Treat Health Conditions Research Articles

Effects of the Federal Government's Move to Reschedule Cannabis: A Commentary.

The rescheduling of cannabis, from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), current most restrictive (Schedule 1) designation, would be an important step for cannabis research and researchers. We are researchers who have experience with cannabis research in pre-clinical, clinical, and policy domains, who represent a range of social science disciplines (e.g., Psychology, History). In this commentary, we share our perspectives on the history, policies, challenges and benefits of moving cannabis from the current Schedule 1 designation (similar to heroin) to the less restrictive Schedule III (similar to ketamine). The rescheduling has the potential to contribute in multiple ways to research on cannabis' effects on the brain and behavior, policies for regulating medicinal and recreational use, and the use of cannabis to treat health conditions such as chronic pain. While there is scientific evidence to support this rescheduling, there also are challenges and pushback for keeping the regulations as they currently exist. Although "the devil is in the details," we present our reasons to advocate for improving access to cannabis for research.

BODY COMPOSITION PREDICTS HYPERTENSION USING MACHINE LEARNING METHODS: A COHORT STUDY

Objective: Hypertension is one of the most important and preventable causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, chronic kidney disease, and dementia which caused approximately 8.5 million deaths in 2015, in low & middle income countries. Hypertension depends on well known risk factors such as age, gender, family history, smoking, alcohol consumption, central obesity, overweight and physical inactivity. Evidence shows that body fat distribution is a more vital determinant of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than increased fat mass. In the past few years, growing number of researchers have used machine learning and data mining algorithms to diagnose and treat health conditions such as heart11 and brain12 diseases. Their non-invasive nature and accuracy have enabled health professionals to quickly identify at-risk individuals and use more efficient preventive and managing strategies. In this study, we used machine learning approaches to investigate whether BIA-derived body composition indices predict hypertension in a cohort of patients. Design and method: Data from a cohort study was used. Body composition analysis was done using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA); weight, basal metabolic rate, total and regional fat percentage (FATP), and total and regional fat-free mass (FFM) were measured. We used machine learning methods such as Support Vector Classifer, Decision Tree, Stochastic Gradient Descend Classifer, Logistic Regression, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbor, Multi-Layer Perceptron, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Histogram-based Gradient Boosting, Bagging, Extra Tree, Ada Boost, Voting, and Stacking to classify the investigated cases and fnd the most relevant features to hypertension. Results: 4663 records were included (2156 were male, 1099 with hypertension, with the age range of 35–70 years old). Arm FFM, basal metabolic rate, total FFM, Trunk FFM, leg FFM, and male gender were inversely associated with hypertension, but total FATP, arm FATP, leg FATP, older age, trunk FATP, and female gender were directly associated with hypertension. AutoMLP, stacking and voting methods had the best performance for hypertension prediction achieving an accuracy rate of 90%, 84% and 83%, respectively. Conclusions: By using machine learning methods, we found that BIA-derived body composition indices predict hypertension with acceptable accuracy.

Mapping ethnobotanical aspects of the iconic Mandacaru cactus, Cereus jamacaru DC. in Brazil: a scientometric review.

Cereus jamacaru DC. occurs in the central-eastern region of Brazil and is among the best-known cacti in the country. Its phytochemical properties and fruits hold great significance to the local communities. We examined published ethnobotanical studies regarding C. jamacaru (mandacaru) undertaken between 2000 to 2024, to better understand its traditional uses and relationships with human communities in Brazil. The literature review was carried out by consulting the databases Google Scholar (166 articles), Scopus (1 article) and Web of Science (2 articles), and followed the PRISMA 2020 protocol. A total of 169 articles were identified, of which 45 were deemed relevant. The most frequent uses of C. jamacaru include medicinal (cited in 32 articles), human consumption as a non-conventional food (22), and forage (18). C. jamacaru is often cited to treat health conditions such as kidney problems, flu and inflammations, but it's also used for construction and crafts. Our results highlight the diverse and vital uses of C. jamacaru for human communities. Furthermore, we demonstrate the pattern of knowledge production regarding the ethnobotany of this species and the challenges for its conservation and the preservation of associated traditional knowledge.

Exploring the Multifaceted Potential of Annona squamosa: A Natural Treasure for Health and Wellness

This article gives an in-depth look at the tropical fruit Annona squamosa L., which has a long history of traditional medicinal usage and is discussed in this review for its phytochemical and pharmacological qualities. The botanical specimen showcases an extensive assortment of bioactive constituents, encompassing glycosides, proteins, carbohydrates, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics, which have significant antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and skin-protective properties. The leaves contain high protein content and essential oils amusing in terpenes and sesquiterpenes, which have shown potential in treating health conditions

Preventing and treating the adverse health conditions of androgenic-anabolic steroids: An online survey with 883 users in the United Kingdom

The use of use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) is associated with an increased risk of several health conditions. Health-related behaviours to prevent and treat these conditions include the use of needle exchange services, having blood tests to monitor one's health and seeking information and support from health professionals and other sources. This study investigates the prevalence of adverse health conditions and health behaviours in a cohort of AAS users from the United Kingdom taking part in an online survey, as well as behavioural factors impacting the likelihood of reporting a health condition in the last 12 months. The sample was composed of 883 adults (72.1 % males, 27.9 % females; Med age = 26, min = 16, max = 65). The most common health problems were dermatological (68.1 %) and neuropsychiatric (63.1 %) conditions. Although the majority of participants monitored their health with blood tests (86.4 %) and sought a General Practitioner (GP) to treat health problems (55.0 %), only a minority of LGBTQIA+ males sought a GP for information (12.8 %) or to treat health conditions (18.7 %). Participants who sought a GP for information about AAS were 74 % less likely to report a health condition in the last 12 months (OR = 0.26, 95 % CI 0.18 to 0.40, p < 0.001). These findings can be used to support research and interventions aiming to improve the access of AAS users to the health system by identifying health conditions and health-related behaviours adopted by subpopulations of AAS users.

Clinical trial designs: a simplified overview

Clinical trials aim to invent new, better, safer, more effective ways to prevent, detect, or treat health conditions and to compare them to existing standards of care as applicable. This scientific inquiry prompts researchers to design and develop proposed clinical trial protocols to evaluate preliminary information about the product and develop research questions and objectives. The average budget for new product development is enormous, and this eventuality is because almost 90 percent of a trial drugs never get approved. Hence, having an appropriate clinical trial design is crucial for successful product development. A trial's ability to deliver the proposed indication relies on its suitable design, background information, the trial justification to sample size, interim monitoring rules, and ways to review and analyze study data. In this article, we presented an overview of clinical trial designs emphasizing adaptive designs in a simplified way for field-based clinical research professionals.

Expanding scope: Impact and preferred implementation strategies for statewide test and treat protocols

BackgroundArkansas Act 503 allows pharmacists to test and treat health conditions performed with waived tests using a statewide protocol. To guide development and implementation of these protocols, this study was conducted after enactment of Act 503 and before protocols were published. ObjectivesThe objectives were to determine pharmacy leaderships’ perceived impact on point-of-care testing (POCT) services in Arkansas and preferred implementation strategies for expanding scope of practice. MethodsA cross-sectional electronic survey of pharmacies holding a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certificate of waiver in Arkansas was conducted. The primary point of contact of 292 pharmacies was invited by e-mail. Chain, regional, or multi-independent pharmacies of the same company completed one survey on behalf of their organization. The questions assessed perceptions of Act 503 on POCT services and preferred implementation strategies. Study data were collected using REDCap and analyzed using descriptive statistics. ResultsOne hundred and twenty-five invitations were e-mailed to pharmacy owners or representatives with a response rate of 64.8% (n = 81 surveys). This represented 238 of 292 invited pharmacies (81.5%). In 2021, 82.6% of pharmacies provided POCT services, specifically 27% influenza, 26% streptococcus, and 47% coronavirus disease 2019. Ninety pharmacies (37.9%) reported they are certain or almost certain they will prescribe using the protocol. More pharmacies (63%) reported the youngest age they would prescribe treatment is 6 to 12 years. Most pharmacies (82.2%) do not anticipate or are unsure about increasing their fee once the protocol is adopted. Most pharmacies (> 95%) reported virtual training, online modules, central contact, and a one-page resource with key protocol information would be most helpful in implementing new statewide protocols. ConclusionArkansas pharmacies are willing to use a protocol for 6 years and older and did not anticipate increasing fees to support the expanded service. Pharmacists indicated virtual training and one-page resources would be most helpful. This work highlights implementation strategies that could be most useful as pharmacy scope expands in other states.

Interprofessional Students' Perspectives on Culinary Medicine Training: Intentions from Plate to Practice.

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the impact a culinary medicine teaching activity had on interprofessional healthcare students' knowledge, confidence, and intent to apply practical dietary principles in practice. Thirteen interprofessional students (n = 13) completed a 3-h, hands-on culinary medicine session focused on recipe conversion and nutritional coaching skills to modify a favorite comfort food into a significantly more nutritious, Mediterranean diet-based meal. Participants produced variations of a recipe to gain a deeper understanding of how diet modifications that consider both taste and nutritional value can treat health conditions. Pre- and post-session surveys were administered to evaluate participants' knowledge and intent to apply culinary medicine principles into their respective healthcare practices. Students reported an increase in the belief that nutritional counseling should be included in routine appointments, as well as increased confidence in their ability to implement culinary medicine into practice. All students reported the intent to integrate culinary medicine into practice, and a likelihood that they would recommend culinary medicine training to other healthcare professionals. Interprofessional students reported learning satisfaction throughout the hands-on, chef-led and faculty-facilitated culinary medicine teaching activity and found the nutritional content to be especially transferable to working with patients.

Role and common types of herbal medicine used for oral health in the Middle-East

Herbal therapies are used worldwide to treat health conditions. In Middle Eastern countries, since ancient generations, herbal medicine has been used for oral health because of cultural and religious norms. Antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral agents, and analgesic derived from plants are of widespread interest in dentistry. The properties of herbal medicine are used to treat toothache, gum inflammation, canker sores, halitosis, gingivitis, and periodontitis, as well as tooth decay. The popular herbs and spices used in treating dental disorders in Middle Eastern countries are cloves, miswak, thyme, green tea, peppermint, rosemary, olive oil, myrrh, anise, sesame, ginger, and garlic. Based on the available evidence from research demonstrating the antibacterial, antimicrobial, analgesic, and antiplaque effects of these herbs used in Middle Eastern countries, they could still be useful as an alternative treatment for gingivitis, periodontal diseases, or antiplaque agents. However, more clinical data is required to ascertain the benefits of herbal medicine for oral tissues and the prevention of oral diseases.

Professionalising care into compliance: The challenge for personalised care models.

One of the most basic understandings of nursing is that a nurse is a caregiver for a patient who helps to prevent illness, treat health conditions, and manage the physical needs of patients. Nursing is often presented as a caring profession, which provides patient care driven by ideals of empathy, compassion and kindness. These ideals of care have further been foregrounded through the development and implementation of stress on patient centred care (PCC) and/or person-centred practice (PCP). Although the idealisation of nursing as a caring profession is common, and one certainly seen as integral by nurses and written into the heart of regulatory documentation, we contend that the actual delivery of care is being undercut by the very regulatory climate that strives to professionalise care. As we outline, with specific reference to the context of Australian Nursing, this transformation delivers a commodified, even McDonaldized, model of patient management rather than care. It seems that even with its explicit stress on PCC and PCP, Australian Nursing cannot live up to its own care ideals. Having outlined this problem, the paper then demonstrates the ways in which PCC is thwarted at the coal face of nursing practice and that there must be an institutionalised change to be able to provide genuine patient-centred care.

Smart Wireless-Powering-Enabling IoT in Inhomogeneous Environments: A Case Study on Biomedical Applications

Wireless powering holds the key to unlock the use of batteryless micro/nanodevices inside the human body for research, monitoring, and treating health conditions, and enables precise and personalized healthcare technological solutions. As the era of IoT emerges, wireless devices become more prevalent and capable than ever. In the medical field, this transformation is also highly anticipated. From in-body networks of tiny static devices, to freely moving implants inside the body, e.g., using the blood stream, the possibilities are endless. Their limits, however, are miniaturization capabilities and power availability. Despite the great potential, most wireless-powering solutions are developed for a single static device in a virtually immutable environment. In contrast, we present a system with the ability to power different static places or a moving device, without prior knowledge of its location nor the medium. The system focuses power on the target location(s) through beamforming. The methodology introduced by this work increased the power provided to a wireless test device by up to 18 dB in torso and leg models, and 25 dB in a skull model, relatively to a traditional wireless power transfer (WPT) system and without surpassing specific absorption rate (SAR) limits.

Natural Products in Oral Care, Why Use Them

Many of the modern medications used in dentistry are responsible for known side effects. Herbal therapies are used worldwide to treat health conditions. Therefore, besides conventional treatment methods, herbal agents have been extensively entered oral care products in recent years in function of its interesting medical and physicochemical characteristics. Dentistry has begun to exploit herbal properties for the purpose of relieving tooth pain, gum inflammation, and canker sores. Lots of manufacturers use herbal ingredients in their products to provide additional therapeutic characteristics. Natural bio characteristics, lower costs, availability and low rate of adverse effects have been factors in the choice of herbal medicines compared to conventional medicines. Dentists are interested in plant products whose agents have antiseptics, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, and analgesic actions. However, it is of utmost importance to understand the interactions of plant extracts with the body and other medications.

Molecular docking analysis of arjunolic acid from Terminalia arjuna with a coronary artery disease target APOE4.

Apo lipoprotein-E (APOE) encoded by APOE gene, is a plasma glycoprotein of 34.15 kDa and has a significant genetic association in coronary artery disease (CAD) progression. The silent epidemic of different cardiovascular diseases including CAD challenges novel therapeutic alternatives to prevent to treat chronic conditions of the disease and its associated complications. It is believed that natural phyto compounds and extracts have been a potential source of treating health conditions and have been practiced since several decades. The aim of the study is to identify phyto compounds having significant cardio protective activity targeting APOE4. Since protein-ligand interactions play a leading role in structure-based drug design, with the help of molecular docking, we selected 20 phyto chemicals present in different plants and investigated their binding affinity against targeted APOE isoforms. Among all selected phytoc ompounds, arjunolic acid, from Terminalia arjuna plant was found as promising candidate for developing therapeutic against APOE4 activated CAD. Findings from the present work could be further studied for clinical evaluations on human to adopt strategies and reduce the prevalence and mortality. Arjunolic acid derivatives can be used as a source of new medication or development of novel compounds in the treatment of CAD.

Demographic Transition and its Impacts on Fiscal Sustainability in East and Southeast Asia

Many economies in East and Southeast Asia are progressing toward becoming aging or aged societies. The impacts of this demographic transition are multifaceted and far-reaching and include declining tax revenues, leading to fiscal imbalances, and possible increases in government expenditures for coping with care expenses and pension schemes. We provide insights into ways to balance fiscal revenue against costly pension and social security systems and increasing healthcare expenditures.Using panel data for 178 countries across 18 years to capture the state of fiscal balance and data on demographic transition, we estimate three models to analyze the relationships between (i) demographic transition and government balance, (ii) demographic transition and government health expenditure, and (iii) demographic transition and government debt. The results first establish that health expenditure is negatively associated with the government balance. Then, for the relationship between demographic transition and health expenditure, old-age dependency and the share of the population aged over 64 shows a significant positive relationship with health expenditure. We find that demographic transition does not have a direct effect on the government balance, but instead has an indirect effect through higher government expenditure. This can be explained by the high costs of treating health conditions related to old age, including chronic illnesses.Our findings provide important implications for fiscal sustainability and necessitate comprehensive reviews of public health spending; healthcare reforms that prioritize accessibility for all and efficiency in healthcare services; and cost-sharing measures to mitigate the age-related fiscal burden. These measures will be particularly important in dealing with the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, to which the elderly are particularly vulnerable.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Leaves: Medicinal Uses and Phytochemical Profile

Psidium guajava (L.) belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which is grown with various medicinal and nutritive properties. Different parts of the guava tree, i.e., roots, leaves, bark, stem, and fruits, have been beneficial for treating health conditions in many countries.

Effects of Cultured Cordycep militaris on Sexual Performance and Erectile Function in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats.

Cordyceps militaris (CM), a valuable edible and medicinal fungus, has been used as traditional medicine to treat health conditions, as well as hyposexuality in Asian societies for over a century. Due to the high demand, several artificial cultivation methods have been developed for their biological activities. In this study, CM was cultured on medium that contained white rice and silkworm pupae, and the levels of cordycepin and adenosine, as well as its aphrodisiac effects in diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction (DIED), were evaluated. Diabetic rats were induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection and administered orally with CM (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg BW/day) for 3 weeks. Diabetic rats in negative and positive control groups received vehicle and sildenafil citrate (5 mg/kg), respectively. Results showed the changes in mating behaviour in which mount latency and intromission latency were significantly increased in diabetic rats, compared with the normal control group. Diabetic rats also showed a significant reduction in intracavernosal pressure (ICP) response to cavernous nerve stimulation, sperm count, testosterone level, penile nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, when compared to the normal control group. Administration of CM (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg BW/day) reversed the effects of diabetes on the mating behaviour, and the ICP responses to electrical stimulation. Moreover, the levels of penile NOS, testicular SOD activities, testosterone, and sperm count were significantly increased, and testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in these treated diabetic rats. Diabetic rats treated with sildenafil showed a significant induction in intromission frequency and NOS and SOD activities, as well as a marked increase in ICP responses. These results suggest that CCM exerts its aphrodisiac effect, possibly through activating testosterone production and suppressing oxidative stress to enhance erectile function in diabetic rats.

English

A survey of medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary practices (EVP) was conducted in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria to document the indigenous use of this plant in the management of animal diseases. Data were collected from fifty informants which included seven traditional medical practitioners and 43 pastoralists using a structured questionnaire. A total of 31 plant species from 25 families were recorded from the study area. The result showed that 86% of the pastoralist practiced EVP, 64% claimed high proficiency though 75% of the pastoralist age between 20 and 39 years were either low in proficiency in EVP. Also, 58% use EVP regularly while only 14% did not use EVP at all in treating health conditions in their herds. The percentage of plant families used in ethnoveterinary practices in descending order was Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae. Momordica charantia and Carica papaya were mostly cited by the informants with the high relative frequency of citation (RFC), 0.70 and 0.62, respectively. Medicinal plants used in treating diarrhea were having common agreement by most of the informants with informant consensus factor (ICF), 0.90. This study provides plant species used in ethnoveterinary practices in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for further scientific exploration. Key words: Ethnoveterinary practice, survey; medicinal plants, Nigeria.

Job Stress and Self-Efficacy Among Nurses Working in Al-Amal Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital

Context: Nurses act as patients' first caregivers who help them manage their physical needs, control, and treat health conditions through their early nursing interventions and critical decision-making. The critical factor for nurses that help to raise their feeling of confidence is self-efficacy. Psychiatric nurses as long as they are protected, they will become more productive, creative, and supported.&#x0D; Aim: This study aimed to identify the relation between job stress and self- efficacy among nurses working in psychiatric and addiction hospital.&#x0D; Methods: A descriptive-correlational design was utilized. The study was conducted at Al-Amal Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample of 133 nurses voluntarily participated. Data were collected by using two tools; psychiatric nurse job stress scale used to assess nurses' socio-demographic data and clinical experiences, besides, to measure psychiatry nurses' job stress. General self-efficacy scale to assess self-beliefs to cope with stressful life events and capture individuals' general beliefs about their capabilities to handle different situations.&#x0D; Results: The results showed that about half of the participants (47%) have high job stress, and approximately three-quarters of participants (74.44%) have high self-efficacy. Middle-aged nurses had less job stress than young nurses. It was found that non-Saudi were experience job stress less than Saudi.&#x0D; Conclusion: The analysis of the collected data revealed that there is a statistically significant negative relationship between overall job stress and self-efficacy. Nurses need to be trained in coping strategies to deal with job stress. Workshops regarding stress management, communication skills are a must for those nurses working in a psychiatric hospital. Develop training programs on self-efficacy to help nurses heighten their stress management capability and also increase their job achievements.

Recent Advances in Extraction Techniques of Herbals - A Review

There is aday by day increase in demand for alternative and complementary medicines, specifically herbal botanicals, herbal medicines due to various side effects exhibited by conventional drugs. Plants have been the prime most source of medicines since life on earth; more than 55% of existing disease treatments are derived from herbal Sources. Herbal therapies are used worldwide to treat health conditions, as well as are widely utilized in health and food industries. Herbal medicine, specially including traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for the treatment, prevention, and cure of diseases or disorders for centuries. In addition to being used directly as therapeutic and pharmacological agents, medicinal plants are also important sources for pharmacological drug research as well as development. Public awareness on the adverse effects of synthetic chemical products also increased the high demand for herbal products. The study on medicinal plants initiated with extraction procedures that play an important role to the extraction outcomes (e.g. yield and phytochemicals content) and also to the consequent assays performed. A wide range of technologies with various methods of extraction are available nowadays. Various novel techniques including supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound- assisted extraction, microwave assisted extraction, and Soxhlet extraction have been developed for the extraction of nutraceuticals from the plant in order to decrease the extraction time, shorten the solvent consumption, enhance the quality of extracts and increase the extraction yields. Highly efficient extraction technologies and herbal processing have been developed to obtain the optimal amounts of active ingredients from herbal plants and cope with the increasing demands for herbal products. The paper begins with the brief history of importance of herbals followed by the descriptions of various types of extraction processes with critical analysis of their relative advantage and disadvantages.

Medicinal Plants of the Maasai of Kenya: A Review.

The use of medicinal plants for treatment of humans and animals is entrenched in the Maasai culture and traditional knowledge related to it is passed on from one generation to the next. A handful of researchers have in the past decades documented this knowledge. No single study has documented medicinal plant uses of the Maasai community as a whole. This review provides a consolidated database of the diversity and uses of medicinal plants among the Maasai in Kenya. The study will help conserve traditional medicinal plant knowledge that is valuable for the development of modern medicine. Relevant information on medicinal plants used by the Maasai of Kenya was extracted from journals, books, M.Sc., and Ph.D. dissertations. We found evidence of 289 plant species used by the Maasai of Kenya in traditional medicine. Most species were used to treat health conditions in the categories gastrointestinal and respiratory system disorders. The most used families were Leguminosae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Lamiaceae. Medicines were commonly prepared as a decoction and administered through oral ingestion, with roots reported to be the preferred plant part for medication. The Maasai preference for roots compared to other plant parts may be unsustainable and could threaten species availability in the future.