RECENT RESEARCH reduce fever . However , more studies are necessary for this field .
Park , S . K ., Kim , SW ., Seo , H . W . et al . Long-term evaluation of safety and biological effects of Korean Red Ginseng ( Panax Ginseng ): a longterm in vivo study . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2022 . 22 , 284 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906- 022-03736-5
Background : Although Korean Red Ginseng ( KRG ) is safe , this finding was only evaluated in 3-mo-long studies . Its safety was verified through a 6-mo KRG administration clinical study , but long-term studies beyond 6 mo are insufficient . This study investigated the safety and efficacy of 12-mo KRG administration .
Methods : In this study , 300 mg / kg of KRG was administered to male and female Sprague Dawley rats for 4 , 8 , and 12 mo to evaluate its efficacy and safety . Clinical signs , including pathological examination and haematological analyses , were observed . Flow cytometric analyses were utilised to analyse spleen and thymus immune cell counts after 12 mo . Proteomic analysis of the sera was performed using a nanospray-interfaced mass spectrometer with an 11-plex Tandem Mass Tag ( TMT ) labelling system . Bioinformatic analysis was then performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and PANTHER . Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD032036 .
Results : No significant body and organ weight changes were observed , and haematological and serum biochemical analyses did not show clinical significance . The effectiveness of long-term KRG administration was confirmed through increased immune cell distribution and activity . Changes in proteins correlated with viral infection reduction were confirmed through proteomic analysis .
Conclusion : The results suggested that 12-mo KRG intake is safe , improves immune system activity , and reduces viral infections with no significant changes in toxicological aspects .
Feng , J ., Li , Z ., Tian , L . et al . Efficacy and safety of curcuminoids alone in alleviating pain and dysfunction for knee osteoarthritis : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2022 ; 22 , 276 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906- 022-03740-9
Background : Curcuminoids ( CURs ) are the principal ingredients of Curcuma longa L . [ Zingiberaceae ] ( CL )— an herbal plant used in east Asia to alleviate pain and inflammation . Thus far , the therapeutic effects of CURs for knee osteoarthritis ( OA ) uncovered by multiple reviews remained uncertain due to broadly involving trials with different agents-combined or CURsfree interventions . Therefore , we formed stringent selection criteria and assessment methods to summarize current evidence on the efficacy and safety of CURs alone in the treatment of knee OA .
Methods : A series of databases were searched for randomized controlled trials ( RCTs ) evaluating the efficacy and safety of CURs for knee OA . Clinical outcomes were evaluated using metaanalysis and the minimum clinically important difference ( MCID ) for both statistical and clinical significance .
Results : Fifteen studies with 1670 patients were included . CURs were significantly more effective than placebo in the improvements of VAS for pain ( WMD : − 1.77 , 95 % CI : − 2.44 to − 1.09 ), WOMAC total score ( WMD : − 7.06 , 95 % CI : − 12.27 to − 1.84 ), WOMAC pain score ( WMD : − 1.42 , 95 % CI : − 2.41 to − 0.43 ), WOMAC function score ( WMD : − 5.04 , 95 % CI : − 7.65 to − 2.43 ), and WOMAC stiffness score ( WMD : − 0.54 , 95 % CI : − 1.03 to − 0.05 ). Meanwhile , CURs were not inferior to NSAIDs in the improvements of pain- and function-related outcomes . Additionally , CURs did not significantly increase the incidence of adverse events ( AEs ) compared with placebo ( RR : 1.03 , 95 % CI : 0.69 to 1.53 , P = 0.899 , I2 = 23.7 %) and NSAIDs ( RR : 0.71 0.65 , 95 % CI : 0.57 0.41 to 0.90 1.03 ).
Conclusions : CURs alone can be expected to achieve considerable analgesic and functional promotion effects for patients with symptomatic knee OA in short term , without inducing an increase of adverse events . However , considering the low quality and substantial heterogeneity of present studies , a cautious and conservative recommendation for broader clinical use of CURs should still be made . Further high-quality studies are necessary to investigate the impact of different dosages , optimization techniques and administration approaches on long-term safety and efficacy of CURs , so as to strengthen clinical decision making for patients with symptomatic knee OA .
Homeopathy
Kotwani E , Aphale P , Sharma D . Breast Abscess Healing with Homoeopathy : A Case Report . Altern Ther Health Med . 2022 ; AT7487 . Online ahead of print . PMID : 36350323
Context : Breast abscess is the most common complication of acute bacterial mastitis usually referred to as pyogenic mastitis . It is usually encountered during lactation due to an infection with Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcal bacteria . These bacteria produce a severe inflammatory reaction leading to pus formation which is mainly treated by ultrasound-guided drainage or fine needle aspirations . We find that in this condition homoeopathic treatment can play an important role as it avoids such surgical procedures and helps in healing in a most gentle and rapid way . We report a successful single case study that opens up opportunities to take up more such cases to strengthen the results of this report .
Case summary : A 23-year-old lactating mother came with complaints of pain and swelling with a collection of pus in the breast region and decreased breast milk secretion . Individualised homoeopathic medicine Silicea 200C was given to hasten suppuration and Belladonna 200C to treat inflammation . Thus , this case shows us how only few doses of medicine may be quickly helpful in managing a case of breast
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