Search

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 12-week consumption of highly bioavailable curcumin (150 mg/day of Theracurmin Super [TS -P1] or Theracurmin [CR-033P]) on common cold symptoms, immune function, and inflammatory markers. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted from November 2021 to May 2022 on 99 healthy Japanese adults. Using a computerized random number generator, each subject was randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: TS -P1, CR-033P, or placebo (n = 33 per group). For 12 weeks, each group consumed the four capsules that were given to them daily. The cumulative number of days for which common cold symptoms persisted was set as the primary outcome. Immunity parameters, inflammatory parameters, liver function parameters, and physical examination results were additional outcomes. A safety assessment was also performed. Ninety-four subjects completed the study, and the per protocol set included 30 subjects in the placebo group, 32 subjects in the TS -P1 group, and 33 subjects in the CR-033P group. The cumulative number of days for which common cold symptoms persisted was significantly lower in the TS -P1 and CR-033P groups than that in the placebo group. No adverse effects were observed. Consumption of highly bioavailable curcumin, TS -P1 or CR-033P (150 mg/day), for 12 weeks reduced the number of days for which common cold symptoms persisted in healthy Japanese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We formed an international research collaboration that included Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Thailand, Taiwan, the UK, and the US (682 patients from 13 hospitals between 2005 and 2020), to better evaluate the role of race, ethnicity, and other risk factors in the pathophysiology of Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Ophthalmologists often see SJS/TEN patients with severe ocular complications (SOC; frequency 50% SJS/TEN patients) when the patients are referred to them in the chronic stage after the acute stage has passed. Global data were collected using a Clinical Report Form, capturing pre-onset factors, as well as acute and chronic ocular findings. Key conclusions of this retrospective observational cohort study were as follows: (1) Ingestion of cold medications [acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)] was significantly and positively correlated with trichiasis, symblepharon, and/or conjunctivalization of the cornea in the chronic stage; (2) common cold symptoms prior to onset of SJS/TEN were significantly and positively correlated with acute conjunctivitis and ocular surface erosions in the acute stage and with trichiasis and symblepharon and/or conjunctivalization of the cornea in the chronic stage; (3) patients with SJS/TEN who presented with SOC tended to be female; (4) patients less than 30 years of age are more likely to develop SOC in the acute and chronic stages of SJS/TEN; (5) patients with acute severe conjunctivitis with ocular surface erosion and pseudomembrane formation in the acute stage are more likely to develop ocular sequelae in the chronic stage; and (6) onychopathy in the acute stage was positively correlated with ocular sequelae in the chronic stage. Our findings show that the ingestion of cold medications, common cold symptoms prior to the onset of SJS/TEN, and a young age might strongly contribute to developing the SOC of SJS/TEN.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 12-week consumption of highly bioavailable curcumin (150 mg/day of Theracurmin Super [TS-P1] or Theracurmin [CR-033P]) on common cold symptoms, immune function, and inflammatory markers. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted from November 2021 to May 2022 on 99 healthy Japanese adults. Using a computerized random number generator, each subject was randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: TS-P1, CR-033P, or placebo ( n  = 33 per group). For 12 weeks, each group consumed the four capsules that were given to them daily. The cumulative number of days for which common cold symptoms persisted was set as the primary outcome. Immunity parameters, inflammatory parameters, liver function parameters, and physical examination results were additional outcomes. A safety assessment was also performed. Ninety-four subjects completed the study, and the per protocol set included 30 subjects in the placebo group, 32 subjects in the TS-P1 group, and 33 subjects in the CR-033P group. The cumulative number of days for which common cold symptoms persisted was significantly lower in the TS-P1 and CR-033P groups than that in the placebo group. No adverse effects were observed. Consumption of highly bioavailable curcumin, TS-P1 or CR-033P (150 mg/day), for 12 weeks reduced the number of days for which common cold symptoms persisted in healthy Japanese adults.

We formed an international research collaboration that included Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Thailand, Taiwan, the UK, and the US (682 patients from 13 hospitals between 2005 and 2020), to better evaluate the role of race, ethnicity, and other risk factors in the pathophysiology of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Ophthalmologists often see SJS/TEN patients with severe ocular complications (SOC; frequency 50% SJS/TEN patients) when the patients are referred to them in the chronic stage after the acute stage has passed. Global data were collected using a Clinical Report Form, capturing pre-onset factors, as well as acute and chronic ocular findings. Key conclusions of this retrospective observational cohort study were as follows: (1) Ingestion of cold medications [acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)] was significantly and positively correlated with trichiasis, symblepharon, and/or conjunctivalization of the cornea in the chronic stage; (2) common cold symptoms prior to onset of SJS/TEN were significantly and positively correlated with acute conjunctivitis and ocular surface erosions in the acute stage and with trichiasis and symblepharon and/or conjunctivalization of the cornea in the chronic stage; (3) patients with SJS/TEN who presented with SOC tended to be female; (4) patients less than 30 years of age are more likely to develop SOC in the acute and chronic stages of SJS/TEN; (5) patients with acute severe conjunctivitis with ocular surface erosion and pseudomembrane formation in the acute stage are more likely to develop ocular sequelae in the chronic stage; and (6) onychopathy in the acute stage was positively correlated with ocular sequelae in the chronic stage. Our findings show that the ingestion of cold medications, common cold symptoms prior to the onset of SJS/TEN, and a young age might strongly contribute to developing the SOC of SJS/TEN., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ueta, Inoue, Nakata, Sotozono, Kim, Wakamatsu, Jongkhajornpong, Saeed, Rauz, Ma, Yoon, Puangsricharern, Bouchard, Ahmad, Seo, Joo, Gomes, Chodosh, Kinoshita and Teramukai.)

Aim Clinical features and management of paediatric asthma, highly prevalent in the Caribbean, was explored in Trinidadian children. Materials Children (2-16 years) with acute [visiting Accident and Emergency ( A& E) in the past 12 months (50.2%, 120)] or stable asthma [controlled during the previous 3 months (49.8%, 119)] were studied. Results There were more ( P < 0.001) boys (71.5%) than girls. Asthma was associated with asthmatic mothers (48.5%), fathers (19.2%) and both parents (15.1%) ( P < 0.001). Children's average age of first wheeze was 2.5 (standard deviation = 1.3) years; 30.1% were nebulized before 1 year. In the past 12 months, frequencies of A& E visits were once (20.6%), >1 (61.9%) and >3 times (26.4%) ( P < 0.001). Sufferers of exacerbations showed negative logistic regression for age (−0.129, standard error = 0.039, P < 0.001) independent of gender. Acute asthmatics who suffered cough, fever and sore throat in the preceding week were respectively 15.2 [odds ratio ( OR) = 15.2, 95% confidence interval ( CI) = 6.8-34.0], 13.7 ( OR = 13.7, 95% CI = 6.7-28.2) and 3.4 ( OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.7-6.7) times more likely to suffer wheeze exacerbations than stable children. Most stable children (76.5%) inhaled corticosteroids with salbutamol reliever compared with 22.5% of acute asthmatics, whereas 40.8% of the latter group used salbutamol alone compared with 19.3% of stable children ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Childhood wheeze occurs before 3 years and is associated with maternal asthma. Cough, fever and sore throat in the previous week are strongly associated with exacerbations. Defining these associations could enhance preventive approaches to combat childhood asthma. Please cite this paper as: Matthew J, Bekele I and Pinto Pereira LM. Clinical features of a paediatric asthma population in Trinidad. Clin Respir J 2012; 7: 189-196. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We summarize the results from a series of investigations of Japanese style acupuncture and moxibustion therapies on symptoms of the common cold that have been conducted (FTLE 1999-03, supported by the Foundation for Training and Licensure Examination in Anma-Massage- Acupressure, Acupuncture and Moxibustion). We also discuss the various interventions and concerns that we faced during these investigations. The subjects were students and teachers. The pilot study (FTLE1999) of a two arm (real and non-treatment control) RCT at a Japanese acupuncture school showed that manual acupuncture to a specific needling point at the throat clearly reduced symptoms of the common cold. The first multicenter (five centers) RCT (FTLE 2000) revealed a significant reduction in cold symptoms, by general linear model analysis (between groups, P = 0.024). To reduce the technical variation, we employed indirect moxibustion to the neck points as a uniform intervention in the next project (FTLE 2001) without statistically significant results. Then we elongated the periods of treatment from 2 to a maximum of 12 weeks (FTLE 2002) with different interventions accompanied by 4 weeks follow-up. The results were still not statistically significant. As the final project, we tried to develop a new experimental design for individualized intervention by conducting n-of-1 trials using elderly subjects in a health care center but without detecting a clear effect. In conclusion, the safety of Japanese acupuncture or moxibustion was sufficiently demonstrated; however, a series of clinical trials could not offer convincing evidence to recommend the use of Japanese style acupuncture or moxibustion for preventing the common cold. Further studies are required as the present trials had several limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]