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Many different areas make up the practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In addition, many parts of one field may overlap with the parts of another field. For example, acupuncture is also used in conventional medicine. In the U.S., CAM is used by about 38% of adults and 12% of children. Examples of CAM include:
Traditional alternative medicine. This field includes the more mainstream and accepted forms of therapy, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and Oriental practices. These therapies have been practiced for centuries worldwide. Traditional alternative medicine may include:
Body. Touch has been used in medicine since the early days of medical care. Healing by touch is based on the idea that illness or injury in one area of the body can affect all parts of the body. If, with manual manipulation, the other parts can be brought back to optimum health, the body can fully focus on healing at the site of injury or illness. Body techniques are often combined with those of the mind. Examples of body therapies include:
Diet and herbs. Over the centuries, man has gone from a simple diet consisting of meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains, to a diet that often consists of foods rich in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. Nutritional excess and deficiency have become problems in today's society, both leading to certain chronic diseases. Many dietary and herbal approaches attempt to balance the body's nutritional well-being. Dietary and herbal approaches may include:
External energy. Some people believe external energies from objects or other sources directly affect a person's health. An example of external energy therapy is:
Mind. Even standard or conventional medicine recognizes the power of the connection between mind and body. Studies have found that people heal better if they have good emotional and mental health. Therapies using the mind may include:
Senses. Some people believe the senses, touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste, can affect overall health. Examples of therapies incorporating the senses include:
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Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
What are herbal supplements?
Products made from botanicals, or plants, that are used to treat diseases or tomaintain health are called herbal products, botanical products, or phytomedicines.A product made from plants and used solely for internal use is called an herbal supplement.
Many prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines are alsomade from plant products, but these products contain only purified ingredients and are regulated by the FDA. Herbal supplements may contain entire plants or plant parts.
Herbal supplements come in all forms: dried, chopped, powdered, capsule, or liquid, and can be used in various ways, including:
Swallowed as pills, powders, or tinctures
Brewed as tea
Applied to the skin as gels, lotions, or creams
Added to bath water
The practice of using herbal supplements dates back thousands of years. Today, the use of herbal supplements is common among American consumers. However, they are not for everyone. Because they are not subject to close scrutiny by the FDA, or other governing agencies, the use of herbal supplements remains controversial. It is best to consult yourdoctor about any symptoms or conditions you have and to discuss the use of herbal supplements.
The FDA considers herbal supplements foods, not drugs. Therefore, they are not subject to the same testing, manufacturing, and labeling standards and regulations as drugs.
Youcan now see labels that explain how herbs can influence different actions in the body. However, herbal supplement labels can't refer to treating specific medical conditions. This is because herbal supplements are not subject to clinical trials or to the same manufacturing standards as prescription or traditional over-the-counter drugs.
For example, St. John's wort is a popular herbal supplement thought to be useful for treating depression in some cases. A product label on St. John's wort might say, "enhances mood," but it cannot claim to treat a specific condition, such as depression.
Herbal supplements, unlike medicines, are not required to be standardized to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Some manufacturers may use the word standardized on a supplement label, but it does not necessarily mean the same thing from one manufacturer to the next.
Herbal supplements can interact with conventional medicines or have strong effects.Do not self-diagnose. Talk to yourdoctor before taking herbal supplements.
Educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about the herbs you are taking by consulting yourdoctor and contacting herbal supplement manufacturers for information.
If you use herbal supplements, follow label instructions carefully and use the prescribed dosage only. Never exceed the recommended dosage, and seek out information about who should not take the supplement.
Work with a professional. Seek out the services of a trained and licensed herbalist or naturopathic doctor who has extensive training in this area.
Watch for side effects. If symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, or upset stomach,occur, reduce the dosage or stop taking the herbal supplement.
Be alert for allergic reactions. A severe allergic reaction can cause trouble breathing. If such a problem occurs, call 911 or the emergency number in your area for help.
Research the company whose herbs you are taking. All herbal supplements are not created equal, and it is best to choose a reputable manufacturer's brand. Ask yourself:
Is the manufacturer involved in researching its own herbal products or simply relying on the research efforts of others?
Does the product make outlandish or hard-to-prove claims?
Does the product label give information about the standardized formula, side effects, ingredients, directions, and precautions?
Is label information clear and easy to read?
Is there a toll-free telephone number, an address, or a website address listed so consumers can find out more information about the product?
The following list of common herbal supplements is for informational purposes only. Talk to yourdoctor to discuss specific your medical conditions or symptoms. Do not self-diagnose, and talk to yourdoctor before taking any herbal supplements.
It is important to remember that herbal supplements are not subject to regulation by the FDA and, therefore, have not been tested in an FDA-approved clinical trial to prove their effectiveness in the treatment or management of medical conditions. Talk to yourdoctor about your symptoms and discuss herbal supplements before use.
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Herbal Medicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the practice of penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles which are then activated through gentle and specific movements of the practitioner's hands or with electrical stimulation.
Acupuncture is part of the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe the human body has more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by pathways or meridians. These pathways create an energy flow (Qi, pronounced "chee") through the body that is responsible for overall health. Disruption of the energy flow can cause disease. By applying acupuncture to certain points, it is thought to improvethe flow of Qi, thereby improving health.
Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective for a variety of conditions.
Acupuncture is not for everyone. If you choose to see an acupuncturist, discuss it with yourdoctor first and find a practitioner who is licensed as having proper training and credentials.
Acupuncture is done usinghair-thin needles. Most people report feeling minimal pain as the needle is inserted.The needle is inserted to a pointthat produces a sensation of pressure or ache. Needles may be heated during the treatment or mild electriccurrent may be applied to them.Some people report acupuncture makes them feel energized. Others say they feel relaxed.
Improper placement of the needle can causepain during treatment. Needles must be sterilizedto prevent infection.That is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner. The FDA regulates acupuncture needles just as it does other medical devices under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility.
Instead of needles, other forms of stimulation are sometimes used over the acupuncture points, including:
Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) studieshave shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment alone or in combination with conventional therapies to treat the following:
It may also helpwith stroke rehabilitation.
Many Americans seek acupuncture treatment for relief of chronic pain, such as arthritis or low back pain. Acupuncture, however, has expanded uses in other parts of the world. Before considering acupuncture, talk to yourdoctor. Conditions that may benefit from acupuncture include the following:
Because scientific studies have not fully explained how acupuncture works within the framework of Western medicine, acupuncture remains a source of controversy. It is important to take precautions when deciding about acupuncture.
Discuss acupuncture with yourdoctor first. Acupuncture is not for everyone. Discuss all the treatments and medicines (dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter) you are taking. If you have a pacemaker, are at risk for infection, havechronic skin problems,are pregnant, or have breast or other implants, be sure to tell your doctor. Acupuncture may be risky to your health if you fail to mention these matters.
Do not rely on a diagnosis of disease by an acupuncture practitioner. If you have received a diagnosis from a doctor, you may wish to ask him or her whether acupuncture might help.
Choose a licensed acupuncture practitioner. Your owndoctor may be a good resource for referrals to a licensed or certified practitioner. Friends and family members may also be good sources of referrals. You do not have to be a doctor to practice acupuncture or to become a certified acupuncturist. About 30 states have established training standards for certification in acupuncture, although not all states require acupuncturists to get a license to practice. Although not all certified acupuncturists are doctors, the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture can provide a referral list of doctors who practice acupuncture.
Consider costs and insurance coverage. Before starting treatment, ask the acupuncturist about the number of treatments needed and how much the treatments will cost. Some insurers cover the cost ofacupuncture while others do not. It is important to know before you start treatment whether acupuncture is covered by your insurance.
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Acupuncture | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Ayurveda, a natural system of medicine, originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. The term Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus,Ayurveda translates to knowledge of life. Based on the idea that disease is due to an imbalance or stress in a person's consciousness, Ayurveda encourages certain lifestyle interventions and natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment.
Ayurveda treatment starts with an internal purification process, followed by a special diet, herbal remedies, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation.
The concepts of universal interconnectedness, the body's constitution (prakriti), and life forces (doshas) are the primary basis of ayurvedic medicine. Goals of treatment aid the person by eliminating impurities, reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, reducing worry, and increasing harmony in life. Herbs and other plants, including oils and common spices, are used extensively in Ayurvedic treatment.
In India, Ayurveda is considered a form of medical care, equal to conventional Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathic medicine, and homeopathic medicine. Practitioners of Ayurveda in India undergo state-recognized, institutionalized training. Currently, Ayurvedic practitioners are not licensed in the United States, and there is no national standard for Ayurvedic training or certification. However, Ayurvedic schools have gained approval as educational institutions in some states.
Ayurveda can have positive effects when used as a complementary therapy in combination with standard, conventional medical care.
Many Ayurvedic materials have not been thoroughly studied in either Western or Indian research. Some of the products used in Ayurvedic medicine contain herbs, metals, minerals, or other materials that may be harmful if used improperly or without the direction of a trained practitioner.Ayurvedic medicines are regulated as dietary supplements rather than as drugs in the United States, so they are not required to meet the safety and efficacy standards for conventional medicines. These medicines can interact, or work against,the effects of Western medicines. Investigate the training and background of Ayurvedic practitioners whom you intend to use.
It's important to discuss any Ayurvedic treatments that you use with your doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing, or people who are thinking of using Ayurvedic therapy to treat a child, shouldconsult their healthcare provider. It is important to make sure that any diagnosis of a disease or condition has been made by a healthcare provider who has substantial conventional medical training and experience with managing that disease or condition. While Ayurveda can have positive effects when used as a complementary therapy in combination with standard, conventional medical care,it should not replace standard, conventional medical care, especially when treating serious conditions.
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Ayurveda | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Essential oils have been getting a lot of buzz recently for helping witheverything from headaches to sleep to sore throats. But do theseconcentrated plant-based oils work?
Essential oils can make a positive impact on your health and well-being as long as you use them in a safe way.
Want to give essential oils a try? Learn what conditions they may helptreat and how to find quality essential oils, since not all products arecreated equal.
Essential oils are basically plant extracts. They're made by steaming orpressing various parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves or fruit) tocapture the compounds that produce fragrance. It can take several pounds ofa plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil. In addition tocreating scent, essential oils perform other functions in plants, too.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeuticbenefit. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries. Wheninhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactorynerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, theemotional center of the brain.
Essential oils can also be absorbed by the skin. A massage therapist mightadd a drop or two of wintergreen to oil to help relax tight muscles duringa rubdown. A skincare company may add lavender to bath salts to create asoothing soak.
Although people claim essential oils are natural remedies for a number ofailments, there's not enough research to determine their effectiveness inhuman health. Results of lab studies are promising one at Johns Hopkinsfound that certainessential oils could kill a type of Lyme bacteriabetter than antibiotics but results in human clinical trials are mixed.
Some studies indicate that there's a benefit to using essential oils whileothers show no improvement in symptoms. Clinical trials have looked atwhether essential oils can alleviate conditions such as:
The quality of essential oils on the market varies greatly, from pureessential oils to those diluted with less expensive ingredients. Andbecause there's no regulation, the label may not even list everythingthat's in the bottle you're buying. That's why essential oilsshould not be ingested.
Johns Hopkins also advises against using essential oil diffusers, small householdappliances that create scented vapor. Diffusion in a public area orhousehold with multiple members can affect people differently. For example, peppermint is often recommended forheadaches. But if you use it around a child who's less than 30 months old, the childcan become agitated. It could have a negative effect. Additionally,someone with fast heartbeat can react adversely to peppermint.
The safest ways to use essential oils include:
A small number of people may experience irritation or allergic reactions tocertain essential oils. You're more likely to have a bad reaction if youhave atopic dermatitis or a history of reactions to topical products.Although you can experience a reaction to any essential oil, some are morelikely to be problematic, including:
Because pure essential oils are potent, diluting them in a carrier oil isthe best way to avoid a bad reaction when applying directly to the skin. Ifyou get a red, itchy rash or hives after applying essential oils, see adoctor. You may be having an allergic reaction.
There are dozens of essential oils, all with different fragrances andchemical makeups. Which essential oils are best depends on what symptomsyou're looking to ease or fragrances you prefer. Some of the most popularessential oils include:
The most important thing to consider when shopping for essential oils isproduct quality. But figuring out which oils are the best ischallenging, since there's no government agency in the U.S. that provides agrading system or certification for essential oils. A big problem? Manycompanies claim their essential oils are "therapeutic grade," but that'sjust a marketing term.
Unfortunately, there are lots of products you might find online or instores that aren't harvested correctly or may have something in them thatisn't listed on the label.
Here are some tips to help you shop for pure essential oils:
Essential oils can lift your mood and make you feel good with just a whiffof their fragrance. For some people they may even help alleviate thesymptoms of various conditions. For more information on how to incorporatethem into a healthy lifestyle, consult an integrative medicine expert.
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Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? - Hopkins Medicine
Chiropractic medicine is based on the link between the alignment of the spine and the function of the body. A core tenant of chiropractic medicine is the belief that the body has the ability to heal itself if given proper support. The word chiropractic comes from the Greek words cheir and praxis meaning hand and practice. The wordsrefer to treatment done by the hands or hands-on therapy.
With use of manual manipulation of the spine, chiropractors believe they can improve a person's health without surgery or medicine. Some chiropractors also prescribe exercises to do at home. Chiropractors may do lab testing, diagnostic imaging, and other testing. Some also practice nutrition and complementary medicine.
Treatment may involve lying on your stomach on a special table, while the chiropractor uses his or her hands and elbows to realign the spine.
Chiropractic treatments have proven to be effective in treating certain lower back pain symptoms and muscle and other bone pains.
Chiropractic training is not equal to the training licensed medical doctors receive, but it is extensive. Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine have had at least3 years of college with an emphasis on biology or basic sciences. This is followed by a minimum of 4 years of training at an accredited chiropractic college.
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Chiropractic Medicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) are therapies proven to help manage anxiety and depression.
Meditation is an ancient practice that helps you reach a relaxed state by focusing on breathing and awareness of the body in the present.
MBSR is a program that draws on the principles of meditation to help people become more aware of how negative thoughts impact physical feelings. Research has shown that benefits of MBSR include:
Evidence supports the idea that meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction are very helpful for managing mood disorders, and experts recommend it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy focused on pinpointing and questioning negative, often mistaken thoughts that can lead to behavioral and mental health problems, such as anxiety.
Research shows that people who receive CBT have a greater reduction in mental health symptoms as compared to people who use medication alone.
There is solid evidence that CBT, meditation and MBSR are effective.
All of these techniques are safe and have no side effects. A motivated person can practice them on their own. While integrative medicine may support traditional medicine, it is not a replacement, so its important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice involving the use of tiny needles to stimulate the nervous and immune systems. During the procedure, a licensed acupuncturist inserts hair-thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body. Acupuncture is painless, and research shows it helps support conventional treatment for a range of problems that include stress, chronic pain and digestive disorders. Experts note that it may be particularly effective for insomnia.
While many of us think of massage as a rare, indulgent treat, studies indicate massage helps treat a variety of stress-related disorders, including anxiety and insomnia. While one treatment is good, a series of massage treatments can be even more effective.
It's important to talk to your doctor about whether massage is right for you. It may not be appropriate for people with certain conditions, such as bleeding disorders or osteoporosis.
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Stress Busters: 4 Integrative Treatments - Hopkins Medicine
If you are human, you are going to die. This isn't the most comforting thought, but death is the inevitable price we must pay for being alive. Humans are, however, getting better at pushing back our expiration date, as our medicines and technologies advance.
If the human life span continues to stretch, could we one day become immortal? The answer depends on what you think it means to be an immortal human.
"I don't think when people are even asking about immortality they really mean true immortality, unless they believe in something like a soul," Susan Schneider, a philosopher and founding director of the Center for the Future Mind at Florida Atlantic University, told Live Science. "If someone was, say, to upgrade their brain and body to live a really long time, they would still not be able to live beyond the end of the universe."
Scientists expect the universe will end, which puts an immediate dampener on a mystery about the potential for human immortality. Some scientists have speculated about surviving the death of the universe, as science journalist John Horgan reported for Scientific American, but it's unlikely that any humans alive today will experience the universe's demise anyway.
Related: What happens when you die?
Many humans grow old and die. To live indefinitely, we would need to stop the body from aging. A group of animals may have already solved this problem, so it isn't as far-fetched as it sounds.
Hydra are small, jellyfish-like invertebrates with a remarkable approach to aging. They are largely made up of stem cells that constantly divide to make new cells, as their older cells are discarded. The constant influx of new cells allows hydra to rejuvenate themselves and stay forever young, Live Science previously reported.
"They don't seem to age, so, potentially they are immortal," Daniel Martnez, a biology professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California, who discovered the hydra's lack of aging, told Live Science. Hydra show that animals do not have to grow old, but that doesn't mean humans could replicate their rejuvenating habits. At 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) long, hydra are small and don't have organs. "It's impossible for us because our bodies are super complex," Martnez said.
Humans have stem cells that can repair and even regrow parts of the body, such as in the liver, but the human body is not made almost entirely of these cells, like hydra are. That's because humans need cells to do things other than just divide and make new cells. For example, our red blood cells transport oxygen around the body. "We make cells commit to a function, and in doing that, they have to lose the ability to divide," Martnez said. As the cells age, so do we.
We can't simply discard our old cells like hydra do, because we need them. For example, the neurons in the brain transmit information. "We don't want those to be replaced," Martnez said. "Because otherwise, we won't remember anything." Hydra could inspire research that allows humans to live healthier lives, for example, by finding ways for our cells to function better as they age, according to Martnez. However, his gut feeling is that humans will never achieve such biological immortality.
Though Martnez personally doesn't want to live forever, he thinks humans are already capable of a form of immortality. "I always say, 'I think we are immortal,'" he said. "Poets to me are immortal because they're still with us after so many years and they still influence us. And so I think that people survive through their legacy."
The oldest-living human on record is Jeanne Calment from France, who died at the age of 122 in 1997, according to Guinness World Records. In a 2021 study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers reported that humans may be able to live up to a maximum of between 120 and 150 years, after which, the researchers anticipate a complete loss of resilience the body's ability to recover from things like illness or injury. To live beyond this limit, humans would need to stop cells from aging and prevent disease.
Related: What's the oldest living thing alive today?
Humans may be able to live beyond their biological limits with future technological advancements involving nanotechnology. This is the manipulation of materials on a nanoscale, less than 100 nanometers (one-billionth of a meter or 400-billionths of an inch). Machines this small could travel in the blood and possibly prevent aging by repairing the damage cells experience over time. Nanotech could also cure certain diseases, including some types of cancer, by removing cancerous cells from the body, according to the University of Melbourne in Australia.
Preventing the human body from aging still isn't enough to achieve immortality; just ask the hydra. Even though hydra don't show signs of aging, the creatures still die. They are eaten by predators, such as fish, and perish if their environment changes too much, such as if their ponds freeze in winter, Martnez said.
Humans don't have many predators to contend with, but we are prone to fatal accidents and vulnerable to extreme environmental events, such as those intensified by climate change. We'll need a sturdier vessel than our current bodies to ensure our survival long into the future. Technology may provide the solution for this, too.
As technology advances, futurists anticipate two defining milestones. The first is the singularity, in which we will design artificial intelligence (A.I.) smart enough to redesign itself, and it will get progressively smarter until it is vastly superior to our own intelligence, Live Science previously reported. The second milestone is virtual immortality, where we will be able to scan our brains and transfer ourselves to a non-biological medium, like a computer.
Researchers have already mapped the neural connections of a roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans). As part of the so-called OpenWorm project, they then simulated the roundworm's brain in software replicating the neural connections, and programmed that software to direct a Lego robot, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The robot then appeared to start behaving like a roundworm. Scientists aren't close to mapping the connections between the 86 billion neurons of the human brain (roundworms have only 302 neurons), but advances in artificial intelligence may help us get there.
Once the human mind is in a computer and can be uploaded to the internet, we won't have to worry about the human body perishing. Moving the human mind out of the body would be a significant step on the road to immortality but, according to Schneider, there's a catch. "I don't think that will achieve immortality for you, and that's because I think you'd be creating a digital double," she said.
Schneider, who is also the author of "Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind (opens in new tab)" (Princeton University Press, 2019), describes a thought experiment in which the brain either does or doesn't survive the upload process. If the brain does survive, then the digital copy can't be you as you're still alive; conversely, the digital copy also can't be you if your brain doesn't survive the upload process, because it wouldn't be if you did the copy can only be your digital double.
Related: What is consciousness?
According to Schneider, a better route to extreme longevity, while also preserving the person, would be through biological enhancements compatible with the survival of the human brain. Another, more controversial route would be through brain chips.
"There's been a lot of talk about gradually replacing parts of the brain with chips. So, eventually, one becomes like an artificial intelligence," Schneider said. In other words, slowly transitioning into a cyborg and thinking in chips rather than neurons. But if the human brain is intimately connected to you, then replacing it could mean suicide, she added.
The human body appears to have an expiration date, regardless of how it is upgraded or uploaded. Whether humans are still human without their bodies is an open question.
"To me, it's not even really an issue about whether you're technically a human being or not," Schneider said. "The real issue is whether you're the same self of a person. So, what really matters here is, what is it to be a conscious being? And when is it that changes in the brain change which conscious being you are?" In other words, at what point does changing what we can do with our brains change who we are?
Schneider is excited by the potential brain and body enhancements of the future and likes the idea of ridding ourselves of death by old age, despite some of her reservations. "I would love that, absolutely, she said. "And I would love to see science and technology cure ailments, make us smarter. I would love to see people have the option of upgrading their brains with chips. I just want them to understand what's at stake."
Originally published on Live Science.
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Will humans ever be immortal? | Live Science
A closely related substance, alfa-interferon, has been injected as a drug to treat hepatitis C and other viral infections, as well as cancer. But alfa-interferon has proved toxic to numerous organ systems, as receptors for alfa-interferon abound on the surfaces of cells in many of the bodys tissues and on immune cells. Patients receiving alfa interferon report often-debilitating side effects such as fever, chills, intense muscle aches, nausea and more.
Receptors for lambda-interferon, though, are largely limited to the linings of the lungs, airways and intestine serendipitously, the main places SARS-CoV-2 strikes as well as the liver. As a result, side effects resulting from injecting this interferon tend to be quite mild, Glenn said.
That turned out to be the case in this trial. You couldnt tell who got PEG-lambda and who got placebo, Glenn said. This wasnt surprising, he added, because the drug has already been given to more than 3,000 people in other trials and been proven to be well tolerated even when given weekly for a year.
Some years ago Glenn, who is the Joseph D. Grant Professor II, founded Eiger BioPharmaceuticals Inc., a biotechnology company that acquired the rights to lambda-interferon to develop it as a drug for hepatitis D. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the company turned its attention to the new pathogen.
Glenn has since forged ties with the TOGETHER network, which operates test sites in countries around the world and has methodically conducted clinical trials of numerous prospective therapeutic agents for COVID-19.
The PEG-lambda trial took place between June 2021 and February 2022 at 12 sites in Brazil and five sites in Canada. To participate, patients had to test positive on a COVID-19 rapid-antigen test and receive PEG-lambda or a placebo within seven days of manifesting COVID-19 symptoms. Their average age was 43. Slightly more than half were women, and about 95% were mixed race. Only 3% were white. Some 85% had been vaccinated for COVID-19.
About 930 patients received a single subcutaneous injection of PEG-lambda, and about 1,020 were given a placebo injection. Of patients receiving PEG-lambda, 25 (2.7%) were hospitalized or, due to a shortage of hospital space, placed under observation for more than six hours in an emergency clinic within four weeks for COVID-19, versus 57 (5.6%) of patients who received the placebo.
Vaccinated patients treated with PEG-lambda experienced a 51% reduction in hospitalization relative to placebo. In unvaccinated patients treated within the first three days of symptom onset, there was an 89% reduction compared with placebo the same 89% reduction that was observed with Pfizers Paxlovid.
Only 11 (1.9%) of the 567 patients treated with PEG-lambda within the first three days after symptoms appeared wound up in the hospital within four weeks of getting the shot, versus 28 (3.1%) of the 590 who got a placebo injection within three days of symptom onset a relative reduction of 58%.
PEG-lambda was equally effective against several SARS-CoV-2 variants, including omicron. There were no deaths among patients treated with PEG-lambda within three days of symptoms onset. There were four COVID-19-related deaths in the placebo group.
With vaccine-induced immunity wearing off more rapidly than has been hoped, new SARS-CoV-2 variants constantly striving to outwit our immune systems, and people shying away from repeated rounds of vaccination due to fear of side effects both real and imagined (or due to vaccine fatigue), the need for effective COVID-19 therapies is paramount, Glenn said.
But even the best treatments available today have drawbacks.
Paxlovid is a very good drug, Glenn said of the drug now most commonly prescribed for newly infected COVID-19 outpatients. But its not perfect. You need to take six pills a day for five days. One of its component medications can interfere with your metabolism of many other drugs. The older you get, the more drugs youre likely to be taking, and the more susceptible you are to COVID-19.
Glenn is an inventor on intellectual property associated with the use of lambda-interferon for treating COVID-19. While he no longer actively consults for Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, he owns equity in the company and sits on its board of directors. The company has supplied PEG-lambda free of charge to several investigators for use in independent clinical trials, including this one. Eiger BioPharmaceuticals played no role in the design of this trial, patient recruitment, data acquisition, analysis or any other function in the trials operation, and was informed of the trials results only after its completion.
Additional researchers from Eiger BioPharmaceuticals Inc., Cardresearch, Platform Life Sciences, RainCity Analytics and the TOGETHER Network contributed to the work.
The study was funded by FastGrants, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, the Latona Foundation and Eiger BioPharmaceuticals Inc.
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Single drug injection wards off COVID-19 hospitalizations, in ... - Stanford Medical Center Report
Loma Linda University School of Medicine students now have the opportunity to spend their clinical years at AdventHealth Orlando thanks to a new regional campus partnership. Through the agreement, medical students can select the Florida-based healthcare system for their required clinical rotations during their third and fourth years of education leading to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.
The Loma Linda University School of Medicine AdventHealth Orlando Campus offers medical students the opportunity to train in Central Florida to diversify their clinical education across a variety of patient care settings and environments.
A cohort of students are learning in a setting that shares similar visions and common values with an emphasis on whole-person care just like Loma Linda University Health, said Tamara Thomas, MD, dean of Loma Linda University School of Medicine.
Medical students training at AdventHealth Orlando will follow core curriculum of Loma Linda University School of Medicine and will complete their medical education under the supervision of AdventHealth Orlando faculty.
We have a long-standing relationship with AdventHealth, and the Orlando location is an additional rotational site for students to spend their clinical years learning from a diverse group of providers and researchers, including many of whom are alumni, said Elaine Hart, MD, assistant dean of regional campuses at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.
Regional campuses are becoming more common as medical schools and healthcare organizations recognize the partnership benefits of training the next generation of physicians. The campuses boost enrollment and help increase the workforce in that region.
There is strong interest and enthusiasm to learn and participate in medical care in Central Florida, said George Everett, MD, assistant dean of Loma Linda University School of Medicine AdventHealth Orlando Campus. Students will learn in a large hospital system that offers advanced medical research and exceptional primary and specialty care to a diverse patient population.
AdventHealth Orlando is a major tertiary and quaternary referral hospital for much of the Southeast, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The facility has several residency and fellowship programs already in place, with additional programs set to launch soon. Residencies in OBGYN and orthopedics will admit their first classes in July.
According to an Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) study, the U.S. could see an estimated shortage of primary care physicians between 17,800 and 48,000 and non-primary care specialties of between 21,000 and 77,100 physicians by 2034. Other key findings state that the U.S. population is projected to grow by 10.6%, with a projected 42.4% increase in those aged 65 and above over the next decade, which will create an increased demand for physician specialties that predominately care for older Americans.
Students applying or accepted to Loma Linda University School of Medicine who are interested in spending their third and fourth year at a regional campus such as AdventHealth Orlando may indicate their preference in their secondary application.
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