Is There Such a Thing as Theological Medicine?

The idea that science must be understood in existential contradiction to religion and even theology is more of a conviction than a philosophical or experiential necessity. Indeed, we may now propose "Theological Medicine" as a new terminology for a perennial reality: that most physicians, health care providers, patients, and their caretakers experience the reality of illness within a theological framework, at least for those who have some degree of spiritual or religious belief. Developing a curriculum in Theological Medicine could develop a mechanism to offer appropriate training to healthcare providers. Such a course would have to be created and delivered by experienced physicians and nursing staff, spiritual advisors, clergy representatives such as pastors or priests from different churches or faith communities, bioethicists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, patient support group members, members of institutional review boards, researchers, and even legal advisors, if available. Continuing professional education requirements also create an opportunity to introduce and evaluate competency in theological medicine, an emerging discipline that could add significant value to the lived experience of medical practice which remains based on the uniquely rich relationship between physician and patient.

Dietary nitrate biochemistry and physiology. An update on clinical benefits and mechanisms of action.

It is now more than 35 years since endothelium derived relaxing factor was identified as nitric oxide (NO). The last few decades have seen an explosion around nitric oxide biochemistry, physiology and clinical translation. The science reveals that all chronic disease is associated with decreased blood flow to the affected organ which results in increased inflammation, oxidative stress and immune dysfunction. This is true for cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, kidney, lung, liver disorders and every other major disorder. Since nitric oxide controls and regulates blood flow, oxygen and nutrient delivery to every cell, tissue and organ in the body and also mitigates inflammation, oxidative stress and immune dysfunction, a focus on restoring nitric oxide production is an obvious therapeutic strategy for a number of poorly managed chronic diseases. Since dietary nitrate is a major contributor to endogenous nitric oxide production, it should be considered as a means of therapy and restoration of nitric oxide. This review will update on the current state of the science and effects of inorganic nitrate administered through the diet on several chronic conditions and reveal how much is needed. It is clear now that antiseptic mouthwash and use of antacids disrupt nitrate metabolism to nitric oxide leading to clinical symptoms of nitric oxide deficiency. Based on the science, nitrate should be considered an indispensable nutrient that should be accounted for in dietary guidelines.

Improved Physical Function After Cardiac Contractility Modulation Therapy in 10 Patients With Chronic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: A new generation of therapeutic devices has expanded the options for managing advanced heart failure. We examined the outcomes of cardiac contractility therapy in a series of 10 patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: Ten patients with chronic heart failure were nonrandomly selected to receive cardiac contractility modulation therapy. Hemodynamics, left ventricular ejection fraction, functional capacity, and clinical outcomes were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months of therapy. RESULTS: Eight male and 2 female patients (mean [SD] age, 63.4 [9.4] years) received cardiac contractility modulation therapy. Between baseline and 6-month follow-up, mean (SD) left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 27.1% (4.18%) to 35.1% (9.89%), New York Heart Association class declined from 3.9 (0.32) to 2.44 (0.52), and 6-minute walk test distance increased from 159.2 (93.79) m to 212.4 (87.24) m. Furthermore, the mean (SD) number of hospital admissions within the 6 months before cardiac contractility modulation therapy was 2.4 (2.27) compared with 1 (1.52) during the 6 months after therapy. CONCLUSION: Cardiac contractility modulation therapy improved physical functioning and reduced hospital admissions in these patients.

Quo Vadis, Dottore? Religious, Philosophical and Medical Perspectives on the Quest for Immortality.

In the daily practice of medicine, health care providers oftentimes confront the dilemma of offering 'maximum care' based on available technologies and advances versus ethical concerns about futility. Regardless of cultural backgrounds and differences, most human beings aspire to an illness-free life, or better yet, a life lived with utmost quality and longevity. On account on ongoing advances in science and technology, the possibility of achieving "immortality" (a term used as a metaphor for an extremely long and disease-free life) is increasingly perceived as a realistic goal, which is aggressively pursued by some of the world's wealthiest individuals and corporations. However, this quest is not taking place in a philosophical or religious vacuum, which is why we attempt to evaluate the current state of knowledge on religious beliefs revolving around immortality and their alignments with today's medical advancements. The literature searches were performed using relevant databases including JSTOR and PubMed, as well as primary religious sources. Most religions present longevity as a blessing and believe in some sort of immortality, afterlife or reincarnation for the immortal soul. The quest for immortality beyond life in a "body of death" remains consistent with access to medical care and the legitimate possibility of achieving longevity-as long as certain ethical and religious parameters are preserved.

Stem-cell therapy for erectile dysfunction: a review of clinical outcomes.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) has increased in recent decades. Although many treatments offer some benefits for patients with ED, unmet therapeutic needs remain, and promising new approaches are under investigation. One of these approaches is the use of stem-cell (SC) therapy for ED. We comprehensively reviewed the published literature and ongoing phase 1 and phase 2 trials and identified 27 trials by using SC therapy to treat ED. Of the 27 trials, three have been withdrawn, nine have published results, six are complete but without published results, and nine trials are ongoing or have an "unknown" status. Our analysis revealed that SC therapy represents a promising option to treat ED, although published data exist for less than 100 patients. Large placebo-controlled trials with longer follow-up are needed to confirm the long-term safety and efficacy of SC therapy for ED.

A systemic review on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol, curcumin, and dietary nitric oxide supplementation on human cardiovascular health.

The potential benefits of supplemental nutrients and dietary interventions against cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been extensively investigated throughout the years. Numerous supplements claim cardioprotection and reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, but the roles of many supplements have not been determined. In the vast number of supplements on the market asserting cardioprotective effects, only 3 have been thoroughly evaluated and consistently reported as effective by our clinic patients. They have used supplements such as fish oil, multivitamins, and calcium, but many had not known of the benefits of resveratrol, curcumin, and nitric oxide as supplements for improving cardiovascular health. The cardioprotective effects of these dietary supplements in both animal models and humans have been explored with proposed mechanisms of action mostly attributed to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Resveratrol is one of the most studied polyphenols with established cardiovascular benefits. Preclinical studies have demonstrated these effects exerted via improved inflammatory markers, atherogenic profile, glucose metabolism, and endothelial function and are further supported by clinical trials. Curcumin has a well-established anti-inflammatory role by regulating numerous transcription factors and cytokines linked to inflammation. Inflammation is an underlying pathology in cardiovascular diseases, rendering curcumin a potential therapeutic compound. Similarly, nitric oxide supplementation has demonstrated cardiovascular benefits by normalizing blood pressure; enhancing blood flow; and reducing inflammation, immune dysfunction, and oxidative stress. A comprehensive review was performed evaluating the cardioprotective effects of these 3 dietary supplements with hope to provide updated information, promote further awareness of these supplements, and inspire future studies on their effects on cardiovascular health.