Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

Exercise is a recommended non-pharmacological approach to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. Mind-body movement interventions (MBMIs) offer a multi-component exercise option that integrates movement, breathwork, and mindfulness. Using an umbrella review, we assessed the current best evidence on MBMIs (ai chi, dance, Pilates, qigong, tai chi, and yoga) for managing MS symptoms. MBMIs significantly improved balance, equal to or superior to active controls (AC) or usual care (UC). Ai chi/tai chi/qigong significantly improved depression. Analyzed with other mind-body therapies, yoga reduced pain compared to AC/UC. Mixed results were found for fatigue. Physical function and quality of life were comparable to AC/UC. The certainty of evidence was low to very low for most MBMIs. Most reviews were “critically low” quality. MBMIs are commonly included in MS exercise reviews and may improve balance, pain, and depression. However, larger trials with active comparators and comprehensive reporting are needed to improve quality and certainty.

BACKGROUND:Nutrition is a significant modifiable risk factor for many illnesses. One often-cited barrier to diet change is the perceived cost of healthy food. While many diet diary templates exist, none have been developed to capture the data needed for calculating the cost of a diet consumed during a diet intervention study. METHODS:The objective of the present project was to develop and pilot test (1) a tailored diet diary template with instructions, and (2) alternative approaches for calculating diet cost. We created a draft diet diary and instructions which were used by participants. We used those data to test the feasibility of calculating weekly diet cost. Two methods were used: calculation of the cost of the actual price of the items purchased, and standardised prices. Acceptability was assessed by conducting participant interviews and the feedback that was provided was used to revise them. The methods to calculate costs were compared in terms of feasibility and researcher time needed. RESULTS:Of the 15 participants enrolled, 14 completed the interview. All participants reported that the process was acceptable or highly acceptable. Participant feedback was used to guide changes to the diet diary and instructions. Costs were calculated for 85.3% to 96.3% of food items. The researcher time needed to complete each method per participant, per week was 5 to 6.5 h. Participants who gave feedback confirmed that the edits addressed their previous concerns. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, the diet diary and instructions were acceptable to participants who are women and feasible for the collection and costing of diet data in Canada.

Introduction Chronic pain is a leading public health problem, impacting over 1.5 billion people worldwide. Standard-of-care includes pharmaceutical medication, surgery and physical therapy, yet many patients experience continued symptoms. Investigation into lifestyle-based approaches such as dietary interventions has increased in recent years, including intermittent fasting, due to known impacts on inflammation and neurotransmitters.Methods and analysis This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The literature search will include the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase (Ovid), Web of Science (Core Collection) and LILACS (VHL) databases. The Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, PROSPERO, Open Science Forum and MedRXiv platforms will also be searched. Randomised, controlled trials investigating the impact of intermittent fasting interventions in adult humans with any chronic pain condition will be included. The primary outcomes will be self-reported pain or function and the secondary outcome will be rescue medication use. Study screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment will be conducted independently in duplicate. The Cochrane Risk of Bias-2 tool will be used to assess bias at the study level, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines will be used to assess bias at the outcome level. The meta-analysis will use random effects, with heterogeneity assessed using the I2 statistic. For studies that report rescue medication use, we will analyse the impact of intermittent fasting on pain or function, adjusting for rescue medication use, using established methods. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be conducted to explore heterogeneity.Ethics and dissemination As this project involves analysis of publicly available data, no ethical oversight was or is required. The results of this review will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration number CRD #420261395061.

This section highlights the importance of sustained investment in nursing education and leadership as a fundamental factor for the sustainability of health systems. Nurses must have continuous access to education in both clinical and managerial competencies in order to respond effectively to the increasing demands of contemporary healthcare. Professional leadership is not viewed as a fragmented skill but as one that must be systematically cultivated from the early stages of professional development. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential for mutual learning among European countries, especially with regard to institutional representation of nurses. The exchange of best practices and experiences is considered critical for strengthening the professional role and improving the quality of healthcare services. In this context, close collaboration among states, professional councils, and international organizations is emphasized as necessary for the development of common directions supporting nursing at the European level. At the same time, it is acknowledged that each national health system faces distinct challenges related to staffing and service organization. European strategies must therefore be unified in their core principles while remaining sufficiently flexible to adapt to the specific needs and conditions of individual countries. In conclusion, investment in nursing education is presented as an essential prerequisite for professional empowerment and the assurance of high-quality healthcare services. The need for greater visibility of the nursing role, a stronger public voice, and meaningful participation in policy development is strongly emphasized.

Introduction Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns can impact the development and progression of mental illnesses. Garlic is a commonly used culinary herb and traditional medicine that has been well studied for the treatment of many conditions; less is known about its impact on mental health outcomes. Methods We conducted a scoping review of studies assessing the impact of supplementation of garlic, or one of its constituents, on mental health symptoms. Eligible studies included human experimental and observational studies and animal studies. Results Thirty-one studies met criteria including nine human experimental studies, three human observational studies, and 19 animal studies. Eight of nine small human experimental studies reported positive signals of an effect on mental health outcomes; however, several used garlic in combination with other natural health products. The results of the human observational studies were mixed. Most of the 19 animal studies reported mechanisms by which garlic supplementation impacts mental health and all reported improved anxiety-, depression- and addiction-like behaviours. Discussion: Preliminary evidence suggests that garlic supplementation may improve mental health outcomes; however, these findings are limited by a small number of human experimental studies, small sample sizes, and methodological heterogeneity. There is a need for further randomized controlled trials to assess the impact of garlic on mental health outcomes.