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.

Retrospective Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Parameters in Participants of a Preventive Health and Wellness Program.

Lifestyle, dietary, and nutritional choices are important influencing parameters of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, the number one cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Our aims were to i) characterize CVD risk parameters using data from 7939 participants enrolled in a preventive health and wellness program between March 2010 and January 2017; and ii) evaluate intervention effects in 3,020 participants who returned for follow-up. Blood measurements (nutrient markers), CVD risk parameters (abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin resistance, and inflammation), glycemic status (HbA1c), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed. Framingham and Reynold's risk scores were also calculated. After approximately one year of treatment (n = 3 020), mean arachidonic acid:eicosapentaenoic acid (AA:EPA) ratio, homocysteine, and HbAlc concentrations were significantly reduced; other risk parameters did not improve but mean values remained within reference ranges. Excluding participants taking related medications, 38.8%, 37.2%, 38.0%, 42.5%, and 59.7% of those with hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL, insulin resistance, or prediabetes, respectively, at baseline no longer had the condition at follow-up. In contrast, of individuals within the reference range at baseline, new cases at follow-up were found for 10.1%, 12.2%, 6.3%, 8.2%, and 7.6% (as above, respectively). Regression models revealed a significant association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations ≥100 nmol/L and reductions in many CVD risk parameters after adjustment for confounding variables. These findings suggest that a preventive approach to health and wellness focused on nutrients, optimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, and lifestyle changes has the potential to reduce the risk of CVD.

Recent Science and Clinical Application of Nutrition to Coronary Heart Disease.

One of the greatest threats to mortality in industrialized societies continues to be coronary heart disease (CHD). Moreover, the ability to decrease the incidence of CHD has reached a limit utilizing traditional diagnostic evaluations and prevention and treatment strategies for the top five cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking). It is well known that about 80% of CHD can be prevented with optimal nutrition, coupled with exercise, weight management, mild alcohol intake, and smoking cessation. Among all of these factors, optimal nutrition provides the basic foundation for prevention and treatment of CHD. Numerous prospective nutrition clinical trials have shown dramatic reductions in the incidence of CHD. As nutritional science and nutrigenomics research continues, our ability to adjust the best nutrition with an individualized approach is emerging. This article reviews the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of CHD and myocardial infarction (MI).

Integrative approaches for cardiovascular disease.

In the United States, $2.5 trillion is spent on healthcare annually. Seven chronic diseases account for half of all this expense. Of these 7, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes mellitus are largely preventable. Integrative cardiology programs that focus on risk-factor modification through lifestyle change combined with early detection and advanced lipid management offer a new paradigm to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Relation of periprocedural bleeding complications and long-term outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization (from the Evaluation of Oral Xemilofiban in Controlling Thrombotic Events [EXCITE] Trial).

Several clinical trials have shown that antagonists of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor decreased the incidence of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and the need for urgent revascularization when administered immediately before or during the 24- to 48-hour period after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, these agents increased the risk of thrombocytopenia and periprocedural bleeding complications. Therefore, the relation between periprocedural bleeding complications during PCI and long-term outcome was assessed in 6,995 patients in the EXCITE trial. Periprocedural bleeding was classified as none, mild, moderate, and severe. Measured outcomes included the incidence of all-cause mortality or the composite end point (cardiovascular disease) of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Subjects were followed up for a median of 210 days (7 months). Mean patient age was 59.1 years, and 21.8% were women. Periprocedural bleeding complications occurred in 1,869 patients (26.7%), and blood transfusion was administered to 189 patients (2.7%). In multivariate analysis, periprocedural bleeding complications were significantly associated with increased risk of the composite outcome for mild (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64 to 0.97), moderate (HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.78 to 3.20), and severe bleeding complications (HR 3.55, 95% CI 2.20 to 5.73) during follow-up. Also, the necessity of blood transfusion was an important predictor of the composite end point (HR 2.61, 95% CI 1.96 to 3.60). Patients in the United States were more likely to be administered a blood transfusion than non-US patients independently of cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, moderate and severe periprocedural bleeding complications increased the risk of mortality and incident cardiovascular events after PCI.

Usefulness of proteinuria as a prognostic marker of mortality and cardiovascular events among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (data from the Evaluation of Oral Xemilofiban in Controlling Thrombotic Events [EXCITE] trial).

Proteinuria was associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in community-based cohorts. The association of proteinuria with mortality and cardiovascular events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was unknown. The association of urinary dipstick proteinuria with mortality and cardiovascular events (composite of death, myocardial infarction, or nonhemorrhagic stroke) in 5,835 subjects of the EXCITE trial was evaluated. Dipstick urinalysis was performed before PCI, and proteinuria was defined as trace or greater. Subjects were followed up for 210 days/7 months after enrollment for the occurrence of events. Multivariate Cox regression analysis evaluated the independent association of proteinuria with each outcome. Mean age was 59 years, 21% were women, 18% had diabetes mellitus, and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Proteinuria was present in 750 patients (13%). During follow-up, 22 subjects (2.9%) with proteinuria and 54 subjects (1.1%) without proteinuria died (adjusted hazard ratio 2.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65 to 4.84, p <0.001). The severity of proteinuria attenuated the strength of the association with mortality after PCI (low-grade proteinuria, hazard ratio 2.67, 95% CI 1.50 to 4.75; high-grade proteinuria, hazard ratio 3.76, 95% CI 1.24 to 11.37). No significant association was present for cardiovascular events during the relatively short follow-up, but high-grade proteinuria tended toward increased risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 1.45, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.61).In conclusion, proteinuria was strongly and independently associated with mortality in patients undergoing PCI. These data suggest that such a relatively simple and clinically easy to use tool as urinary dipstick may be useful to identify and treat patients at high risk of mortality at the time of PCI.

Practicing whole-patient cardiology: An interview with Mimi Guarneri, MD. Interview by Sheldon Lewis.

Mimi Guarneri, MD, is medical director and co-founder of Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in San Diego, California. She received her medical degree from SUNY Medical Center in New York and served an internship and residency at Cornell Medical Center, where she later became chief medical resident. Dr Guarneri and Rauni King, RN, in 1997 founded the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine to address the emotional and spiritual needs of patients as well as their physical needs. Dr Guarneri is a member of the American College of Cardiology, Alpha Omega Alpha, and the American Medical Women's Association. She is a diplomate of the American Holistic Medical Association and has keynoted numerous integrative medicine conferences, authored the best-selling book The Heart Speaks, and appeared on NBC's Today show. Dr Guarneri was interviewed earlier this year by Sheldon Lewis, former editor in chief of Advances.

Music, imagery, touch, and prayer as adjuncts to interventional cardiac care: the Monitoring and Actualisation of Noetic Trainings (MANTRA) II randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Data from a pilot study suggested that noetic therapies-healing practices that are not mediated by tangible elements-can reduce preprocedural distress and might affect outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We undertook a multicentre, prospective trial of two such practices: intercessory prayer and music, imagery, and touch (MIT) therapy. METHODS: 748 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or elective catheterisation in nine USA centres were assigned in a 2x2 factorial randomisation either off-site prayer by established congregations of various religions or no off-site prayer (double-blinded) and MIT therapy or none (unmasked). The primary endpoint was combined in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events and 6-month readmission or death. Prespecified secondary endpoints were 6-month major adverse cardiovascular events, 6 month death or readmission, and 6-month mortality. FINDINGS: 371 patients were assigned prayer and 377 no prayer; 374 were assigned MIT therapy and 374 no MIT therapy. The factorial distribution was: standard care only, 192; prayer only, 182; MIT therapy only, 185; and both prayer and MIT therapy, 189. No significant difference was found for the primary composite endpoint in any treatment comparison. Mortality at 6 months was lower with MIT therapy than with no MIT therapy (hazard ratio 0.35 (95% CI 0.15-0.82, p=0.016). INTERPRETATION: Neither masked prayer nor MIT therapy significantly improved clinical outcome after elective catheterisation or percutaneous coronary intervention.

Improvement in medical risk factors and quality of life in women and men with coronary artery disease in the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project.

This study examined medical and psychosocial characteristics of 440 patients (mean age 58 years, 21% women) with coronary artery disease at baseline and at 3-month and 12-month follow-ups. All patients were participants in the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project, aimed at improving diet (low fat, whole foods, plant-based), exercise, stress management, and social support. Spousal participation was encouraged. Both genders evidenced significant improvements in their diet, exercise, and stress management practices, which they maintained over the course of the study. Both women and men also showed significant medical (e.g., plasma lipids, blood pressure, body weight, exercise capacity) and psychosocial (e.g., quality of life) improvement. Despite their worse medical, psychosocial, and sociodemographic status at baseline, women's improvement was similar to that of men's. These results demonstrate that a multi-component lifestyle change program focusing on diet, exercise, stress management, and social support can be successfully implemented at hospitals in diverse regions of the United States. Furthermore, this program may be particularly beneficial for women with coronary artery disease who generally have higher mortality and morbidity than men after a heart attack, angioplasty, or bypass surgery.