An exploratory investigation of human biofield responses to encountering a sacred object.

CONTEXT: While advances in the Western sciences have increased our understanding of the human biofield, few studies have examined the potential effects of sacred objects on its functioning. DESIGN AND STUDY PARTICIPANTS: This exploratory study examined the effects of a sacred object called the Sri Yantra / Durga Stone on the human biofield. Twelve women and five men were studied on three separate occasions using the Bio-Well device, which purportedly measures aspects of the biofield: baseline (the day before exposure to the sacred object), pre-exposure (immediately prior to exposure to the sacred object), and post-exposure (immediately following exposure to the sacred object). A set of a priori hypotheses examined outcome effects on a set of variables, including multiple physiological systems. RESULTS: The overall Bio-Well energy state (Bio-Well variables are in units of joules) was significantly changed following exposure to the sacred object (p = 0.001). In addition, the cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, digestive, urinogenital, and immune system readings showed significant changes (p's<0.003) while the nervous and respiratory system assessments were unchanged. Chakra (defined as a center of vital prana) energy was changed following exposure to the stone (p = 0.001), while chakra alignment was not (p = 0.145). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this exploratory study suggest that short-term human exposure to this particular sacred object had significant effects on aspects of the human biofield.

Greater Well-Being in More Physically Active Cancer Patients Who Are Enrolled in Supportive Care Services.

Background: Cancers are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Cancer patients are increasingly seeking integrative care clinics to promote their health and well-being during and after treatment. Aim: To examine relationships between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of cancer patients enrolling in integrative care in a supportive care clinic. Also, to explore circulating inflammatory biomarkers and heart rate variability (HRV) in relationship to PA and QoL. Methods: A cross-sectional design of adult patients who sought care in the InspireHealth clinic, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Patients with complete PA data (n = 118) answered psychosocial questionnaires, provided blood samples, and received HRV recordings before enrollment. Patients were stratified into "less" versus "more" active groups according to PA guidelines (150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous PA or an equivalent combination). Results: Breast (33.1%) and prostate (10.2%) cancers were the most prevalent primary diagnoses. Patients engaging in more PA reported better physical (U = 1265.5, P = .013), functional (U = 1306.5, P = .024), and general QoL (U = 1341, P = .039), less fatigue (U = 1268, P = .014), fewer physical cancer-related symptoms (U = 2.338, P = .021), and less general distress (U = 2.061, P = .021). Between PA groups, type of primary cancer diagnosis differed (χ2 = 41.79, P = .014), while stages of cancer did not (χ2 = 3.95, P = .412). Fewer patients reported depressed mood within the more active group (χ2 = 6.131, P = .047). More active patients were also less likely to have ever used tobacco (χ2 = 7.41, P = .025) and used fewer nutritional supplements (χ2 = 39.74, P ≤ .001). An inflammatory biomarker index was negatively correlated with vigorous PA (rs = -0.215, P = .022). Multivariable linear regression (R2 = 0.71) revealed that age (ß = 0.22; P = .001), fatigue (ß = -0.43; P ≤ .001), anxiety (ß = -0.14; P = .048), and social support (ß = 0.38; P = .001) were significant correlates of QoL.

Double-blinded randomized study of high-dose calcitriol plus docetaxel compared with placebo plus docetaxel in androgen-independent prostate cancer: a report from the ASCENT Investigators.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and activity of DN-101, a new high-dose oral formulation of calcitriol designed for cancer therapy, and docetaxel with placebo and docetaxel. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with progressive metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer and adequate organ function received weekly docetaxel 36 mg/m2 intravenously for 3 weeks of a 4-week cycle combined with either 45 microg DN-101 or placebo taken orally 1 day before docetaxel. The primary end point was prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response within 6 months of enrollment, defined as a 50% reduction confirmed at least 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty patients were randomly assigned. Baseline characteristics were similar in both arms. Within 6 months, PSA responses were seen in 58% in DN-101 patients and 49% in placebo patients (P = .16). Overall, PSA response rates were 63% (DN-101) and 52% (placebo), P = .07. Patients in the DN-101 group had a hazard ratio for death of 0.67 (P = .04) in a multivariate analysis that included baseline hemoglobin and performance status. Median survival has not been reached for the DN-101 arm and is estimated to be 24.5 months using the hazard ratio, compared with 16.4 months for placebo. Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 58% of DN-101 patients and in 70% of placebo-treated patients (P = .07). Most common grade 3/4 toxicities for DN-101 versus placebo were neutropenia (10% v 8%), fatigue (8% v 16%), infection (8% v 13%), and hyperglycemia (6% v 12%). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that DN-101 treatment was associated with improved survival, but this will require confirmation because survival was not a primary end point. The addition of weekly DN-101 did not increase the toxicity of weekly docetaxel.