0.01). Qigong practitioners did not differ from non-practitioners in demographic or lifestyle characteristics, medical history, supplement or medication use, or belief in qigong. These preliminary findings suggest that qigong practice may be protective against URIs among elite swimmers who practice at least once per week.

This study aimed to verify the efficacy of a combined treatment of Jakyakgamcho-tang (JGT) and acupuncture (CV12, ST25, CV4) on colitis induced by dextrane sulfate sodium (DSS). Changes in immuno-mediated factors and metabolites were investigated. Colitis symptoms such as body weight loss and elevated disease activity index were alleviated by the combined treatment. Moreover, treatment with JGT and acupuncture restored the disturbed architecture of colon by suppressing inflammatory cytokine levels of IFN-$\gamma$ ($P$ < 0.05), IL-5 ($P$ < 0.05), and IL-13 ($P$ < 0.0001) compared with the DSS group. Analysis of metabolic profiles of serum revealed that treatment groups were clearly separated from the DSS group, suggesting that JGT and acupuncture treatment altered serum metabolites. Furthermore, treatments caused opposite metabolite patterns for dimethylbenzimidazole, 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, proline, phosphate, glycolic acid, aspartic acid, tryptophan, phthalic acid, ornithine, and glutamic acid compared with the DSS group. The combined treatment group induced more effective metabolite patterns than the JGT group, implying that acupuncture treatment can restore metabolic changes caused by DSS induction. These results indicate that the simultaneous treatment of JGT administration and acupuncture procedure provides better management of the immune function and inflammatory expression of colitis than a single treatment. It is assumed that intestinal microbial control can be achieved by acupuncture stimulation as well as by taking herbal medicine.

AUSTRALIA – Chronic pain research delves into the brain

KOREA – STC life, Ltd. successfully treats stroke patients at Stem Cell Research Treatment Center

MALAYSIA – Indigenous people ‘at graver risk’ of neglected diseases

SINGAPORE – A*STAR scientists create stem cells from a drop of blood

THE PHILIPPINES – ‘Too many exotic species’ in Philippine greening plan

AFRICA – The parasite that escaped out of Africa

CANADA – Genome British Columbia researchers closing in on chlamydia vaccine

EUROPE – Teesside University pioneering life-saving research

EUROPE – Inactivated polio vaccines broadly available for the world's children in the drive toward polio eradication

EUROPE – Vitamin D deficiency may compromise immune function

EUROPE – Inflammation mobilizes tumor cells

NEPAL – Animal-borne parasites plague Nepal

UNITED STATES – Zebrafish discovery may shed light on human kidney function

UNITED STATES – Nanoparticles and magnetic fields train immune cells to fight cancer in mice

UNITED STATES – Building heart tissue that beats

UNITED STATES – Immunology researchers uncover pathways that direct immune system to turn ‘on’ or ‘off’

UNITED STATES – How diabetes drugs may work against cancer

UNITED STATES – Study reveals how a protein common in cancers jumps anti-tumor mechanisms