Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

1. When compared to 9 months of isoniazid, 4 months of rifampin was a non-inferior alternative treatment of latent tuberculosis (TB) that was both cheaper and lead to lower healthcare usage amongst adult and pediatric patients in high-, middle-, and low-resource health systems in 9 nations.

2. Choosing rifampin represented a cost savings of 38% to the health system

Evidence Rating: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: Isoniazid, an inhibitor of mycobacteria cell wall synthesis, is the standard of treatment of latent TB. Rifampin, a more costly medication, is generally reserved for active TB treatment along with ethambutol and pyrazinamide. This study demonstrated that while rifampin is more expensive, its shorter treatment length and fewer adverse events resulted in a lower total cost across study sites. Ultimately this represented a cost savings to the health system of roughly one-third of the cost of isoniazid. The studys applicability was strengthened by its multi-centered approach that included representative countries across GDP. The failure to include individual cost burden limited the studys ability to fully account for possible barriers to treatment.

Click to read the study in Annals of Internal Medicine

Relevant Reading: Four Months of Rifampin or Nine Months of Isoniazid for Latent Tuberculosis in Adults

In-Depth [randomized controlled trial]: This multicenter, prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial examined the cost of treatment for latent TB with isoniazid and rifampin across 9 diverse study countries (Australia, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Guinea, and Indonesia). Participant eligibility was determined by documented skin test or QuantiFERON test, clinical risk factors, and clinician treatment recommendation. Baseline characteristics were attained from each participant including blood tests, chest radiography, and clinician medical assessment as were health data from routine follow ups with clinicians (which included attaining a complete blood count and liver function test). Six-thousand twelve adults and 829 children were included in the final modified intent-to-treat analysis with roughly half of the population originating from African countries. Seventy-one percent of adults and 82% of children completed treatment and 229 participants experienced an adverse event. The total cost of 9 of months of isoniazid was higher than 4 months of rifampin across all 9 study sites. Total cost was also higher in high-income countries when compared to middle-income or African countries. Cost components were heterogeneously distributed amongst the 3 income groups: routine follow-up visits made up 30 50% of total cost in high- and middle-income countries compared to roughly 15% of the cost in African countries. After multivariate analysis, the total average cost of rifampin was $340 (CI 95% $330 to $350) which represented a 38% savings for the health systems.

Image: PD

2020 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Read more here:

Rifampin viable as an alternative to isoniazid treatment for latent tuberculosis - 2 Minute Medicine

publication date: Jun. 19, 2020

Keytruda was approved by FDA as monotherapy for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [10 mutations/megabase (mut/Mb)] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.

This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of Keytruda in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.

FDA also approved the FoundationOne CDx test as the companion diagnostic to identify patients with solid tumors that are TMB-H (10 mutations/ megabase) who may benefit from immunotherapy treatment with KEYTRUDA monotherapy.

These approvals stem from years of research into how TMB levels may influence a patients response to immunotherapy, Brian Alexander, chief medical officer of Foundation Medicine said in a statement. Its critical that healthcare professionals have access to a validated genomic test to measure TMB in clinical tumor assessments and pinpoint those who are more likely to respond. Were proud to be collaborating with Merck to help match appropriate patients to this important treatment.

The accelerated approval was based on data from a prospectively-planned retrospective analysis of 10 cohorts (A through J) of patients with various previously treated unresectable or metastatic solid tumors with TMB-H, who were enrolled in KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067), a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label trial evaluating KEYTRUDA (200 mg every three weeks).

The trial excluded patients who previously received an anti-PD-1 or other immune-modulating monoclonal antibody, or who had an autoimmune disease, or a medical condition that required immunosuppression. TMB status was assessed using the FoundationOne CDx assay and pre-specified cutpoints of 10 and 13 mut/Mb, and testing was blinded with respect to clinical outcomes. Tumor response was assessed every nine weeks for the first 12 months and every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measures were objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) in the patients who received at least one dose of KEYTRUDA as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of five target lesions per organ.

In KEYNOTE-158, 1,050 patients were included in the efficacy analysis population. TMB was analyzed in the subset of 790 patients with sufficient tissue for testing based on protocol-specified testing requirements. Of the 790 patients, 102 (13%) had tumors identified as TMB-H, defined as TMB 10 mut/Mb. The study population characteristics of these 102 patients were: median age of 61 years (range, 27 to 80); 34% age 65 or older; 34% male; 81% White; and 41% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) of 0 and 58% ECOG PS of 1. Fifty-six percent of patients had at least two prior lines of therapy.

In the 102 patients whose tumors were TMB-H, KEYTRUDA demonstrated an ORR of 29% (95% CI, 21-39), with a complete response rate of 4% and a partial response rate of 25%. After a median follow-up time of 11.1 months, the median DOR had not been reached (range, 2.2+ to 34.8+ months). Among the 30 responding patients, 57% had ongoing responses of 12 months or longer, and 50% had ongoing responses of 24 months or longer.

In a pre-specified analysis of patients with TMB 13 mut/Mb (n=70), KEYTRUDA demonstrated an ORR of 37% (95% CI, 26-50), with a complete response rate of 3% and a partial response rate of 34%. After a median follow-up time of 11.1 months, the median DOR had not been reached (range, 2.2+ to 34.8+ months). Among the 26 responding patients, 58% had ongoing responses of 12 months or longer, and 50% had ongoing responses of 24 months or longer. In an exploratory analysis in 32 patients whose cancer had TMB 10 mut/Mb and <13 mut/Mb, the ORR was 13% (95% CI, 4-29), including two complete responses and two partial responses.

FoundationOne CDx receives FDA approval as companion diagnostic with Keytruda

FoundationOne CDx has received FDA approval as a companion diagnostic for Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Mercks anti-PD-1 therapy.

FoundationOne CDx was also approved under accelerated approval for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [10 mutations/megabase (mut/Mb)] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.

FoundationOne CDx is sponsored by Foundation Medicine.

FoundationOne CDx is the first and only FDA-approved companion diagnostic to measure TMB and help identify patients who may be appropriate for treatment with Keytruda, regardless of solid tumor type.

FoundationOne CDx, Foundation Medicines comprehensive genomic profiling assay approved for all solid tumors, enables oncologists to identify TMB-H patients ( 10 mutations/megabase) with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors across all tumor types who could potentially benefit from Keytruda.

FoundationOne CDx is the first FDA-approved CGP test that is clinically and analytically validated for all solid tumors and incorporates multiple companion diagnostic claims. It is currently approved as the companion diagnostic test for more than 20 therapies across multiple cancer types.

Lurbinectedin receives accelerated approval by FDA for metastatic SCLC

Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) was granted accelerated approval by FDA for adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Zepzelca is sponsored by Pharma Mar S.A.

Efficacy was demonstrated in the PM1183-B-005-14 trial (Study B-005; NCT02454972), a multicenter open-label, multi-cohort study enrolling 105 patients with metastatic SCLC who had disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients received lurbinectedin 3.2 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

The main efficacy outcome measures were confirmed overall response rate, determined by investigator assessment using RECIST 1.1 and response duration. Among the 105 patients, the ORR was 35% (95% CI: 26%, 45%), with a median response duration of 5.3 months (95% CI: 4.1, 6.4). The ORR as per independent review committee was 30% (95% CI: 22%, 40%) with a median response duration of 5.1 months (95% CI: 4.9, 6.4).

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin receives extended indication for CD33-positive AML in pediatric patients

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) was granted an extended indication by FDA for newly-diagnosed CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia to include pediatric patients 1 month and older.

Mylotarg is sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC.

Efficacy and safety in the pediatric population were supported by data from AAML0531 (NCT00372593), a multicenter randomized study of 1,063 patients with newly-diagnosed AML ages 0 to 29 years. Patients were randomized to five-cycle chemotherapy alone or with gemtuzumab ozogamicin (3 mg/m2) administered once on day 6 in Induction 1 and once on day 7 in Intensification 2.

The main efficacy outcome measure was event-free survival measured from the date of trial entry until induction failure, relapse, or death by any cause. The EFS hazard ratio was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71-0.99). The estimated percentage of patients free of induction failure, relapse, or death at five years was 48% (95% CI: 43%-52%) in the gemtuzumab ozogamicin + chemotherapy arm versus 40% (95% CI: 36%45%) in the chemotherapy alone arm. No difference between treatment arms in overall survival was demonstrated.

City of Hope signs licensing agreement with Scopus BioPharma to develop novel, targeted IO gene therapy

City of Hope has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Scopus BioPharma Inc. to develop and commercialize a City of Hope first-in-class, targeted immuno-oncology gene therapy.

A first in-human phase I clinical trial for B cell lymphoma patients that uses the licensed gene therapy drug, CpG-STAT3siRNA, a STAT3 inhibitor, is expected to commence at City of Hope in the second half of this year.

Growing evidence links B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas to persistent activation of STAT3, a gene that drives tumor cell growth and anti-tumor immune suppression. The STAT3 inhibitor is a highly selective and targeted therapy that silences the activity of the STAT3 gene by way of RNA interference. It also stimulates the TLR9 receptors to activate the bodys immune defense to recognize and kill cancer cells.

In preclinical testing at City of Hope, the STAT3 inhibitor has successfully reduced growth and metastasis of various preclinical tumor models, including melanoma, and colon and bladder cancers, as well as leukemia and lymphoma.

City of Hopes Hua Yu, Billy and Audrey L. Wilder Professor in Tumor Immunotherapy, associate chair/professor in the Department of Immuno-Oncology, and co-leader of the Cancer Immunotherapeutics Program, and Marcin Kortylewski, associate professor in the Department of Immuno-Oncology, who are both leading experts in the role of STAT3 in tumor angiogenesis and tumor immune evasion and in oligonucleotide-based cancer immunotherapies, developed the STAT3 inhibitor.

The strategy was developed based on seminal discoveries by Yus team defining the key role of STAT3 in cancer cell survival and immune tolerance, combined with pioneering work by Kortylewskis team on STAT3 targeting using TLR9-targeted delivery of siRNA oligonucleotide therapeutics into immune cells.

STAT3 is critical for the survival and metastasis of cancer cells, and for suppressing anti-tumor immune responses, Yu said in a statement.

Our laboratories were the first to demonstrate that successful cancer immunotherapy needs to be two-step since TLR9 immunostimulation is only effective when STAT3 in the tumor microenvironment is no longer active, Kortylewski said in a statement. It is exciting to see this technology approaching clinical application with a strong ally in biopharma.

Royal Philips and MD Anderson to facilitate personalized oncology treatments and clinical trial matching based on genomic markers

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Royal Philips are providing oncologists with evidence-based therapy and clinical trial guidance through Philips oncology informatics solutions and MD Andersons Precision Oncology Decision Support system.

This collaboration will allow physicians around the world to personalize therapy based on the patients genomic profile, with the aim of improving patient care.

MD Anderson developed the PODS system as an evidence-based tool to facilitate therapeutic decision-making at the point of care. The system provides actionable clinical information, including approved therapies and available clinical trials, based upon genetic alterations within the tumor. Through the Philips solutions, clinicians receive a unified view of therapies and clinical trials in the context of their patients unique tumor, helping them make an evidence-based decision for their patients treatment.

Philips and MD Anderson aim to help pathologists and oncologists serve their patients and provide them with therapeutic options and relevant clinical trials based on tumor markers.

Isoray, University of Cincinnati physicians company sign research agreement to study head and neck cancers

Isoray Inc. has entered a research grant agreement with the University of Cincinnati Physicians Company for a study on treatment of recurrent head and neck cancers.

University of Cincinnati Physicians Company is the multispecialty practice group for University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and UC Health.

The planned trial will evaluate the safety and early effectiveness of the addition of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) to the regimen of Cesium-131 with surgical resection. A total of 50 patients whose head and neck cancers have recurred and who are eligible for surgical resection are planned to be enrolled.

The study, a trial combining Keytruda and Cesium-131 brachytherapy with salvage surgery in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, will be carried out under the direction of principal investigators Shuchi Gulati and Chad Zender at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. There is potential for other centers to participate in the study.

A previous multi-institutional study has provided evidence that the use of Cesium-131 with surgical resection is well-tolerated in the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancers.

Read more:

Keytruda receives second biomarker-based indication from FDA, regardless of tumor type - The Cancer Letter

Advertisement

India may be known for spicy food, the peaceful resistance of Gandhi and the majesty of the Taj Mahal, but it's also widely revered for its deep roots in traditional medicine. One highly recognized practice, Ayurveda, originated in India over 5,000 years ago and is built on the concept that systemic balance can only obtained in relation to one's individual constitution a pattern of physical, mental and emotional characteristics. This ancient tradition uses holistic care focused on diet, lifestyle and herbs to purportedly achieve mental clarity and maintain physical health. Ayurveda is considered a medical practice in India; however ayurvedic practitioners are not licensed in many Western countries, including the United States.

Perhaps one of the most prized herbs in Ayurveda, ashwagandha (sometimes called Indian ginseng or Indian winter cherry) has purported health benefits that fall directly in line with the ancient practice's goal of individual, systemic balance. Over time, the herb has become increasingly popular outside of the Ayurveda tradition, and is used in various alternative medicine practices around the globe.

The herb is derived from the roots of the ashwagandha bush (Withania somnifera), a small, green plant with yellow flowers and tiny orange-red fruit. It's native to the Indian subcontinent and a member of the nightshade family. Ashwagandha is still heavily cultivated in India, but due to increased demand for the herb throughout the world, the ashwagandha bush is also grown in parts of Africa, the Middle East and even in temperate climates in the U.S.

While almost all parts of the plant have purported therapeutic value, the stout, light brown roots are said to have the most valuable healing properties. The roots are dried and then ground to create a powder that's traditionally mixed with ghee, honey and milk to cover the bitter taste. But today, it's often taken in the form of a supplement, tea, tincture or extract.

Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogenic herb, meaning it may be able to help the body better handle stress and balance various bodily systems. Many alternative medicine practices use ashwagandha for this potentially stress reducing effect but also for the additional purported benefits of improving memory, strengthening the immune system, promoting reproductive balance and lowering blood sugar.

Due to its historical role in the Ayurvedic tradition and wide range of potential benefits, ashwagandha has made a name for itself around the globe as a part of an alternative approach to health and healing, though there is no conclusive clinical evidence that it is effective in treating any ailment. As always, consult your physician before adding ashwagandha, or any other medicinal herb, to your health regimen.

See the original post here:

What Is Ashwagandha? | HowStuffWorks - HowStuffWorks

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market report has been released with reliable information and accurate forecasts for a better understanding of the current and future market scenarios. The report offers an in-depth analysis of the global market, including qualitative and quantitative insights, historical data, and estimated projections about the market size and share in the forecast period. The forecasts mentioned in the report have been acquired by using proven research assumptions and methodologies. Hence, this research study serves as an important depository of the information for every market landscape. The report is segmented on the basis of types, end-users, applications, and regional markets.

Complementary and alternative medicine market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market is growing with the healthy CAGR in the above-mentioned research forecast period. Rising prevalence cancer and other serious diseases worldwide and emerging markets are the factors responsible for the growth of this market.

The report also emphasizes the initiatives undertaken by the companies operating in the market including product innovation, product launches, and technological development to help their organization offer more effective products in the market. It also studies notable business events, including corporate deals, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, product launches, and brand promotions.

Get Free Sample Copy of the Report to understand the structure of the complete report https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-complementary-and-alternative-medicine-market

The report also inspects the financial standing of the leading companies, which includes gross profit, revenue generation, sales volume, sales revenue, manufacturing cost, individual growth rate, and other financial ratios.

The market is predicted to witness significant growth over the forecast period, owing to the growing consumer awareness about the benefits of Complementary And Alternative Medicine. The increase in disposable income across the key geographies has also impacted the market positively. Moreover, factors like urbanization, high population growth, and a growing middle-class population with higher disposable income are also forecasted to drive market growth.

According to the research report, one of the key challenges that might hinder the market growth is the presence of counter fit products. The market is witnessing the entry of a surging number of alternative products that use inferior ingredients.

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market Country Level Analysis:

The countries covered in the Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market report are U.S., Canada, Mexico in North America, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Rest of South America, as part of South America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Hungary, Lithuania, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Rest of Asia-Pacific in Asia-Pacific, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa, as a part of Middle East and Africa.

Check Table of Contents of This Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-complementary-and-alternative-medicine-market

Leading Complementary And Alternative Medicine manufacturers/companies operating at both regional and global levels:

Nordic Naturals, Natures Bounty, Unity Woods Yoga Center, Columbia Nutritional, First Natural Brands Ltd., Ayush Ayurveda, Sheng Chang Pharmaceutical Company, Pure Encapsulations, LLC. Quantum-Touch, and Herb Pharm, LLC among others.

Key factors influencing market growth:

Reasons for purchasing this Report from Data Bridge Market Research

Customization of the Report:

Data Bridge Market Research also provides customization options to tailor the reports as per client requirements. This report can be personalized to cater to your research needs. Feel free to get in touch with our sales team, who will ensure that you get a report as per your needs.

Thank you for reading this article. You can also get chapter-wise sections or region-wise report coverage for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

To summarize, the Complementary And Alternative Medicine report studies the contemporary market to forecast the growth prospects, challenges, opportunities, risks, threats, and the trends observed in the market that can either propel or curtail the growth rate of the industry. The market factors impacting the global sector also include provincial trade policies, international trade disputes, entry barriers, and other regulatory restrictions.

Want Full Report? Inquire here @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-complementary-and-alternative-medicine-market

About Us:

Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge Market Research provides appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.

Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude.We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rates

Contact Us:

Data Bridge Market Research

Tel: +18883872818

Email: [emailprotected]

Excerpt from:

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Market To 2027 Receive Overwhelming Hike In Revenues | Nordic Naturals, Nature's Bounty, Unity Woods Yoga...

Skip these 4 foods and drinks for a good night's rest, especially if you have sleep apnea. USA TODAY

Here's something I haven't said in 2020: I had the most wonderful dream!

Instead, the world behind my eyelids has recently been a distressingplace to wander.

I don't have nightmares, exactly, but my vivid dreams are decidedly bad. I dream that I desperately need to relieve myself but all of the toilets are broken, or they only have stalls with see-through or too-short doors, or they aren't even toilets to begin with and instead are soiled chairs in an otherwise typicalliving room.

I have dreams that Im on assignment for a story and the person I need to talk to is in pain, or Im late to the interview because of something traumatic, or I thought I was going to an interview but Im actually in school and I forgot that I had to turn in an assignment and I dont even know if Im in the right class.

I spend a third of my life sleeping. I want those eight-ish hours a night to stop being completely stressful. So, I set out to do something about it.

I decided I should become an oneironaut, someone who lucid dreams.

For those of you who have not spent spent hours reading books, perusing Reddit threads and watchingTed Talks on lucid dreaming, an oneironautis someone who explores the dream state whileexplicitly conscious that they're dreaming (though the word is not yet officially defined by Merriam Webster).

Reporter Carly Mallenbaum set out to learn how to lucid dream.(Photo: Teresa Lo)

As I understand it, lucid dreaming can be apractice of holding a mirror to yourself and facing your innermost fears. It can also be a series of scenes thought up by the dreamer, according toDeepak Chopra,renowned doctor, author and alternative medicine proponent.

Deepak Chopra's quarantine diary: He spends time lucid dreaming and doing yoga

"I basically direct my dreams," Chopra toldUSA TODAY in April. "These days I am lucid dreaming conversations with my parents long departed. Im having happy memories of my birthdays and celebrations and going to soccer and cricket matches with my parents, and holidays and laughing and remembering and feeling joyous."

Lucidity Institutepsychophysiologist Stephen LaBerge, who has spent decades researching the science behindawakening in your dreams, points to studies where the visual imagery produced duringlucid dreaming could improvephysical and mental health. For example, someone who solves a problem or confronts a fear while lucid dreaming can wake with a sense of empowerment and courage, according to the Lucidity Institute FAQs.

Sincelucid dreaming is generallyconsidered safe to attempt, that was enough to convince me to give it a try.

Plus, it turns out that some side effects of a global pandemicstaying home, limitedsocial life and sleeping more erratically and more often than ever before make for a lucid-dreaming conducive environment.

People aren't relying on alarm clocks in order to wake them up, so theres less interference to help them recall dreams, and recall is key to lucid dreaming, saysKristen LaMarca, a clinical psychologist in sleep medicine and writer of a concise new dream book, Learn to Lucid Dream.

And since people are more isolated and without their normal routines, she says, it gives themmore room to have more of an inward reflective focus.

I was all about the inward reflective focus. I was ready to do all of the things that I read were important to do in order to lucid dream: Practice more meditation (well, I mostly just did yoga on a fitness app), repeat the mantra Tonight, I will have a lucid dream in bed (when I thought of it), write down what I remember of my dreams as soon as I wake up (this I did religiously) and then go over what happened and what I would have done in that dream were I lucid in it (I did this sometimes).

Staying Apart Together: Subscribe to USA TODAY's newsletter about coping with a world changed by coronavirus

I put up sticky notes throughout my apartment that said Am I dreaming? to force myself to ask that question several times a day, with the hopes that making the inquiry would become so routine that my dream self would begin to do it, as well. I read text on a page, looked away, and then reread the text to confirm that the text hadnt changed, something that tends to happen in dreams and can be a sign to your dream self that you are not awake, LaMarca says.

After doing all of this work for a month, Istill was not lucid dreaming.

I wasnt directing any wondrous night visions in my head that connected me with a dead grandparent or put me in the center of the dreamy wedding celebration my sister had to postpone.

But Ipersisted.

According to LaMarca, having a lucid dream "could take weeks, or months, or some people dont have one after years."

I wrote down more dreams, found more themes and rehearsed more scenes.

And then I realized that a toilet I was about to use was broken and inexplicably shared a stall with another toilet.

That sounded like a dream I had before.

Actually it was a dream I was having at that moment! My dream self put this together! I waslucid dreaming!

I could confront my own anxiety, I could ask a dream person why the toilets were in disarray and figure out away to fix them. I could learn about the stressors that my dreams represented and start finding ways to address them.

I did not do any of that. Instead, I immediately forgot that I was in a dream.

But in theshort time that I was lucid, I did do one thing that I can't do in my waking life.

I danced en pointein the bathroom.

It was a wonderful moment. And I'll keep trying for more.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2020/06/18/lucid-dreaming-can-beginner-learn-do-and-erase-bad-dreams/3211461001/

Go here to read the rest:

Does lucid dreaming work? How I tried to fix bad dreams brought on by the coronavirus age - USA TODAY

Kathleen Montgomery, Guest columnist Published 8:00 a.m. CT June 19, 2020

There is a lot of misinformation out there about coronavirus. We sort the facts from falsehoods. Wochit

By rebutting a social media conspiracy, I felt I was helping disseminate accurate scientific information and naively shrugged off messages from social media influencers offering words of caution.

Like most people, I use social media mostly for keeping in touch with friends and family. I also happen to be a pathologist with a background in epidemiology. I primarily diagnose cancer and other diseases using a microscope and dont spend much time face to face with patients, but my training is well-suited to understanding the current pandemic.

When a friend sent me a conspiracy theory video about COVID-19, I decided to write a Facebook post pointing out some of its scientific inaccuracies. Five days later, my post had been shared more than 200,000 times.

Almost immediately, hundreds of private messages poured in from everyone from doctors to elephant farmers around the world. I received text messages from friends I hadnt spoken to in years thanking me for the post.

But interestingly, so many of my physician colleagues have abandoned social media altogether that the next morning, almost no one in my department had even heard of the latest conspiracy theory, let alone my post about it.

With increasing clinical demands and ever more misinformation circulating on the internet, I understand why doctors pull away, but the problem with turning our backs is that it creates an information vacuum for conspiracy theories to take root. By writing this rebuttal, I felt I was helping disseminate accurate scientific information and naively shrugged off messages from social media influencers offering words of caution.

Cars line up for coronavirus testing Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Williamson County Health Department in Franklin, Tenn.(Photo: Shelley Mays / The Tennessean)

I started receiving phone calls and pages at work from people I didnt know. Facebook accounts (whether they were actual people or automated bots, I still do not know) began commenting with photographs of dead bodies and unsettling, cryptic comments.

Others obtained and circulated my personal family photographs. I received hundreds of attacks on my credentials, accusations of being a paid shill sponsored by Big Pharma, and disparagement of my motives, expertise, and even my appearance. That night, I lay in bed with my husband asking if fighting for the truth was worth it. Was I putting our family at risk with my words?

Hear more Tennessee Voices:Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

I dont know the right answer, but in the end, I decided to lean in. This purpose was too important to abandon. I turned off comments but kept the post public and created a separate professional page with the goal of making medical science accessible to everyone.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

With so much information at our fingertips, its easy to feel like anyone can become an expert with enough time and internet research. But this is a dangerous notion. As a physician who diagnoses cancer, I have seen firsthand how medical misinformation can be deadly.

Kathleen Montgomery(Photo: Submitted)

It is not uncommon for a patient with a treatable, early-stage tumor to forego conventional surgery or chemotherapy in favor of an alternative treatment they have read about on the internet, only to return to our hospital to find that their cancer has spread to other organs and they now only have a few months to live.

Because anyone can make a video, post a compelling narrative on a professional-looking website or pay someone to provide a testimonial, any of us can fall prey to false information. This is one reason why peer-reviewed research is so valuable: it requires scientists to provide enough information about their study design and analysis methods that a panel of experts in the field, blinded to the authors of the study, will independently conclude that the research and its conclusions are scientifically valid.

Unfortunately, many peer-reviewed articles are inaccessible to the general public and there is no such review process for most of the content online.

So how can someone outside of medicine tease out truth from fiction? When you read a news story about a new scientific finding, seek out the primary source usually it will be hyperlinked in or immediately following the article, and most of the time the findings are not as conclusive as suggested.

Look out for words like may or could often stories will use phrases like this finding COULD help doctors, when referring to something that is still unproven. Be very skeptical of anyone selling supplements or books and check the credentials of anyone proclaiming to be a doctor. Even better, ask your own doctor about information that seems confusing.

If I learned one thing in medical school, it is that the human body is complex beyond our wildest imagination.

We practice evidence-based medicine, but at the end of the day, we are mere humans, trying to improve the lives of other humans. Sometimes, we make mistakes. There is a lot we have yet to learn.

But, even as we practice an imperfect art, we have a moral obligation to help others, and I believe this responsibility extends beyond the patients under our direct care. None of us can win the war against misinformation alone, but I urge my colleagues in medicine to join me in carrying the torch. Now more than ever, lives depend on it.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Kathleen Montgomery is a graduate of the Vanderbilt Medical School and has a masters of public health in epidemiology from the University of Michigan.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2020/06/19/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-drew-doctor-into-all-new-fight/3217586001/

Visit link:

One doctor found herself on the front lines of the battle against misinformation | Opinion - Tennessean

SF STATE NEWS -- Twelve outstanding graduates will be honored during San Francisco State Universitys 119th Commencement ceremony the first to be held virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, June 18, representing their more than 7,700 peers in the Class of 2020.

The honor is part of a longstanding tradition in which each of the Universitys six academic colleges selects two students, one undergraduate and one graduate, for the honor of representing their classmates during the ceremony by wearing their colleges academic hood.

Jessica Lee Dailey received her Master of Arts in Anthropology last summer. Her thesis, Choosing Resistance: Social Power and Alternative Birth Care in Sonoma County, California, explores alternative forms of prenatal and birth care and the values of practitioners and their clients who embraced alternative medicine and opposed aspects of traditional medicine. In 2018, Dailey received the Universitys Jay P. Young Excellence Award for her fieldwork. In November 2018 she presented a paper based on her thesis research at the annual American Anthropological Association conference, representing SF State on a panel about reproductive decision-making.

Dailey was one of five students accepted into a Ph.D. program in medical anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, where she began studying in the fall of 2019. For her dissertation, she is researching the complicated ways social contexts mediate access to, experiences with and health outcomes around maternity and birth care.

An accomplished violinist and pianist, Randella Louise Jones was a Deans List honoree, a recipient of the John Handy Scholarship for Jazz Studies and a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipient.

While studying abroad in Jamaica, Jones taught violin with the countrys National Youth Orchestra and conducted research into the folk music traditions of the African diaspora. She co-directs Son Umb, a youth Afro-Mexican Son Jarocho ensemble at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music. She plans to earn a teaching credential at SF State and become an elementary school music teacher. She also aspires to complete graduate work in the field of ethnomusicology.

See the rest here:

Twelve Outstanding Grads To Be Recognized at Virtual Commencement - SF State News

Aurora Aguinaldo (extreme right) with her fellow nurses in 1981 Image Credit: Supplied

Abu Dhabi: For nearly four decades, Aurora Aguinaldo has served the community in Al Ain.

The 64-year-old Filipino nurse, who has memories of tending to the young family members in the royal household, is today still helping out in the UAEs effort to combat the coronavirus.

I take it as a way of giving back to this community that has long treated me as one of its own. I put in my service every day, and I pray for Gods help to beat this virus, Aguinaldo told Gulf News.

Memories of a bygone time

She is now helping with the discharge and transfer of COVID-19 patients, but Aguionaldo armed with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Phillippine Christian University first joined the Al Ain Hospital in 1981 as a paediatric staff nurse.

I arrived with a batch of 17 nurses, all women, Aguinaldo remembered.

At the time, residents relied a lot on alternative medicine, including herbal concoctions and cupping. There was also a lot of respect given to seniors and elderly members of the community. So the head of a medical department was often the oldest, most experienced member of the staff, she said.

Meeting Sheikh Zayed

In 1986, while in charge of a royal baby, Aguinaldo was honoured to often be in the presence of the UAEs founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

He was carrying a toy snake and when he left it around, I thought it was a real one. I snatched the baby away to ensure she was safe. His Highness noticed this and laughed loudly, then assured me that it was a toy and that there was no danger, she recalled.

He was jovial and smiling, and such a humble, compassionate person, Aguinaldo added.

The long-serving nurse says she had never thought she would live to witness a pandemic.

To be honest, I was worried when I saw diabetes becoming rampant here. But I always thought that would be the worst of it. Now, this coronavirus has made us all helpless, she said.

Work with COVID-19 patients

When the virus first broke out, Aguinaldo worked directly with COVID-19 patients for a month.

I had to be in full protective gear at the hospital. It was hot and uncomfortable, and difficult to see patients in pain who could only communicate with us through sign language. But we tried to smile as much as we could, and empower one another to serve the sick, she said.

The Filipina also believes strongly in the power of prayer to beat the pandemic.

I always say that I had to cover myself in PPE and in prayer to protect myself, she said.

When it is time to go home for the day, Aguinaldo also takes precautions to protect her family, even though the steps take time. At the end of her shift, she showers at the hospital. Then, after getting home, she leaves her shoes at the door, puts her clothes in the wash and showers again.

Along with my husband and daughter, I have the privilege of having my son and his family living with me, including his two daughters aged three and one. They are all so proud of me of the work I do, and I want to make sure that they are all protected as I help ease this burden in the land we love, she said.

Even after 39 years of service, the nurse says she plans to continue working for as long as she is allowed.

I want to help release the burden of this pandemic, and see life return to normal, she said.

Read more from the original source:

Long-time nurse who worked for Sheikh Zayed continues to serve in UAE's COVID-19 fight - Gulf News

Chiropractic Medicine is an alternate form of medicine used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system by using hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative techniques. Chiropractic medicine is primarily used as an alternative to pain relief for muscles, joints, bones, or connective tissue. It can also be used sometimes in combination with the conventional medical treatment. The common and well known therapeutic procedures performed by chiropractic doctors is spinal manipulation. The technique of chiropractic medicine focuses on enabling the body to heal itself without surgery and conventional medication by restoring the mobility of joints which got restricted by tissue injury due to a traumatic event.

The goal of chiropractic medicine is to correct alignment problems, relaxes body and support bodys natural ability to heal itself. Chiropractic doctors evaluate patients through the medical examination, laboratory tests, x-rays, etc. and after taking the complete history and diagnosing a patient, the doctor describes the comprehensive treatment plan and recommend therapeutic exercise along with nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counselling. The chiropractic medicine is used to compliment or support the medical treatment but in many cases, the chiropractic therapy may be the principal method of treatment.

Get Free Sample Copy With Impact Analysis Of COVID-19 Of Market Report @https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/23116

Chiropractic Medicine Market: Drivers & Restraints

The main driving factor for the chiropractic medicine market is the relief from taking medications. Multiple studies also prove the safety of chiropractic treatments than any other commonly used medical treatments; including medications, injections and surgeries for similar conditions. These factors also drive the market for chiropractic medicine market. Along with this, increasing geriatric population, increasing openness to alternative medicines and rise in disposable income also supports the market of chiropractic medicines. However, several side effects associated with the treatment, such as, aching or soreness in the spinal joints or muscles, may restrict the market growth. Unavailability of services in low and middle income countries also restrain the global chiropractic medicine market growth.

Chiropractic Medicine market: Segmentation

By Disease Type:

By Age Group:

By End Users

The cost of chiropractic services varies from region to region and form the service type. It is one of the major three healing professions of western world. Chiropractic physicians are trained in providing diagnostic, therapeutic & rehabilitative services along with nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counselling. In context to the rising healthcare costs, the chiropractic medicine can also be seen as an inexpensive and relatively effective treatment method. The market for chiropractic medicines is growing with increasing networking and proven results. The approach followed by one practitioner decides its sales performance and helps in developing customer base.

You Can Buy This PMR Healthcare Report From Here @https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/23116

Geographically, the market for chiropractic medicine can be segmented into five regions, North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. North America has the highest market share in the global chiropractic medicine owing to the easy access to services and favorable reimbursement scenario. There are over 70,000 licensed chiropractors working in the United States today. This is followed by the European market due to the existence of many healthcare facilities providing chiropractic medicine services. Asia Pacific is expected to represent a stable growth rate during the forecast period supported by the increasing investment in healthcare facilities and rise in the healthcare spending. Latin America followed by MEA represents a slow growth rate in the chiropractic medicines market because of the out of pocket spending and less availability of these services in the region.

Some of the service providers in the chiropractic medicine include Back to Natural Chiropractic, Alberta Blue Cross, Dr. Spine Clinic, Hampstead Chiropractic Clinic, ChiroMatrix, Manors Chiropractic Clinic, Complete Care Chiropractic and Jandakot Chiropractic Clinic etc. There are however not any international service provider in the chiropractic medicine and vary from region to region.

The report covers exhaustive analysis on:

Read the original post:

Sales Revenue of Chiropractic Medicine to escalate in the Coming Years Owing to Changes in Market Dynamics During COVID 19 Pandemic - Owned

When Black Lives Matter protests started around the world, Reiki Level 3 student, Indra Gandy, decided to use her skills in the alternative healing technique to help.

"At this point, I become a conduit of positive energy," Gandy described the Reiki ritual she performed on a pier bench, a walking distance from her Staten Island home. "You are purposely giving them love and pure energy, health, stability and positive strength."

Reiki, which was developed in Japan in early 20th century, is often described as alternative medicine through energy healing.

In Japanese, the first part of the word, 'rei,' means "spiritual" and the second, 'ki,' stands for 'vital energy' or 'life force.'

Practitioners believe that a Reiki treatment can be performed from a distance.

"A Reiki practitioner doesn't actually have any secret powers," said Reiki Master Erin Tschantret. "Anyone can practice Reiki. It's really, like, if a plumber were to open up a pipe and then suddenly water can flow through it, the practitioner is the pipe in the Reiki is the water. And it works on every level, so mental, emotional, physical, spiritual."

Tschantret's client, Rachel Garbow Monroe, said distance Reiki helped her fight COVID-19.

"The first time I talked to her when I was ill, I had had almost an entire week of a fever," Rachel Garbow Monroe said. "And the next day, my fever broke."

Tschantret's another client, writer and an author of a book "Zen Bender," in which she explored many alternative healing techniques of dealing with stress, Stephanie Krikorian, said distance Reiki has been helpful in the coronavirus era.

"People are afraid, we are at the end of our rope and feeling very stressed and anxious," Krikorian said. "You can do something without being near somebody, when we're all sort of separated and trying to hunker down and things are easing up a little, but everybody is still not comfortable."

Over the past 20 years, Reiki has become more and more popular in some of the most respected American hospitals, such as Yale Cancer Center.

Story continues

"I'm not going to be the first person to tell you that there's a ton of evidence behind it," said Dr. Gary Soffer, who runs the Integrative Medicine Program at the Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Have, Connecticut. "But what I will tell you is that when we deal with patients one on one, it's really meaningful, and it's really helpful."

Several studies showed that Reiki helps diminish negative side effects of chemotherapy, recover from surgery, regulate nervous system, and deal with pain.

But there is no research paper that explains how Reiki works.

There is also no proof that healing energy can pass between people on command.

(Production: Aleksandra Michalska)

- They treating us like this.

- You are visualizing in your heart and minds the protesters, and the fear, and the anger, and all the things that are happening. And you are purposely giving them love and pure energy, health, stability, and positive strength.

- So what a Reiki practitioner does is they channel that energy to the person. So it's like you're getting flooded with this intense energy, knowledge, intelligence that knows how to get you to your best place. So it only ever works for your highest and greatest good. And it works on every level, so mental, emotional, physical, spiritual. And it helps get you back in alignment.

- I suffered both from COVID, and then a few weeks later, I had another acute illness. And she took care of being in touch with me and asking how I was doing. And you know, she believes very strongly in the power of Reiki, whether she's in the room or not.

And I leave it to you to determine the results. But I-- the first time I talked to her when I was ill, I had had almost an entire week of a fever. And she was incredibly sweet, and solicitous, and wanted to know how I was feeling and what specifically I was struggling with. And the next day, my fever broke.

- It's a great thing for the time. Distance Reiki, that you can do something without being near somebody when we're all sort of separated, and trying to hunker down. And things are easing up a little, but everybody's still not comfortable.

- The first question we ask ourselves in integrative medicine is, is this invasive? Is this going to be harmful to the patient? And then the next question is, is this helpful? Right? Is there evidence behind it?

So with Reiki, I'm not going to be the first person to tell you that there's a ton of evidence behind it. But what I will tell you is that when we deal with patients one on one, it's really meaningful, and it's really helpful. And because it's non-invasive, because it does no harm to our patients, it's a really meaningful and helpful intervention for them.

Original post:

Reiki that - how some Americans use alternative medicine to deal with stress - Yahoo News