Therapeutic Group Research Articles

Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E Can Restrict Radiation Necrosis via Vascular Pathways, Experimental Study in an Animal Model

Radiation necrosis (RN) is a long-term side effect of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery that may require surgical intervention. Pentoxifylline and vitamin E have previously been shown to be effective in the treatment of RN in the published literature, but there are no data on the prophylactic use of these molecules or, more importantly, whether prophylaxis is required. The iatrogenic RN model included 50 Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes. There were 7 treatment subgroups established. Gamma-Plan 8.32 was used to plan after magnetic resonance scans were performed in a specially designed frame. The injection doses used in the treatment groups were vitamin E (30mg/kg/day in a single dose) and pentoxifylline (50mg/kg/day in 2 doses). Control magnetic resonance scans were performed at the end of a 16-week treatment, and the subjects were decapitated for pathological evaluations. The intensity of hypoxia - inducible factor 1α immunoreactivity is statistically significantly lower in the therapeutic vitamin E, prophylactic pentoxifylline and vitamin E, and therapeutic pentoxifylline and vitamin E groups than in the other groups. Similarly, the intensity of vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactivity was reduced in the therapeutic vitamin E and prophylactic pentoxifylline and vitamin E treatment modality groups.When compared with other groups, the therapeutic pentoxifylline group had significantly fewer vascular endothelial growth factor-immunoreactive cells in the perinecrotic area, with an accompanying decreased contrast enhancement pattern. Both vitamin E and pentoxifylline are effective for the treatment and/or restriction of RN, either alone or in combination. The use of these molecules as a preventive measure did not outperform the therapeutic treatment.

Hypersexual Disorder: A Comprehensive Review of Conceptualization, Etiology, Assessment and Treatment

Hypersexual disorder, also known as compulsive sexual behavior or sex addiction, is a complex and clinically significant condition characterized by intense and recurrent sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors that significantly disrupt an individual’s daily life and overall well-being. Despite its importance, hypersexual disorder remains a controversial and debated topic, lacking standardized diagnostic criteria in major classification systems. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of hypersexual disorder, encompassing its definition, conceptualization, etiology, co-occurring conditions, effects on mental and physical health, assessment, treatment approaches, cultural and ethical considerations, and future research directions. By synthesizing information from existing literature and research, this review aims to deepen our understanding of hypersexual disorder and contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions. The review begins by exploring the evolution of the term “hypersexual disorder” and its current status in diagnostic classifications. It then delves into the potential etiological factors contributing to the development of hypersexual behaviors, including neurobiological, genetic, and psychosocial factors. Furthermore, the review discusses the common comorbidities associated with hypersexual disorder, emphasizing the importance of addressing co-occurring mental health conditions in treatment planning. The psychological and physiological effects of hypersexual behaviors on affected individuals are examined, underscoring the urgency of early intervention and comprehensive treatment. The assessment and diagnosis of hypersexual disorder are thoroughly examined, considering the challenges and methodologies involved in identifying and evaluating affected individuals. Cultural and ethical considerations are highlighted, stressing the significance of providing culturally sensitive and ethical care to diverse populations. In the context of treatment, the review discusses various therapeutic approaches, including psychotherapy, medication, support groups, and harm-reduction strategies. The need for evidence-based treatments tailored to hypersexual disorder is underscored while recognizing the challenges of developing standardized protocols in this evolving field. Finally, future research directions are outlined, focusing on the standardization of diagnostic criteria, prevalence studies, neurobiological investigations, and the integration of cultural competency in treatment approaches. In conclusion, this review paper aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of hypersexual disorder and its implications for affected individuals and society. By exploring the multifaceted aspects of the condition, this review seeks to provide insights into effective treatment approaches and inspire further research in the study of hypersexual disorder.

Association between Combination Antiretroviral Therapy and Telomere Length in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Long-term exposure to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) may be associated with accelerated ageing. Telomere length is considered to be reliable aging biomarker. The aim of this study was to compare patients' relative telomere length (RTL) between and within different cART classes and to estimate the impact of certain HIV-related variables on RTL. The study was conducted in 176 HIV-infected male patients receiving cART, with ≤50 copies HIV RNA/mL plasma. RTL was determined from mononuclear cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Standard statistical tests and unsupervised machine learning were performed. The mean RTL was 2.50 ± 1.87. There was no difference (p = 0.761) in RTL between therapeutic groups: two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors as the backbone treatment, combined with either integrase inhibitor, protease inhibitor, or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Machine learning results suggested duration of HIV infection, CD4+ T-cell count, and cART, including NNRTI, as potentially significant variables impacting RTL. Kendall's correlation test excluded duration of HIV infection (p = 0.220) and CD4+ T-cell count (p = 0.536) as significant. The Mann-Whitney test confirmed that cART containing NNRTI impacted RTL (p = 0.018). This was the first study to show that patients using efavirenz within cART had significantly shorter telomeres than patients using nevirapine.

Efficacy of Combining Traditional Chinese Manual Therapy (Tuina) and Specific Therapeutic Neck Exercise in Young Adults with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP) is an increasingly common musculoskeletal disease and an important issue in the global healthcare system. Some studies have shown that the combination of manual therapy and exercise is effective in treating NSCNP but still with several limitations. Traditional Chinese manual therapy (tuina) is a Chinese manual therapy that consists of soft tissue manipulation and spinal manipulation. This study aims to design a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of a tuina combined with specific therapeutic neck exercise modified protocol for NSCNP patients. This is a study protocol for a randomized, participant-, assessor- and analyst-blinded controlled trial. Eighty-eight eligible NSCNP patients will be randomly allocated into tuina combined with specific therapeutic neck exercise group (TSTE group) and tuina combined with sham therapeutic neck exercise group (TS group) in a ratio of 1:1. All participants will receive 8 treatment sessions applied in 4 weeks and then be followed up for another 12 weeks. Clinical data will be collected at baseline, during treatment phase (at the 2- and 4-week) and at the 8-, 12-, 16-week follow-ups. The primary outcome is the changes in neck pain intensity (visual analogue scale). The secondary outcomes include neck disability (Neck Disability Index), cervical range of motion (ROM), neck muscle endurance, cervical muscle cross-sectional area, cervical curvature and analgesic consumption. Adverse events will be collected and recorded throughout the study. We will discuss whether our tuina combined with specific therapeutic neck exercise modified protocol is more effective at improving pericervical muscle endurance, ROM, cervical muscle cross-sectional area and cervical curvature than tuina alone, thereby decreases neck pain and disability in individuals with NSCNP more effectively. Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR2300067903. Registered on 31 January 2023.

Boosting of vaginal HSV-2-specific B and T cell responses by intravaginal therapeutic immunization results in diminished recurrent HSV-2 disease.

Boosting herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific immunity in the genital tissues of HSV-positive individuals to increase control of HSV-2 recurrent disease and virus shedding is an important goal of therapeutic immunization and would impact HSV-2 transmission. Experimental therapeutic HSV-2 vaccines delivered by a parenteral route have resulted in decreased recurrent disease in experimental animals. We used a guinea pig model of HSV-2 infection to test if HSV-specific antibody and cell-mediated responses in the vaginal mucosa would be more effectively increased by intravaginal (Ivag) therapeutic immunization compared to parenteral immunization. Therapeutic immunization with HSV glycoproteins and CpG adjuvant increased glycoprotein-specific IgG titers in vaginal secretions and serum to comparable levels in Ivag- and intramuscular (IM)-immunized animals. However, the mean numbers of HSV glycoprotein-specific antibody secreting cells (ASCs) and IFN-γ SCs were greater in Ivag-immunized animals demonstrating superior boosting of immunity in the vaginal mucosa compared to parenteral immunization. Therapeutic Ivag immunization also resulted in a significant decrease in the cumulative mean lesion days compared to IM immunization. There was no difference in the incidence or magnitude of HSV-2 shedding in either therapeutic immunization group compared to control-treated animals. Collectively, these data demonstrated that Ivag therapeutic immunization was superior compared to parenteral immunization to boost HSV-2 antigen-specific ASC and IFN-γ SC responses in the vagina and control recurrent HSV-2 disease. These results suggest that novel antigen delivery methods providing controlled release of optimized antigen/adjuvant combinations in the vaginal mucosa would be an effective approach for therapeutic HSV vaccines. IMPORTANCE HSV-2 replicates in skin cells before it infects sensory nerve cells where it establishes a lifelong but mostly silent infection. HSV-2 occasionally reactivates, producing new virus which is released back at the skin surface and may be transmitted to new individuals. Some HSV-specific immune cells reside at the skin site of the HSV-2 infection that can quickly activate and clear new virus. Immunizing people already infected with HSV-2 to boost their skin-resident immune cells and rapidly control the new HSV-2 infection is logical, but we do not know the best way to administer the vaccine to achieve this goal. In this study, a therapeutic vaccine given intravaginally resulted in significantly better protection against HSV-2 disease than immunization with the same vaccine by a conventional route. Immunization by the intravaginal route resulted in greater stimulation of vaginal-resident, virus-specific cells that produced antibody and produced immune molecules to rapidly clear virus.

The impact of therapeutic group therapy on the life purpose of elderly people suffering from loneliness

The elderly face a variety of psychological issues, including loneliness, as they reach the end of their human development stage. Some external stimuli are required to overcome loneliness because it affects the life goals of the elderly, which differ from those of younger people. Therapeutic group therapy (TGT) is one of the stimuli provided, and it trains the elderly to adapt to changes in their lives, including their life goals. A quasi-experimental study was used to evaluate the effect of therapeutic group therapy on the sense of purpose in life among lonely elderly people. Following the assessment of loneliness, 86 elderly people experiencing loneliness were recruited for this study and divided into two groups. The intervention group received health education on the development of the elderly as well as therapeutic group therapy. Only health education was provided to the control group. When compared to the control group, the elderly who experienced loneliness in the intervention group had a higher score on purpose of life.

Il DGA: inquadramento e cura nel percorso residenziale

In community settings, the treatment of Gambling Disorder is based on a multidisciplinary approach, which takes into account the multidimensional aspects of addiction, which is treated from all points of view – medical, psychological, educational and social/family. The experience of the last 6 years of the Comunità Incontro Onlus has shown, both in individual and personalized treatment, and thanks to the therapeutic groups that out of 100 guests of the Structure, 32 gambling addicts were detected in the year 2022, of which 5 "pure" and 27 "non-pure", i.e. multi-addicted to cocaine and alcohol, demonstrating how awareness of this problem is underestimated. From the study of the Comunità Incontro, it emerged that at the beginning of the path in the community, the difficulty in understanding the reported problem emerges, since the idea that "sooner or later you win" still exists. It is important to work on awareness, to understand each of the player's perceptions and cognitive distortions. It is essential to work on personal acceptance of the pathology, on not fearing the judgment of the other, on the motivation for the treatment path. Group work proved to be important, as it starts from the experiences of the participants or from events that occurred in the previous days and tries to recognize the typical dynamics of gambling. The group experience has proved to be useful in allowing the participation of subjects with very low levels of awareness as well, since they are invited to compare themselves with the experiences of others without necessarily having to expose themselves personally. It has been shown that, thanks to community and individual and group therapeutic work, there is an increase in awareness, from admission to the following six months, but above all in the number of people who experience the ability to control impulse and reduce desire, as measured at admission, 6 months and 12 months after the start of the course, also with the aid of diagnostic tools.

Randomized Controlled Study in the Use of Aromatherapy for Pain Reduction and to Reduce Opioid Use in the Emergency Department

IntroductionThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy on emergency department patients' perception of pain and its ability to reduce the use of opioids in an emergency department. MethodsThis randomized, controlled, single-blinded study was conducted in a suburban/rural freestanding emergency department with a therapeutic group, sham group, and control group. ResultsA total of 230 patients, 171 females and 59 males, completed the study. Of those who received the therapeutic agent, an average reduction in pain of 1.04 points on the pain scale was reported, whereas the sham group averaged 0.38 and the control group 0.23. There was a statistically significant reduction of pain scores in the therapeutic group. A total of 13 received opioid pain medication during their visit. Of these, the therapeutic group averaged a total of 2.67 morphine milligram equivalents for their visit compared with 3.63 in the sham group and 4.36 in the control group; however, statistical significance was not achieved. DiscussionThis study supported what other studies have found, indicating that aromatherapy is effective in reducing pain. A difference between the placebo effect and a true therapeutic effect was seen by using a control group apart from the sham and therapeutic groups. Despite the small effect size (0.3), implementation of aromatherapy into standard practice may be practical considering the anxiolytic effects that have been shown in other studies. Aromatherapy with essential oils should be considered as another tool to use in a multimodal approach in the treatment of pain in the emergency department setting.

Effect of Avocado Seed Ethanol Extract (Persea americana Mill) on Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) and Histological Expression of Pancreas in Rats (Rattus norvegicus) with Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus causes a pancreatic β-cells damage due to the increase of oxidative stress, thereby reducing Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) activity. This enzyme activity can be increased by utilizing antioxidant compounds from the avocado seed extract. This study aims to determine the increase of SOD1 expression and the repair of pancreatic β-cells tretaed with the ethanol extract of avocado seeds (Persea americana Mill). It is also aimed to observe the expression of pancreatic SOD1 and its histopathology change. The expression was measured by using immunohistochemical. This research used 20 Wistar rats aged of 2-3 moths, weighing of 150-200 grams. The diabetic rats were induced by streptozotocin (STZ) with dose of 30 mg/kg BW intraperitoneally. The rats were divided into 5 groups, namely: group 1 is healthy rats, group 2 is diabetic rats, while the group 3, 4 and 5 are therapeutic groups with 300, 350 and 400 mg/kg BW doses of ethanol extract for 14 days treatment. The results showed the ethanolic extract of avocado seeds has a potential as an antidiabetic agents based on the increase of pancreatic SOD1 (p<0.05) significantly, increase of SOD1 expression 7.6 ± 1.34, 11.6 ± 1.94 and 13.0 ± 2.82 in three different doses therapy (300, 350 and 400 mg/kg BW), and repairing structure of β-pancreatic cells on the therapeutic groups.

Determination of lipid lowering properties of methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa against high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in wistar rats

Objectives: The present study was performed to determine hypolipidemic potentials of methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa against high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in wistar rats. Methods: Defatted powdered drug of ariel parts of Tephrosia villosa was subjected to methanol extraction using soxhlet extractor. The high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in rat model was used for the present investigation in which all experimental rats were ingested with high fat diet (HFD) for entire period of study and were also administered with methanol extract for 21 days. Blood samples were collected from all the animals on day 21st after one hour of administration of the drugs and serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and IDL) was estimated. All animals were sacrificed after the blood sampling and liver samples were collected. Results: The rats of therapeutic groups ingested with extract of Tephrosia villosa and standard drug atorvastatin have shown significant reduction in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL and increase in HDL indicating its ability to attenuate the effects of high fat diet. Conclusion: The methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa shown significant hypolipidemic effects against high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia wistar rats by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in liver.

243. COMPARISON BETWEEN THE THERAPEUTIC AND PROPHYLACTIC LYMPHADENECTOMY OF THE SUPRACLAVICULAR AREA FOR PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract Backgrounds Lymphadenectomy of the supraclavicular area (SCA) for patients with esophageal cancer has still remained controversial. Some previous studies showed that it could not improve survival. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the results of therapeutic and prophylactic lymphadenectomy around SCA for patient with esophageal cancer. Methods From 2010 to 2015, the patients who underwent esophagectomy with 3-fields lymphadenectomy were enrolled in this study. Patients with cervical esophageal cancer and with pN3 were excluded. Clinical nodal metastasis was decided on CT findings. Efficiency of index for lymphadenectomy (EI) was calculated with nodal incidence multiplied by 3-year relapse free survival (3yRFS). Results A total of 514 patients was enrolled in this study. Therapeutic lymphadenectomy was performed in 47 patients, and prophylactic lymphadenectomy was performed in 467 patients. In the therapeutic lymphadenectomy group, nodal metastasis was found in 17 patients (36.2%) and 3yRFS of these patients was 34.3%, and EI was 12.4. Meanwhile, in the prophylactic group, nodal metastasis was found in 14 (3.0%) and 3yRFS of these patients was 35.7%, and EI was 1.1. Of 514 patients, 138 received neo-adjuvant treatments. In the neo-adjuvant group, EI of the therapeutic lymphadenectomy was 21.5, and that of the prophylactic lymphadenectomy was 2.7. In the upfront surgery group, EI of the therapeutic lymphadenectomy was 0, and that of the prophylactic lymphadenectomy was 0.6. Conclusion The 3yRFS of the patients with pathological nodal metastasis in the SCA was relatively good. However, EI in the prophylactic group was very low due to very low incidence of the pathological nodal metastasis in the SCA. Clinical significance of prophylactic lymphadenectomy of SCA is not clear based on our data.

Caracterización farmacoterapéutica en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular isquémico en un hospital de Soledad, Atlántico

Objective: to characterize the pharmacotherapy of patients with acute ischemic stroke (ACVi) treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in a hospital in Soledad - Atlántico in the period 2015-2020. Materials and methods: a retrospective descriptive observational study was carried out, for the quantitative variables the Kolmogórov – Smirnov normality test was applied. The data that complied with the assumption of normality (p>0.05) were presented as means ± standard deviation, those that did not comply were presented as medians. Categorical variables were shown as frequencies or percentages. Results: 72 patients with a median age of 74 years were studied, 52.2% of the population were men, 69.4% suffered from arterial hypertension, 26.4% received platelet aggregation inhibitors, excluding heparin, and 23, 6% were administered drugs belonging to the therapeutic group of heparins. Twenty-five percent of the population developed hemorrhage: 19.4% had intracerebral hemorrhage, 4.2% developed subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 1.4% had gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Conclusion: it was possible to identify opportunities for improvement in the management of patients with stroke and in the use of alteplase. A higher percentage of bleeding complications was found compared to studies previously conducted in Colombia. Further investigations are required to corroborate the results, due to the limited number of participants and scarce data related to clinical histories.

Therapeutics and prophylactic efficacy of novel lytic Escherichia phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 against multidrug-resistant avian pathogenic E. coli using in vivo study.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the causative agent of avian colibacillosis, which causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry. The growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major global public health concern. However, there is limited data on the efficacy of phage therapy in effectively controlling and treating APEC infections. In this study, a novel lytic Escherichia phage, vB_EcoS_PJ16, was isolated from poultry farm wastewater and characterized in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of an icosahedral head and a long non-contractile tail, classifying the phage under the Caudoviricetes class. Host range determination showed that Escherichia phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 exhibited lytic activity against multiple strains of pathogenic E. coli, while no significant signs of lysis for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. Biophysical characterization revealed that the isolated phage was sturdy, as it remained viable for up to 300days at temperatures of 30°C, 37°C, and 42°C and for up to 24h at pH 5 to 11, with only minor changes in titer. Kinetic analysis at multiplicity of infection (MOI) 0.1 showed a latency period of about 20min and a burst size of 26.5 phage particles per infected cell for phage vB_EcoS_PJ16. Whole genome sequencing unveiled that the phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 genome consists of a double-stranded linear DNA molecule with 57,756bp and a GC content of 43.58%. The Escherichia phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 genome consisted of 98 predicted putative ORFs, with no transfer RNA identified in the genome. Among these 98 genes, 34 genes were predicted to have known functions. A significant reduction in APEC viability was observed at MOI 100 during in vitro bacterial challenge tests conducted at different MOIs (0.01, 1, and 100). In vivo oral evaluation of the isolated phage to limit E. coli infections in day-old chicks indicated a decrease in mortality within both the therapeutic (20%) and prophylactic (30%) groups, when compared to the control group. The findings of this study contribute to our current knowledge of Escherichia phages and suggest a potentially effective role of phages in the therapeutic and prophylactic control of antibiotic-resistant APEC strains.

Determination of Lipid Lowering Properties of Methanol Extract of Tephrosia villosaAgainst High Fat Diet Induced Hyperlipidemia in Wistar Rats

The present study was performed to determine hypolipidemic potentials of methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa against high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in wistar rats. Defatted powdered drug of ariel parts of Tephrosia villosa was subjected to methanol extraction using soxhlet extractor. The high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in rat model was used for the present investigation in which all experimental rats were administered with single dose of triton (250mg/kg, ip.) on 1st day with methanol extract and upto 21 days. Blood samples were collected from all the animals on the 21stday after one hour of administration of the drugs and serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and IDL) was estimated. All animals were sacrificed after the blood sampling and liver samples were collected. The collected liver samples were homogenized and estimated for protein and m-RNA expression ranges by western-blotting.The rats of therapeutic groups ingested with extract of Tephrosia villosaand standarddrug atorvastatin have shown significant reduction in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL and increase in HDL indicating its ability to attenuates effect of administration of triton. Administration of methanol extract could also normalize levels of protein and m-RNA expression in therapeutic rats.The methanol extract of Tephrosia villosashown significant hypolipidemic effects against triton induced hyperlipidemia wistar rats by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in liver.

What Flows Underneath the Disease

This article aims to explore the potential of dance/movement therapy (DMT) and creativity in supporting patients with chronic pelvic pain. It investigates the impact of a non-judgmental environment on the development of coping and self-compassion strategies; the potential of using DMT’s tools and art in general to explore, in a safe and creative container, one’s relationship with the disease and the meaning it has taken on in one’s personal history and the rediscovery of one’s psycho-bodily resources to listen to and actively dialogue with one’s pain. This article is based on a study conducted in two therapeutic groups of four women each. As the project was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings were conducted online and lasted approximately 2 years.

The Readiness For Enhancement Of School-Age Children Development With Therapeutic Group Therapy: A Systematic Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 School-age children are individuals who are in the age range of 6-12 years which is known as the industrial phase of development. Failure to achieve this development can cause school children to experience low self-esteem. School-age children are the nation's future generation whose growth and development needs to be considered. The development of school-age children includes motor, cognitive, language, personality, emotional, moral, spiritual, and psychosocial aspects that can be stimulated by Therapeutic Group Therapy. The purpose of this literature study is to determine the effectiveness of Therapeutic Group Therapy towards increasing the development of the industrial phase of school children. The method used is a systematic review. The results of a review of 8 articles found that Therapeutic Group Therapy improves the industrial phase of school children, namely motor, cognitive, language, emotional, personality, moral, spiritual, and psychosocial aspects, as well as increasing the ability of families, cadres and teachers to stimulate the development of school children. In conclusion, the application of Therapeutic Group Therapy is effective in increasing the industrial development of school children by empowering families, teachers, and mental health cadres. This literature study recommends Therapeutic Group Therapy for school children can be carried out in the health service setting in the community as a form of mental health nursing services for school-age children and families by involving mental health cadres and teachers, to optimize the development of the school children industry.
 
 
 
 

In vivo antioxidant and hypoglycaemic potentials of Rivina humilis extract against streptozotocin induced diabetes and its complications in wistar rats.

This current research study was designed to investigate beneficial effects of R. humilis (Rivina humilis) against streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The R. humilis ethanol extract was prepared using soxhlet and its phenol content was determined. The type-2 diabetes was induced in rats by giving fructose mixed drinking water and single dose of streptozotocin. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed after 72h of streptozotocin to check ability of extract to utilize oral glucose load with 2h. The extract was also tested for its potentials to reduce blood glucose (BGL) and diabetic complications by administering to diabetic rats for 21 days. Blood glucose was determined on day 1, 7, 14 and 21. At 21st day, blood samples were collected from experimental rats were euthanized to collect pancreas and liver. Liver and kidney function tests, HbAc1 and lipid profile was established from blood samples. Pancreas was subjected to histopathological examination and liver was used to determine antioxidant enzymes. In vitro study was done to investigate the effect of extract on glucose utilization by rat hemidiaphragm. In OGTT, administration of extract could stimulate glucose utilization which was witnessed by significant BGL reduction at 90 and 120min in therapeutic groups compare to diabetics. In chronic study, we observed significant reduction in BGL on 21st day and all tests performed to determine liver and kidney function, HbAc1, vitamin E were normal in extract treated groups. There was significant increase in liver antioxidant enzymes in therapeutic groups which revealed regeneration of β-cells in therapeutic groups. The results of research demonstrated significant antidiabetic potentials in R. humilis. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01258-6.

Considerations Regarding Online Group Psychotherapy Sessions for Breast Cancer Patients in Active Phase of Oncological Treatment.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of online group meetings for breast cancer patients in the active phase of treatment. The group therapy sessions took place weekly, synchronously, online, on Zoom, with a total of 12 meetings lasting about 2.5 h per session, between December 2021 and February 2022. We analyzed the topics of discussion chosen by the participants, the structure of the group, the results obtained at the main scales of evaluation/monitoring of quality of life and the motivation of patients to participate in the therapeutic group. All patients were in the active phase of treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, etc.). The main goal of the group therapy was to reduce the stress related to the disease. Systematic observations included ABS psychological tests, EQ-5D-5L, HADS-Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Recurrence Fear Questionnaire; the questionnaires were administered at the beginning and at the end of the therapeutic intervention; the participation in the therapy and in the research of the patients began after signing the informed consent document; the intervention was evaluated at the end using a feedback questionnaire. The group was closed, and the participants signed an informed consent document and agreed to have the sessions recorded. Comparing the initial with the final results of the psychological tests administered, there was an improvement in the quality of life of the participants in all areas, with a clinically significant decrease in the areas of pain and depression, along with an increase in perception of well-being, a decrease in FoP scores and an increase in the level of rationality about the disease. Group therapy for cancer patients was useful in improving the quality of life; the closed group, even online, provided a safe environment in which they could share feelings. A close correlation was noted between the scores obtained on the FoP-Q and HADS scales. It is evident that there is a strong relationship between FoP and depression. Results on these scales correlated well with results on the EQ-5D-5L quality of life questionnaire.

Anti-RAGE targets in cachexia: HMGB1, S100B, S100A1

Cachexia, mediated by the multiligand receptor RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) and its ligands HMGB1, S100B, and S100A1, is a formidable multifactorial complication of the severe course of a number of somatic and malignant diseases. One of the most visualized symptoms of cachexia is a significant decrease in body weight, but the main one is the systemic shutdown of a number of regulatory centers that control the maintenance of homeostasis. Activation of these markers contributes to the launch and intensification of the destructive processes of cachexia, and blocking, in some cases, can reduce their intensity. Among known drugs from various therapeutic groups, there are blockers of one or more markers. For example, Papaverine antispasmodic as well as the nootropic anxiolytic Tenoten, antibacterial Pentamidine and antidepressant Duloxetine. This review describes in detail the significance of the listed markers in the pathogenesis of cachexia, especially in malignant pathology. An assumption was made about the possible control of cachectic progression with the help of such blockers to improve the quality of life of patients.

Frequency of paediatric patients administered extemporaneous preparations at a Swedish university hospital: a registry-based study comparing two study-years, 10 years apart

BackgroundLack of child-friendly dosage forms and strengths often leads to manipulation of medicines at hospital units or by caregivers in the home setting. One alternative to manipulating dosage forms is...