Full title: Behavioral activation-based guided self-help treatment administered through a smartphone application: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The need for cost-effective interventions for people suffering from major depressive disorders is essential. Behavioral activation is an intervention that can largely benefit from the use of new mobile technologies (for example smartphones). Therefore, developing smartphone-based behavioral activation interventions might be a way to develop cost-effective treatments for people suffering from major depressive disorders. The aim of this study will be to test the effects of a smartphone-delivered behavioral activation treatment. METHODS: The study will be a randomized controlled trial with a sample size of 120 participants, with 60 patients in each group. The treatment group includes an 8-week smartphone-based behavioral activation intervention, with minimal therapist contact. The smartphone-based intervention consists of a web-based psychoeducation, and a smartphone application. There is also a back-end system where the therapist can see reports from the patients or activities being reported. In the attention control group, we will include brief online education and then recommend use of a smartphone application that is not directly aimed at depression (for example, 'Effective meditation'). The duration of the control condition will also be 8 weeks. For ethical reasons we will give the participants in the control group access to the behavioral activation treatment following the 8-week treatment period. Discussions We believe that this trial has at least three important implications. First, we believe that smartphones can be integrated even further into society and therefore may serve an important role in health care. Second, while behavioral activation is a psychological treatment approach for which there is empirical support, the use of a smartphone application could serve as the therapist's prolonged arm into the daily life of the patient. Third, as we have been doing trials on guided Internet treatment for more than 10 years it is now time to move to the next generation of information technology - smartphones - which are not only relevant for Swedish conditions but also for developing countries in the world which are increasingly empowered by mobile phones with Internet connection. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov

Trials. 2012 May 18;13(1):62. Ly KH, Carlbring P, Andersson G.

Hypertension affects approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. Pharmacological therapy has not been perfected and often is associated with adverse side effects. Acupuncture is used as an adjunctive treatment for a number of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension. It has long been established that the two major contributors to systemic hypertension are the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system and chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Recent evidence indicates that in some models of cardiovascular disease, blockade of AT1 receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) reduces sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure, suggesting that overactivity of the angiotensin system in this nucleus may play a role in the maintenance of hypertension. Our experimental studies have shown that electroacupuncture stimulation activates neurons in the arcuate nucleus, ventrolateral gray, and nucleus raphe to inhibit the neural activity in the rVLM in a model of visceral reflex stimulation-induced hypertension. This paper will discuss current knowledge of the effects of acupuncture on central nervous system and how they contribute to regulation of acupuncture on the endocrine system to provide a perspective on the future of treatment of hypertension with this ancient technique.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:878673. Zhou W, Longhurst JC. Department of Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

Since the publication of the special issue on cognitive hypnotherapy in the Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly (1994), there have been major developments in the application of hypnosis to the treatment of depression. However, there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment for depressive disorders as the conditions represent a complex set of heterogeneous symptoms, involving multiple etiologies. It is thus important for therapists to promote a multimodal approach to treating depressive disorders. This article describes cognitive hypnotherapy (CH), an evidence-based multimodal psychological treatment that can be applied to a wide range of depressed patients. CH combines hypnosis with cognitive behavior therapy as the latter provides the best integrative lodestone for assimilating empirically supported treatment techniques derived from various psychotherapies.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2012 Apr;54(4):275-93. Alladin A. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Assen.Alladin@albertahealthservices.ca

Paul G. Swingle, Ph.D. was Professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa prior to moving to Vancouver. A Fellow of the Canadian psychological Association, Dr. Swingle was Lecturer in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School from 1991 to 1998 and during the same time period was Associate Attending Psychologist at McLean Hospital where he was also Coordinator of the Clinical Psychophysiology Service. Dr. Swingle was Chairman of the Faculty of Child Psychology at Ottawa University from 1972 to 1977 and Clinical Supervisor from 1987 to 1997. He is a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia and is Certified in Biofeedback and neurotherapy.

For more information visit: www.brainmeeting.com.

Full title: Long-term follow-up of gut-directed hypnotherapy vs. standard care in children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: We previously showed that gut-directed hypnotherapy (HT) is highly effective in the treatment of children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aim of this follow-up study was to investigate the long-term effects of HT vs. standard medical treatment plus supportive therapy (SMT). METHODS: All 52 participants of our previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) were invited to complete a standardized abdominal pain diary, on which pain frequency and pain intensity were scored. Furthermore, the Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI) and a general quality of life (QOL) questionnaire were filled out. Clinical remission was defined as > 80% improvement in pain scores compared with baseline.
RESULTS: All 27 HT patients and 22 out of 25 SMT patients participated in this study. Two patients of the SMT group were lost to follow-up and one refused to participate. After a mean duration of 4.8 years follow-up (3.4-6.7), HT was still highly superior to conventional therapy with 68 vs. 20% of the patients in remission after treatment (P = 0.005). Pain intensity and pain frequency scores at follow-up were 2.8 and 2.3, respectively, in the HT group compared with 7.3 and 7.1 in the SMT group (P < 0.01). Also, somatization scores were lower in the HT group (15.2 vs. 22.8; P = 0.04). No differences were found in QOL, doctors' visits, and missed days of school or work between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The beneficial effects of gut-directed HT are long lasting in children with FAP or IBS with two thirds still in remission almost 5 years after treatment, making it a highly valuable therapeutic option.

J Gastroenterol. 2012 Apr;107(4):627-31. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2011.487 Vlieger AM, Rutten JM, Govers AM, Frankenhuis C, Benninga MA. Department of Pediatrics, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. a.vlieger@antoniusziekenhuis.nl

In spite of the existence of good empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), consumers and providers continue to ask for more options for managing this common and often chronic condition. Meditation-based approaches are being widely implemented, but there is minimal research rigorously assessing their effectiveness. This article reviews meditation as an intervention for PTSD, considering three major types of meditative practices: mindfulness, mantra, and compassion meditation. The mechanisms by which these approaches may effectively reduce PTSD symptoms and improve quality of life are presented. Empirical evidence of the efficacy of meditation for PTSD is very limited but holds some promise. Additional evaluation of meditation-based treatment appears to be warranted.

Behav Modif. 2012 Jun 5. Lang AJ, Strauss JL, Bomyea J, Bormann JE, Hickman SD, Good RC, Essex M.

Pain is a serious health care problem and there is growing evidence to support the use of hypnosis and cognitive-behavioral interventions for pain management. This article reviews clinical techniques and methods of cognitive hypnotherapy for pain management. Current research with emphasis given to randomized, controlled trials is presented and the efficacy of hypnotherapy for pain management is discussed. Evidence for cognitive hypnotherapy in the treatment in chronic pain, cancer, osteoarthritis, sickle cell disease, temporomandibular disorder, fibromyalgia, non-cardiac chest pain, and disability related chronic pains are identified. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed in light of the accumulating evidence in support of the efficacy and effectiveness of cognitive hypnotherapy for pain management.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2012 Apr;54(4):294-310. Elkins G, Johnson A, Fisher W. Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, USA. Gary_Elkins@baylor.edu

Dr. Benor's bio summarizes his ongoing search for ever more ways to peel the onion of life's resistances, to reach the knowing (with the inner knowing of truth which has the feel of rightness) that we are all cells in the body of the Infinite Source.

While his unique area of expertise is spiritual awareness and healing, his principal work is through wholistic healing – addressing spirit, relationships, mind, emotions and body. He is using WHEE, a potent self-healing method, with children and parents (many foster parents) who are dealing with PTSD and other forms of stress, psychological and physical pain, low self-esteem, cravings and other issues.

For more information, visit: www.WholisticHealingResearch.com or www.ijhc.org

Full title: Effect of a yoga program on glucose metabolism and blood lipid levels in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of yoga therapy on glucose metabolism and blood lipid values in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: A prospective, randomized, interventional controlled trial recruited 90 adolescents aged between 15 and 18years who met the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. A yoga group practiced suryanamaskara, asanas, pranayama, and meditation 1hour per day each day for12weeks while another group practiced conventional physical exercises. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare score changes between the 2 groups.RESULTS: The changes in fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly different in the 2 groups (P<0.05). Except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the changes in blood lipid values were also significantly different (P<0.05). The changes in body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio, however, were not significantly different (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Yoga was found to be more effective than conventional physical exercises in improving glucose, lipid, and insulin values, including insulin resistance values, in adolescent girls with PCOS independent of anthropometric changes. Central Trial Registry of India No.: REFCTRI-2008 000291.

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2012 Jul;118(1):37-41. Epub 2012 Apr 14. Nidhi R, Padmalatha V, Nagarathna R, Ram A. Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYSA) University, Bengaluru, India.

ABSTRACT: In the last 2 decades, a growing body of research aimed at investigating the health benefits of Tai Chi in various chronic health conditions has been recognized in the literature. This article reviewed the history, the philosophy, and the evidence for the role of Tai Chi in a few selected chronic pain conditions. The ancient health art of Tai Chi contributes to chronic pain management in 3 major areas: adaptive exercise, mind-body interaction, and meditation. Trials examining the health benefit of Tai Chi in chronic pain conditions are mostly low quality. Only 5 pain conditions were reviewed: osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, and headache. Of these, Tai Chi seems to be an effective intervention in osteoarthritis, low back pain, and fibromyalgia. The limitations of the Tai Chi study design and suggestions for the direction of future research are also discussed.

Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2012 May 17. Peng PW. From the Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto; and Wasser Pain Management Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.

The aim of this mixed methods feasibility study was to demonstrate the acceptability, practicality, and safety of training patients who regularly use deliberate self harm (DSH) to self-administer acupuncture as an alternative coping skill for emotional distress. Ten adult patients with a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder who regularly self-harmed were recruited to the study following baseline assessment by a psychiatrist. An acupuncturist taught participants to self-acupuncture. During the 6-week intervention participants recorded their emotional distress, coping behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in a diary. Face-to-face interviews were used to explore participants' motives for DSH and their experience of acupuncture. Framework analysis was conducted on interview transcripts and diary entries to identify common themes. Mood at baseline and six weeks was measured using the BDI and changes in the use of coping behaviors and acupuncture were measured using diary entries. Subjects used acupuncture regularly through the six-week intervention and over this period there was a reduction in the frequency of DSH. Qualitative analysis identified two broad themes relating to the process and the effects of acupuncture. There was wide variation in the effects experienced by subjects which broadly mapped onto to the wide range of motives behind DSH. BDI scores showed a near significant reduction (p = 0.055) from 44.4. to 34.4 over the 6-week intervention. Patients presenting with deliberate self harm can be safely trained to self-administer acupuncture as an alternative coping skill. Acceptability and effectiveness may vary between patients depending on the complex motives underlying their self-harming behavior. While the pilot study was designed to explore the feasibility of the intervention, results from this limited sample suggest that use of self-administered acupuncture may reduce the frequency of self harming behavior and reduce emotional distress as measured using the BDI.

J Pers Disord. 2011 Dec;25(6):741-54. Davies S, Bell D, Irvine F, Tranter R.

Hypnosis has long been known to be associated with heightened control over physical processes and researchers put it under consideration because of its usage as a therapeutic tool in many medical and psychological problems. Determination of hypnosis susceptibility level is important before prescribing any hypnotic treatment. In this study different features are introduced to classify hypnotizability levels. These features were extracted from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals which were recorded from 32 subjects during hypnosis suggestion. Based on the obtained result, a method was suggested to estimate the hypnosis susceptibility level from hypnosis EEG signals instead of using traditional clinical subjective tests.

Comput Biol Med. 2012 May;42(5):590-7. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2012.02.003. Baghdadi G, Nasrabadi AM. Biomedical Engineering Department, Shahed University, Across Emam Khomeini Holy Shrine, Persian Gulf Highway, Tehran, Iran. golnaz_baghdadi@yahoo.com

Background. An early sign of ventricular remodeling is increased left ventricular mass (LVM) which over time may lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, the strongest predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, other than advancing age. Methods. 62 (30 TM; 32 CTL) African American adolescents (age 16.2 ± 1.3 years) with high normal systolic BP were randomly assigned to either 4-month Transcendental Meditation (TM) or health education control groups. The echocardiographic-derived measure of LVM index (LVMI = LVM/ht(2.7)) was measured before and after the 4-month TM study and at 4-month followup. 2D-guided M-mode echocardiography using a Hewlett Packard 5500 echosonograph was used to determine LVMI. Results. The TM group exhibited a greater decrease in LVMI at 4-month followup compared to the CTL group (-2.6 versus +0.3?gm/ht(2.7), P < 0.04). The TM group exhibited a lesser increase in BMI at 4-month follow-up compared to the CTL group (0.2 ± 1.6 versus 1.1 ± 1.4, P < 0.03). Conclusion. These findings indicate that among a group of prehypertensive African American adolescents, 4 months of TM compared to heath education resulted in a significant decrease in VMI, and these changes were maintained at 4-month follow-up.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:923153. Epub 2012 May 22. Barnes VA, Kapuku GK, Treiber FA. Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Prevention Institute, Georgia Health Sciences University, HS1640, Augusta, GA 30912-3710, USA.

Full title: Enhancing the efficacy of treatment for temporomandibular patients with muscular diagnosis through cognitive-behavioral intervention, including hypnosis: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), including hypnosis, in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) with muscular diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-two patients (65 women and 7 men with an average age of 39 years) were selected according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD, and assigned to the experimental group (n = 41), receiving the 6-session CBT program, and the control group (n = 31). All patients received conservative standard treatment for TMD. The assessment included pain variables and psychologic distress. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the groups, the experimental group showing a higher improvement in the variables evaluated. Specifically, 90% of the patients under CBT reported a significant reduction in frequency of pain and 70% in emotional distress. The improvement was stable over time, with no significant differences between posttreatment and 9-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: CBT, including hypnosis, significantly improved conservative standard treatment outcome in TMD patients.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2012 Jan;113(1):81-9. Epub 2012 Feb 3. Ferrando M, Galdón MJ, Durá E, Andreu Y, Jiménez Y, Poveda R. Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychologic Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

Patricia Thatcher has over 20 years of experience working in the psychotherapeutic field. She specializes in the use of mind/body methods including the Tapas Acupressure Technique, Thought Field Therapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), The REMAP Process and hypnosis to help people to transform their lives for positive outcomes. Pat has presented at national conferences, teaches a variety of courses in her field for Boston University School of Social Work and is on the Board of Directors for The New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation. Pat has extensive training in the Tapas Acupressure Technique utilizes it in her work in helping people heal from traumatic experience and teaches to other professionals. She has a private practice in Cambridge, MA where she sees adults, couples and families.

For more information, please visit www.thelifeworkscenter.com

Full title: Meditation, mindfulness and executive control: the importance of emotional acceptance and brain-based performance monitoring.

Previous studies have documented the positive effects of mindfulness meditation on executive control. What has been lacking, however, is an understanding of the mechanism underlying this effect. Some theorists have described mindfulness as embodying two facets-present moment awareness and emotional acceptance. Here, we examine how the effect of meditation practice on executive control manifests in the brain, suggesting that emotional acceptance and performance monitoring play important roles. We investigated the effect of meditation practice on executive control and measured the neural correlates of performance monitoring, specifically, the error-related negativity (ERN), a neurophysiological response that occurs within 100?ms of error commission. Meditators and controls completed a Stroop task, during which we recorded ERN amplitudes with electroencephalography. Meditators showed greater executive control (i.e. fewer errors), a higher ERN and more emotional acceptance than controls. Finally, mediation pathway models further revealed that meditation practice relates to greater executive control and that this effect can be accounted for by heightened emotional acceptance, and to a lesser extent, increased brain-based performance monitoring.

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2012 May 13. Teper R, Inzlicht M. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada M1C 1A4. rimma.teper@gmail.com.

Background. There is very little data describing the long-term health impacts of meditation. Aim. To compare the quality of life and functional health of long-term meditators to that of the normative population in Australia. Method. Using the SF-36 questionnaire and a Meditation Lifestyle Survey, we sampled 343 long-term Australian Sahaja Yoga meditation practitioners and compared their scores to those of the normative Australian population. Results. Six SF-36 subscales (bodily pain, general health, mental health, role limitation-emotional, social functioning, and vitality) were significantly better in meditators compared to the national norms whereas two of the subscales (role limitation-physical, physical functioning) were not significantly different. A substantial correlation between frequency of mental silence experience and the vitality, general health, and especially mental health subscales (P < 0.005) was found. Conclusion. Long-term practitioners of Sahaja yoga meditation experience better functional health, especially mental health, compared to the general population. A relationship between functional health, especially mental health, and the frequency of meditative experience (mental silence) exists that may be causal. Evidence for the potential role of this definition of meditation in enhancing quality of life, functional health and wellbeing is growing.Implications for primary mental health prevention are discussed.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:350674. Epub 2012 May 7. Manocha R, Black D, Wilson L. Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the lifestyle behaviors of women before and during an IVF cycle. DESIGN: Prospective survey. SETTING: Private academically affiliated infertility center. PATIENT(S): One hundred eighteen women, ages 18-44, scheduled to undergo an assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle using their own eggs. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Lifestyle history and daily habit survey. RESULT(S): In the month before their IVF cycle, 92% exercised, 3% smoked, 73% drank alcohol, 76% drank caffeinated beverages, 14% took herbs, and 30% underwent acupuncture. During their ART cycle, 100% exercised, 2% smoked, 49% drank alcohol, 77% drank caffeine, 12% took herbs, and 47% underwent acupuncture. CONCLUSION(S): This is the first prospective assessment of numerous lifestyle habits during an ART cycle. A number of surprising observations were made. Despite physician recommendation against it, some ART patients took herbs while cycling. Patients continue to exercise regularly and drink caffeine daily, and almost half continued to drink alcohol. Lifestyle behavior counseling should be considered for patients pursuing ART. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01119391.

Copyright © 2012 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fertil Steril. 2012 Jan 2. Domar AD, Conboy L, Denardo-Roney J, Rooney KL. Boston IVF, Waltham, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Full title: Post-traumatic stress disorder: cognitive hypnotherapy, mindfulness, and acceptance-based treatment approaches.

In this article, we describe how cognitive hypnotherapy can be used in conjunction with evidence-based practices for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We review cognitive-behavioral interventions for PTSD, including mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches, and contend that (a) empirical support for the use of hypnosis in treating a variety of conditions is considerable; (b) hypnosis is fundamentally a cognitive-behavioral intervention; (c) psychological interventions with a firm footing in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are well-suited to treat the symptoms of PTSD; and (d) hypnosis can be a useful adjunct to evidence-based cognitive-behavioral approaches, including mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions, for treating PTSD.

Lynn SJ, Malakataris A, Condon L, Maxwell R, Cleere C. Am J Clin Hypn. 2012 Apr;54(4):311-30. Psychology Department, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, USA. stevenlynn100@gmail.com

Dr. Robert Coben received his Ph.D. in 1991 and has been a licensed psychologist in the state of New York since 1994 (www.op.nysed.gov/psych.htm). He is the Director and Chief Neuropsychologist of NRNS. His post-doctoral training in clinical and rehabilitation neuropsychology was done at the UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California.

His experience in rehabilitation neuropsychology includes directing two separate inpatient programs. He is former director of inpatient and outpatient brain rehabilitation at Staten Island University Hospital.

Dr. Coben is board-certified in EEG biofeedback and a Diplomat of the QEEG Certifcation Board. He is a member in good standing of the American Psychological Association, International Neuropsychological Society, International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, and the American Association of Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.

CONTEXT: Our previous review of the literature concluded that there is encouraging evidence that guided imagery alleviates musculoskeletal pain, but the value of guided imagery in the management of non-musculoskeletal pain remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of guided imagery as a treatment option for non-musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: Six databases were searched from their inception to February 2011. Randomized clinical trials were considered if they investigated guided imagery in human patients with any type of non-musculoskeletal pain in any anatomical location and assessed pain as a primary outcome measure. Trials of motor imagery and hypnosis were excluded. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validation were performed independently by two reviewers. RESULTS: Fifteen randomized clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. Their methodological quality was generally poor. Eleven trials found that guided imagery led to a significant reduction of non-musculoskeletal pain. Four studies found no change in non-musculoskeletal pain with guided imagery in comparison with progressive relaxation, standard care, or no treatment. CONCLUSION: The evidence that guided imagery alleviates non-musculoskeletal pain is encouraging but remains inconclusive.

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012 Jun 5. Posadzki P, Lewandowski W, Terry R, Ernst E, Stearns A. Department of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter, Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.

Full title: The influence of concentration/meditation on autonomic nervous system activity and the innate immune response: a case study.

Objective In this case study, we describe the effects of a particular individual's concentration/meditation technique on autonomic nervous system activity and the innate immune response. The study participant holds several world records with regard to tolerating extreme cold and claims that he can influence his autonomic nervous system and thereby his innate immune response. Methods The individual's ex vivo cytokine response (stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) was determined before and after an 80-minute full-body ice immersion during which the individual practiced his concentration/meditation technique. Furthermore, the individual's in vivo innate immune response was studied while practicing his concentration/mediation technique during human endotoxemia (intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg LPS).The results from the endotoxemia experiment were compared with a historical cohort of 112 individuals who participated in endotoxemia experiments in our institution. Results The ex vivo proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine response was greatly attenuated by concentration/meditation during ice immersion, accompanied by high levels of cortisol. In the endotoxemia experiment, concentration/meditation resulted in increased circulating concentrations of catecholamines, and plasma cortisol concentrations were higher than in any of the previously studied participants. The individual's in vivo cytokine response and clinical symptoms after LPS administration were remarkably low compared with previously studied participants. Conclusions The concentration/meditation technique used by this particular individual seems to evoke a controlled stress response. This response is characterized by sympathetic nervous system activation and subsequent catecholamine/cortisol release, which seems to attenuate the innate immune response.

Psychosom Med. 2012 Jun;74(5):489-94. Kox M, Stoffels M, Smeekens SP, van Alfen N, Gomes M, Eijsvogels TM, Hopman MT, van der Hoeven JG, Netea MG, Pickkers P. Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Internal Mail 710, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. m.kox@ic.umcn.nl.

Research on the efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of bulimia nervosa has produced mixed findings. This is due in part to the interplay between the characteristics of people with bulimia and the wide variety of hypnosis interventions that have been employed. Several authors have noted that methodological limitations in hypnosis research often make evaluation of treatment efficacy difficult. Many of the studies extant provide insufficient information regarding the specifics of participants' hypnotizability, the hypnotic induction, or the hypnotic suggestion(s) employed. Such limitations preclude replication and clinical implementation. This article reviews the literature with replicable methodologies and discusses the implications for evaluating treatment efficacy.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2012 Apr;54(4):353-64. Barabasz M. Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-2136, USA. mbarabasz@wsu.edu

Hypnodontics, or the use of hypnosis in dentistry, is not widely used throughout the dental profession. Many patients seeking to use this therapy to help them access dental treatment are forced to seek treatment from non-clinically trained hypnotherapists. This article aims to explore what hypnosis is, its applications in dentistry and provide a brief insight into how these hypnotic concepts may be put to use in day-to-day dental practice.

Br Dent J. 2012 Jun 8;212(11):549-51. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.467. Holden A. Stag Dental Care, 107 Wickersley Road, Rotherham, S60 3PU.

Richard Allsopp sees a wide range of clients in his practice and specialises in psychology and performance motivation for sports professionals. As a graduate of the LCCH, Richard also designs and presents corporate training packages, stress management and personal development courses to a variety of blue chip clients and writes and presents his own weekly radio show on alternative and complementary medicine.

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Objective:? Pediatric hypnosis has a useful role in pre-, peri-, and post-anesthesia to minimize anticipatory anxiety, and as adjunctive treatment to reduce and control pain. This article reviews the literature in the use of hypnosis in pediatric anesthesia to highlight its role and relevancy. Background:? Current research indicates there is an immediate and enduring impact, and long-term benefits of this child-centered intervention. Hypnosis can be included in presurgical consultations to establish cooperation and signals for increasing comfort and to address fears and provide suggestions for rapid recovery with changed expectations for the child's own benefit. Thus prepared, the child is in a heightened state of receptivity and statements and suggestions carry through to peri- and post-anesthesia, when hypnosis can help with extubation, reduce nausea, and ease recovery. Method:? The Magic Glove is one hypno-anesthesia technique that simultaneously addresses pain and anxiety. The process of hypnosis requires training and supervised practice. Conclusion: Patients in hypnosis treatment conditions have less anxiety and shorter hospital stays and experience less long-term pain and discomfort than do patients in control conditions. There appears little reason not to provide hypnosis as an adjunctive treatment for pediatric patients undergoing anesthesia.

Paediatr Anaesth. 2012 Jun;22(6):573-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2012.03860.x. Kuttner L. Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in the endocrine system. This dreadful disease is found in all parts of the world and becoming a serious threat of mankind health. There are lots of chemical agents available to control and to treat diabetic patients, but total recovery from diabetes has not been reported up to this date. In addition to adverse effects, drug treatments are not always satisfactory in maintaining euglycemia and avoiding late stage diabetic complications. Alternative to these synthetic agents, plants provided a potential source of hypoglycemic drugs and are widely used in several traditional systems of medicine to prevent diabetes. Several medicinal plants have been investigated for their beneficial effect in different type of diabetes. Other alternative therapies such as dietary supplements, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and yoga therapies less likely to have the side effects of conventional approaches for diabetes.

J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011 Oct;3(4):504-12. Pandey A, Tripathi P, Pandey R, Srivatava R, Goswami S. Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Technology and Management, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Dr. William Hudspeth received his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University (1967) and then he obtained postdoctoral training in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology at UCLA's Brain Research Institute (1966 - 1968). He was a co-founder, with ER John and RW Thatcher, of the first Neurophysiology Clinic at New York Medical College (1974). Dr. Hudspeth is the author of the widely used, "NeuroRep Analysis and Report System," a tool for creating quantitative metrics for the human electroencephalogram (EEG) that is used in university and clinical research settings, including The Brain Labs. He has numerous publications in biological psychology, neuroanatomy, and QEEG. His work was used in the American Psychological Association's amicus brief to the Supreme Court (among many briefs) to disallow the death penalty for minors who have committed capital crimes. He is a Diplomate of the QEEG Certification Board (No. 33).

Dr. Lakshmi C. Mishra is Director of National Center for Ayurveda and Toxicology Reviews, Rockville MD since April 2003. He provides education information about Ayurvedic health care. He is also working for CECON group of New York as a pharmacologist, toxicologist and research consultant to plan safety and efficacy studies and evaluate safety and efficacy clinical trial data on dietary supplements, drugs, and chemicals for US FDA and US EPA registration and labeling requirements.

Dr. Lakshmi C. Mishra was Adjunct Professor in the Research Division (1998-2003), provided clinical Ayurvedic services in the SCU health system; the first ayurvedic health care in the SCU clinic system. He has a long work history as a toxicologist for the federal government, has specialized in carcinogenesis and cancer chemotherapy research in the past (1974-1997), and has turned his attention to the development of treatment protocols combining Western Science and Ayurvedic principles. He provided the content expertise for the development and implementation of basic science, cancer chemotherapy and chemo-prevention using herbal dietary supplements. Dr. L.C. Mishra was PI of trials using animal models to investigate both guggul and another Ayurvedic herb, Ashwagandha.

He has an extensive background, both as a clinician in modern and Ayurvedic medicine and as a bench scientist in cancer chemotherapy, pharmacology and toxicology, a unique combination of qualifications indeed. He has been a reviewer for Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine (ATHM) particularly in the areas of cancer chemotherapy, pharmacology, toxicology, Ayurvedic herbal therapies. He was an advisor to RAND Corporation (2000-01), Los Angeles, California for a systematic review of Ayurvedic therapies for a specific diagnosis, funded by AHRQ, P.I., Ian Coulter. He was also a member of the editorial board for Journal of American Nutraceutical Association till Spring 2002. His other interest includes osteoarthritis and autoimmune diseases, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis. He has collaborated with the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy to study the effects of Guggul and Ashwagandha in protecting oxidative DNA fragmentation in rat brain in a stroke rat model.

For more information visit: www.lcmishra.com.