by Paul A. Barclay  and Clint A. Bowers

Received: 27 July 2018;  Published: 07 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804024

(1) Background: Meditation is a common intervention for college students suffering from issues with anxiety. Due to this popularity, several meditation-based video games have been released which can be used to supplement or motivate meditation practice. However, these tools are not often given scrutiny in a laboratory setting before being released to the public. Our lab conducted a brief feasibility pilot study to investigate Meditation Deathmatch, an open-source meditation video game aimed at stimulating meditatio [...]

by Holly Hazlett-Stevens

Received: 20 April 2018;  Published: 29 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804023

Background: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based intervention developed to teach mindfulness meditation to a wide range of patients. Although the efficacy of MBSR has been established for a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions, measured outcomes typically are limited to anxiety, depression, and/or stress symptom measures. The current investigation examined data from patients seeking MBSR for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and/or other stress-related concerns in an outpatient men [...]

by Michael K. McMullen

Received: 09 July 2018;  Published: 28 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803022

The metabolism of fructose by the liver produces uric acid and elevated serum uric acid levels is an independent risk factor for hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Fructose occurs in fruits and fruit juices, honey and in the sweeteners sucrose (common white sugar) and High Fructose Corn Syrup. Dietary fructose may be considered a naturally occurring toxin because it is largely metabolised by the liver with little fructose reaching the systemic blood circulation beyond the liver. Uric acid [...]

by Hideya Mizuno  , Ayako Taketomi  and Toshikatsu Nakabayashi

Received: 27 June 2018;  Published: 27 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803021

St. John’s wort (SJW), or Hypericum perforatum, is a perennial herb that is used for the treatment of depression in several countries. However, its effects in other common conditions, such as the metabolic syndrome, have not been elucidated. Some studies have investigated the effects of SJW extract on differentiation of adipocytes, inflammation, and glucose metabolism. In this review, we summarize these studies and show the following: SJW enhances differentiation of adipocytes via activation of peroxisome prolifera [...]

by Methee Phumthum  and Henrik Balslev

Received: 25 April 2018;  Published: 24 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803020

(1) Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and a serious global health problem. Over 400 million people suffer from diabetes and it is estimated that the number will dramatically increase in the future. The cost of diabetes treatment for a single patient is very high. However, traditional knowledge could support poor patients for their diabetes treatments. Here, we identify medicinal plants that were useful for treatments of diabetes based on Thai ethnobotanical knowledge. (2) Methods: We present a meta-analy [...]

by BAGOT Jean-Lionel

Received: 31 May 2018;  Published: 15 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803019

Background: After fatigue, pain is one of the major complaints from cancer patients. Regular use of Class 1 analgesics may cause side effects and is not always sufficient to relieve pain. Homeopathy is the complementary and integrative medicine most frequently used in France in supportive care in oncology (SCO). What is its place in the treatment of pain? Method: Extraction and analysis of results concerning pain from three surveys, two of which were carried out in France, on the main indications of homeopathy in S [...]

by Alexandra Koulouris  , Kathleen Dorado  , Christina McDonnell  , Robert R. Edwards  and Asimina Lazaridou

Received: 27 June 2018;  Published: 05 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803018

Abstract: (1) Background: This paper presents a review of the evidence regarding the efficacy and impact of yoga and meditation-based interventions among patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Patients who suffer from RA express a variety of symptoms that negatively impact their physical functioning and performance in social roles. Yoga and meditation-based therapies have been previously used to treat chronic pain conditions and other persisting disorders in affected populations. The suitability and effectivene [...]

by Elio Rossi  , Cristina Noberasco  , Marco Picchi  , Mariella Di Stefano  , Linda Nurra  , Antonella Rossi  and Leonardo Ventura

Received: 28 March 2018;  Published: 03 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803017

Background. To face adverse-effects of anti-cancer treatment, the Homeopathic Clinic of Lucca, in collaboration with the Oncology Department, has set up an Integrative Oncology Outpatient Unit in the Public Hospital Campo di Marte, Aim. To present the results of complementary medicine (CM) treatment targeted towards reducing the adverse effects of anti-cancer therapy and cancer symptoms and improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Methods. This is a retrospective observational study conducted on 2 [...]

by Peter Morrell

Received: 06 June 2018;  Published: 23 August 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803016

This paper explores some of the conceptual issues that bedevil any attempt to compare home-opathy with the mainstream medical system, both in terms of their underpinning philosophies and in their treatment methods, and especially when applied to the problem of cancer. A review is undertaken of the key concepts that underpin both medical approaches and the holistic approach of homeopathy is viewed as more naturalistic than—and thus superior to—the reductionist approach of allopathic medicine. This view is upheld as [...]

by Fraser L.E. Fisher  and Aileen M. Pidgeon

Received: 10 July 2018;  Published: 21 August 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1803015

Elevated levels of psychological distress in university students is a growing area of concern as it is associated with a variety of consequences including mental illness symptoms, absenteeism, and poor academic performance. A growing body of research has indicated that resilience in university students is associated with reduced psychological distress and perceived stress. The construct of resilience and the factors that contribute to its development are not well understood, hampering the development of effective i [...]