Abstracts & Commentary

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study shows that a traditional Middle Eastern herb is as effective as ibuprofen in reducing menstrual pain.

Analysis of a national database in Australia shows a lower incidence of type 1 diabetes among children after the initiation of routine vaccination against rotavirus.

In a recent randomized controlled trial involving suicidal inpatients, patients who recorded their appreciation for simple gifts or pleasures in a “gratitude diary” showed greater improvements in hope and optimism than those who kept a food diary.

Longitudinal cohort study of older adults shows an association between low vitamin K levels and mobility.

Randomized trial finds curcumin with turmeric essential oil is just as effective as diclofenac for the treatment of knee pain from osteoarthritis, with fewer adverse effects. The curcumin/turmeric combination could be a safe and effective NSAID alternative.

Study finds that the equivalent of 1 cup of blueberries per day improves high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and vascular endothelial factors, which could reduce cardiovascular event risk by 11% or more.

Study shows patients with ulcerative colitis who receive fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) experience steroid-free remission at 8 weeks in numbers greater than placebo.

An interventional trial finds vitamin D supplements specifically benefit patients with lung cancer who were vitamin D–deficient to begin with, supporting an individualized approach to supplementation in this population.

Study finds that blueberries improve pain, stiffness, and gait but do not reduce biomarkers of inflammation in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Randomized trial shows that tocotrienol, a member of the vitamin E family, works synergistically with bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody, to slow progression and extend survival in women with refractory ovarian cancer.