Background: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has shown promise as an analgesic for those with chronic pain pathologies. With recently increased bioavailability, PEA may also be a treatment for acute pain presentations such...Background: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has shown promise as an analgesic for those with chronic pain pathologies. With recently increased bioavailability, PEA may also be a treatment for acute pain presentations such as tension-type headaches. Aim: To assess the efficacy of a bioavailable PEA formulation (Levagen+<sup>TM</sup>) for reducing the severity and duration of acute episodes of tension-type headaches when compared to a standard treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (the comparator). Methods: The study was a double-blind, randomized, single site, comparator controlled clinical study, with the cohort consisting of otherwise healthy adults, aged between 18 and 71, who experienced regular tension-type headaches. 94 adults experiencing headaches were randomised to receive either PEA (n = 47) or Ibuprofen comparator (n = 47). Upon headache onset, participants consumed their allocated product, recorded pain levels using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and continued to log their pain scores at 30-minute intervals for up to 4-hours. Results: Eighty-six participants (44 active treatment and 42 comparator) recorded at least one headache with a total of 271 tension-type headaches recorded (120 active treatment and 151 comparator). Most headaches were reduced in both treatment arms by 2 hours and almost all by 4 hours;90% in the PEA group, and 97% in comparator group, p > 0.5. For moderate at onset headaches, the comparator group had a greater percentage of pain-free events at 2-hours. However, the time taken to resolve severe headaches was significantly lower in the PEA group than the comparator group (p Conclusions: These results place PEA as a potential treatment option for tension-type headaches.展开更多
A standardized extract of the plant Caralluma fimbriata (Slimaluma?) is widely used in the management of obesity but its mode of action is not yet clarified. This study investigated the ability of Caralluma fimbriata ...A standardized extract of the plant Caralluma fimbriata (Slimaluma?) is widely used in the management of obesity but its mode of action is not yet clarified. This study investigated the ability of Caralluma fimbriata extract (CFE) to modify pre-adipocyte cell division and thus the development of hyper-plastic obesity. Mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell line samples were treated with different concentrations of an extract of CFE standardized against its pregnane glycoside content. Plain medium formed the negative control and hydroxyurea was the positive control. The cells were counted at 12-hour intervals, and their viability tested using the MTT assay. The treated cells were subjected to direct and indirect immunofluorescent assays for cyclin D1. CFE inhibited 3T3-L1 cell growth in a dose and duration-dependent manner, with results comparable to those produced by hydroxyurea. The viability of CFE-treated cells was reduced. Direct and indirect immunofluorescent assays demonstrated that CFE inhibits import of cyclin D1into the nucleus. CFE appears to inhibit pre-adipocyte cell division by interfering with a mechanism preceding the import of cyclin D1-CDk4/6 complex into the nucleus during the early G1 phase of the cell cycle, suggesting that CFE has the potential to inhibit hyperplastic obesity.展开更多
文摘Background: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has shown promise as an analgesic for those with chronic pain pathologies. With recently increased bioavailability, PEA may also be a treatment for acute pain presentations such as tension-type headaches. Aim: To assess the efficacy of a bioavailable PEA formulation (Levagen+<sup>TM</sup>) for reducing the severity and duration of acute episodes of tension-type headaches when compared to a standard treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (the comparator). Methods: The study was a double-blind, randomized, single site, comparator controlled clinical study, with the cohort consisting of otherwise healthy adults, aged between 18 and 71, who experienced regular tension-type headaches. 94 adults experiencing headaches were randomised to receive either PEA (n = 47) or Ibuprofen comparator (n = 47). Upon headache onset, participants consumed their allocated product, recorded pain levels using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and continued to log their pain scores at 30-minute intervals for up to 4-hours. Results: Eighty-six participants (44 active treatment and 42 comparator) recorded at least one headache with a total of 271 tension-type headaches recorded (120 active treatment and 151 comparator). Most headaches were reduced in both treatment arms by 2 hours and almost all by 4 hours;90% in the PEA group, and 97% in comparator group, p > 0.5. For moderate at onset headaches, the comparator group had a greater percentage of pain-free events at 2-hours. However, the time taken to resolve severe headaches was significantly lower in the PEA group than the comparator group (p Conclusions: These results place PEA as a potential treatment option for tension-type headaches.
文摘A standardized extract of the plant Caralluma fimbriata (Slimaluma?) is widely used in the management of obesity but its mode of action is not yet clarified. This study investigated the ability of Caralluma fimbriata extract (CFE) to modify pre-adipocyte cell division and thus the development of hyper-plastic obesity. Mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell line samples were treated with different concentrations of an extract of CFE standardized against its pregnane glycoside content. Plain medium formed the negative control and hydroxyurea was the positive control. The cells were counted at 12-hour intervals, and their viability tested using the MTT assay. The treated cells were subjected to direct and indirect immunofluorescent assays for cyclin D1. CFE inhibited 3T3-L1 cell growth in a dose and duration-dependent manner, with results comparable to those produced by hydroxyurea. The viability of CFE-treated cells was reduced. Direct and indirect immunofluorescent assays demonstrated that CFE inhibits import of cyclin D1into the nucleus. CFE appears to inhibit pre-adipocyte cell division by interfering with a mechanism preceding the import of cyclin D1-CDk4/6 complex into the nucleus during the early G1 phase of the cell cycle, suggesting that CFE has the potential to inhibit hyperplastic obesity.
