Abstract

Manuka tree is indigenous to New Zealand, and its essential oil has been used as a traditional medicine to treat wounds, fever, and pain. Although there is a growing interest in the use of manuka oil for antiaging skin care products, little is known about its bioactivity. Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the primary environmental factor causing skin damage and consequently premature aging. Therefore, we evaluated manuka oil for its effects against photoaging in UV-B-irradiated hairless mice. Topical application of manuka oil suppressed the UV-B-induced increase in skin thickness and wrinkle grading in a dose-dependent manner. Application of 10% manuka oil reduced the average length, depth, and % area of wrinkles significantly, and this was correlated with inhibition of loss of collagen fiber content and epidermal hyperplasia. Furthermore, we observed that manuka oil could suppress UV-B-induced skin inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines.  Taken together, this study provides evidence that manuka oil indeed possesses antiphotoaging activity, and this is associated with its inhibitory activity against skin inflammation induced by UV irradiation.

Results

1. Topical Application of Manuka Oil Inhibits UV-B Irradiation-Induced Skin Thickening and Wrinkle Formation in Hairless Mice
2. Manuka Oil Suppresses Epidermal Hyperplasia and Prevents the Loss of Fiber Collagen Content in the Skin of UV-B-Exposed Hairless Mice
3. Manuka Oil Inhibits the Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Suppresses the Infiltration of Macrophages in UV-B-Irradiated Mouse Skin

Conclusion

We provide evidence that manuka oil can attenuate cutaneous photoaging in a controlled study with the help of UV-B-irradiated hairless mouse model. We suggest antioxidant chemicals and sesquiterpene compounds in manuka oil to underlie such an effect. Therefore, our work supports that manuka oil can be used in the formulation of skin care and functional cosmetic products.

The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, now in its 5th edition (DSM-5), from the American Psychiatric Association has sparked controversy on many fronts and from many groups.

The book is often referred to as the “psychiatric bible” and is the guide by which most psychiatric professionals base their diagnosis and which many insurance companies use as their reference for coverage.

The new revisions of the manual, which released earlier this month, includes no less than 15 new diagnoses for mental illnesses and eliminates and combines many others from the previous, fourth edition.

15 New Mental Illnesses in the DSM-5

Binge Eating Disorder
One of the less controversial new entries, this disorder is similar to other eating disorders but is not the same as overeating or bulimia. The disorder is characterized by eating large amounts of food, usually when alone, very quickly, often to the point of creating physical pain.

Caffeine Withdrawal
Controversial, to say the least, critics often include those who have had serious addictions to illicit drugs, alcohol, or nicotine who scoff at the idea that caffeine can have much of a withdrawal effect. Nevertheless, this is one of the appendices to DSM-IV that is now official in DSM-5.

Cannabis Withdrawal
Similar to caffeine above, this one has generated much controversy. Some studies have shown that marijuana addiction, though not necessarily serious, does likely exist in some users. It can now be treated in a way similar to how withdrawal from other prescribed drugs are handled.

Central Sleep Apnea
One of the major revamps the DSM-5 makes is to separate and make more clear many sleep disorders. This new disorder is not actually new, just more precise, and is meant to match current medical knowledge of sleep disorders.

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
Often mistaken for ADHD, this is a disorder in children marked by impulsive, inattentive behavior. It has been removed from Reactive Attachment Disorder, as the American Psychiatry Association says it may not actually include a lack of attachments.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Limited to children under 18, it is meant for kids with chronic temper tantrums defined as “extreme, explosive rages.”

Excoriation (Skin-picking) Disorder
Added to the list of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs), this condition is characterized by the chronic picking or scratching of skin. Enough so that if it causes wounds (scabs), it is a disorder when not a symptom of another disorder.

Hoarding Disorder
The subject of much commentary and late night jokes, Hoarding Disorder is considered very real by many psychologists and is defined as “persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save the items and distress associated with discarding them.”

Major Neucognitive Disorder with Lewy Body Disease and Mild Neurocognitive Disorder
This long-named disorder is an expansion of the dementia section of the DSM. This is actually more than one diagnosis, with Major being more severe than Mild, and matches the similar diagnoses given by neurologists.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Destined to provoke outrage from some groups and be the butt of jokes for others, this disorder has symptoms similar to but much more severe than Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder
Often called REM Behavior Disorder, this is characterized by not just sleepwalking but also acting out dreams while doing so. It was brought to the fore by comedian Mike Birbiglia in his autobiographical film Sleepwalk with Me in 2012.

Restless Leg Syndrome
Long known and recognized unofficially by psychiatrists and medical professionals, Restless Leg Syndrome is only now getting official recognition in the DSM. Also called the Willis-Ekbom Disease, it affects up to 10 percent of people in the U.S.

Sleep-related Hypoventilation
Similar to Central Sleep Apnea, this is a new designation for specific symptoms that were formerly included as part of other, larger, less precise sleep disorders.

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Withdrawal
This is a speech or written language problem that is unrelated to autism or diminished cognitive ability, with symptoms including “inappropriate responses in conversation.”

A new study from Kaiser Permanente examined how social relationships can influence the quality of life in breast cancer patients. The study examined how pain and other physical symptoms were measured in women with high or low social interaction during their treatment and recovery.

A growing number of studies are looking at quality of life for cancer patients, showing that medicine is beginning to see a broader connection in whole health.

The Pathways study at Kaiser included 3,139 women in Northern California who were newly-diagnosed with breast cancer between 2006 and 2011. Within two months of their diagnosis, the patients were given several detailed questionnaires on their social networks (friends, family, etc). They also answered questions on other support they received outside of that network (such as professional counseling) as well as tangible support from any source (help with housework, etc).

The women who had the highest levels of social integration, or the largest networks, usually reported the best overall quality of life during breast cancer treatment and recovery. In all types and stages of breast cancer, those who had the largest networks were more likely to report a higher quality of life as well.

“This study provides research-based evidence that social support helps with physical symptoms. Social support mechanisms matter in terms of physical outcomes,” said lead author Candyce H Kroenke, staff scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.

Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today.  Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies.  In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant has revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects. This entire database of 1,585 ncbi-hyperlinked turmeric abstracts can be downloaded as a PDF at our Downloadable Turmeric Document page, and acquired either as a retail item or with 200 GMI-tokens, for those of you who are already are members and receive them automatically each month.

Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice, it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including:

• Lipitor/Atorvastatin(cholesterol medication): A 2008 study published in the journal Drugs in R & D found that a standardized preparation of curcuminoids from Turmeric compared favorably to the drug atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor) on endothelial dysfunction, the underlying pathology of the blood vessels that drives atherosclerosis, in association with reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients. [i]  [For additioncurcumin and 'high cholesterol' research – 8 abstracts]
• Corticosteroids (steroid medications): A 1999 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that the primary polyphenol in turmeric, the saffron colored pigment known as curcumin, compared favorably to steroids in the management of chronic anterior uveitis, an inflammatory eye disease.[ii]  A 2008 study published in Critical Care Medicine found that curcumin compared favorably to the corticosteroid drug dexamethasone in the animal model as an alternative therapy for protecting lung transplantation-associated injury by down-regulating inflammatory genes.[iii] An earlier 2003 study published in Cancer Letters found the same drug also compared favorably to dexamethasone in a lung ischaemia-repurfusion injury model.[iv] [for additional curcumin and inflammation research – 52 abstracts]

Read more here.

A new study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology tested the theory that taking low doses of an allergen could actually help build a tolerance to it.

Researchers tested 40 peanut allergic children and adults to determine the maximum amount of peanut they could take before an allergic reaction took place. They then gave half of them minuscule quantities of peanut powder daily, gradually increasing doses. The other half got a placebo.

After nearly a year (44 weeks), 14 of the 20 who received the peanuts were able to tolerate more than 10 times as much peanut as they were at the beginning of the study. Only three of those given a placebo could make the same claim. Many receiving the peanut powder showed a 100-fold or higher tolerance increase.

Don’t Try This at Home

Obviously, this worked very well in the lab, but you shouldn’t try this at home. The researchers say the results are preliminary as the test group was relatively small and they did place limits on how much peanut they would expose anyone to regardless of how much more tolerant they appeared to be – even with that limit, one participant still required an EpiPen. The next step would be to use the same program on a much larger, more representative test group.

Severe Allergies May Improve Most

The findings do suggest, however, that this type of therapy may be a way some peanut allergy suffers can better protect themselves in a world where peanuts seem to be in everything. Those who have the most severe reactions may see the most benefit. What’s more, this idea may be replicable to many other situations. Even common allergies such as hay fever could be helped.

You can read more about the study at The National Institutes of Health.

A benign virus (one that does not cause disease on infection) has been found to kill breast cancer cells in vitro. A Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine team has tested an adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) on three different human breast cancer types in vitro and found that they were all targeted by the virus.

The team hopes that this discovery could lead to pathways to triggering cancerous cell death. They are studying how the virus targets cancer cells and hope to mimic that with targets for anti-cancer drugs.

An initial findings paper was published in Molecular Cancer by the team, showing that earlier and current studies into AAV2 have shown how the virus promotes cell death in cervical and now breast cancer cells.

The virus causes the cells to apoptosis (cell suicide), which is something that cancer cells normally do not do and is part of what makes them cancerous. The team believes that AAV2 may target many types of cancer, including most forms of breast cancer, and so may be useful in finding a way to treat many cancers.

Adding omega-3 fatty acids did not improve a combination of nutritional supplements commonly recommended for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of vision loss among older Americans, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The plant-derived antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin also had no overall effect on AMD when added to the combination; however, they were safer than the related antioxidant beta-carotene, according to the study published online today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Millions of older Americans take nutritional supplements to protect their sight without clear guidance regarding benefit and risk,” said NEI director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. “This study clarifies the role of supplements in helping prevent advanced AMD, an incurable, common, and devastating disease that robs older people of their sight and independence.”

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which was led by NIH’s National Eye Institute and concluded in 2001, established that daily high doses of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and the minerals zinc and copper — called the AREDS formulation — can help slow the progression to advanced AMD. The American Academy of Ophthalmology now recommends use of the AREDS formulation to reduce the risk of advanced AMD. However, beta-carotene use has been linked to a heightened risk of lung cancer in smokers. And there have been concerns that the high zinc dose in AREDS could cause minor side effects, such as stomach upset, in some people.

In 2006 the NEI launched AREDS2, a five-year study designed to test whether the original AREDS formulation could be improved by adding omega-3 fatty acids; adding lutein and zeaxanthin; removing beta-carotene; or reducing zinc. The study also examined how different combinations of the supplements performed. Omega-3 fatty acids are produced by plants, including algae, and are present in oily fish such as salmon. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids, a class of plant-derived vitamins that includes beta-carotene; both are present in leafy green vegetables and, when consumed, they accumulate in the retina. Prior studies had suggested that diets high in lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids protect vision. Before the AREDS2 study finished, manufacturers began marketing supplements based on the study design.

In AREDS2, participants took one of four AREDS formulations daily for five years. The original AREDS included 500 milligrams vitamin C, 400 international units of vitamin E, 15 milligrams beta carotene, 80 milligrams zinc, and two milligrams copper. Other groups took AREDS with no beta-carotene, AREDS with low zinc (25 milligrams), or AREDS with no beta-carotene and low zinc. Participants in each AREDS group also took one of four additional supplements or combinations: These included lutein/zeaxanthin (10 milligrams/ 2 milligrams), omega-3 fatty acids (1,000 milligrams), lutein/zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids, or placebo. Progression to advanced AMD was established by examination of retina photographs or treatment for advanced AMD.

AMD breaks down cells in the layer of tissue called the retina in the back of the eye that provide sharp central vision, which is necessary for tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Advanced AMD can lead to significant vision loss and, in the United States, is the leading cause of blindness. About 2 million Americans have advanced AMD; another 8 million are at risk.

In the first AREDS trial, participants with AMD who took the AREDS formulation were 25 percent less likely to progress to advanced AMD over the five-year study period, compared with participants who took a placebo. In AREDS2, there was no overall additional benefit from adding omega-3 fatty acids or a 5-to-1 mixture of lutein and zeaxanthin to the formulation. However, the investigators did find some benefits when they analyzed two subgroups of participants: those not given beta-carotene, and those who had very little lutein and zeaxanthin in their diets.

“When we looked at just those participants in the study who took an AREDS formulation with lutein and zeaxanthin but no beta-carotene, their risk of developing advanced AMD over the five years of the study was reduced by about 18 percent, compared with participants who took an AREDS formulation with beta-carotene but no lutein or zeaxanthin,” said Emily Chew, M.D., deputy director of the NEI Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications and the NEI deputy clinical director. “Further analysis showed that participants with low dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin at the start of the study, but who took an AREDS formulation with lutein and zeaxanthin during the study, were about 25 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD compared with participants with similar dietary intake who did not take lutein and zeaxanthin.”

Because carotenoids can compete with each other for absorption in the body, beta-carotene may have masked the effect of the lutein and zeaxanthin in the overall analysis, Chew said. Indeed, participants who took all three nutrients had lower levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in their blood compared to participants who took lutein and zeaxanthin without beta-carotene

Removing beta-carotene from the AREDS formulation did not curb the formulation’s protective effect against developing advanced AMD, an important finding because several studies have linked taking high doses of beta-carotene with a higher risk of lung cancer in smokers. Although smokers were not given a formulation with beta-carotene in AREDS2, the study showed an association between beta-carotene and risk of lung cancer among former smokers. About half of AREDS2 participants were former smokers. “Removing beta-carotene simplifies things,” said Wai T. Wong, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the NEI Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease Unit and a co-author of the report. “We have identified a formulation that should be good for everyone regardless of smoking status,” he said. Adding omega-3 fatty acids or lowering zinc to the AREDS formulation also had no effect on AMD progression.

Read more here.

Seasonal allergies, also called “hay fever,” are triggered each spring, summer, and fall when trees, weeds, and grasses release pollen into the air. When the pollen ends up in your nose and throat, it can bring on sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and itchy eyes and throat. Pollen counts tend to be the highest early in the morning on warm, dry, breezy days and the lowest during chilly, wet periods. People manage seasonal allergies by taking medication, avoiding exposure to the substances that trigger their allergic reactions, or having a series of “allergy shots” (a form of immunotherapy).

People also try various complementary approaches to manage their allergies. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, “respiratory allergy” is among the 15 conditions for which children in the United States most often use complementary approaches. If you are considering any complementary health approach for the relief of seasonal allergy symptoms, here are some things you need to know.

1. Nasal saline irrigation. There is reasonably good evidence that saline nasal irrigation (putting salt water into one nostril and draining it out the other) can be useful for modest improvement of allergy symptoms. Nasal irrigation is generally safe; however, neti pots and other rinsing devices must be used and cleaned properly. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tap water that is not filtered, treated, or processed in specific ways is not safe for use as a nasal rinse.
2. Butterbur extract. There are hints that the herb butterbur may decrease the symptoms associated with nasal allergies. However, there are concerns about its safety.
3. Honey. Only a few studies have looked at the effects of honey on seasonal allergy symptoms, and there is no convincing scientific evidence that honey provides symptom relief. Eating honey is generally safe; however, children under 1 year of age should not eat honey. People who are allergic to pollen or bee stings may also be allergic to honey.
4. Acupuncture. Only a few small studies have been conducted on acupuncture for relief of seasonal allergy symptoms, and the limited scientific evidence currently available has not shown acupuncture to be beneficial in treating seasonal allergies.
5. Talk to your health care provider. If you suffer from seasonal allergies and are considering a complementary health approach, talk to your health care provider about the best ways to manage your symptoms. You may find that when the pollen count is high, staying indoors, wearing a mask, or rinsing off when you come inside can help.

Most psychiatrists and mental health experts are aware that a person’s environment – the things happening around them and to them – are often as influential in their mental disorders as are anything physical or genetic.

With the rising rate of mental health diagnoses among North Americans, however, questions about how much of that is environmental are being asked more often.

A recent collaboration of research between several prominent universities in the U.S. is asking not only whether environmental factors are to blame, but also whether the rise in diagnosis rates may be due to problems with the psychiatric manual itself.

The team, made up of researchers from New York University, Columbia University, the University of California at Berkeley, and Rutgers University argues that the DSM-5 – the new version of the “psychiatric bible” for diagnosis – may have missed critical population-level and social determinants of mental health disorders and their diagnoses. This would mean that the DSM is mischaracterizing the rates of some afflictions.

Read more here.

Abstract

Background. This pilot study examined the feasibility and efficacy of providing Qigong treatment in a health center to Chinese Americans with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods. Fourteen Chinese Americans with MDD were enrolled, and they received a 12-week Qigong intervention. The key outcome measurement was the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17); the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) and -Improvement (CGI-I), the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were also administered. Positive response was defined as a decrease of 50% or more on the HAM-D17, and remission was defined as HAM-D17 ? 7. Patients’ outcome measurements were compared before and after the Qigong intervention. Results. Participants (N=14) were 64% female, with a mean age of 53 (±14). A 71% of participants completed the intervention. The Qigong intervention resulted in a positive treatment-response rate of 60% and a remission rate of 40% and statistically significant improvement, as measured by the HAM-D17, CGI-S, CGI-I, Q-LES-Q-SF, and the family support subscale of the MSPSS. Conclusions. The Qigong intervention provided at a health care setting for the treatment of primary care patients with MDD is feasible. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.

Introduction

1.1. Depression and Disparities in Treatment among Chinese Americans

There are tremendous racial health disparities in the treatment of depression [1]. Ethnic minorities face both practical and cultural barriers to mental health care. Asian Americans frequently lack the resources to seek help, suffer from language barriers, and hold strong stigma towards psychiatric illnesses, leading to the undertreatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) [2]. There is a pressing need for culturally sanctioned interventions for depressed Asian Americans.

1.2. Qigong for the Treatment of Depression

Qigong is a form of exercise that incorporates orchestrated body postures, breath practices, and meditation to attain deeply focused and relaxed states [3]. The Qigong practices are thought to activate naturally occurring physiological and psychological mechanisms of self-repair and health recovery [4]. Most Qigong forms involve slow gentle movements that can be easily adapted and are thus appropriate for people of all ages, fitness levels, and physical conditions. Furthermore, Qigong is relatively inexpensive and easy to learn and requires very little space to practice.

The health effects of Qigong have been reported in various populations with chronic conditions, including high blood pressure [5, 6], bone loss [7], and cardiac disease rehabilitation [8]. While there is increasing evidence on the benefits of the Qigong practice for physical symptoms, its effects on psychological symptoms have yet to be established. Preliminary research has shown Qigong’s beneficial effects on a range of psychological well-being measures, including mood, anxiety/depression, general stress management, and quality of life [9–12], but most of the studies recruited healthy subjects or patients with a chronic medical condition but not patients diagnosed with MDD. It has been proposed that Qigong, as a mind-body group exercise, is useful for self-management of depression by alleviating the stress effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, decreasing negative thoughts, and increasing social support [13, 14].

In this study, we examined the feasibility and safety of offering Qigong at a health center for Chinese Americans with MDD as a stress management technique. We hypothesize that it is feasible and safe to use Qigong for treating Chinese Americans with MDD in a health care setting and that Qigong is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and improving social functioning, based on standardized questionnaires on depression, quality of life, and social support as perceived by the patient.

Results

Fourteen Chinese Americans with MDD were enrolled in the study (64% female, mean age 53 +- 14). The baseline and demographic characteristics of participants are listed in Table 1. Most participants had positive expectations that Qigong would help their depression (“not helpful”: 0%, “maybe”: 64%, “yes”: 29%, and “definitely”: 7%). Ten (71%) participants completed the intervention, based on having attended more than 15 (62.5%) sessions. No adverse events due to the Qigong intervention were reported. The participants showed a lot of enthusiasm in class. During the 10-minute intermission time, they were eager to share learning experience with their peer participants and asked the instructor questions on the theories and technical aspects of Qigong. Participants reported practicing Qigong on the average four days a week at home (4.0 +_ 2.0) both at week 6 and week 12 assessments, which exceeded our expectation of three days a week of home practice.

At baseline, patients had an average HAM-D17 score of 21.4, which corresponded to being moderately depressed [18]. The Qigong intervention resulted in a positive treatment-response rate of 60% and a remission rate of 40%, and statistically significant improvement in HAM-D17…

Read the entire study here.