Complementary and alternative neurology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common psychiatric disorder in women after childbirth. Per data from epidemiologic studies, PPD affects about 5%-26.32% of postpartum mothers worldwide. Biological factors underlying this condition are multiple and complex and have received extensive inquiries for the roles they play in PPD. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), which is widely used as a complementary and alternative therapy for neurological disorders, possesses multi-component, multi-target, multi-access, and low side effect therapeutic characteristics...

BACKGROUND: Although results from in vitro studies and small randomized controlled trials have shown positive effects of Dazhu hongjingtian injection (DZHJTI) on acute ischemic stroke (AIS), their generalizability to routine clinical practice remains to be established. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of DZHJTI treatment for AIS with regard to changes in the stroke-related neurological deficit from baseline to outpatient follow-up, mortality, subsequent vascular events, disability, and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome in real-world clinical settings...

Millions of people worldwide are currently afflicted with neurologic conditions like a seizure, depression, stress, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. However, the precise etiopathology of these diseases is still unknown. Substantial studies are being conducted to discover more treatments against these disorders because many patients do not experience the therapeutic benefits that would be expected from using existing pharmaceutical strategies. Herbal medicines which have been used in traditional medicine for millennia to treat various neurological problems are also being investigated and scientifically assessed...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the specific neurological mechanisms underlying the effects of electroacupuncture at Shenmen (Heart 7) with Neiguan (Pericardium 6) acupoints in patients with primary insomnia (PI). We sought to understand these mechanisms by comparing changes in areaal homogeneity (ReHo) before and after treatment in PI patients and healthy controls (HC). METHODS: Between November 2019 and November 2021, we recruited 17 primary insomnia patients (PI group) and 20 matched healthy controls (HC group) as study subjects from Zhaoqing First People's Hospital...

While most research and treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) focus on autoimmune reactions causing demyelination, it is possible that neurodegeneration precedes the autoimmune response. Hence, glutamate receptor antagonists preventing excitotoxicity showed promise in MS animal models, though blocking glutamate signaling prevents critical neuronal functions. This study reports the discovery of a small molecule that prevents AMPA-mediated excitotoxicity by targeting an allosteric binding site. A machine learning approach was used to screen for small molecules targeting the AMPA receptor GluA2 subunit...

BACKGROUND: Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PDPN) is a common complication of diabetes, it severely affects the quality of life of patients. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in the treatment of PDPN. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for pain relief in patients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHOD: We thoroughly searched specific databases, which included PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database and the Wanfang Data...

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is increasing in the US and throughout the world. The use of magnets, magnetic fields, and copper devices (MMFC) for health care are CAM therapies. Available information suggests significant consumer spending on MMFC therapy, but minimal information exists on usage patterns. METHODS: We created a brief questionnaire and distributed it to veteran patients at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center infusion center in Phoenix, Arizona...

INTRODUCTION: The treatment and rehabilitation of stroke and its complications have become major global health issues. Acupuncture is widely used as a complementary and alternative treatment for stroke. Many clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture, but the research results need to be more consistent. The quality of research based on previously published meta-analyzes is uneven, leading to unstable conclusions. This study aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the efficacy of high-quality, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on blinded designs for treating stroke and its complications...

Scientific evidence exists about the association between neurological diseases (i.e., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, depression, and memory loss) and oxidative damage. The increasing worldwide incidence of such diseases is attracting the attention of researchers to find palliative medications to reduce the symptoms and promote quality of life, in particular, in developing countries, e.g., South America and Africa. Among potential alternatives, extracts of Cannabis Sativa L...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of seamless care management under FOCUS-PDCA for patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) complicated with dysphagia and its influence on nutrition status and neurological functions. METHODS: A total of 98 patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated with dysphagia admitted to our hospital from March 2019 to December 2022 were selected and divided into two groups with equal numbers. The control group received routine nursing management...

Cerebral infarction, also known as ischemic stroke, is caused by various regional blood supply disorders in the brain tissue, leading to ischemic hypoxic lesions and necrosis of the brain tissue and then the corresponding clinical manifestations of neurological loss, which has high mortality and disability. This study comprehensively reviews the potential molecular mechanisms of TRPC6 in neuroprotection in cerebral infarction and provides a summary of TRPC6 as a targeted drug or prognostic biomarker for cerebral infarction patients...

PURPOSE: To investigate the therapy effect of minimally invasive fourth-ventricle hematoma removal (MIFHR) for patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) casting and the influence of feedback early rehabilitation on post-operative neurological function. METHODS: Eighty patients with IVH casting were enrolled from January 2019 to December 2020 in this retrospective study. Forty patients receiving MIFHR with feedback early rehabilitation were divided into the observational group, while the others receiving bilateral external ventricular drainage with traditional rehabilitation were divided into the control group...

OBJECTIVE: The treatment effect of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) remains controversial. Intracerebral hemorrhage patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) seemingly have a worse prognosis. So we aim to verify the efficacy of MIS for small and medium cerebral hemorrhage (15-30ml) using the propensity score matching (PSM)method which could reduce the heterogeneity, and further analyze the different treatment effects of MIS for sICH with or without IVH...

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) consist of a broad group of restorative resources often linked to existing local cultures and established health care systems and are also increasingly used in children with some serious illnesses. In this narrative review, we examine the epidemiology of the use, efficacy, and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric oncology, neurology, and hepatology. We searched for relevant articles published in Pubmed evaluating CAM use and its efficacy in safety in children affected by oncologic, neurologic and liver diseases...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurological disorder where one of the primary pathological hallmarks are aggregate deposits of the peptide amyloid-beta (Aβ). Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved therapeutics that specifically target Aβ, resulting in the removal of these deposits, the associated costs of such treatments create a need for effective, yet cheaper, alternatives. Metal-based compounds are propitious therapeutic candidates as they exploit the metal-binding properties of Aβ, forming stable interactions with the peptide, thereby limiting its aggregation and toxicity...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of stereotactic puncture for intracerebral hematoma removal, combined with postoperative individualized health education and rehabilitation training concerning hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. We also assessed its impact on rebleeding prevention and neurological function recovery. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted, including 90 patients diagnosed with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage in our hospital between March 2020 and June 2022...

Meta-analysis was used to analyze the efficacy of conventional western medicine plus Buyanghuanwu Decoction in the treatment of convalescent patients with stroke, and to observe its influence on the neurological function and condition of patients. According to the research direction and set keywords, the research literature was retrieved from Wanfang Medical Science, CNKI, VIP, PubMed and other domestic and foreign literature databases. A total of 13 articles with 1023 patients were included in this meta-analysis, with a large sample size...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes recent evidence-based integrative therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) that may improve motor and non-motor symptoms, enhance quality of life, and alter disease progression. RECENT FINDINGS: Imaging studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise changes brain structure and function, while strength training improves posture and balance. Loneliness is associated with worsening PD severity, but social prescribing and cognitive behavioral therapy may effectively foster connections...

UNLABELLED: The therapeutic challenge in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) is often to increase walking distance, improve pain or heal a wound when PAD is symptomatic. Walking rehabilitation or surgical revascularization techniques are limited. Others strategies as alternatives and/or complementary treatments are needed. Among alternative options, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulations (TENS) could be of interest, both for improved walking distance or pain reduction. The Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological, mini-invasive technique involving transcutaneous electrical stimulation...

AIM: Cerebral infarction, a common type of stroke, results from a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, leading to a myriad of challenges and complications for patients. Among these complications, decreased muscle strength is a prominent issue that can have profound implications for patients' overall well-being and functional independence. Decreased muscle strength in cerebral infarction often manifests as weakness, loss of mobility, and impaired ability to perform activities; the psychological impact of these physical limitations can lead to anxiety and depression, further exacerbating the patient's condition...