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Efficacy of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract in Lowering Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects
The clinical efficacy of purple passion fruit peel extract (a flavonoid-rich dietary supplement) in reducing cardiovascular risk factors in adult type 2 diabetic subjects was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Forty-one subjects were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of purple passion fruit (220 mg) or a matched placebo for 16 weeks. Body mass index, blood pressure, fasting and postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and lipid profile were determined at baseline and at monthly intervals. A significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose was obse...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - June 21, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Raju, I. N., Reddy, K. K., Kumari, C. K., Reddy, E. B., Rao, S. D., Reddy, C. D., Watson, R. R. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Yoga Improves Autonomic Control in Males: A Preliminary Study Into the Heart of an Ancient Practice
This study compared expert yoga practitioners (n = 18) with a metabolically matched group (n = 17) and a group with comparatively higher cardiovascular fitness (n = 19) to investigate autonomic effects of yoga compared with physical exercise. Mean interbeat interval (in milliseconds) and heart rate variability were recorded in response to physical and mental challenges. Results showed that yoga males had different patterns of autonomic responding to speech task compared with all other participants. Yoga males showed a larger increase in mean interbeat interval and a corresponding decrease in heart rate variability in respo...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - June 21, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Friis, A. M., Sollers, J. J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Assessing the Utility of an Electronic Research Database to Capture Whole Systems Practice at Two Naturopathic Outpatient Teaching Clinics
This observation study assessed the utility of an electronic Naturopathic Patient Database at 2 naturopathic teaching clinics as a research and educational tool. Focusing on the whole systems practice of naturopathic medicine using individualized treatment protocols, patients from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine outpatient teaching clinic and the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine outpatient teaching clinic were assessed. Data were collected on patient demographics, laboratory values, physical measures, treatment protocols, and validated questionnaires. Results showed the Naturopathic Patient Database...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - June 21, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Leung, B. M. Y., Flower, G., Cooley, K., Habib, C., Gowan, M., Podgrabinski, S., Seely, D. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Memorial: Roger Alan Brumback, MD (1948-2013)
(Source: Complementary Health Practice Review)
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - June 21, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Buehler, B. A. Tags: Memorial Source Type: research

Book/Media Review: Seeking Sickness: Medical Screening and the Misguided Hunt for Disease
(Source: Complementary Health Practice Review)
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Brumback, R. A. Tags: Book/Media Review Source Type: research

Book/Media Review: The Validation Breakthrough--Simple Techniques for Communicating With People With Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
(Source: Complementary Health Practice Review)
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Callone, P. R. Tags: Book/Media Review Source Type: research

Book/Media Review: Connecting With Socially Isolated Seniors--A Service Provider's Guide
(Source: Complementary Health Practice Review)
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Callone, P. R. Tags: Book/Media Review Source Type: research

Clinical Significance of Leech Therapy in Indian Medicine
Traditional Indian medicine—ayurveda—could be the oldest medical system in which leech therapy was adopted for treating specific disease conditions of patients. Some of the indications in which leeches are used are in tumors, hemorrhoids, abscess and boils, skin disorders, ulcers, gout, diseases of the eye, headache, herpes zoster, thrombosis, and wounds. The saliva of the leech consists of anesthetic agents, anticoagulant, antiplatelet aggregation factor, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory substances, and gelatinous substances. Leeches suck the excess blood, reduce the swelling in the tissues, and promote healing b...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Kumar, S., Dobos, G. J., Rampp, T. Tags: Topical Review Articles Source Type: research

Preventative and Therapeutic Role of Probiotics in Various Allergic and Autoimmune Disorders: An Up-to-Date Literature Review of Essential Experimental and Clinical Data
The increased prevalence of atopic/autoimmune diseases is nowadays defined as an endemic. Recent epidemiologic data showed that children with allergic/autoimmune disease have a different intestinal flora from healthy ones. Therefore, regulation of intestinal microflora composition by probiotics offers the possibility to influence the development of autoimmune/atopic diseases. And probiotics have been reported as capable preventive and therapeutic strategy in allergic/autoimmune diseases. The aim is to summarize/evaluate the available knowledge of probiotic use from randomized/nonrandomized controlled clinical trials, apart...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Ozdemir, O. Tags: Topical Review Articles Source Type: research

Simo Decoction Stimulates Contractions of Antral Longitudinal Smooth Muscle via Multitudinous Mechanisms
The aim of the study was to investigate Simo decoction–induced contractions of antral smooth muscles of rats and its mechanisms. The contractile responses of longitudinal strips to consecutive concentrations of Simo decoction were characterized by atropine, gallamine, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide, and adrenaline, hexamethonium, L-arginine, and nifedipine and compared with Krebs solution (control) and acetylcholine-induced contractions. Simo decoction dose-dependently increased contractions of antral strips (P = .000 vs control); its maximal effect was higher than acetylcholine (10–3 mol L&nda...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Dai, C., Qian, W., Liu, N., Gong, J., Chen, W., Hou, X. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Comparison of Vitamin D Label Dosing Recommendations to North American National Guidelines
This study was designed to compare vitamin D label dosing information with the recommendations in North American guidelines. A systematic search was conducted to identify 62 single-ingredient vitamin D products of which 1000 IU was the most common strength. Assessment of North American guidelines found recommended vitamin D dosing to range from 400 to 1000 IU daily, depending on age. Twenty-four (39%) of the products recommended a maximum dose within the range of 400 to 1000 IU daily. Thirty-eight (61%) and 19 (31%) products recommended maximum doses more than 1000 IU daily and 2000 IU daily, respectively. Labeled dosing r...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Gregory, P. J., Hein, D. J., Abe, A. M., Cochrane, Z. R., Wilson, A. F. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

A Sociobehavioral Model of Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Providers, Products, and Practices: Findings From the 2007 National Health Interview Survey
This study tested a modification of the Andersen behavioral model of health services use to assess the effects of predisposing factors, enabling resources, need, and personal health practices on the use of complementary and alternative medicine providers, products, and practices in the past 12 months. Data were from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (n = 23 149 adults). Prevalence estimates and logistic regression results were weighted and adjusted for complex sample design. Overall, 16.6% used providers, 18.8% products, and 22.2% practices. There were significant associations in the expected directions between var...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Upchurch, D. M., Rainisch, B. K. W. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Patterns of Complementary Therapy Use for Symptom Management for Older Rural Adults With Diabetes
Studies on complementary therapy use among adults with diabetes mellitus are limited by crude use measures and lack of specificity of use for treating diabetes. Data are from a study including baseline and repeated 3-day assessments of complementary therapy use among rural African American and White older (age ≥ 64 years) adults (n = 71). Most commonly used complementary therapies for diabetes at baseline included prayer (88.7%), food/beverages (50.7%), herbs (11.3%), and home remedies (9.9%). In repeated measures (1131 interviews), prayer was used on 57.2% of days, followed by food/beverages (12.7%), herbs (3.4%), and ...
Source: Complementary Health Practice Review - March 20, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Bell, R. A., Quandt, S. A., Grzywacz, J. G., Neiberg, R., Altizer, K. P., Lang, W., Arcury, T. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research