RECENT RESEARCH
Methods : This study was a 12-week double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial with a 3-week run-in period . The intervention ( n = 26 ) and control ( n = 26 ) groups received 500 mg ginger and placebo ( as corn ) supplements 3 times a day along with main meals , respectively . At the beginning and end of the trial , the frequency and severity of constipation , dysphagia , abdominal pain , diarrhea , bloating , belching , flatulence , heartburn , anorexia , and nausea were assessed using the visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100 mm . Totally , 49 participants completed the study . However , data analysis was performed on all 52 participants based on the intentionto-treat principle .
Results : In comparison with placebo , ginger supplementation resulted in significant or near-significant reductions in the frequency ( -23.63 ± 5.36 vs . 14.81 ± 2.78 , P < 0.001 ) and severity ( -24.15 ± 5.10 vs . 11.39 ± 3.23 , P < 0.001 ) of constipation , the frequency ( -12.41 ± 3.75 vs . 3.75 ± 1.82 , P < 0.001 ) and severity ( -13.43 ± 4.91 vs . 6.88 ± 2.69 , P = 0.001 ) of nausea , the frequency ( -9.31 ± 4.44 vs . 1.56 ± 4.05 , P = 0.098 ) and severity ( -11.57 ± 5.09 vs . 3.97 ± 3.99 , P = 0.047 ) of bloating , and the severity of abdominal pain ( -5.69 ± 3.66 vs . 3.43 ± 3.26 , P = 0.069 ).
Conclusion : Ginger consumption can improve constipation , nausea , bloating , and abdominal pain in patients with RRMS .
Trial Registration : This trial was prospectively registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( www . irct . ir ) under the registration number IRCT20180818040827N3 on 06 / 10 / 2021 .
Lifestyle medicine
Jiang L , Li P , Shi J . et al . Effects of pulmonarybased Qigong exercise in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : a randomized controlled trial . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2023 ; 23 , 418 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-023-04238-8
Background : Physical exercise training is the central component of pulmonary rehabilitation . This study aimed to further investigate the rehabilitative effects of pulmonary-based Qigong exercise ( PQE ) in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ).
Methods : In this randomized , assessorblinded clinical trial , 44 participants with stable COPD were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a 1:1 ratio . Participants in the control group received usual care for 3 months . Participants in the intervention group received usual care combined with PQE ( 60 min each time , 2 times per day , 7 days per week , for 3 months ). The outcome included exercise capacity , lung function test , skeletal muscle strength , dyspnea , and quality of life were measured before and after intervention .
Results : A total of 37 participants completed the trial . Compared to the control group , after 3 months of PQE , the mean change in exercise capacity , skeletal muscle strength , and quality of life were statistically significant ( P < 0.05 , for each ), but no significant differences were observed in lung function ( except for the forced expiratory volume in one second ) and dyspnea ( P > 0.05 , for each ).
Conclusion : The findings of study suggest that the proposed program of 3 months of PQE intervention has significant improvement in exercise capacity , skeletal muscle strength , and quality of life of COPD-stable patients .
Trial registration : This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( Trial ID : ChiCTR-1800017405 on 28 July 2018 ; available at https :// www . chictr . org . cn / showproj . html ? proj = 28343 ).
Gasión V , Barceló-Soler A , Beltrán-Ruiz M et al . Effectiveness of an amygdala and insula retraining program combined with mindfulness training to improve the quality of life in patients with long COVID : a randomized controlled trial protocol . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2023 ; 23 , 403 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-023-04240-0
Background : There has been growing clinical awareness in recent years of the long-term physical and psychological consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus , known as Long COVID . The prevalence of Long COVID is approximately 10 % of those infected by the virus . Long COVID is associated with physical and neuropsychological symptoms , including those related to mental health , psychological wellbeing , and cognition . However , research on psychological interventions is still in its early stages , in which means that available results are still limited . The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a program based on amygdala and insula retraining ( AIR ) combined with mindfulness training ( AIR + Mindfulness ) on the improvement of quality of life , psychological well-being , and cognition in patients with Long COVID .
Methods : This study protocol presents a single-blind randomized controlled trial ( RCT ) that encompasses baseline , post-treatment , and six-month follow-up assessment time points . A total of 100 patients diagnosed with Long COVID by the Spanish National Health Service will be randomly assigned to either AIR + Mindfulness ( n = 50 ) or relaxation intervention ( n = 50 ), the latter as a control group . The primary outcome will be quality of life assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey ( SF-36 ). Additional outcomes such as fatigue , pain , anxiety , memory , and sleep quality will also be evaluated . Mixed effects regression models will be used to estimate the effectiveness of the program , and effect size calculations will be made .
Discussion : Long COVID syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by the persistence of symptoms for at least 12 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 that significantly affects people ’ s quality of life . This will be the first RCT conducted in Spain to apply a psychotherapy program for the management of symptoms derived from Long COVID . Positive results from this RCT may have a significant impact on the clinical context by confirming the beneficial effect of the intervention program being evaluated on improving the symptoms of Long COVID syndrome and aiding the development of better action strategies for these patients .
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