Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:The recent boom in patient education on chronic hepatitis C has resulted in a worldwide increase in the diagnosis of this condition. Available treatment is expensive and associated with significant side effects; therefore, many patients seek for alternative medicine. Silybum marianum is a natural herb known to mankind for over 2,000 years that has been used as a liver-protecting agent due to its antioxidant properties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety profile and the effects of this herb, using a commercially available extract; in the liver chemistry and viral load of hepatitis C in chronically infected patients. METHODS:Patients aged 21-65 years old with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C who were not using antiviral therapy were asked to participate. Patients were randomized to treatment with S. marianum 160 mg orally three times a week for four weeks or to no-treatment (control). Blood tests for viral load and liver enzymes (ALT and AST) were done at randomization and at the end of treatment. Paired-t test was used to measure differences between baseline and week 4 values for ALT, AST and viral load. The percent change for ALT, AST and viral load of both groups was analyzed using the Mann Whitney statistical test. RESULTS:34 patients were enrolled. Men and women were equally distributed. Mean age was 50 years old. Mean baseline measurements of AST, ALT and viral load in the treatment group were 85 +/- 12.41 IU/ml, 120 +/- 20.57 IU/ml and 8.77 +/- 4.12 copies x 10(6)/ml while for the no-treatment group were 71 +/- 9.46 IU/ml, 97 +/- 15.35 IU/ ml and 1.8 +/- 0.62 copies x 10(6)/ml respectively. For treated subjects the mean values of AST, ALT and viral load demonstrated a decrease from baseline values, but this difference was not statistically significant. For control patients the values of ALT (p= .049), AST (p = .005) and viral load (p = .005) showed a statistically significant increase at week 4. Week 4 measurement changes from baseline values were calculated for each participant. The percent change for ALT (p = .014), AST (p = .002) and viral load (p = .326) were compared between the treated and control group demonstrating a statistically significance difference for ALT and AST, but not for viral load. No side effects were reported using the herb extract. CONCLUSION:Sylibum marianum is a well-tolerated plant extract associated with a decrease in liver chemistries but with no apparent effect on viral load when given for 4 weeks. These results suggest that S. marianum may have a protective effect in the inflammatory response to HCV, but no role as an antiviral agent. Further investigations may consider using this plant extract for a longer period of time or as adjuvant to the standard therapy of chronic hepatitis C.
journal_name
P R Health Sci Jjournal_title
Puerto Rico health sciences journalauthors
Torres M,Rodríguez-Serrano F,Rosario DJ,Rodríguez-Perez F,Toro DHsubject
Has Abstractpub_date
2004-06-01 00:00:00pages
69-74issue
2 Suppleissn
0738-0658issn
2373-6011journal_volume
23pub_type
杂志文章,随机对照试验abstract:OBJECTIVE:To test the hypothesis that fermentable fiber prevents Salmonella typhimurium infection-associated symptoms by enhancing innate and adaptive immune system in neonatal pigs. METHODS:Two-d-old piglets (n=120) were randomized to receive either a nutritionally complete sow milk replacer formula (CON), or supplem...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2020-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::Folate deficiency is one of today's most common vitamin deficiencies in women. Women who consume a low level of folate during pregnancy are at risk for poor pregnancy outcomes including neural tube defects (NTD). However, other factors such as heredity, social class, maternal age, birth order, maternal diet, length of...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:
更新日期:1997-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::Breastfeeding mothers need orientation and help in order to succeed with breastfeeding. Lack of support from health professionals and societal barriers result in a median duration of breastfeeding in Puerto Rico of only 3 weeks. A telephone warm line at our breastfeeding clinic tries to provide some much-needed suppor...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2001-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::This brief celebration of the work of Francisco Guerra (1916-2011) highlights his role as mentor for an international community, his study of local events in the context of global developments, and his contributions to the understanding of the medical history of Puerto Rico. A selective review of Francisco Guerra's me...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 传,历史文章,杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2012-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::As part of the January, 1988 trapping of the Cayo Santiago rhesus colony a number of morphometric measurements and serum were collected to examine metabolic and hormonal changes associated with spontaneous obesity. Measurements included body weights, crown-rump lengths, abdominal and scapular skinfolds and circumferen...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1989-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::Post-mortem medical examiner samples may be useful for sentinel surveillance of disorders usually detected by antibody determinations on specimens from ill patients or from surveys. We found anti-dengue IgM positivity in 3% (23/780) and anti-dengue IgG positivity in 77% (597/777) of sera obtained at the Puerto Rico me...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2006-03-01 00:00:00
abstract:OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to assess the demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors associated with HIV and syphilis infection among a sample of men attending a sexually transmitted infection clinic during 2009 to 2010 in San Juan, Puerto Rico (PR). METHODS:A sample of 350 clinical records from men visiting the cli...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2013-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::This study aims to determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and its association with HIV and other health risk factors among drug users. A sample of 716 IDUs and crack users were enrolled from community sites. Consenting subjects were tested for HIV serum antibody status. Drug users with an unk...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1996-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::Although regeneration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) after injury is robust, regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) is abortive. The results from differences in the balance of regeneration inhibiting and promoting factors, which in the CNS is skewed toward inhibition while in the PNS it is skewed tow...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:
更新日期:2000-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::Primary hepatic actinomycosis is an uncommon entity. We report the case of a young man with past history of an appendectomy who presented with fever, weight loss and a liver mass that was initially suspected to be neoplastic. Percutaneous liver biopsy revealed actinomyces-like organisms. The patient was treated with i...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:
更新日期:1992-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::This is the case of an 11-year-old girl who presented with a right adnexal mass and vague abdominal symptoms since seven months prior to her hospital admission for surgery. CT-scan and sonographic images were those of a benign lesion, probably ovarian torsion or infarction. Serum tumoral markers were normal. A right s...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2003-09-01 00:00:00
abstract:OBJECTIVE:Present evidence-based recommendations on the use of biochemical markers of bone turnover in the management of osteoporosis. METHODS:The English literature from 1999 to 2005 was reviewed by using data sources from MEDLINE. RESULTS:Measurement of biochemical markers of bone turnover helps us identify a high ...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:
更新日期:2007-06-01 00:00:00
abstract:OBJECTIVE:To determine the frequency of pediatric brain tumors treated at the University Pediatric Hospital of Puerto Rico over a 6-year period and examine the demographic data and tumor histology of patients in different age groups. METHODS:A retrospective study was undertaken at the University Pediatric Hospital. We...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2011-12-01 00:00:00
abstract:OBJECTIVE:This study assesses the antitubercular potential of natural products obtained from plants reputed to have medicinal properties and collected from the tropical flora of Puerto Rico. BACKGROUND:The increase in persons infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) the world over and the development of resistan...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1998-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections world-wide. Over the last two decades, research has established a strong causal link between specific types of HPV infection and cancer, particularly cervical, anal, vulvar/vaginal, penile, and oropharyng...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章,评审
doi:
更新日期:2010-09-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Suicidal behavior among adolescents is not a well-explored public health problem. Health policy decision-making on suicidal behavior needs reliable information on the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and its associated risk factors to produce health promotion and prevention programs. METHODS:The Global ...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2008-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::The AIDS pandemic had a significant impact in Puerto Rico, especially among the heterosexual populations, in particular women. Women are one of the fastest growing risk groups with HIV/AIDS in the USA and constitute about half of the AIDS cases in the world. During the past 10 years Puerto Rico has ranked among the to...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2007-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::Seventy two partial subperiosteal implants were inserted in 52 patients. Thirty six of these implants had a classical design in which the submerged structure had thick primary and secondary connectors. Thirty six implants had a newly designed submerged structure consisting of long and thin primary connectors with groo...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 临床试验,杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1994-09-01 00:00:00
abstract::We tested a dietary supplement formulated with a synergistic combination of vitamins, minerals, herbals in a group of 15 patients with uncontrolled diabetes type II. The supplement was given for 30 days. Fasting blood glucose was measured prior to the supplementation and at the end of the 30 days treatment period. Blo...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2004-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::The present study analyzed the socioeconomic determinants of health insurance status among Puerto Ricans. Given the fact that there are no mandated health benefits for private firms in Puerto Rico and that health services are provided almost free of charge in government facilities, Puerto Rico provides a unique case s...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1988-04-01 00:00:00
abstract::Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder of metabolism, which is commonly found in the Puerto Rican population. In this article the current concepts in diagnosis, classification and correct coding of DM are discussed. Since the cutoff point for diagnosing DM was lowered to 126 mg/dl in a fasting plasma glucose lev...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2001-06-01 00:00:00
abstract:BACKGROUND:Most studies about abuse, mistreatment and neglect of the aged have relied upon definitions provided by professionals and not the aged themselves whereas studies point out that definitions given by the aged do not correspond with those of professionals. Limited attention has been given to this topic in Puert...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2008-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::Alzheimer's Disease. The untold story. After considering the potential relationship between amyloid deposits and myxedematous infiltrations, the hypothesis is formulated that Alzheimer's disease may be due to functional hypothyroidism and may thus respond to thyroid therapy. ...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1993-06-01 00:00:00
abstract::Prenatal sonographic evaluation is of utmost importance in the detection of congenital anomalies. At the Ultrasound Section of our Radiology service, we incidentally detected fetal intracranial neoplasms in two different patients using non-invasive imaging. Our presumptive diagnosis in both cases was a teratoma, the m...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2002-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::Exposure to lead in children living on a former landfill in Vega Baja-Puerto Rico, a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) designated Superfund Site, is a major health concern. Direct contact with lead-contaminated soil is considered a major exposure source. However, there is a lack of information rega...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2003-06-01 00:00:00
abstract:OBJECTIVE:Shunt infection is the most common complication following a Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedure with devastating consequences. This study analyzes the efficacy of different shunt systems in reducing early shunt infections in the pediatric population. METHODS:Retrospective case study analysis of 177...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2019-12-01 00:00:00
abstract::A questionnaire entitled "Attitude toward tobacco usage among health professionals in Puerto Rico" was administered to medical students completing their first and fourth years respectively at the University of Puerto Rico Medical School. Percent of each group currently smoking was found to be 18.5 and 10.8 with an ave...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1987-08-01 00:00:00
abstract::Extracts from higher plants were evaluated for inhibitory activity against avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase. The assay may serve as a useful prescreen for potential anti-HIV bioactives. ...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1994-03-01 00:00:00
abstract::1. To know if the absence of desensitization in the chicken is characteristic of avian tissues, we studied the anaphylactic reaction in the duck. The contractions elicited in pieces of small intestine of actively immunized ducks upon exposure to the specific antigen, or Schultz-Dale reaction, were compared to similar ...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:1988-08-01 00:00:00
abstract:OBJECTIVE:Thyroid cancer has become one of the fastest growing malignancies in several countries worldwide. Few studies have examined thyroid cancer trends in Puerto Rico, and those studies have been conducted over relatively short time frames. This study aimed to describe both overall thyroid cancer incidence trends b...
journal_title:Puerto Rico health sciences journal
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:
更新日期:2011-09-01 00:00:00