Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in terminally ill patients

Abstract

Obiective: The use of complementary and alternative methods is common in oncology, but nothing is known about the role of CAM in the last days of a patient's life. Material and tnethods: Between 1-2007 and 10-2008 the palliative care teatn treated 85 patients (50 male, 35 female, median age 62 years) on out-door basis. All fatnilies were asked to complete a structured questionnaire regarding the use of CAM during the last period of the patient's life. Patients suffered from cancer in 83/85 patients (98%), 2 patients had neurologic disorders. Results: Only 20 fatnilies (31%) have not used any CAM. Spiritual support (praying, hospice services) was asked for by 60/85 families (71 %). 25/85 families (29%) reported drug use. Favorite tnethods were vitamins (n = 11, 13%), trace eletnents (n = 9, 11%), and mistletoe (n = 8, 9%). 30 patients (35%) were treated by physiotherapy (28 oncology patients, 2 neurology patients). Logopedy and ergotherapy were used in 10 patients (12%). 12 fatnilies (14%) reported use of aroma-therapy in patient's eare. The tnain infonnation source was the GP (house physician) (45/85, 53%)), followed by the palliative care team (30/85, 35%) and pharmacies (27/85,32%). Internet, journals or self-service information were only used by 25/85 families (29%). The effectivity of the categorized methods was estitnated between 1 and 5 (very good -worthy) by the patients or their families. The following ranking was registered: spiritual support 2.4; physical therapy 2.7, logopedy/ergotherapy 3.1, drugs 3.3. 65/85 families (76%) were satisfied with the infonnation received from the health care practitioners. Conclusion: Complementary tnethods are often practieed during the last days of a patients life. Families and friends are looking for valid infonnation and need help from the professionals. The different methods have been evaluated regarding effectivity as well as acceptance by the pattents.

Radioprotective Effect of Sodium Selenite on Developing Teeth

“…This difference was not observed in the measurements of the mandibular teeth, once again demonstrating that sodium selenite did not have a radioprotective action. This finding is in agreement with the study by Rocha et al (6), in which sodium selenite was not an effective radioprotector at 7 and 14 days of evaluation in bone tissue, but it is contrary to the outcomes of different studies (7,8,16,(18)(19)(20)(21).…”

“…Selenium is an essential nutrient for many species of animals, including humans (14). It is also a constituent of the peroxidase glutathione enzyme (6)(7), and this may be the explanation for its radioprotective effect. Selenium deficiency leads to a reduction in glutathione peroxidase activity (15) because it is considered an essential component of this enzyme.…”

“…Antioxidant substances have been used to minimize the damage caused by radiation in healthy tissues. Among the existing radioprotectors, selenium acts on the peroxidase glutathione enzyme (6,7), reducing the peroxides in the tissue by causing their destruction (8). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium selenite on the development of the molars of offspring of rats irradiated during odontogenesis.…”

Entwicklung und Einsatz der Physiotherapie in der Palliativversorgung - Eine systematische Literaturanalyse

“…Auf die Bedeutung physiotherapeutischer Indikationen in der letzten Lebensphase deuten auch die Ergebnisse einer strukturierten schriftlichen Befragung der Familien schwerstkranker Palliativpatienten (n = 89) zu komplementären und alternativen Therapieansätzen hin: Rund ein Drittel der Erkrankten (n = 35) erhielten im terminalen Stadium Physiotherapie. Nach der spirituellen Begleitung zählten physiotherapeutische Interventionen zu den von den Befragten am hilfreichsten eingestuften komplementären Therapieansätzen [22].…”

Selenium speciation-dependent cancer radiosensitization by induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

“…Selenium (Se), as a trace element necessary to maintain normal life activities of human body, has important physiological functions and a wide range of pharmacological effects (Buntzel et al, 2010;Handa et al, 2020;Hariharan & Dharmaraj, 2020;Razaghi et al, 2021). In recent years, a large number of studies have reported its role in tumor diagnosis and treatment, including various forms of selenium compounds such as inorganic selenium (Ganash, 2021), organic selenium (Gandin et al, 2018;Chuai et al, 2021), selenium metal complexes (Lai et al, 2019), and nano-selenium (Yu et al, 2015;Liu et al, 2021;Jiao et al, 2022).…”