Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

The Role Of Niacinamide In Skin Cancer Risk Reduction, Britny Ruilova Tellez, Nicolas Fortes, Heather Rollins

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

The contents of this article are the author’s original unpublished findings.

Background: Each year, approximately 6 million Americans are treated for skin cancer, resulting in a total annual medical expense of $8.9 billion 1. The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)2. The metastatic potential of these cancers is minimal; however, their treatment may involve severe scarring and disfigurement2. In contrast, melanoma is an aggressive skin malignancy that grows rapidly and can metastasize in a quick manner2. Risk factors of these skin cancers include UV exposure, fair skin complexions, …

Self-Care Practices For Common Acute Conditions In The Philippines: A Scoping Review, Arianna Maever Loreche, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Manuel M. Dayrit

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Purpose

This review aimed to identify and map published studies on self-care practices to manage common acute health conditions in the Philippines.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a scoping review in PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ProQuest Central, Journal Storage (JSTOR) and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development – Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN). The authors included all studies on self-care practices to manage common acute conditions, namely low back pain, allergic rhinitis, general acute pain, cough, cold, diarrhea, constipation and stress, published up to 2021 in the Philippines. Information on …

Green Tea Supplementation: An Effective Lifestyle Modification For Cholesterol Management, Samuel J. Nemati

MSN Capstone Projects

Hypercholesterolemia is an insidious disease and the leading factor to the deadliest killer in the United States – cardiovascular disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023a). Over 85 million American adults suffer from elevated cholesterol, and treatment can prove challenging and may require multiple modalities outside just pharmaceutical intervention – such as dietary and other lifestyle changes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023b; Goldman, 2023). Green tea – among the most common teas consumed worldwide – exerts a uniquely antihyperlipidemic and cardioprotective effect that suggests its consideration as a potentially-viable nonpharmacological option for hypercholesterolemia (Harvard Health Publishing, 2012; …

Investigating The Microbiome Of The Eye And The Potential Of Probiotic Use In Optometry, Rachel Hartgerink

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

While the eye was once considered free of resident bacteria due to its efficient immunity mechanisms, recent studies have determined that most healthy eyes contain a variety of microbiota. Many studies have been aimed at classifying bacteria that are part of the core microbiome of the eye and the conditions under which they differ. As with gut health, a dysbiosis of ocular bacteria could correlate to disease, which presents the idea of treatment with probiotics to help regulate the microbiota of the eye. This study utilized growth assays to determine a common probiotic’s effect on bacteria that can be found …

Art Of Aging – A Portraiture Study, Alaina Mann

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The process of aging can be viewed through different lenses within our society. In the past, scientists and medical professionals performed various studies to better understand and analyze different facets of aging, medicine, and health in general. Historically the arts have reflected multiple aspects of medicine and treatments while more recently, the arts have been used in a research capacity to provide different ways to represent illness, suffering, and care. This study used art-based research methods and portraiture to gather qualitative observations on the older populations within our community. Data collected included drawings, a field journal, and interviews. This study …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Biomedical Engineering: Graduate Reports and Projects

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

Nurses - Tab Down Your Stress Level: A Pilot Study On The Use Of Aromatherapy To Decrease Stress Levels, Judith E. Bowling, Ashley N. Garbutt, Theresa Worden, Julie Erickson, Nicole Rowney

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: The average day-to-day nursing profession is a stressful one. The job often requires dealing with patients enduring some of the worst times of their lives, as well as contending with patients' emotional family members. This stressful environment is heightened even more for nurses employed in critical access hospitals (CAHs) due to the limited resources usually associated with these smaller facilities. Methods: Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council members at one CAH explored how to help nurses deal with the elevated work stress level. Aromatherapy tabs were used as an intervention to reduce nurses' stress. The nurses who participated in this …

Promoting Mammography Screenings In African American Women: Media, Church, And Health Providers, Lasonya Little, Debra C. Wallace, K.Jay Poole

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Due to the underutilization of screening mammography, African American women (AAW) are more likely to experience negative health outcomes after receiving a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis than White Women (WW). The purpose of this article is to examine the roles of the media, health community and the African American church and pastor and their potential impact in AAW screening decisions. Fifteen AAW, ages 45 and older, were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Most women agreed the African American pastor and church as well as the health community, and media are an integral part of their lives. Therefore, specific …

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At 2023 Advocate Aurora Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This abstract supplement includes findings presented at the 49th annual Advocate Aurora Scientific Day on May 24, 2023. The Scientific Day symposium provides a virtual forum for the sharing of preliminary results from research and case studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and other health professionals associated with Illinois-based Advocate Health Care and Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care.

The Use Of Meditation/Mindfulness To Improve Anxiety In Young Adults, Aaron Wilkerson

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner

Without intervention and relief from stress and anxiety, it can cause physical, psychological, and behavioral abnormalities (Kim et al., 2018). Chronic stress has been found to be prevalent among young adult age, students, and is having lasting negative effects on mental, emotional, and physical health, including feelings of being overwhelmed, hopelessness, loneliness, and even suicidal ideation (Burgstahler & Stenson, 2020). The practice of meditation and mindfulness offers a non-pharmacological option over the typical standard-of-care pharmacological treatment and provides a life skill for young adults to manage their stress and anxiety, ultimately overall improving their mental health (Lemay et al., 2019). …

Bioengineered Nisin A Derivatives Display Enhanced Activity Against Clinical Neonatal Pathogens, Anna Desmond

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Neonatal infection is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in infants. Globally, neonatal pathogens are increasingly becoming multi-drug resistant, indicating the need to discover novel alternative treatment strategies. Nisin is an antimicrobial peptide that exhibits broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including a wide variety of clinical pathogens. Nisin can be used in combination with antibiotics to improve their efficacy. This study examined the activity of nisin and bioengineered derivatives against multi-drug resistant Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus capitis isolates and investigated the potential synergy between nisin peptides and selected antibiotics. Whole genome sequence analysis of the strains revealed …

Strategies For Culturally Safe Research With Native American Communities: An Integrative Review, Teresa Brockie, Kyle X. Hill, Patricia Davidson, Ellie Decker, Lydia Koh Krienke, Katie E. Nelson, Natalie Nicholson, Alicia M. Werk, Deborah Wilson, Deana Around Him

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

Background: A history of unethical research and deficit-based paradigms have contributed to profound mistrust of research among Native Americans, serving as an important call to action. Lack of cultural safety in research with Native Americans limits integration of cultural and contextual knowledge that is valuable for understanding challenges and making progress toward sustainable change. Aim: To identify strategies for promoting cultural safety, accountability, and sustainability in research with Native American communities. Method: Using an integrative review approach, three distinct processes were carried out: (1) appraisal of peer-reviewed literature (Scopus, PubMed, and ProQuest), (2) review of grey literature (e.g. policy documents …

Ethnobotanical Survey Of Medicinal Plants Used In The Management Of Cancer In Uganda, John Baptist Asiimwe, Prakash B. Nagendrappa, Esther C. Atukunda, Ivan Kahwa, Lina S. Mathew Alonga, Clement O. Ajayi, Casim U. Tolo, Patrick E. Ogwang, Maud M. Kamatenesi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Patients with cancer in Africa embrace the use of herbal medicine more than anywhere else in the world. This study identified and documented medicinal plant species used to manage cancer in ten (10) districts of Uganda.

Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted between October 2021 and January 2022. In total, 18 (out of 55) traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) having more than 10 years of experience in managing patients with cancer were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire.

Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The Relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Family importance value (FIV) indices were also computed. …

The Addition Of Nature To The Patient's Healing Regimen, Katelyn Lewis, Audrey Henry

Scholars Week

Through our scholarly research, we have found many benefits to the use of nature to help facilitate healing within patients. Our project aims to spread awareness of the positive aspects of nature during the healing process. Specifically, our research focuses on healing gardens and outside therapy for patients. Our presentation is based upon Nightingales' theory of the environment. Our hope is that facilities will implement the addition of nature to the patient's plan of care.

Effects And Treatments Of Depression Affecting Patient Outcomes, Parker Gerard

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Usage Within The Vietnamese Community In Lincoln, Nebraska, Helen Duong

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Lincoln, Nebraska is home to over 5,000 Vietnamese refugees and immigrants, many of whom practice complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a result of healing traditions passed down through family members. This thesis explores the use of CAM among the Vietnamese population of Lincoln. The study employs an analysis of the literature on CAM among Vietnamese populations and thematic analysis of interviews conducted with members of the Vietnamese community of Lincoln, NE. Interviews explore perceptions of healthcare quality and access within this community as well as investigate the link between CAM and allopathic (Western) medicine. Findings suggest that certain CAM …

Development Of A Novel Serum Formulation For The Treatment Of C. Acnes, Ariana G. Ngue

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

Acne impacts 85% of people between 12-24 years of age. Even after puberty, acne continues to impact a large portion of the population. The treatments are diverse and include prescription drugs. Through this research, a novel formulation was created for the skin to treat acne. This formulation incorporates salicylic acid, a non-prescription acne treatment, as well as a polymeric carbohydrate (hyaluronic acid) known to be a component of skin and involved in the healing of skin. Through an internship with Island Lux Essentials, a company devoted to making all natural body care products, a novel serum formulation was created to …

In Silico Prediction Of Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (Sglt2) Inhibition Activity By Allium Fistulosum Compound Based On Skelspheres Molecular Descriptor, Rudy Heryanto, Aryo Tedjo, Dimas Noor

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

The Sodium-Glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor represents a novel agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Drugs of this class function by inhibiting glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby controlling blood glucose levels. It is known that SGLT2 inhibitors activate the AMPK signaling pathway by increasing the expression and activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In vivo tests have demonstrated that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Welsh onion leaves (Allium fistulosum L) can reduce body weight, liver weight, adipocyte size, and enhance AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression. In this study, the inhibitory activity (IC50) of compounds within Allium fistulosum against …

Are You Blue: The Key To Living To 100, Lauren Ulsas

BUHealth

There are five locations in the world that have the highest rates of centenarians in the world. A centenarian is an individual who lives until the age of 100. These places have been entitled “the blue zones”. While these blue zones are located all throughout the globe, there are certain commonalities among them. Some common practices of the individuals living in these locations include leading an active life, eating well, establishing strong bonds, and feeling a sense of purpose. In theory, these practices may sound easy, but there are several limitations and barriers that prevent those living outside of these …

Honey: The Sweet Truth, Alex Szewczyk

BUHealth

Honey is a natural food that is packed with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins, organic acids, and many other biologically active compounds. Its exact components may vary based on the unique collection of flowers and plants that honeybees pollinate. The nutrient dense quality of honey has different health benefits. People all around the world are currently suffering from chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia at unprecedented rates. When patients experience a combination of these disease states, it is known as metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is correlated with urbanization in developing countries, with sedentary lifestyle and poor diet as …

Zen Your College Experience, Anna Sharshon

BUHealth

When college students transition from life at home to life at school, they may be faced with a variety of stressors such as navigating a more rigorous academic environment or an overload of new commitments and responsibilities. Struggling with the change in environment is one of the major problems faced among college students and often leads to more stress and anxiety, lack of sleep hygiene, and poor eating habits. Fortunately, mindful meditation has been proven to help with these issues. Mindful meditation is the practice of focusing or clearing the mind by using certain mental and physical techniques. It has …

Are You Down To Earth?, Karmen Koch

BUHealth

The practice of grounding, or “earthing” has been gaining popularity in the last few decades as a holistic approach to prevention and treatment in broad scopes of practice. The exercise reflects the early human experience of frequent and direct contact with the earth’s surface. The current, limited available data perceives and theorizes health improvements including decreased inflammation, enhanced perfusion, sleep restoration, lowered blood pressure, enhanced muscle recovery, and decreased cortisol levels. When implementing any new health practice into one’s routine, it is crucial to be well informed. This review can help individuals better ascertain if grounding could improve their health …

Metabolomic Insights Into Tuberculosis: Machine Learning Approaches For Biomarker Identification, Miftahul Khair Akbar, Arief Aulia Rahman

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

The lung parenchyma is largely impacted by the infectious condition known as pulmonary tuberculosis (pulmonary TB) when the immune system creates a wall around the germs in the lungs, a tiny, hard bulge known as a tubercle develops, earning the disease the name tuberculosis. Although the majority of TB germs target the lungs, they can also harm other bodily organs. The identification of TB biomarkers, which are crucial for diagnosis, treatment monitoring, risk analysis, and prognosis, has been the subject of extensive research. Differences in metabolites between normal cells and tuberculosis are considered to be able to support the diagnosis …

Effectiveness Of Thyme Honey In The Management Of Xerostomia In Geriatric Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial With A Biochemical Assessment, Asmaa Ras, Dalia M. Ghalwash, Radwa R. Hussein, Suzan M. Seifallah

Dentistry

Background

Taking into consideration the value of the oral health condition in geriatric people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) associated with xerostomia and believing that salivary stimulants or substitutes could potentially be used to manage this condition. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of thyme honey as oral rinse in geriatric patients with ESRD using the subjective dry mouth score as a primary objective and to assess the effect of thyme honey on the salivary nitric oxide level, salivary flow rate, and salivary ph in addition to objective dry mouth score as a secondary objective.

Methods

This was …

The Effects Of Herbal Products In Cartilage Healing And Reducing The Progression Of Osteoarthritis, Mariya Baig, Mir Saleem

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) includes symptom management with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and acetaminophen. However, these drugs pose health risks for long-term use, such as contraindications and gastrointestinal/cardiovascular issues. This systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the impact of the herbal products, turmeric and ginger, in cartilage healing and reducing the progression of OA. It was found that turmeric and ginger can aid in symptom management for OA and promote cartilage regeneration, with turmeric extract yielding greater evidence-based results. Turmeric reduces the amount of pain and stiffness experienced from OA and can restore cartilage by subduing …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Master's Theses

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

Thymoquinone Inhibits Prostate Cancer Progression By Modulating Cytochrome P450 (Cyps), Santosh K. Singh, Rajesh Singh

Research Symposium

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and mortality remain high in African American (AA) than Caucasian American (CA) men. Multiple factors contribute to this critical disease disparity, androgen receptors (AR), and differences among variants of the genes such as Cytochrome P450 (CYP) are involved in androgen biosynthesis and metabolism that may switch to gene regulation for prostate growth. However, inhibitors have been approved for CYP genes, the major pitfall, undesirable side effects, and quality of life in those patients. Therefore, targeting CYPs with a natural compound, Thymoquinone (TQ), a constituent of Nigella sativa (black seed), potentially safe and curative option for …

Targeting Cellular Signaling Pathways In Cancer By Lactobacilli, Varish Ahmad, Aftab Ahmad, Quazi Muhammad Sajid Jamal

Research Symposium

Purpose: Presenting lactobacilli therapy for cancer treatment targeting cancer signaling Lactobacilli as Probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a group of fermentative gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that produces a large number of intracellular and extracellular metabolites used in the food manufacture industry as well as complementary and alternative medicines against many diseases including cancer.

Description: Some LAB has been found to have inhibitory activity against colon liver cancer, cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer in vivo or in vitro. These fermentative bacteria induced the autophagy cell death either by GRP78 and Beclin-1 or by induction of Bak …

Stress-Induced Changes In Carf Expression Determine Growth Arrest, Apoptosis, Or Malignant Transformation In Cultured Human Cells: Molecular Evidence And Its Application, Mallika Khurana, Rajkumar Singh Kalra, Anupama Chaudhary, Amr Omar, Xiaoshuai Li, Sunil C. Kaul, Renu Wadhwa

Research Symposium

Background: CARF (Collaborator of ARF)/CDKN2AIP is an essential protein, first cloned as a binding partner of ARF. It was subsequently shown to interact with p53, HDM2 proteins and regulate growth arrest and apoptosis by its multimodal mechanism of action. Over-expression of CARF caused senescence like growth arrest of cells, its knock-down triggered apoptosis. Intriguingly, malignantly transformed cells showed high level of CARF expression. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that level of CARF expression may be a key determinant of cell proliferation fates; where an increase in its levels causes growth arrest/senescence, but beyond a threshold it activates carcinogenesis.

Methods: …

Piperine Encourages Apoptosis In Human Cervical Adenocarcinoma Cells Through Ros Generation, Dna Fragmentation, Caspase-3 Activation And Cell Cycle Arrest, Asif Jafri, Juhi Rais, Sudhir Kumar, Md Arshad

Research Symposium

Background: Cancer is one of the most common destructive diseases and the second leading cause of death in humans. Among cancer, cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy among women globally. Thus, there is a continuous need to search for chemotherapeutic chemicals or naturally occurring drugs to resolve this global health problem. Piperine (1-piperoylpeperdine) is present in the fruits of black pepper (Piper nigrum Linn.) and long pepper (Piper longum Linn.). It possesses several pharmacological properties and in the present study we have evaluated its anti-cancer potential on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells.

Methods: The anti-proliferative effect …