Brain education-based meditation for patients with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Meditation and Its Mental and Physical Health Benefits in 2023

This article discusses the power of meditation and how beneficial it is for the body. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown many positive brain changes and improved several brain functions. Meditation has several benefits improving the immune system and inflammatory processes by decreasing cytokine; appropriate telomere shortening also has helped healthy aging. Regarding physical health, meditation has been beneficial in various multi-factorial diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and fibromyalgia. It has also helped bring down blood cholesterol levels and increase high-density lipoproteins (HDL) levels. Improvement was also seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Mental health is another aspect influenced by meditation, as positive emotion brought about by meditation helps address various mental problems like social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Overall, it seems to have some impact in all health areas. However, the magnitude of its effect is not known. More diverse and detailed studies should yield more beneficial clinical outcomes.

Meditation programs for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is intimately linked to chronic stress. Meditation programs belong to mind-body therapies, which could benefit patients' disease management. Though some clinical trials have proved that meditation programs have the ability to improve level of blood glucose quality of life, body mass index and blood indexes related to metabolism in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the efficacy of meditation programs needs further confirmation. Thus we will conduct this systematic evaluation and meta-analysis to summarize and analyze all the results included to obtain reliable evidence.

METHODS

We will search several English and Chinese databases for relevant clinical trials published up to July 2021, and randomized controlled trials or controlled trials among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus are included. Two reviewers will extract data and assess the quality of included studies independently. The main outcomes of this research are glycosylated hemoglobin level and fasting blood glucose level. The secondary outcomes are high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, body mass index, remission of depression and anxiety, and quality of life. Stata v.14.0 and Review Manager V5.3 will be used to synthesize and analyze all data included.

RESULTS

Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation will be used to evaluate the quality of the assessments. Our study will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review is the first to analyze the efficacy of different types of meditation for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which could provide evidence for the use of mediation programs as non-drug approaches.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42021274508.

Three months-longitudinal changes in relative telomere length, blood chemistries, and self-report questionnaires in meditation practitioners compared to novice individuals during midlife

Aging accelerates during midlife. Researches have shown the health benefits of mind-body intervention (MBI). However, whether MBI is involved with aging process has not been well understood. In this study, we approach to examine the relations of MBI with this process by investigating an aging marker of the peripheral blood, blood chemistry, and self-report questionnaires. A quasi-experimental design was applied. Experienced MBI practitioners participated in a 3-month intensive meditation training, while the age, gender-matched MBI-naïve controls led a normal daily life. Measurements were taken at before and after the 3 months for relative telomere length (RTL), blood chemistry, and self-report questionnaires including items about sleep quality, somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, emotional intelligence (EI), and self-regulation. For RTL, the repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant group*time interaction (P = .013) with a significant post hoc result (P = .030) within the control group: RTL was significantly reduced in the control while it was maintained in the meditation group. In repeated measures analysis of variance for blood chemistries, there were significant group differences between the groups in glucose and total protein. In the post hoc comparison analysis, at post measurements, the meditation group exhibited significantly lower values than the control group in both glucose and total protein. There were significant group-wise differences in the correlations of RTL with triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Any of self-report results did not show significant changes in group*time interaction. However, there were group differences with significant (P < .05) or a tendency (.05 < P < .1) level. There were significant improvements in depression, stress and EI as well as tendencies of improvement in sleep quality and anxiety, in the meditation group compared to the control group. Our results suggest that meditation practice may have a potential to modify aging process in molecular cellular level combined with changes in psychological dimension.

Cortical and autonomic responses during staged Taoist meditation: Two distinct meditation strategies

Meditation is a consciousness state associated with specific physiological and neural correlates. Numerous investigations of these correlates reported controversial results which prevented a consistent depiction of the underlying neurophysiological processes. Here we investigated the dynamics of multiple neurophysiological indicators during a staged meditation session. We measured the physiological changes at rest and during the guided Taoist meditation in experienced meditators and naive subjects. We recorded EEG, respiration, galvanic skin response, and photoplethysmography. All subjects followed the same instructions split into 16 stages. In the experienced meditators group we identified two subgroups with different physiological markers dynamics. One subgroup showed several signs of general relaxation evident from the changes in heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and EEG rhythmic activity. The other subgroup exhibited mind concentration patterns primarily noticeable in the EEG recordings while no autonomic responses occurred. The duration and type of previous meditation experience or any baseline indicators we measured did not explain the segregation of the meditators into these two groups. These results suggest that two distinct meditation strategies could be used by experienced meditators, which partly explains the inconsistent results reported in the earlier studies evaluating meditation effects. Our findings are also relevant to the development of the high-end biofeedback systems.

The effects of meditation on individuals facing loneliness: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Meditation is defined as a mind and body practice focused on interactions between the brain, mind, body, and behaviour, containing four key elements: a quiet location with little distractions, a comfortable posture, a focus of attention, and an open attitude. We sought to review the benefits of meditation on the alleviation of loneliness.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted based on Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework. Eligibility criteria included primary studies of any type that investigated the effects of meditation on loneliness. Search strategies were developed and conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, and CINAHL. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and American Psychological Association websites were also searched. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were critically reviewed using a descriptive-analytical narrative method.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies met our inclusion criteria and were published between 2012 and 2020 across 10 countries. Eleven studies reported improvements in relation to loneliness. Of the remaining two studies (15%), one mentioned the alleviation of loneliness, but only looked primarily at social closeness in lonely individuals. The other study found a correlation between loneliness and nuclear factor (NF)-κB levels, which was the measured outcome; however, the direct effects of meditation on loneliness were unclear. Three main themes emerged from our analysis, as follows: 1) positive results across all studies, 2) relatively small randomized control trials conducted over the last decade, and 3) lack of diverse demographic information.

CONCLUSIONS

While a small number of studies exist at this intersection, given all included studies indicated positive findings, the effects of meditation in alleviating loneliness are promising. Future research should be directed at understanding how meditation mitigates loneliness and how this intervention can impact practice for healthcare professionals.

Can Mindfulness Help to Alleviate Loneliness? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) has been proposed to alleviate loneliness and improve social connectedness. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of MBI. This study aimed to critically evaluate and determine the effectiveness and safety of MBI in alleviating the feeling of loneliness. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane CENTRAL, and AMED for publications from inception to May 2020. We included RCTs with human subjects who were enrolled in MBI with loneliness as an outcome. The quality of evidence was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias (ROB) tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. Results: Out of 92 articles identified, eight studies involving 815 participants were included in this study. Most (7/8) trials conducted a minimum of 8 weeks of MBI. Most of the trials (5/8) used UCLA-Loneliness Scale. A pooled analysis combining three trials and compared with wait-list showed significant improvement in loneliness score reduction using the UCLA-R scale with MD of -6.33 [95% confidence interval (CI): -9.39, -3.26]. Subgroup analysis with only two Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) trials also showed similar MD of -6.05 (95% CI: -9.53, 2.58). The overall quality of evidence (GRADE) was low. Conclusions: Mindfulness intervention with an average length of 8-week duration significantly improved the population's loneliness level with no mental health issue. However, this evidence had a low GRADE level.

Changes Induced by Mind-Body Intervention Including Epigenetic Marks and Its Effects on Diabetes

Studies have evidenced that epigenetic marks associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be inherited from parents or acquired through fetal and early-life events, as well as through lifelong environments or lifestyles, which can increase the risk of diabetes in adulthood. However, epigenetic modifications are reversible, and can be altered through proper intervention, thus mitigating the risk factors of T2D. Mind-body intervention (MBI) refers to interventions like meditation, yoga, and qigong, which deal with both physical and mental well-being. MBI not only induces psychological changes, such as alleviation of depression, anxiety, and stress, but also physiological changes like parasympathetic activation, lower cortisol secretion, reduced inflammation, and aging rate delay, which are all risk factors for T2D. Notably, MBI has been reported to reduce blood glucose in patients with T2D. Herein, based on recent findings, we review the effects of MBI on diabetes and the mechanisms involved, including epigenetic modifications.

A randomized controlled trial protocol of the cardiovascular safety and efficacy of liraglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Recently, many clinical experiments have evaluated the influences of liraglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, the outcomes of these studies are inconsistent, and the number of high-quality prospective trials that conducted to assess the cardiovascular safety is limited. Hence, for this research, it was implemented for the assessment of the cardiovascular effectiveness and safety of liraglutide in type 2 diabetes patients.

METHODS

This research was a 26-week active controlled and randomized trial. Our research protocol follows the guidelines of Good Clinical Practice issued via the Helsinki Declaration and International Conference on Coordination. All the patients will receive the written informed consent in order to involve in our clinical experiment. The participants with type 2 diabetes aged from 18 years to 80 years, patients with 45.0 kg/m2 body-mass index or less, and with glycosylated hemoglobin of 7.5 to 10.0 percent, and received metformin (daily 1500 mg or more) for 3 months or longer were eligible. All the patients were randomized to 1 of 2 interventions (in the ratio of 1:1): liraglutide placebo once daily (blinded) and liraglutide once daily (blinded), respectively, both combined with the glimepiride and metformin (open-labeled). For the efficacy variable, the major endpoint was the baseline glycated hemoglobin change after treating for 26 weeks. The secondary end points involved: the percentage of participants who achieved the goals of postprandial blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin; the changes of mean postprandial blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, and the body weight, pancreatic B-cell function index, and changes in blood pressure and insulin resistance assessed by homeostasis model.

CONCLUSIONS

For this research, the limitations involve the short trial period and the limitation of glimepiride in some countries, thus excluding the maximum doses of glimepiride.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry6306).

Practical Strategies for Identifying and Managing Burnout in Plastic Surgeons

BACKGROUND

Physician burnout is a well-known problem and widespread issue in the field of medicine. Recently, more attention has been given to the significance of burnout among plastic surgeons. The cause of burnout is multifactorial, with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment all playing a role. The objective of this article is to provide practical measures to help plastic surgeons in identifying the signs of burnout, thereby mitigating its consequences.

METHODS

A literature review was performed to determine the comprehensive findings of previous research conducted on burnout among plastic surgeons. Particular interest was given to successful tactics used in managing work-related stress. Wellness strategies and resources from both academic and private medical settings were also obtained to further review methods for burnout management.

RESULTS

There is a wide range of causes and risk factors for burnout among plastic surgeons. The majority of cases correlate with increased workload, loss of physician autonomy, and, in the context of trainees, lack of mentorship. Managing burnout can be supported by identification through survey tools. Establishing a wellness committee is also useful to develop institution-specific interventions. Equally as important, individuals must take steps to manage and minimize their burnout.

CONCLUSIONS

This article provides practical strategies for institutions to identify and manage burnout among plastic surgeons. It is obvious that causes of burnout vary in different settings such as academic and community hospitals; therefore, it is critical for institutions to individualize their approach to burnout.

A potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry in healthy women: A pilot cross-sectional study

Owing to hormonal changes, women experience various psychophysiological alterations over a wide age range, which may result in decreased quality of life as well as in increased risks of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases. Although studies have been performed to research complementary methods, such as meditation, the research field still requires an adequate amount of studies for public health guidelines. This pilot cross-sectional study aims to investigate a potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry for healthy women. In this study, data of 65 healthy women (age range 25-67) including 33 meditation practitioners and 32 meditation-naïve controls were analyzed to compare the Menopausal Rating Scale scores and blood chemistry with 7 more dropouts in the blood chemistry. For blood chemistry, nine components including glucose (GLU) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were measured. Two-way analysis of variance was performed by dividing the total participants into 2 groups: premenopausal and postmenopausal participants. Compared to the control group, the meditation group showed a trend of reductions in the Menopausal Rating Scale total score (P = .054) and its 2 subcomponents: depressive mood (P = .064) and irritability (P = .061). In HDL level, there was a significant interaction between group and menopausal state (P = .039) with following post hoc results: among the premenopausal participants, a significant increase in the meditation group compared to the control group (P = .005); among the control group, a significant increase in the postmenopausal compared to the premenopausal participants (P = .030). In GLU level, there was a mild interaction between group and menopausal state (P = .070) with following post hoc results: among the postmenopausal participants, a trend of increase in the control group compared to the meditation group (P = .081); among the control group, a significant increase in the postmenopausal compared to the premenopausal participants (P = .040). Our research suggests a potential association of practicing meditation with alleviations in menopausal symptoms and changes in blood chemistry, warranting further studies with a longitudinal study design and larger populations to understand the underlying causal relationships.