Integrative Medicine Alert
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Sleeping Away Dementia
In this long-term observational study of sleep efficiency in the Framingham Heart Study population, researchers found a strong correlation between a decline in duration of slow-wave sleep during aging and the risk of incident dementia from all causes. However, a direct cause-and-effect relationship cannot be determined from this observational study.
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Racing Against Depression and Anxiety: Measuring Running vs. Antidepressant Therapy
This prospective study blending randomization with preference compared a running program with antidepressant therapy in adults with depression or anxiety and showed an improvement in mental health in both arms. However, physical health parameters increased only in the running group.
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Searching for Step Counts: Defining Goals for Daily Exercise
A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of the association of step counts and cadence with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events showed the benefits in these outcomes are statistically significant, at about 2,600 steps/day and peak at about 8,000 steps/day. Also, faster step cadence augments these benefits.
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Can Turmeric Help Handle Heartburn?
In a randomized controlled trial, curcumin demonstrated comparable efficacy to omeprazole in treating dyspepsia and acid reflux.
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Empowered Relief vs. CBT vs. Health Education for Low Back Pain
This randomized clinical trial involving adults with chronic low back pain demonstrates that a single session of a pain management class, when compared to a full course of cognitive behavioral therapy, yields noninferior (clinically on par) outcomes in pain catastrophizing and several other measures at the three-month follow-up.
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Exploring the Mixed Messages of Research Regarding Alcohol
The authors of a large systematic review and meta-analysis concluded there is no health benefit from moderate alcohol intake.
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Can Antidepressants Help Patients Manage Chronic Pain?
Antidepressant medications have been widely used for treating a variety of chronic pain disorders, but strong evidence to support their efficacy is lacking. Some patients may respond, but available data do not help us determine which agents may be helpful in a specific type of chronic pain condition.
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Oils, Fats, and Mortality: Examining Fats’ Effects on Health and Longevity
This comprehensive prospective study reveals that, compared to non-consumers, individuals using butter and/or margarine have an elevated total mortality rate, while those incorporating canola and/or olive oil into their diets exhibit a reduced total mortality risk.
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Searching for a Neuroprotective Agent in Celery Seed Oil
A Phase III double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, controlled trial suggests that early administration of DL-3-n-butylphthalide, when given adjunctively to thrombolysis or endovascular therapy, improves functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Statistically significant results of well-designed analyses are tantalizing, but confidence in the findings is tempered by a lack of generalizability, an unclear mechanism of action, and trial design irregularities.
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Can Internet Use Prevent Dementia?
In an ongoing longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of dementia-free adults age 50 to 64.9 years, regular internet users experienced approximately half the risk of dementia compared with non-regular users.