PMID: 

J Pain. 2019 Nov 1. Epub 2019 Nov 1. PMID: 31683023

Abstract Title: 

Modified Biofeedback (Conditioned Biofeedback) Promotes Antinociception by Increasing the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex Threshold and Reducing Temporal Summation of Pain: A Controlled Trial.

Abstract: 

This study examined whether a modified version of biofeedback (ie, Conditioned Biofeedback) that incorporated placebo analgesia-like manipulations could promote antinociception in healthy, pain-free participants. During Conditioned Biofeedback (n = 28), sympathetic arousal level was displayed visually and participants were asked to reduce it while they received painful electric stimulations that were surreptitiously controlled by their arousal level. Thus, electric pain decreased as arousal decreased to associate successful arousal-reduction/relaxation with pain relief, and to promote expectations for future pain relief. A Biofeedback Only group (n = 24) controlled for the general effects of biofeedback/relaxation. A Biofeedback+Shock group (n = 21) controlled for the effects of practicing biofeedback during painful shocks. Nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) threshold and temporal summation of pain (TS-pain) were used to assess changes in spinal nociception and pain facilitation, respectively. Results indicated all groups showed pre- to postbiofeedback increases in NFR threshold, but only the Conditioned Biofeedback group showed pre- to postbiofeedback reductions in TS-pain. Moreover, Conditioned Biofeedback resulted in a persistent (prebiofeedback) increase in NFR threshold across sessions, whereas Biofeedback Only resulted in a persistent (prebiofeedback) decrease in TS-pain. In sum, Conditioned Biofeedback maypromote antinociception in healthy participants thus reducing risk for chronic pain. The study was registered prospectively on ClinicalTrials.gov (TU1560). PERSPECTIVE: A modified version of biofeedback that employs placebo analgesia manipulations was successful in increasing descending inhibitionand reducing pain facilitation in healthy volunteers. As a result, it may be an effective means of reducing risk of future chronic pain onset by promoting an antinociceptive pain profile.

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PMID: 

Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol. 2020 Jan 21. Epub 2020 Jan 21. PMID: 31962346

Abstract Title: 

[Effectiveness of Biofeedback for Primary Headache – A Randomized Controlled Study].

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Biofeedback-treatment for primary headache is highly recommended. Its expenses are mostly not or not completely covered by health funds, hindering the implementation in the care system. This randomized controlled study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a biofeedback-treatment for primary headache in the outpatient care system all over Germany.METHODS: The participants were divided into a direct treatment-group (n=41) and a waiting control-group (n=29). The treatment was carried out for 8-11 sessions with vasoconstriction-/vasodilation training for migraine, with electromyography training for headache of the tension type (diagnosis according to the criteria of the International Headache Association). Headache characteristics (frequency, duration, intensity) were collected via headache-diary before, during and after the treatment and headache specific disability using the Pain Disability Index before and after the treatment. The waiting group stated additional information of the questionnaires about 3 months before and again ultimately before the start of the treatment. Measurement of the headache specific self-efficacy (Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale) took place every second session. For the collected parameters the effect sizes for r were computed before in comparison to after the treatment and comparing the treatment-group to the waiting-group.RESULTS: Headache characteristics decreased during the time of the study significantly linearly with medium to strong effects (frequency f=0.302, p

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PMID: 

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020 ;1191:265-289. PMID: 32002934

Abstract Title: 

Biofeedback and Neurofeedback for Anxiety Disorders: A Quantitative and Qualitative Systematic Review.

Abstract: 

Biofeedback refers to the operant training of physiological responding. Variants include electromyography (EMG), electrodermal activity (EDA), skin temperature, heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory biofeedback of end-tidal CO(ETCO), electroencephalography (EEG) signal, and blood oxygen-level dependent signal using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This chapter presents a qualitative and quantitative systematic review of randomized controlled trials of biofeedback for anxiety disorders as defined by the 3rd through 5th editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Meta-analytic results indicated that biofeedback (broadly defined) is superior to wait list, but has not been shown to be superior to active treatment conditions or to conditions in which patients are trained to change their physiological responding in a countertherapeutic direction. Thus, although biofeedback appears generally efficacious for anxiety disorders, the specific effects of biofeedback cannot be distinguished from nonspecific effects of treatment. Further, significant limitations were identified in the existing literature, with the majority receiving a"weak"rating according to Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) rating system guidelines. Future directions for research are discussed.

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PMID: 

Ann Transl Med. 2019 Nov ;7(21):605. PMID: 32047766

Abstract Title: 

The effect of biofeedback training on intestinal function among patients with middle and low rectal cancer: a randomized controlled study.

Abstract: 

Background: To evaluate the effect of biofeedback on intestinal function among patients with middle and low rectal cancer.Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial design, 109 patients with middle and low rectal cancer indicated to have preoperative radiochemotherapy, anterior resection of the rectum, and preventive stoma were randomly divided into three groups: the blank control group, the pelvic floor muscle exercise group, and the biofeedback training group. A 16-month intervention and longitudinal follow-up study was conducted, and a questionnaire on intestinal function by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) was adopted into a Chinese version to evaluate patients' intestinal function situation.Results: The intestinal function of the biofeedback training group was better than the blank control group and pelvic floor muscle exercise group. The total score of intestinal function and the scores of each dimension were statistically significant (P

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PMID: 

Dermatol Ther. 2020 Jan 9:e13226. Epub 2020 Jan 9. PMID: 31917494

Abstract Title: 

Treatment of three hereditary leiomyomatosis patients with cryotherapy.

Abstract: 

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by cutaneous leiomyomas (CLM), uterine leiomyomas, and the increased risk of renal cell carcinoma. Piloleiomyomas develop from the arrectorpili muscle and are usually painful. For 22% of the affected patients, the pain is reported to impair their life quality. Since there are few case reports about cryotherapy for cutaneous leiomyomas in the literature, we have decided to present three patients who had painful cutaneous leiomyomas treated with cryotherapy.

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PMID: 

Psychiatr Pol. 2019 Oct 30 ;53(5):1053-1067. Epub 2019 Oct 30. PMID: 31955185

Abstract Title: 

Whole-body cryotherapy – promising add-on treatment of depressive disorders.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: New, effective biological interventions for treatment of depressive episodes and recurrent depression are still needed. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), which is a treatment using cryogenic temperature, is a novel therapeutic modality in neurology and rheumatology. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of WBC as an add-on treatment for depressive episode.METHODS: 30 adults diagnosed with depressive episode were recruited to an observational, prospective study. 21 participants (17 women, 81%), mean age 46.1 (±16.7), completed the whole study procedure. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Additionally, quality of life and anhedonia were assessed with the WHOQoL-BREF and the SHAPS. Participants undertook 10, 2-minute (from – 110 C to – 135 degrees C) WBC sessions within two weeks.RESULTS: Patients after WBC sessions showed significant improvement in the form of a reduction in total scores in scales assessing depressive symptoms: the HDRS (p

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PMID: 

Support Care Cancer. 2020 Feb 8. Epub 2020 Feb 8. PMID: 32036471

Abstract Title: 

Cryotherapy for the prevention of weekly paclitaxel-induced peripheral adverse events in breast cancer patients.

Abstract: 

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of cryotherapy in preventing peripheral neuropathy and dermatological adverse events in breast cancer patients treated with weekly paclitaxel.METHODS: Patients treated with 12 weekly doses of paclitaxel for breast cancer were randomized (1:1) into a cryotherapy or control group. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with a marked decrease in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Neurotoxicity (FACT-NTX) score. The secondary endpoints were Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ), Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (CTCAE) for peripheral neuropathy, and FACT-Taxane score.RESULTS: Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to the cryotherapy (n = 22) or control groups (n = 22). The percentage of patients with a marked decrease in FACT-NTX scores was significantly lower in the cryotherapy group than in the control group (41 vs. 73%, p = 0.03). The incidence of CTCAE grade ≥ 2 sensory (p = 0.001) and motor peripheral neuropathy (p = 0.01), and PNQ grade D or higher for sensory peripheral neuropathy (p = 0.02), and decrease in the FACT-Taxane score (p = 0.02) were also significantly lower in the cryotherapy group than in the control group. There were no serious side effects associated with cryotherapy.CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy is an effective approach for prevention of peripheral neuropathy and dermatological adverse events in breast cancer patients treated with weekly paclitaxel.

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PMID: 

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2020 Feb 10. Epub 2020 Feb 10. PMID: 32041895

Abstract Title: 

Nut Consumption and Risk of Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between nut intake and risk for multiple cancers. However, current findings are inconsistent and no definite conclusion has been drawn from prospective studies. We therefore conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between nut consumption and risk of cancer.METHODS: Prospective studies reporting associations between nut intake and risk for all types of cancer were identified by searching Web of Science and PubMed databases up to June 2019. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were extracted and then pooled across the studies using a random-effect model. A dose-response analysis was modeled by performing restricted cubic splines when data were available.RESULTS: Thirty-three studies that included more than 50,000 cancer cases were eligible for the analysis. When comparing the highest with the lowest category of nut intake, high consumption of nuts was significantly associated with decreased risk of overall cancer (RR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85-0.95). The protective effect of nut consumption was especially apparent against cancers from the digestive system (RR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.89). Among different nut classes, significant association was only obtained for intake of tree nuts. We also observed a linear dose-response relationship between nut consumption and cancer: Per 20 g/day increase in nut consumption was related to a 10% (RR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.99) decrease in cancer risk.CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrated an inverse association of dietary nut consumption with cancer risk, especially for cancers from the digestive system.IMPACT: This study highlights the protective effect of nuts against cancer.

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PMID: 

Pak J Biol Sci. 2019 Jan ;22(7):342-348. PMID: 31930845

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Olive Leaf Extract on Metabolic Response, Liver and Kidney Functions and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Hypertensive Patients.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure is gradually elevated. In this project, the effects of olive leaf extract (OLE) were evaluated on metabolic response, liver and kidney functions and also biomarkers of inflammation in hypertensive patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial, 60 hypertensive patients, aged 30-60 years old had participated. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either OLE or placebo tablets for 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the intervention, metabolic parameters and biomarkers of liver, kidney and inflammation were measured in sera of the participants using available laboratory methods.RESULTS: Compared with the placebo, changes in parameters associated with glucose metabolism were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The OLE tablets did not have significant effect on liver enzymes, total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine (p>0.05), but significantly decreased interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha as inflammatory biomarkers (p

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PMID: 

Ann Nutr Metab. 2020 Jan 3:1-6. Epub 2020 Jan 3. PMID: 31901903

Abstract Title: 

Olive Leaf (Olea europaea L. folium): Potential Effects on Glycemia and Lipidemia.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Olive tree (Olea europaea, Oleaceae) leaves have been widely used in traditional herbal medicine to prevent and treat various diseases especially in Mediterranean countries. They contain several potentially bioactive compounds that may have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties.SUMMARY: The literature has recently been attempting to define the relationship between olive leaf (Olea europaea L. folium) polyphenols and a number of health problems. Oleuropein, the basic phenolic compound of olive leaf and its extract, is responsible for the characteristic bitter taste and unique aroma of olive fruits. Furthermore, it is shown that oleuropein and its hydrolyzed products have many beneficial effects on human health because of its antioxidant characters. A number of studies report that olive leaf has potentially positive effects on the parameters related to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases by various mechanisms. Besides, toxicity studies suggest that olive leaf is generally safe even at high doses. Key messages: Although current results obtained until today seem promising, the studies in this subject are usually on cell culture and animal trials. Moreover, mostly the extract forms of olive leaves are used in the studies. More randomized controlled human clinical trials with extensive toxicity studies are needed to evaluate potential health effects and safety.

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