Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Heme Oxygenase-2 Gene Deletion Attenuates Oxidative Stress In Neurons Exposed To Extracellular Hemin., Raymond F Regan, Jing Chen, Luna Benvenisti-Zarom

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Hemin, the oxidized form of heme, accumulates in intracranial hematomas and is a potent oxidant. Growing evidence suggests that it contributes to delayed injury to surrounding tissue, and that this process is affected by the heme oxygenase enzymes. In a prior study, heme oxygenase-2 gene deletion increased the vulnerability of cultured cortical astrocytes to hemin. The present study tested the effect of HO-2 gene deletion on protein oxidation, reactive oxygen species formation, and cell viability after mixed cortical neuron/astrocyte cultures were incubated with neurotoxic concentrations of hemin. RESULTS: Continuous exposure of wild-type cultures to 1-10 microM hemin for 14 …

European Mistletoe/Iscador® Faq , Clinic Staff

Topics in Integrative Medicine

Mistletoe (Viscum album) may be the most commonly used complementary cancer therapy in Europe today. Background information and important questions are presented.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students, Steven Rosenzweig Md, Diane K. Reibel, Jeffrey M. Greeson, George C. Brainard, Mohammadreza Hojat

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

Background: Medical students confront significant academic, psychosocial, and existential stressors throughout their training. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is an educational intervention designed to improve coping skills and reduce emotional distress.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the MBSR intervention in a prospective, nonrandomized, cohort-controlled study.

Methods: Second-year students (n = 140) elected to participate in a 10-week MBSR seminar. Controls (n = 162) participated in a didactic seminar on complementary medicine. Profile of Mood States (POMS) was administered preintervention and postintervention.

Results: Baseline total mood disturbance (TMD) was greater in …

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction And Health-Related Quality Of Life In A Heterogeneous Patient Population, Diane K. Reibel, Jeffrey M. Greeson, George C. Brainard, Steven Rosenzweig Md

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

This study examined the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on health-related quality of life and physical and psychological symptomatology in a heterogeneous patient population. Patients (n=136) participated in an 8-week MBSR program and were required to practice 20 min of meditation daily. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected by using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Medical Symptom Checklist (MSCL) and Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R). Health-related quality of life was enhanced as demonstrated by improvement on all indices of the SF-36, including vitality, bodily pain, role limitations caused by physical health, and social functioning (all P<.01). Alleviation of physical symptoms was revealed by a 28% reduction on the MSCL (P<.0001). Decreased psychological distress was indicated on the SCL-90-R by a 38% reduction on the Global Severity Index, a 44% reduction on the anxiety subscale, and a 34% reduction on the depression subscale (all P<.0001). One-year follow-up revealed maintenance of initial improvements on several outcome parameters. We conclude that a group mindfulness meditation training program can enhance functional status and well-being and reduce physical symptoms and psychological distress in a heterogeneous patient population and that the intervention may have long-term beneficial effects.

Antioxidant Supplementation In Cancer: Potential Interactions With Conventional Chemotherapy And Radiation Therapy, Clinic Staff

Topics in Integrative Medicine

Several issues are addressed in this discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of supplemental anti-oxidants during cancer treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Anthroposophic Perspectives In Primary Care, Ira S. Cantor Md, Steven Rosenzweig Md

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

A core challenge of contemporary medicine is to integrate the technological successes of biomedical science with a comprehensive under-standing of the physical, psychosocial, ecological, and spiritual dimensions of health and illness. Toward this end, bridges are being created between conventional medicine and alternative systems of healing which reflect a holistic model of the human being. Even when both conventional and complementary approaches are used side-by-side in the same patient, they remain separate in their basic assumptions and goals. Today's mechanistic disease model is cut off from such notions as life-energy, consciousness, and spirituality, so integral to many alternative paradigms. Anthroposophically …