Symptomatic improvement reported after receiving Reiki at a cancer infusion center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient-perceived benefits from receiving Reiki at a cancer infusion center. METHODS: During a 6-month period, adults at a university hospital receiving Reiki through volunteer services were invited to complete a survey asking about perceived changes after Reiki. Changes in pain, mood, distress, sleep, and appetite were rated on a 5-point scale from no benefit to great benefit. Surveys were distributed after completing treatment and were returned in postage-paid envelops. RESULTS: A total of 145 surveys were completed (34.5% response rate), with 47 participants seen in the cancer infusion center and 98 in other areas of the hospital. Reiki was rated as a positive experience by 94% at the cancer center and 93% of others, with 92% at the cancer center and 86% of others interested in receiving additional Reiki sessions. Symptomatic improvement was similar for people at the cancer center and others, respectively, with much to great improvement for 89% and 86% for relaxation, 75% and 75% for anxiety/worry, 81% and 78% for improved mood, 43% and 35% for improved sleep, 45% and 49% for reduced pain, 38% and 43% for reduced isolation/loneliness, 75% and 63% for improved attitude, and 30% and 30% for improved appetite. Response was unaffected by previous exposure to Reiki, massage, or other touch therapy. CONCLUSION: Reiki results in a broad range of symptomatic benefits, including improvements in common cancer-related symptoms.

Complementary and alternative medicine in allergy, otitis media, and asthma.

There is growing interest on the part of both patients and providers in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to treat allergy, otitis media, and asthma. Research efforts investigating CAM are increasing in frequency and quality. Studies suggest possible efficacy for some vitamin and mineral supplements for allergic diseases; results are less clear in asthmatic patients. The use of polyunsaturated fatty acids appears particularly promising for treatment and even prevention of allergy and asthma conditions. Studies also suggest that probiotic preparations have a role in the treatment of allergic conditions. Xylitol gum, syrup, and lozenges have shown efficacy in treatment of acute otitis media, as have some naturopathic herbal remedies. Preliminary results with studies of yoga and various relaxation therapies for treatment of asthmatics suggest that these therapies may have a role, but further work would be needed to document efficacy and delineate the specific types of interventions most appropriate for particular asthmatic populations.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of gallstones with oral dissolution. Results in course of ten years in Czech Republic in correlation to indication criteria.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We compared the results of treatment of gallbladder stones by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with dissolution during two periods to different criteria of indication. In the first period (1990-1991) we treated patients with stones up to 3 cm in diameter. In the second period (1992-1994) the indication included stones up to 1.5 cm with gallbladder contraction on cholecystography, which was also quantitatively determined by USG exceeding 60% of fasting volume. METHODS: We used Czech made lithotriptors MEDILIT. The shock waves (SW) are produced by an underwater high voltage discharge and the concentration of SW is achieved by reflection. The localization of stones is performed by means of a sonographic probe. After stone localization usually 700 SW are applied to a patient lying in prone position. Oral dissolution was started in both groups of patients two weeks before shock wave application. Ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic were administered in doses of 7.5 mg/kg body weight/day. RESULTS: In the first group of 260 patients (average age 42), which had moderate indication criteria, disappearance of fragments during one year was found only in 148 (57%). The remaining patients were treated symptomatically or recommended to cholecystectomy. In a second group of 160 patients (average age 45), disappearance of fragments during one year was achieved in 125 (78%). We used stricter indication criteria and our results are much better compared to the first group. Only 208 patients from both groups were controlled for more 5 years, in 89 cases of this number was a recidivity of lithiasis and at 20 of them we indicated cholecystectomy, 22 of the patients refused to continue in the therapy, because the stones are asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: In our opinion, this therapy (ESWL combined with oral dissolution) is suitable in 7% patients with gallbladder stones. Its side effects are very small, practically negligible. It can be performed without general anaesthesia and on an out-patient basis. After the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy we observed diminished interest of both patients and their physicians for gallbladder ESWL, however, after it has reached a widespread use, a new interest in ESWL and dissolution therapy is emerging, which we attribute to its above-mentioned advantages.

[Late reoperation in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and cardia]. / Pozdní reoperace u nemocných s karcinomem jícnu a kardie.

The authors give an account of 17 late re-operations performed after 14 resections and three palliative operations of carcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia, on account of stenosis of the anastomosis. After primary resection on account of carcinoma of the cardia 9 patients were re-operated and on account of carcinoma of the oesophagus five patients: three times because of a cicatricial stenosis and 11 times on account of narrowing of the anastomosis due to a relapse of the oesophageal tumour or in the surrounding nodes. The interval after resection was on average 13.7 months. Re-resection was possible only in two patients, seven times an endoprosthesis was introduced, three times a bypass was made, once jejunostomy and once the operation ended by probatory laparotomy. The mortality of all re-operations was 35.7%, the survival was 6-11 months.