Complementary therapies in medicine
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Complement Ther Med · Aug 2020
Meta AnalysisThe effect of melatonin supplementation on liver indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluated the effect of melatonin supplementation on liver enzymes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and reported conflicting results. To meet these discrepancies, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the eff ;ect of melatonin on liver indices in patients with NAFLD. To collect the required data, a thorough search was conducted through Web of science, Pubmed, Cochrane database, Embase, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and Scopus databases. ⋯ Melatonin had no significant effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) regarding the overall effect size. Based on this meta-analysis, melatonin supplementation can improve liver indices. However, more RCTs are required with larger sample sizes and better control of confounding variables such as weight, body mass index, and gender to determine the effect of melatonin on patients with non-alcoholic fatty acid disease.
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Complement Ther Med · Aug 2020
Dry needling for the management of spasticity, pain, and range of movement in adults after stroke: A systematic review.
To summarise the available evidence about the effectiveness of deep dry needling (DN) on spasticity, pain-related outcomes, and range-of-movement (ROM) in adults after stroke. ⋯ The management of adults after stroke with DN may impact positively on spasticity, pain, and ROM. However, there was significant heterogeneity across trials in terms of sample size, control groups, treated muscles, and outcome measures, and a meta-analysis was not feasible. Further research should include proper blinding, sham placebo DN as control intervention, and investigate long-term effects.
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Complement Ther Med · Aug 2020
Beliefs and Attitudes of Graduate Gerontology Students about Medical Marijuana Use for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.
The aims of the current study were as follows: 1) to assess gerontology graduate students' beliefs about medical marijuana's (MMJ) effectiveness for two common age-related conditions - Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD); 2) to assess students' beliefs and attitudes toward MMJ; 3) to explore associations linking background characteristics, MMJ-related attitudes and beliefs, and beliefs about the MMJ effectiveness for AD and PD. ⋯ The study findings show the need for students' MMJ education in order to provide future gerontology service providers with the necessary knowledge and ability to address clients' questions about MMJ use. Efforts to develop curricula and training programs need to be promoted.
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Complement Ther Med · Aug 2020
Case ReportsThe combined therapy of a traditional Chinese medicine formula and Western medicine for a critically ill case infected with COVID-19.
Presentation of a case illustrating the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in critically ill patients. ⋯ Our case report suggests that collaborative treatments with traditional Chinese medicine prove beneficial in the management of COVID-19 in critically ill patients. In order to give optimal care for this COVID-19 crisis for the whole world, Chinese medicine practitioners and Western medical doctors should work together in frontline.