Alternative & Integrative Medicine

Background: The prognostic significance of malignant tumor-induced imbalance in the innate immune system is well known. The innate system uses a limited number of Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR) to recognize conserved Pathogenic Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) structures expressed by microbes but not by host. PRR engagement often leads to the activation of natural immune cells which are important in the tumor defense. Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that similar to microbes various plant extracts can also contain PAMP-like structures which can activate cellular immune functions. Since the chemical production of PAMP structures is hardly accomplishable, the phytotherapy may be promising for the future tumor therapy. Objectives: The aim of this article is to present and discuss several favorable clinical responses of tumor patients treated with immunologically effective and standardized plant extracts (containing PAMP-like structures) as an addition to the conventional oncologic therapy. Course of therapy and results: Two standardized plant preparations based on lectin-sugar interactions were the patients given. The dose of the active sugar-binding mistletoe lectin (ML), applied subcutaneously by standardized mistletoe extract (ME) preparations, was between 0.5 and 1.0 ng/kg and the dose of arabinoxylan (given by standardized rice bran preparation, MGN-3/Biobran) was between 12 and 45mg/kg twice a week. In addition, wheat germ extract (WGE) standardized for 2, 6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone (50-80 mg/kg Avemar four times a week) was also given which can sensitize tumor cells against natural immune effector cells. Case reports gave an account of complete or nearly complete remissions in patients with sarcoma or with hepatic metastases treated with these standardized plant immunomodulators with and without conventional oncologic therapy. Conclusion: Standardized plant extracts (such as ME/ML, MGN-3 and WGE) seem to be potent candidates to be regarded as a supportive therapy of metastatic tumors  

Aim of the study: In Eastern-Central Europe, homeopathy has a long history starting from XIXth century which has however been interrupted and later renewed in 1997. A large number of physicians and pharmacists have been trained in homeopathy since. This survey is aimed to measure attitudes to homeopathy in Hungarian GPs and nurses for pediatric and adult population. Materials and methods: An identical original self-administered questionnaire was submitted in 2012 to 550 general physicians's nurses. 536 (98.9 %) women and 6 (1.1 %) men replied. Results: Approximately one third of GPs is using homeopathy. The usage of homeopathy is quite similar to other European countries in spite of the controversal and refusal habit of academic medicine. Effects of gender, age and location are weak and inconsistent. Discussion/Conclusions: Homeopathy has firmly been integrated into the Hungarian health care system and has sustained despite the worse economic conditions of the population and no public support from the official health insurance system (only private health insurance companies accepted it). Accumulated survey data were concluded with future achievements of harmonization in this CAM field. The life-style advice given by nurses can influence homeopathic usage among patients; further education is necessary for the ethical application of homeopathy and remedies after CEU-courses at University. We emphasize the ethical application of any CAM method, such as homeopathy for patients. CAM courses should be involved into curricula of nurses and MDs according to interest either in basic or in further education  

Background/Context: Current debate concerning properties of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is nothing new. More recent information can be found on functional aspects of microRNA (miRNA) in botanicals and mammals, suggesting that the aging process and cancer development are regulated by these molecules. Interestingly, some dietary supplements (especially botanicals) have been reported to have cancer chemopreventive and/or anti-cancer properties and are common ingredients in so-called "anti-aging" creams. Objective: The present study was therefore conducted to determine the state-of-the-art on botanicals, OSCC, and their relationship to miRNA. Methods/Design: PubMed and Google Scholar were interrogated for articles published in English between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010 that discuss botanicals and which could possibly be used in treating OSCC. Additional searches in Google, Google Scholar, PubMed and KoreaMed were conducted to detect possible associations between miRNAs and the aforementioned items. Results: The current body of literature suggests that botanicals might deliver some of their properties via miRNAs. No report was found however that makes a direct connection to OSCC. It therefore has not been determined whether there is an association between botanicals, OSCC, and miRNA molecules that could possibly have "anti-aging" as well as cancer chemopreventive and/or anti-cancer properties. Conclusions: Systematic studies are needed to determine whether it is miRNA that could dispense possible therapeutic properties of botanicals on OSCC  

Background: A large proportion (8-32%) of women in the fertile age suffers from premenstrual syndrome/symptoms (PMS/S). Individualized homeopathy could offer relief and this should be further investigated. Semi-standardized treatment with a limited number of homeopathic medicines and strictly defined prescription criteria could minimize prescription variability and increase reproducibility of the individualized treatment. 1.2. Objective: In an extension of a previous pilot study, the utility of a semi-standardized algorithm with 11 medicines for individualized homeopathic treatment of women with PMS/S was further evaluated in daily practice with 9 months follow-up. 1.3. Methods: Women completed symptom diaries during to 2 months to confirm PMS/S. Women diagnosed with PMS/S were included, consulted a homeopathic physician and completed a questionnaire with keynote symptoms for 11 homeopathic medicines. A computerized algorithm would process the answers and indicate the first homeopathic prescription. At follow-up visits change of prescription was possible. Main outcome measures were frequencies and proportions of (non-) algorithm-based prescriptions during the study and percentage of responders (≥50% drop in PMS scores). Secondary outcome measures were mean changes in PMS scores over time. 1.4. Results: 77 women were included, 52 completed the study. The usefulness of the semi-standardized treatment protocol was confirmed. In 30 (57.5%) of the 52 analyzed women, PMS scores had dropped by ≥50%. For the estimated mean changes in PMS scores, it made no difference if women had used one or more of the 11 algorithm-based or also other homeopathic medicines (p=0.765). A significant association was found between symptom severity at baseline and changes in mean PMS scores (p<0.001). 1.5. Conclusions: A semi-standardized individualized homeopathic treatment of women with PMS/S with 11 medicines proved useful in daily homeopathic practice, with improved reproducibility of individualized treatment. This treatment could be further tested in effectiveness research  

The Unani system of medicine is a comprehensive medical system, which meticulously deals with the states of health and disease. Its holistic approach considers individual in relation to his environment and stresses on health of body, mind and soul. Temperament of a person is given great importance for identifying the most suitable diet and lifestyle for promoting the health of a particular individual. On the basis of Mizaj human beings have been categorized into four qualitative types: Damvi (sanguinous), Safravi (bilious), Balghami (phlegmatic), Saudavi (melancholic). They were supposed to result from predominant humor in the body. Any change in the temperament of person brings about change in person’s state of health. There are some factors like age, place, season, diet and occupation, which are responsible for influencing the temperament of an individual and predispose them to a particular group of diseases similar to the temperament of that individual. Thus, the person of specific temperament becomes prone to a particular group of diseases in different phases of their life and under different climatic conditions. In Unani medicine, different guidelines for different temperaments have been mentioned for promotion and preservation of health. Thus, in this paper authors have highlighted the importance of temperamental approach for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases.

Objectives: We report a successful case in a young woman with amenorrhea related to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) following low-frequency electro-acupuncture (EA) and physical exercise. Subject: A 26-year-old woman had secondary amenorrhea since 2002 and was diagnosed to have PCOS in 2007. She always took medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) for getting withdrawal bleeding every 3 months from 2002 to 2007. She had been treated with metformin, ethinylestradiol, cyproterone acetate tablets (Dyne-35) and Chinese medicine on an irregular basis from 2007 to April in 2012. When she attended our clinic, she had suffered from amenorrhea for 4 months as she stopped taking any medicine. Interventions: The patient did regular physical exercise and received two courses of acupuncture treatment separated by an interval of 5 months. Each course of acupuncture treatment included 32 sessions of low-frequency EA. Results: During the first course of EA treatment, she did not have any period returned. However, in the subsequent five months without any treatment, her periods returned four times. During the second EA treatment course, the patient had period for three times. Her abnormal high serum LH/FSH ratio reduced obviously and the morphology of polycystic ovaries was not found on pelvic scanning. During the following four months after the second EA treatment course, the patient had period for three times, and her sex hormone profile and ovarian morphology still keeped normal.  Conclusion: This case illustrated that acupuncture and physical exercise can be an effective treatment for PCOS patients with ovulatory disorder.  

Introduction: A new anti-cancer immunological approach devised and experimented for years by Dr. Fernando Ferretti, is presented. Cobra Venom Factor is incubated with filtered Naja Naja Kaouthia serum and the mix obtained is injected subcutaneously. Due to the close functional similarity between Cobra Venom Factor and human Complement C3b, as well as the likely similarity between their inhibitors, the induced antibodies are hypothesized to cross react with Complement inhibitors and help restore the immune anti-cancer mechanisms. 1.2. Methods and Results of mix component analysis: The electrophoretic analysis of Cobra Venom Factor, Naja serum and the therapeutic mix was performed and it showed that complex interactions occur between Cobra Venom Factor and serum, leading to the formation of new molecules in the mix. 1.3. Case report: We describe 8 cases of cancer treated with the present approach. Following immunogen injections, the patients generally experienced a transient increase in pain in the regions of primary and secondary cancer lesions, then the pain reduced and they felt better that before the injection. Overall, the effects observed ranged from complete healing to an increase of life duration beyond medical expectancy, together with a state of general well-being, decrease or disappearance of pain, new energy, a new positive sense of life. 1.4. Discussion: This therapy is aimed at balancing the various molecular components of the immune system, so as to restore its natural antitumor activity. A specific link is suggested between mix immunogens and the malignancy process