treatment . An intention-to-treat analysis of the offer group at 6 months reported a 1.4-point lower mean depression score than the no offer group ( 95 % CI 0.2 , 2.5 , p = 0.019 ), with a small standardised treatment effect size ( d = 0.30 ). Using instrumental variables analysis , a moderate treatment effect size in favour of those treated was found ( d = 0.57 ), with a between-group difference of 2.6 points ( 95 % CI 0.5 , 4.7 , p = 0.018 ). Results were maintained at 12 months . Secondary analyses showed similar results . Similar results were found for anxiety ( GAD-7 ). No evidence suggested any important risk involved with the intervention .
6 . Gupta G , Singh S . Role of homoeopathic medicines in prostate enlargement : A retrospective observational study . Indian J Res Homoeopathy , 2016 , 10 , 266-71 . Researchers from the Gaurang Clinic and Centre for Homoeopathic Research in India ' s Uttar Pradesh region carried out this work to assess the usefulness of constitutionally prescribed homeopathic medicines in people with prostate enlargement . Data from 61 males diagnosed with prostate enlargement were used in the study . Prostate weight and post-void residual urine ( PVRU ) on ultrasonography were assessed before and after treatment . After comparing pre- and post-treatment results , the difference in mean values of prostate weight and PVRU were 67.47 ± 2.78 – 60.15 ± 3.62 ( P < 0.001 ) and 91.61 ± 11.91 – 65.94 ± 9.01 ( P = 0.009 ), respectively , which were found statistically significant . Lycopodium ( n = 21 ), Pulsatilla ( n = 7 ), and Nux vomica ( n = 3 ) were found to be the most useful medicines .
In-Vitro Studies
1 . Samidha J , et al . Evaluation of melanogenic and anti-vitiligo activities of homeopathic preparations on murine b16f10 melanoma cells . European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research , 2017 , 4 , 7 , 718 . In this study , researchers from Mumbai set out to determine what effects , if any , homeopathic medicines had on vitiligo in cell culture using B16F10 melanoma cells , with the aim of increasing melanin production in these cells . The cells were exposed to mother tincture and 30C homeopathic potencies of Hydroquinone , Arsenicum sulphuratum flavum ( ASF ) or Phosphorous , and assessments made at 48 and 96 hours after exposure . Hydroquinone , ASF and Phosphorous 30C potencies were all associated with an increase in melanin content as compared to cell and vehicle controls , with a statistically significant increase seen with Hydroquinone and ASF . The mother tincture form of all three preparations produced a slight increase in the melanin content as compared to controls .
2 . Bonafini C , Marzotto M , Bellavite P . In-vitro effects of Zinc in soluble and homeopathic formulations on macrophages and astrocytes . Homeopathy , 2017 , 106 , 2 , 103- 113 . Zinc in soluble form ( Zn2 +) and homeopathic Zincum metallicum were tested on macrophages and astrocytes in order to investigate their potential toxic or therapeutic effects . The research team evaluated cell viability ( WST assay ), cytokine production such as tumour necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α ), and interleukin 10 ( IL-10 ) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ), and nitric oxide release by Griess reaction . The effect of zinc-depletion and high zinc pre-treatments on cell adaptation capability was also investigated . In THP- 1 macrophage cell line and in human primary macrophages , Zn2 + at sub-toxic doses ( 30 μM ) caused a stimulation of TNF-α and IL-10 with different dynamics reaching the maximum peak at the zinc concentration 100 μM , before cell death . The highest doses ( 300 μM ) dramatically impaired cell vitality . Similar effects on cell viability were obtained also in C6 astrocytes , where Zn2 + slightly increased nitric oxide release in cells activated by one of the pro-inflammatory stimuli used in a cellular model ( interferon gamma plus TNF-α ). Zinc depletion markedly reduced IL-10 production and cell viability . Zincum metallicum did not cause toxicity in any cell type and showed some small stimulation in WST assay that was statistically significant in a few experimental conditions .
Animal Studies
Mazon-Suastegui JM , et al . Homeopathy outperforms antibiotics treatment in juvenile scallop Argopecten ventricosus : effects on growth , survival , and immune response . Homeopathy , 2017 , 106 , 1 , 18-26 . Vibrio alginolyticus is a common mollusc pathogen . The use of increasingly potent antibiotics has led to bacterial resistance and increased pathogenicity . The effects of homeopathic complexes in the growth , survival , and immune response of the Catarina scallop , Argopecten ventricosus , were assessed . The experimental design included two homeopathic formulas : the homeopathic complex Passival , consisting of Passiflora incarnata 30C , Valeriana officinalis 30C , Ignatia amara 30C and Zincum valerianicum 30C plus Phosphoricum acid 30C ( treatment TH1 ) or Silicea terra 30C ( TH2 ), two antibiotics ( ampicillin = AMP , oxytetracycline = OXY ), and two reference treatments ( without homeopathic or antibiotic treatment = CTRL , ethanol 30 ° GL = ETH ). Additionally , a negative control CTRL ( untreated / uninfected ) is included in the challenge test . Juvenile scallops ( 4.14 ± 0.06 mm , 13.33 mg wet weight ) were cultivated in 4L tanks provided with aerated , filtered ( 1 μm ), and UV-sterilized seawater that was changed every third day . They were fed a blend of the microalgae Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros calcitrans ( 150,000 cells mL-1 twice a day ). All treatments were directly added to the tank water and then 500 mL challenge units were inoculated with 1 × 107 CFU / mL ( LD50 ) of V . alginolyticus . Juveniles grew significantly larger and faster in height and weight with TH2 compared to the ETH and CTRL ( P < 0.05 , ANOVA ). Higher concentrations of proteins occurred in scallops exposed to TH2 ( 160.57 ± 7.79 mg g-1 ), compared to other treatments and reference treatments . Higher survival rates during the challenge bioassay occurred with TH1 ( 85 %), compared to AMP ( 53 %), OXY ( 30 %), and CTRL ( 0 %), and superoxide dismutase ( P < 0.05 ) was significantly higher in scallops treated with TH1 , compared to other treatments and reference treatments . This showed that homeopathic treatments improved growth , survival and enhanced survival against V . alginolyticus in juvenile A . ventricosus .
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