Integrative Medicine Commons^™

A Battle For Hope, Kaline E. Mulvihill

Akesis

I have friends and family members working in all aspects of the medical system. They are PAs, PTs, nurses, doctors, caregivers, and support staff. They are on the frontline in the brutal battle against Covid-19. This is their story. It is a story about fear, duty, strength, and finding hope. While we adapt to this new normal and cope with the ever-changing landscape, we have to remember that we are all in this fight together.

Broken With Nature, Meghan Bowler

Akesis

This is a short reflection on two separate periods of intense mental and physical self-healing. Nature removed me from the imprisonment of my own mind around 8 years ago, only to fall back into its grips after a recent hip surgery. Hiking/physical activity was the only form of therapy that I was vulnerable enough to let heal me. It would break me down mentally and physically while rebuilding me at the same time. Some information was derived from personal journal entries but all are very relevant to each and every hike I take today.

Tides, Paul S. Eo

Akesis

This photo is an overhead shot of the waves breaking at Pine Point beach. This represents so much for me. In these times of uncertainty it gives me hope that the tides will eventually turn. And just like the tides, this too will take a turn for the better. It also represents the healing and cleansing qualities of the sea.

New Hope, Gerhard H. Laurich

Akesis

While moving across the country with my fiance for a clinical placement in December our tree suffered greatly from the cold nights in the car; we were sure it was dead when we finally got to our destination but the trunk hadn't yet turned brown and gotten weak so we kept it, watered it, and gave it a chance. A couple weeks later we noticed that there were a couple new buds sprouting from the trunk lower down. It just goes to show that no matter how hard life gets, there is always reason to hope, to try, and ...

Motus Habitus: An Anatomical Ethnography, Michael Cyr, Jordan G. Lamb

Akesis

Although this project began long before the release of Akesis' Spring theme, it perfectly encapsulates adaptation in many ways. The response to the recent pandemic and the disruption to people's daily routines has caused us to reflect on the ways we experience our bodies and minds in the absence of work, recreation, sociality, and movement. Movement, a key to human health and happiness, has been greatly restrained as most of us are confined to our living quarters. Now more than ever it is important to acknowledge the effects of lifestyle on body and health and find creative ways to ...

Decision 2020, Rolene Yousefyan

Akesis

The materials used to create this piece were chalk pastels. The inspiration behind this drawing was the difficult decisions we all have had to make at some point throughout our lives. No matter the reason why we made these decisions, there is no changing them and they may forever change the pathways of our lives.

Extra Medullar Granulocytic Sarcoma: A Case Report Of An Exceptional Localization, Bouhani Malek, Sakhri Saida, Jaidane Olfa, Adouni Olfa, Chargui Riadh, Rahal Khaled

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Granulocytic sarcoma is a rare type of tumor composed of extramedullary immature cells. The breast location is very rare; it accounts for less than 8% of cases. The present study reports the case of a 36-year-old female with a medical history of myelodysplastic syndrome. She was referred because of a lump in the left breast. We have diagnosed a case of granulocytic sarcoma of the breast by core biopsy. Histology and immunohistochemistry showed hypercellular smears with immature myeloid cells. The blast cells were myeloperoxidase positive.

The patient underwent a lumpectomy. Five months later, she developed a contralateral recurrence, treated by ...

Consciousness Level Determination Of Red Meat Consumption Of Pregnant Women, Giresun/Turkey Province, Duygu Balpetek Külcü, Özge Cağcağ Yolcu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

In this study, meat consumption and the nutritional status of pregnant women living in Giresun province of Turkey were investigated. The study was carried out at Giresun University, the Maternity and Pediatrics Training and Research Hospital between February-March 2019. The study group consisted of 218 pregnant women aged 18 to 49 years, who benefited from polyclinic services and agreed to participate in the survey. A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions was used, and the findings were evaluated using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics and t-tests or ANOVAs. The majority of participants stated that red meat is beneficial during pregnancy (71 ...

Impact Of Rational And Experiential Thinking Styles On Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Among Young Adults, Ayesha Rafique, Hania Habib, Fariha Abdul Rehman, Shabnam Arshi

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

This research aimed to find the relationship between thinking styles (rational or experiential) and interpersonal conflict resolution (ICR) in young adults. A sample of 99 females and 103 males, age range 18 to 40 years, was selected via convenient and snow-ball sampling. Thinking styles were assessed using Rational-Experiential Inventory-40, and ICR was measured using Conflict Resolution Questionnaire. Regression analysis was used to predict ICR based on thinking style covariates and several relevant demographic covariates, including gender and family birth order. Rational thinking style (RTS) was most prevalent among young adults and was the strongest predictor of ICR. In addition, gender ...

Compassion And Suppression In Caregivers: Twin Masks Of Tragedy And Joy Of Caring, Emanuele Maria Merlo, Sean M. Mcnabney, Fabio Frisone, Federica Sicari, Mihai Paunica, Catalina Motofei, Salvatore Settineri

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background: Compassionate caregiving is a critical skill for workers among the helping professions, but the degree of empathy required by caregivers can place high demands on their mental and emotional resources. While many professionals employ successful coping strategies to mitigate these stressors, others experience compassion fatigue or burnout from emotional exhaustion. The objective of this research was to evaluate the relationships between caregivers’ demographic/career variables, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and psychodynamic defense mechanisms such as suppression, repressive function, regression in the service of the Ego, and rationalization. Methods: Participants were 250 caregivers with 178 (71,2%) women and 72 ...

Laser Therapy In Superficial Morphea Lesions – Indications, Limitations And Therapeutic Alternatives, Alin Laurentiu Tatu, Diana Sabina Radaschin, Vlad Denis Constantin, Paunica Stana, Valeriu Ardeleanu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Morphea or localized scleroderma is an uncommon autoimmune and inflammatory disease which affects patients of any age. Even if morphea lesions present systemic symptoms as myalgias or arthritis, it is distinct from systemic sclerosis because it does not associate Raynaud’s phenomena or sclerodactyly, which are encountered in systemic scleroderma. The most common form of morphea in children is `en coup de sabre`, which can alter the local anatomy by deep tissue involvement. In contrast, the most frequent form that affects adults is represented by circumscribed morphea. The initial lesions present an inflammatory phase that manifests in the form of ...

Innovative Device For Indocianyne Green Navigational Surgery, Cătălin Aliuș, Nicolae Bacalbașa, Cristian Bălălău

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Dynamic reality has been integrated into developing surgical techniques, with the goals of providing increased intraoperative accuracy, easier detection of critical anatomical landmarks, and better general results for the patient. Enhancement of the reality in surgical theaters using single or multi sensorial augmenters (haptic, thermic and visual) has been reported with various degrees of success. This paper presents a novel device for navigational surgery and ancillary clinical applications based on the fluorescent properties of Indocyanine Green (ICG), a safe, FDA-approved dye that emits fluorescence at higher wavelengths than endogenous proteins. The latest technological developments and the aforementioned convenient quantum behavior ...

Microbiota: The Missing Link In The Etiology Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Micu Ioan Sergiu, Madalina Elena Manea, Musat Marilena, Dumitru Andrada, Popoiag Roxana Emanuela

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Within its twisted and tight walls, where a hostile and arid environment prevails, the lumen of the digestive tract nests a true microuniverse called the microbiota. The existing relationship between humans and these microorganisms is one in which both benefit, creating a condition called Eubiosis.

The dynamic relationship existing between the microbiota and the human body can be affected at various times, leading to an imbalance that may have important implications on health and generating a condition called Disbiosis.

Recent studies have highlighted possible links between several diseases with incompletely elucidated etiology and disturbances of the microbiota. In this review ...

Treatment Of Lipomas And Diffuse Lipomatosis With Ndyag 1064 Nm Laser And Their Impact On The Quality Of Life, Valeriu Ardeleanu, Liliana Florina Andronache, Florentina Gherghiceanu, Stana Paunica, Cristian Balalau, Anca Pantea Stoian

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Lipomas, the most common type of benign tumours, are generally developed from adipose tissue and present an incidence of 2.1 per 1000 inhabitants. In addition to lipomas, at least three other maladies of the adipose tissue lead patients to consult a doctor, especially for aesthetic purposes: multiple familial lipomatosis, diffuse congenital lipomatosis, and adiposa doloris. Unlike lipomas, these maladies are characterized by numerous lipomas, encapsulated or not, of different sizes, symmetrical or not, which may appear in the neck, limbs, or the trunk, sometimes being painful. The life quality of these patients is affected, not only from an aesthetic ...

The Role Of Biotransformation Processes In Mediating Interactions Between Psychotropic Drugs And Natural Products, Nicolae Bacinschi, Ina Pogonea, Lilia Podgurschi, Maria Mihalachi-Anghel, Emil Ștefănescu, Bogdan Socea, Marin Chianu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Many patients are not aware that natural products such as fruit juices or plant infusions can cause significant interactions with several drugs, some of which can be dangerous, especially when the medical treatment is for neurological or psychiatric disorders. Among the most predisposed for interacting with drugs are citric juices, particularly grapefruit and plant infusions, especially St John`s wort (Hypericum perforatum). Understanding the mechanism and the frequency of this type of interaction helps to avoid it. The goal of this research was to identify and summarize the most relevant reports on interactions between psychotropic drugs and natural beverages, in ...

Anorexia Nervosa And Reproduction: Connecting Brain To Gonads, Mihaela Poterasu, David L. Rowland, Corina Ciobanu, Simona Fica

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder that predominantly affects young women and is characterized by low caloric intake and a major dissatisfaction with one’s body image. It is often overlooked and, while patients and family seek medical help, emaciation and nutritional misbalances may become extreme and potentially life threatening. Among the many somatic complications, an accumulation of early endocrine adaptations occurs, leading to functional amenorrhea and impaired reproduction as a result of dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Even though these conditions are reversible, long-term consequences may affect the fertility of women with AN and can lead to maternal ...

Society Of Behavioral Medicine Call To Action: Include Obesity/Overweight Management Education In Health Professional Curricula And Provide Coverage For Behavior-Based Treatments Of Obesity/Overweight Most Commonly Provided By Psychologists, Dieticians, Counselors, And Other Health Care Professionals And Include Such Providers On All Multidisciplinary Teams Treating Patients Who Have Overweight Or Obesity, Judith K. Ockene, Karen M. Ashe, Kenneth S. Peterson, Marian Fitzgibbon, Joanna Buscemi, Akilah Dulin

UMass Worcester PRC Publications

Obesity is a serious chronic disease whose prevalence has grown to epidemic proportions over the past five decades and is a major contributor to the global burden of most common cancers, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and sleep apnea. Primary care clinicians, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, are often the first health care professionals to identify obesity or overweight during routine long-term care and have the opportunity to intervene to prevent and treat disease. However, they often lack the training and skills needed to deliver scientifically validated, behavior-based treatments. These gaps must be addressed in order ...

Individual Vs. Group Delivery Of Acupuncture Therapy For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain In Urban Primary Care-A Randomized Trial, M. Diane Mckee, Arya Nielsen, Belinda Anderson, Elizabeth Chuang, Mariel Connolly, Qi Gao, Eric N. Gil, Claudia Lechuga, Mimi Kim, Huma Naqvi, Benjamin Kligler

Open Access Articles

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal back, neck, and osteoarthritis pain. However, access to acupuncture treatment has been limited in medically underserved and low-income populations.

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture therapy delivered in groups could reduce cost and expand access. We compared the effectiveness of group versus individual acupuncture for pain and function among ethnically diverse, low-income primary care patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

DESIGN: This was a randomized comparative effectiveness non-inferiority trial in 6 Bronx primary care community health centers. Participants with chronic ( > 3 months) back, neck, or osteoarthritis pain were randomly assigned to ...

An Innovative Electronic Health Toolkit (Our Whole Lives For Chronic Pain) To Reduce Chronic Pain In Patients With Health Disparities: Open Clinical Trial, Paula Gardiner, Salvatore D'Amico, Man Luo, Niina Haas

Center for Integrated Primary Care Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Our Whole Lives, an electronic health (eHealth) toolkit for Chronic Pain (Our Whole Lives for Chronic Pain [OWLCP]), is a mind-body chronic pain management platform that teaches self-management strategies to reduce pain impact and pain medication use.

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of OWLCP in reducing pain impact and pain-related outcomes.

METHODS: We conducted a pre-post clinical study (2 cohorts) to assess the feasibility of OWLCP usage among low-income patients with chronic pain. Outcome data, collected at baseline and 9 weeks, included Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information ...

Program Evaluation In Women's Health Integration For Podiatric Residents, Nilin M. Rao Dpm, Carol A. Stamm Md, Elizabeth Ihler Md, Dustin Kruse Dpm, Paul A. Stone Dpm, Facfas

Podiatry

As the podiatric profession strives for professional and financial parity with allopathic and osteopathic colleagues, podiatric medical education has been transformed at both undergraduate and graduate levels to more closely align in important ways. The purpose of this program evaluation is to share the benefits of including a women’s health rotation into the required graduate medical training curriculum, share the initial experience of the first resident cohort receiving this training, and provide ideas to other programs that may be interested in providing similar program implementation for their residents.