Benefits Of Medicine Research Articles

CRITICAL REVIEW ON PUNARNAVASHTAK KWATHA: AN AYURVEDIC POLYHERBAL FORMULATION

Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine, represents a vast reservoir of knowledge that is not only historically rich but also profoundly intricate and deep. Far from being a primitive practice, Ayurveda focuses on the preventive aspects of health, emphasizing the importance of maintaining balance and harmony in the body to avoid diseases. This holistic approach involves detailed discussions on the diagnosis and management of a wide range of physical and mental disorders, offering a comprehensive framework for health and well-being. One notable formulation within this traditional system is Punarnavashtak Kwatha. This herbal decoction has garnered significant attention for its efficacy in treating conditions such as shotha (inflammation) and pandu (anemia). The formulation's name, "Punarnavashtak," refers to its primary ingredient, Punarnava, a herb renowned for its rejuvenating properties. The Kwatha, or decoction, form is a widely used and trusted method of preparing Ayurvedic medicines, allowing for the active ingredients of herbs to be effectively extracted and utilized. Punarnavashtak Kwatha exemplifies the importance of Kwatha Kalpana, a widely used dosage form in Ayurvedic medicine that ensures effective extraction and utilization of herbal active ingredients. Ancient Ayurvedic texts provide extensive references to this formulation, detailing its preparation, dosage, and therapeutic applications. Its historical significance, combined with modern therapeutic success, underscores the enduring benefits of Ayurvedic medicine. This formulation not only reflects the depth and richness of Ayurvedic knowledge but also its practical application in promoting health and treating diseases effectively in today's world.

Potential protective effects of Acacia nilotica (L.) against gentamicin - induced nephrotoxicity by suppressing renal redox imbalance, inflammatory stress and caspase-dependent apoptosis in Wistar rats

Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity limits its therapeutic use as an effective aminoglycoside. Herbal drugs have a distinct place in the world of pharmaceuticals since they are safe, effective, and cost-efficient. Acacia nilotica (L.) has long been recognized for its antihypertensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet aggregatory benefits in traditional medicine. Still, the protective effect of Acacia nilotica on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity is still unknown. Thus, the goal of this research was to examine the protection of ethanolic extract of Acacia nilotica (ANE) against nephrotoxicity triggered by Gentamicin. Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into six groups containing six rats in each group. The distilled water were given in control group. The rats in groups two and three were administered metformin and gentamicin respectively. In groups five and six, rats were administered ANE at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. Ten days of daily treatments were given. The urea, creatinine, uric acid, and LDH levels were analyzed on serum, whereas histological evaluation, MDA, GSH, SOD, CAT, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3, were performed on kidney tissue on day 11. The gentamicin-treated group exhibited a significantly elevated MDA, and lower levels of antioxidant enzymes. Kidney function markers, inflammatory markers and caspase-3 expression were significantly elevated in the gentamicin-treated group. ANE significantly restored kidney function biomarkers, upregulated biochemical levels, inhibited TNF-α, caspase-3, cytokine expression, and reduced histological lesions. In conclusion, ANE has the ability to prevent gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and reduce nephrotoxic damage. As such, it may represent an effective therapy for patients receiving gentamicin treatment.

Putting meat on the bone: how to fast-track innovative medicines to those who need them and generate data to justify continued use.

Regulatory agencies worldwide have taken significant steps to expedite approval and market authorization of medicines based on their potential to address areas of significant unmet medical need and severe disease burden. However, initial approval of such medicines is often accompanied by limited evidence of benefit, posing a conundrum for payers and health systems who may desire greater certainty of their value. This paper describes a system of "accelerated access" to manage these tensions and coordinate activities across stakeholders, based on discussions held at a multi-stakeholder convening in June 2023. We focus on 6 core, near-term actions that can be taken to improve the current system: clarifying criteria for expedited regulatory approval, enhancing stakeholder coordination, creating expedited pathways in payer and health technology assessment settings, developing joint regulatory/payer/health technology assessment guidance on study design and data needs, linking pricing policy to data uncertainty, and improving patient and public understanding of the processes involved as well as the risks and benefits of the relevant medicines. Many of these actions will require additional resources and personnel, and some will necessitate unprecedented levels of coordination. Nevertheless, each action is designed to work with minimal adjustments to the current system rather than demanding an entirely new approach.

Prevalence, Reasons, and Perceived Benefits of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Patients With Rheumatic Diseases in Morocco: A Monocentric Cross-Sectional Study.

Background In general, rheumatologists often have limited knowledge regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with rheumatic diseases. Understanding the prevalence, reasons for use, and perceived benefits of CAM can help improve patient care and guide clinical practices. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, reasons for use, and perceived benefits of cupping therapy, apitherapy, and traditional cautery treatments among patients with rheumatic diseases. Additionally, it aimed to explore adverse effects, location and pricing disparities in CAM practices, information sources, and the rate of reporting CAM use to treat rheumatologists and to identify factors associated with the use of these CAM approaches. Methodology This single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted in a Moroccan University Hospital and included patients receiving care for rheumatic diseases during hospitalization or outpatient visits from January 2024 to March 2024. The data were collected using a structured, validated, and pilot-tested questionnaire administered by attending rheumatologists. The questionnaire aimed to gather demographic information and to identify patients using CAM, collecting data related to their utilization. Results A total of 100 patients were enrolled (mean age: 52.3 ± 12.8 years, 75% female). Among them, 43% had chronic inflammatory rheumatism. Additionally, 46% reported using at least one of the three CAM methods studied, with 36% using cupping therapy (specifically the wet method), 9% using apitherapy, and 16% using traditional cautery. The main reason for using CAM was to alleviate their pain (55%). Perceptions of effectiveness were reported by 38% of patients using cupping therapy, 20% using apitherapy, and 5.9% using traditional cautery. The use of CAM was significantly lower in patients with a university education (odds ratio = 0.05, 95% confidence interval = 0.003-0.92). Conclusions Our study revealed a significant prevalence of CAM use among patients with rheumatic diseases in Morocco, with cupping therapy emerging as the most commonly utilized method. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing awareness and understanding of CAM practices among both patients and healthcare providers to promote more structured and informed CAM practices.

Using an interprofessional decision-making model to determine the level of collaborative decision-making in a virtual learning environment

Medicine and pharmacy students benefit from interprofessional education that supports the learning of collaboration skills for medicines management decision-making. However, if and how students undertake collaborative decision-making processes in interprofessional student teams has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the level to which pharmacy and medical students collaborate to make medicines management decisions in a learning activity. Eight pharmacy and 13 medical students completed a 9-item survey to evaluate a interprofessional learning activity. A secondary analysis of survey data using a deductive approach, according to the Model of Interprofessional Decision-Making was undertaken. Different levels of collaboration were identified in the students’ responses ranging from the first and lowest level in the model, Individual Decision Making, to the fourth and highest level, Shared Decision. Most student responses were categorised as level three-Deliberation. Findings from this study indicate that pharmacy and medical students collaborate to different levels with each other to make patient care decisions. Further examination is required to see if this is usual variation or related to the design of the learning activity.

β + surgical radio-guidance using a small Compton-angles collimation probe

The fields of radio-guided surgery and interventional nuclear medicine benefit from a growing array of technologies that aid novel healthcare interventions. Among them, surgery probes able to efficiently detect β + emitters are essential to localize tumors previously detected in PET images. Different methods have been proposed for 18F radio-guidance within the body such as detection of 511 keV annihilation photons using electronically or mechanically collimated probes. The main limitations to the widespread use of these techniques are the lack of precise directional capabilities and inadequate sensitivity. We first used the Monte Carlo simulation platform GATE to determine the optimal signal to noise ratio that can be achieved with an ideal probe. Then, we focused on investigating a small Compton-angles collimation prototype probe followed by the construction of an initial proof of concept demonstrator. The performance of the small Compton-angles collimation probe was compared with a commercial probe based on mechanical collimation in terms of sensitivity and directionality. Monte Carlo simulations showed that in case of an ideal probe, with a tumor of 1 cm diameter positioned 5 mm under the skin and with a SUV of 2, the measured signal to background ratio would be of the order of 25%. The small Compton-angles collimated probe prototype showed significantly improved directionality compared to the commercial probe with mechanical collimation, despite having a sensitivity lower than the commercial probe. Monte Carlo simulations provide insights into the substantial impact of the background on the measured signal. Furthermore, the application of small Compton-angles collimation yields promising outcomes, particularly in terms of improving the directionality, with the objective of enhancing the detection of tumors. In addition, the studied prototype probe sensitivity can possibly be improved by upgrading the detector crystal material and geometry.

Polynucleotides in Aesthetic Medicine: A Review of Current Practices and Perceived Effectiveness.

Polynucleotides, complex molecules composed of nucleotides, have gained attention in aesthetic medicine for their potential to regulate gene expression and promote tissue regeneration. This review aims to provide an overview of the current practices and perceived effectiveness of polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine. A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted using keywords related to polynucleotides, cosmetic application, and aesthetic application. Studies were selected based on their relevance to aesthetic medicine and the inclusion of human subjects. The review found that polynucleotides have been used to improve skin texture, reduce wrinkle depth, and enhance facial appearance. The studies reported varying degrees of efficacy and safety, with some studies demonstrating significant improvements in skin elasticity and hydration. However, others reported limited or no benefits. The review also highlighted the need for further research to establish the optimal use and efficacy of polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine. While the existing literature suggests that polynucleotides may have potential benefits in aesthetic medicine, more research is needed to fully understand their mechanisms of action and optimal use. Clinicians should be aware of the current limitations and potential risks associated with the use of polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine.

Profitability Analysis of Long Coriander Crop Share by Small-Scale Producers in Battambang, Cambodia

This paper is intended to introduce Long Coriander, the best-known leafy vegetable in Southeast Asia. It is a member of the Coriander family. It has a strong coriander scent and adds flavor to common ingredients in Central and Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly in soups, curries, and noodle dishes. Beyond its culinary uses, Long Coriander also has many benefits in medicine. To meet the criteria of this study, researchers seek to investigate the profitability of the Long Coriander crop for small-scale producers in Cambodia's Battambang Province. It weighs the revenue from producing Long Coriander against the costs of planting and harvesting its crop. The study also illustrates the estimated total revenue and costs for each planting. Producing Long Coriander may beneficially result in large sums of earnings for farmers, with a profit margin of approximately 57%. Furthermore, according to an economic efficiency (EE) analysis, the cost-to-revenue ratio is higher than 1. This proves that the total amount of revenue made from the sale of Long Coriander outweighs the costs of planting and harvesting, so small-scale producers are convincingly supposed to earn more money from this crop. This research study, through dedication and commitment, aims to address the profitability potential of Long Coriander production by integrating the fundamental economic analysis methods to gather rich data that may enhance and influence further agricultural research.

Cytokine Storm in COVID-19: Insight into Pathological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Benefits of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Cytokine storm (CS) is the main driver of SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The pathological mechanisms of CS are quite complex and involve multiple critical molecular targets that turn self-limited and mild COVID-19 into a severe and life-threatening concern. At present, vaccines are strongly recommended as safe and effective treatments for preventing serious illness or death from COVID-19. However, effective treatment options are still lacking for people who are at the most risk or hospitalized with severe disease. Chinese herbal medicines have been shown to improve the clinical outcomes of mild to severe COVID-19 as an adjunct therapy, particular preventing the development of mild to severe ARDS. This review illustrates in detail the pathogenesis of CS-involved ARDS and its associated key molecular targets, cytokines and signalling pathways. The therapeutic targets were identified particularly in relation to the turning points of the development of COVID-19, from mild symptoms to severe ARDS. Preclinical and clinical studies were reviewed for the effects of Chinese herbal medicines together with conventional therapies in reducing ARDS symptoms and addressing critical therapeutic targets associated with CS. Multiple herbal formulations, herbal extracts and single bioactive phytochemicals with or without conventional therapies demonstrated strong anti-CS effects through multiple mechanisms. However, evidence from larger, well-designed clinical trials is lacking and their detailed mechanisms of action are yet to be well elucidated. More research is warranted to further evaluate the therapeutic value of Chinese herbal medicine for CS in COVID-19-induced ARDS.

Radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with technetium 99m: current state and future prospects.

Radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with technetium-99m (99mTc) has become a promising approach in combining the benefits of nanotechnology and nuclear medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This review is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art of radiolabeling of bionanomaterials with 99mTc, highlighting the synthesis methods, labeling mechanisms, biological evaluation, physicochemical characterization and clinical applications of 99mTc-labeled bionanomaterials. Various types of nanomaterials are considered in the review, including lipid- and protein-based nanosystems, dendrimers and polymeric nanomaterials. Moreover, the review assesses the challenges presented by this emerging field, such as stability of the radiolabel, potential toxicity of the nanomaterials and regulatory aspects. Finally, promising future perspectives and areas of research development in 99mTc-labeled bionanomaterials are discussed.

INDIVIDUALIZED MEDICINE: REVOLUTIONIZING HEALTHCARE WITH TAILORED THERAPIES

Individualized medicine is changing the way as we approach the healthcare by customizing the medical treatments to fit each person's unique genetic makeup, environmental influences, and to lifestyle choices. This concept focuses on the idea of that every patient is unique, but with genetic differences that influence their health and how they respond to the treatments. By using advanced technologies such as genomics (the study of genes and their functions), proteomics (the study of proteins and their functions), and the detailed patient data, precision medicine allows doctors to identify an specific genetic markers and molecular causes of diseases. With this information, the healthcare providers can create personalized treatment plans that target the exact causes of an illnesses, making the treatments more effective and reducing the side effects. We already have seen the benefits of precision medicine in the cancer treatment, where specific therapies designed to target specific genetic mutations have significantly improved patient outcomes. However, the potential of precision medicine extends far beyond the oncology. It could revolutionize the treatment of heart diseases, neurological disorders, rare genetic conditions, and many other health issues. Despite its promise, the precision medicine faces challenges like ensuring data security, addressing the ethical concerns, and providing equal access to such advanced treatments. Nevertheless, the future of the precision medicine looks bright. It aims to create a healthcare system that is more focused on the individual patients, providing treatments tailored to each person's unique biology and requirement. This approach is expected to lead to a more better health outcomes with a higher quality of life for many people.

Towards precision cancer medicine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer health equity.

Delivering cancer control at scale for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is a national priority that requires Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and codesign, as well as significant involvement of the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector. The unique genomic variation observed among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may have implications for standard and precision medicine. Yet, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are absent from, or under-represented within, human reference genome resources, genomic studies, cancer studies, cancer cell lines, patient-derived xenografts and cancer clinical trials. Genomics-guided precision cancer medicine offers an opportunity to reduce cancer health disparities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through personalising prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long term management. Here, we describe what is required to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can receive the benefits of precision cancer medicine. Equity of access to care, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer workforce, and appropriate genome reference resources are important for safe and effective cancer medicine. Building Indigenous data sovereignty principles and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance into research is required to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and collective interests. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community engagement should be undertaken to develop an understanding of the unique cultural and ethical considerations for precision cancer research. Local and national genomic health research guidelines are needed to define a consensus best practice in genomics research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Differences between human and artificial/augmented intelligence in medicine

The emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly increasing across many diverse aspects of society. This manuscript discusses some of the key topics related to the expansion of AI. These include a comparison of the unique cognitive capabilities of human intelligence with AI, and the potential risks of using AI in clinical medicine. The general public attitudes towards AI are also discussed, including patient perspectives. As the promotion of AI in high-risk situations such as clinical medicine expands, the limitations, risks and benefits of AI need to be better understood.

Network Pharmacology Based Elucidation of Molecular Mechanisms of Laoke Formula for Treatment of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

To explore the specific pharmacological molecular mechanisms of Laoke Formula (LK) on treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on clinical application, network pharmacology and experimental validation. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the survival benefit of Chinese medicine (CM) treatment in 296 patients with NSCLC in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2011 to December 2015. The compounds of LK were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, and the corresponding targets were performed from Swiss Target Prediction. NSCLC-related targets were obtained from Therapeutic Target Database and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Key compounds and targets were identified from the compound-target-disease network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were used to predict the potential signaling pathways involved in the treatment of advanced NSCLC with LK. The binding affinities between key ingredients and targets were further verified using molecular docking. Finally, A549 cell proliferation and migration assay were used to evaluate the antitumor activity of LK. Western blot was used to further verify the expression of key target proteins related to the predicted pathways. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival of the CM group was longer than that of the non-CM group (36 months vs. 26 months), and COX regression analysis showed that LK treatment was an independent favorable prognostic factor (P=0.027). Next, 97 components and 86 potential targets were included in the network pharmacology, KEGG and GO analyses, and the results indicated that LK was associated with proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, molecular docking revealed a good binding affinity between the key ingredients and targets. In vitro, A549 cell proliferation and migration assay showed that the biological inhibition effect was more obvious with the increase of LK concentration (P<0.05). And decreased expressions of nuclear factor κB1 (NF-κB1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) and increased expression of p53 (P<0.05) indicated the inhibitory effect of LK on NSCLC by Western blot. LK inhibits NSCLC by inhibiting EGFR/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway, NFκB signaling pathway and inducing apoptosis, which provides evidence for the therapeutic mechanism of LK to increase overall survival in NSCLC patients.

MORINGA OLEIFERA, FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENT: NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES AND HEALTH BENEFITS

Moringa oleifera is a tropical plant that provides various nutritional benefits in nutrition and medicine. It is a popular ingredient in fortified staple foods due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. This study aims to assess the acceptability of the plant among students and its perceived properties. Thus, 44 subjects, divided into two groups (22 in each group) were included in this study. For ten days, each group consumed 5 or 10 grams of moringa per day. Throughout the study, the subjects completed two validated questionnaires: the first one was distributed before the consumption and the second questionnaire after the intended period. The results obtained at the end of the study showed that both groups of consumers noticed beneficial effects on physical well-being and intellectual activity. However, people who consumed 10 g of moringa experienced more noticeable effects due to its powerful effect on concentration, well-being and the elimination of factors that cause fatigue, compared to the consumption of 5 g of moringa, where the majority of respondents stated that they did not feel any effect due to the low dose ingested.

Identification and Classification of Herbal Medicine Marketing Problems from the Perspective of Manufacturers, Pharmaceutical Distribution Companies, Pharmacies, and Consumers in Iran

Background: Despite the increase in the desire to consume herbal medicines and the growing concern of people about their health, as well as the increase in the number of specialized herbal medicine manufacturing companies and pharmacies, these products still have a small market share in the domestic market. Therefore, this research seeks to identify and categorize the marketing problems of herbal medicines with a systemic approach from the perspectives of actors active in this chain (companies producing herbal medicines, pharmaceutical distribution companies, pharmacies and consumers) and provide practical solutions to improve these problems. Methods: The current research is exploratory in nature and qualitative in type. To better identify the marketing problems of herbal medicines, semi-structured interviews were used, and using purposive and snowball sampling methods, interviews were conducted with knowledgeable people in 14 manufacturing companies, 13 pharmaceutical distribution companies, 22 pharmacies and 40 consumers of herbal medicines in 2022. Quantitative content analysis was also used to analyze the text of the interviews. Results: The identified problems are in three short-term, medium-term and long-term time frames, and from another perspective, these problems are located at the three organizational, industrial and macro level. About half of the marketing problems of herbal medicines are located in the three houses of the matrix, i.e. in the houses of organization-mid-term (16 %), industry-short-term (15 %) and organization-short-term (14 %). Also, based on the normalized data, about half of the marketing problems of herbal medicines are related to the non-availability of these medicines (7.7 %), lack of scientific visits by doctors (6.8 %), lack of appropriate and sufficient advertising (6.2 %), returns due to expiration dates (5 %), lack of confidence in the effectiveness (4.8 %), low offers and discounts (4.4 %), high prices (4.1 %), difficulty in collecting claims (3.6 %), low variety of products (2.9 %) and long production time (2.8 %). Conclusion: The government managers of the country can address macro-level issues by controlling the inflation rate, accelerating the settlement time of insurance and government organizations with distribution companies, reducing the time of collecting claims, and raising public awareness regarding herbal medicines. In the industry sector, there is a need to establish national distribution companies for herbal medicines and enhance the research, supply, production, and distribution processes. It is also important to improve the collaboration between manufacturers and pharmacies, as well as facilitate communication with international scientific societies. At the organizational level, managers can boost productivity by enhancing the quality of products and packaging, conducting scientific visits, and publishing credible scientific articles to convince doctors and consumers about the benefits of herbal medicines

Satisfaction of patients treated in a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department during the Covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Background Patients treated in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&amp;R) departments benefit from global and multidisciplinary long-term care. The study of satisfaction represents an important element in the evaluation of the quality of the healthcare provided. The aim of this study is to assess the level of satisfaction of patients treated in the PM&amp;R department of Sahloul university hospital of Sousse Tunisia as well as the associated factors during the year 2020. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study, including patients treated in the hospitalization and the outpatient units of the PM&amp;R department. Monnin and Perneger scale validated in Arabic was used to measure satisfaction in its different dimensions. Medical data were completed from patients’ records. Results A total of 240 patients were included in our study. The level of satisfaction was significantly higher with the admission procedures for inpatients compared to outpatients (87.9% vs. 60.0%, p&lt;0.001). Regarding the global assessment, 82.1% of patients were satisfied. Multivariate analysis showed that for administrative procedures, consultation for outpatients was a factor of dissatisfaction (aOR=0.18, p&lt;0.001). Patients’ physiotherapy treatment during the Covid-19 period was negatively associated with satisfaction for logistics (aOR= 0.44, p=0.011) and for the global assessment of health care provided in our department (aOR= 0.46, p=0.04). Conclusion Our study showed overall good levels of satisfaction in the department of PM&amp;R of Sahloul. However, more studies should follow to determine other factors that can influence satisfaction.

The impact of music on health and wellbeing of children and young people with rare diseases in healthcare settings: A scoping review

Interest in the applications of music in health, social care and community settings are growing worldwide. Rare diseases are a major challenge for public health, particularly in paediatric populations. Previous research has demonstrated music and music medicine benefit children and young people’s health and wellbeing; however, this is under-researched in the paediatric rare disease context. This scoping review was conducted to explore music therapy and music medicine as tools to support children with rare diseases’ health and wellbeing within healthcare settings. The review investigated the current research on how music is used for children and young people with rare diseases and complex conditions and synthesised the resulting evidence. Results from this review suggest that music therapy and music medicine are beneficial for the health and wellbeing of children with rare diseases and complex conditions, including reduced anxiety, stress and pain during clinical procedures, and increased communication, social and coping skills and enhanced quality of life.

Customized treatment for Parkinson’s disease: extending lifespan and improving symptoms

BackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative ailment affecting aged people. Several motor and non-motor symptoms appearing with this disease are linked to reduction in dopamine levels. Parkinson’s disease manifested by a wide range of symptoms, including gait instability, voice impairments, bradykinesia, hypomimia, tremors, and cognitive dysfunctions, where the concern is its steady global progression. Therefore, by evaluating the stage-specific retention and transition thresholds, the suggested work attempts to detect the progression of PD. Similarly, the assessment of the annual rate of deterioration of symptoms aids in assessing the influence of medications on four stages and six prime symptoms.ResultsDuring the 9-year period following clinical diagnosis, a symptomatic deterioration of 34.995% is observed in untreated patients compared to treated patients. Furthermore, the experimental analysis illustrates that medicines assist in regulating only bradykinesia, tremors, hypomimia, and speech impairment, which lasts for 4.8 years on average. A saturation period is also identified during the moderate phase, where the computed average depreciation in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is the least. Similarly, from stages 1 to 4, medicines might improve stage retention by 4.44, 3.5, 2.72, and 1.6 years, respectively. It demonstrates that, despite transient advantages and adverse effects, medications also have an optimistic impact on PD patients.ConclusionsHere, we show that medication can extend the lifespan of PD patients up to 12 years cumulatively. Furthermore, the proposed work suggests that stagewise alternative remedies for improving quality of life, boosting the benefits of medicines, and eliminating their side effects. These include counselling, diet changes, yoga asanas, herbal medicines, bio-cleansing and other therapies. The current work does not consider the temporary transition among stages; nonetheless, further investigation regarding PD could open avenues for more worthy treatments with fewer side effects.

Optimizing liquid fermentation for Wolfiporia cocos: gene expression and biosynthesis of pachymic acid and mycelial biomass.

Wolfiporia cocos, a versatile fungus acclaimed for its nutritional and therapeutic benefits in Traditional Chinese Medicine, holds immense potential for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. In this study, we aimed to optimize liquid fermentation techniques and culture medium composition to maximize mycelial biomass (MB) yield, pachymic acid (PA) concentration, and overall PA production. Additionally, we investigated the molecular basis of our findings by quantifying the expression levels of genes associated with PA and MB biosynthesis using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Under the optimized fermentation conditions, significant results were achieved, with maximum MB reaching 6.68 g l-1, PA content peaking at 1.25 mg g-1, and a total PA yield of 4.76 g l-1. Notably, among the four examined genes, squalene monooxygenase, exhibited enhanced expression at 0.06 ratio under the optimized conditions. Furthermore, within the realm of carbohydrate-active enzymes, the glycoside hydrolases 16 family displayed elevated expression levels at 21 ratios, particularly during MB production. This study enhances understanding of genetic mechanism governing MB and PA production in W. cocos, highlighting the roles of squalene monooxygenase and glycoside hydrolases 16 carbohydrate-active enzymes.