Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2025 -- Tea consumption offers protective effects on mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Renal Failure . Jin Li, Ph.D., from the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in China, and colleagues examined the long-term impact of tea consumption among 17,575 patients with CKD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999 to 2018. The researchers found there were 5,835 deaths during follow-up, including 1,823 cardiovascular-related deaths. Compared with never drinking tea, consuming up to four cups of tea per day was significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality among patients with CKD stage 1 to 2 (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.80 to 0.99; P = 0.04), after adjustment for confounding variables; the association between tea consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was not significant (hazard ratio, 0.87; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.72 to 1.05; P = 0.15). There was a dose-response effect observed, with the risks for all-cause mortality mitigated by consuming up to three to five cups of tea per day, especially in early CKD stages. In CKD stage 1 to 2, an intake of one cup per day higher of oxidized tea was associated with a 10 percent lower risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.82 to 0.99; P = 0.03). Replacing one cup of green tea with one cup of oxidized tea was associated with a significantly lower risk for all-cause and CVD mortality (hazard ratios [95 percent confidence intervals], 0.92 [0.86 to 0.98; P = 0.01] and 0.89 [0.80 to 1.00; P < 0.05], respectively) in those with CKD stage 1 to 2. "We suggested that CKD patients limit their daily intake of tea to no more than four cups, and choose appropriate varieties and flavors, such as oxidized tea and sugar-free tea," the authors write. Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2024 -- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in older adults has become a global public health burden, according to a study published in the Jan. 31, 2025, issue of Autoimmunity Reviews . Liji Chen, from the Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, and colleagues assessed the global burden of IBD in the elderly. The analysis included data from the Global Burden of Disease Study. The researchers found that during the study period (1990 to 2019), the number of IBD prevalent cases, incident cases, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and deaths in older adults increased significantly. There was a trend downward for age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, DALYs, and mortality. Consistently high disease burdens were seen in the Americas, European regions, and high Sociodemographic Index (SDI) countries. The fastest growth in prevalence and incidence and the fastest decline in DALYs and mortality were seen in middle SDI countries. For prevalence, incidence, and DALYs for IBD, the age-standardized rates were highest in the 60- to 64-year-old age group, while age-standardized rates of mortality were highest in the 80- to 84-year-old and 85- to 89-year-old age groups. There were no gender differences observed. "Consequently, public health officials need to recognize the influence of aging populations and other determinants on the burden of IBD among older individuals, crafting tailored interventions to mitigate this burden effectively," the authors write.

MONDAY, July 8, 2024 -- For individuals with opioid use disorder receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), eight weeks of acupuncture is superior to sham acupuncture for reducing methadone dose and opioid craving, according to a study published online July 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine . Liming Lu, M.D., from the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in China, and colleagues examined the efficacy of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture on methadone dose reduction in a multicenter, randomized controlled trial conducted in six MMT clinics in China. Participants were aged 65 years or younger with opioid use disorder, had been using MMT for at least six weeks, and were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture or sham acupuncture three times per week for eight weeks (60 and 58 participants, respectively). The researchers found that more patients reduced their methadone dose 20 percent or more with acupuncture than sham acupuncture at week 8 (62 versus 29 percent). In addition, compared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture was more effective for reducing opioid craving, with a mean difference of −11.7 mm on the visual analog scale. "Although further research is needed to measure long-term clinical outcomes and to determine how acupuncture can best be incorporated into a comprehensive substance misuse treatment program, we believe these findings support the consideration of acupuncture for methadone reduction for persons who are receiving MMT," the authors write.