Roman Huber's research while affiliated with University of Freiburg and other places
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Publications (158)
Background:
Viscum album L. (VA) preparations possess immunomodulatory properties and are used in complementary medicine to support cancer therapy. It is unclear if there is an impact of VA on the expression of immune checkpoint proteins on cancer cells. This study was designed to investigate the role of commercially available VA preparations on c...
Acute dental pain is a common issue leading to dental consultation. Besides causal therapy, patients are treated with acupuncture, but efficacy in acute dental pain is still not clarified. We aimed to evaluate results of recent research to estimate the efficacy of acupuncture compared to pain-relieving approaches in treatment of acute dental pain....
The state of nutrition education in medicine is inadequate, with nutrition-related topics being poorly integrated into lectures. Most medical students receive only a few contact hours of nutrition instruction during their entire time at medical school. Identifying potential barriers that may explain the paucity of nutritional knowledge in medical s...
Research suggests that stays in a forest promote relaxation and reduce stress compared to spending time in a city. The aim of this study was to compare stays in a forest with another natural environment, a cultivated field. Healthy, highly sensitive persons (HSP, SV12 score > 18) aged between 18 and 70 years spent one hour in the forest and in the...
Background
Complementary medicine (CM) is frequently used by patients, but little is known about the usage of CM in surgical patients. The study aimed to elucidate the relevance of CM in surgery.
Methods
This cross-sectional, multi-center survey utilized a paper-based questionnaire consisting of 21 questions to capture CM usage and interest as wel...
Adiponectin and leptin are important mediators of metabolic homeostasis. The actions of these adipokines extend beyond adipocytes and include systemic modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, nutrient flux, and the immune response to changes in nutrition. Herein, we hypothesized that short-term intervention with a vegan diet might result in an i...
Circular peptides are attractive lead compounds for drug development; this study investigates the immunomodulatory effects of defined root powder extracts and isolated peptides (called cyclotides) from Carapichea ipecacuanha (Brot.) L. Andersson (‘ipecac’). Changes in the viability, proliferation and function of activated human primary T cells were...
The intake of food is more than just a necessary process for ensuring the functionality of the human body [...]
Study objectives
Postoperative sleep disturbances appear to be a common complication after surgery being treated with sleep-promoting medication such as valerian, but robust data and evidence of medicinal approaches are lacking.
Methods
We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of all 21168 urological, gynecological and general surgical patient...
Recent research suggests an impact of psychological distress on postoperative outcomes in orthopedic and neurosurgery. It is widely unknown whether patients’ mood might affect the postoperative outcome and complication rate in colorectal surgery. Over a period of 22 months, a monocentric, observational study among patients undergoing elective color...
S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is essential for methyl transfer reactions. All SAM is produced de novo via the methionine cycle. The demethylation of SAM produces S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), an inhibitor of methyltransferases and the precursor of homocysteine (Hcy). The measurement of SAM and SAH in plasma has value in the diagnosis of inborn errors...
Background
Cannabis sativa L. extracts (CSE) are used for treating inflammatory conditions, but little is known about their immunomodulatory effects. We investigated a novel CSE with high (14%) CBD and low (0.2%) THC concentration in comparison with pure CBD on primary human lymphocytes.
Methods
Proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis/ne...
Background: A large part of the population in Germany makes use of naturopathic, complementary and integrative medical treatments. There are now numerous scientific studies that provide evidence of efficacy for certain indications. At German medical faculties, selected procedures and their application are taught within the cross-sectoral unit calle...
Background
The results of recent surveys indicate that more than 50% of the German population has experience with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or uses CAM regularly. This study investigated the CAM usage and CAM-related needs of hospitalized patients at university medical centres in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Methods...
Postoperative complications are a major problem occurring in up to 50% of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Occurrence of postoperative complications is associated with a significantly higher morbidity and mortality in affected patients. The most common postoperative complications are caused by an infectious genesis and include anastomot...
Equisetum arvense tea (TEA) contains high concentrations of silicon and has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammatory ailments. We examined the resorption of silicon after TEA consumption. Safety and immunological effects were secondary outcomes. A monocentric, randomized, three-armed pilot study was conducted with 12 voluntary,...
The composition of diet strongly affects acid–base homeostasis. Western diets abundant in acidogenic foods (meat and cheese) and deficient in alkalizing foods (fruits and vegetables) increase dietary acid load (DAL). A high DAL has been associated with numerous health repercussions, including cardiovascular disease and type-2-diabetes. Plant-based...
• Background: Patients’ physiological stress reactions to surgery have been ameliorated by refining surgical techniques, and improving pain therapy. Moreover, another way to reduce stress could be the use of Rhythmical embrocation (RE), a type of bodily massage applied with soft strokes, which has been shown to reduce the subject’s pulse rate and b...
Background
Chronic low back pain is the most frequent medical problem and the condition with the most years lived with disability in Western countries. The objective of this study was to assess a new treatment, Medi-Taping, which aims at reducing complaints by treating pelvic obliquity with a combination of manual treatment of trigger points and ki...
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a threat to ongoing clinical trials necessitating regular face-to-face, in-person meetings, particularly in participants with a high risk of complications. Guidance on how to handle and safely continue such trials is lacking. Chronically ill elderly individuals require—in addition to pr...
An essential role of the gut microbiota in health and disease is strongly suggested by recent research. The composition of the gut microbiota is modified by multiple internal and external factors, such as diet. A vegan diet is known to show beneficial health effects, yet the role of the gut microbiota is unclear. Within a 4-week, monocentric, rando...
Background Vegan diet (VD) is reported to show beneficial health effects including cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory protection, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that adipokines, a special type of cytokine produced by the white adipose tissue with known effects on metabolism and the immune system, may contribute to t...
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a threat to ongoing clinical trials necessitating regular face-to-face, in-person meetings, particularly in participants with a high risk of complications. Guidance on how to handle and safely continue such trials is lacking. Chronically ill elderly individuals require—in addition to p...
Background
Limitations of current therapy of depression highlight the need for an immediately available, easily implementable add-on treatment option with high acceptance from patients. Hyperthermic baths (HTB) are a form of balneotherapy with head-out-of-water-immersion in a hot pool or tub at 40 °C for 15–20 min. A prior study suggests that HTB a...
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a threat to ongoing clinical trials necessitating regular face-to-face, in-person meetings, particularly in participants with a high risk of complications. Guidance on how to handle and safely continue such trials is lacking. Chronically ill elderly individuals require—in addition to p...
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/5365608.].
Objectives:
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used in Western countries within general medicine and internal medicine. Information on the use in orthopaedic and trauma surgery is widely lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate usage and needs regarding CAM for these patients.
Design:
Prospective paper-based, pse...
Introduction
Most Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) interventions have not been tested in clinical trials and systematic reviews (SRs). It is therefore important to collect knowledge from experienced practitioners to identify (lower level) evidence to support their use and to prioritize interventions for future research. This study aimed t...
Resins from various Boswellia species have a long track record in different cultures as a treatment for inflammatory diseases. This study was designed to provide evidence for the anti-inflammatory capacity and medicinal use of Boswellia carteri (Burseraceae). A dichloromethane (DCM) extract of B. carteri gum resin and isolated compounds thereof wer...
The need for novel drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases is high, since available pharmaceuticals often have substantial side effects and limited efficacy. Natural products are a good starting point in the development of immunosuppressive leads. Since enhanced T cell proliferation is a common feature of autoimmune diseases, we investigated...
Background: Chronic lower back pain is the most frequent medical problem and the condition with the most years lived with disability. A pragmatic RCT was performed to assess a new treatment, Medi-Taping, which aims at reducing complaints by treating pelvic obliquity with a combination of manual treatment of trigger points and kinesio taping.
Method...
Background
In elderly poeple, multimorbidity and polypharmacy increase while sensory, motor and cognitive functions decrease. Falls occur in 30% of people aged 65 years and older at least once per year, with injuries at 10–20%. Reducing falls and enhancing physical, emotional and cognitive capacities are essential for healthy aging despite chronic...
Background:
Up to 88% of oncological patients apply complementary therapies and up to 77% apply complementary mistletoe therapy in the context of integrative oncological approaches. An evidence-based consultation of oncological health professionals regarding complementary therapies used in Germany is missing. Therefore, a new S3-Guideline for Comp...
Ethnopharmacological relevance:
Acanthosicyos naudinianus Acanthosicyos naudininus, Gomphocarpus fruticosus, and Cryptolepis decidua are, according to the knowledge of traditional healers, used in Namibia to treat inflammatory disorders such as pain, fever and skin rashes.
Aim of the study:
Since lymphocytes are essential in inflammatory respons...
Background
Vegan diet (VD) has improved inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in several small controlled trials. The underlying mechanism remains widely unclear. We investigated the effect of a VD in comparison to a meat-rich diet (MD) on markers of inflammation (which have been shown to be relevant in patients with RA)...
Background:
Massage therapies such as cupping are often applied in patients with chronic neck and back pain with the assumption that they can reduce increased tissue stiffness and, therefore, improve pain. The aim of this study was to clarify whether tissue stiffness is related to pain experience in patients with chronic (>3 months) back and neck...
Purpose: Tumor cells have the capacity to secrete immunosuppressive substances in order to diminish dendritic-cell (DC) activity and evade immune responses. Furthermore, tumor cells express checkpoint programmed death ligands 1 and 2 (PD-L1 and-L2), which bind to their receptors, called programmed-death 1 and 2 (PD-1 and-2), on activated T lymphocy...
Novel immunomodulating agents are currently sought after for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancers. In this context, a screening campaign of a collection of 575 cyanobacteria extracts for immunomodulatory effects has been conducted. The screening resulted in several active extracts. Here we report the results of subsequent studies on an...
Vegans are at an increased risk for certain micronutrient deficiencies, foremost of vitamin B12. Little is known about the short-term effects of dietary change to plant-based nutrition on vitamin B12 metabolism. Systemic biomarkers of vitamin B12 status, namely, serum vitamin B12 and holotranscobalamin, may respond quickly to a reduced intake of vi...
Background:
Autologous whole blood (AWB) is used in complementary medicine for the treatment of infections and skin disorders. So far, the efficacy of AWB is discussed controversially.
Methods:
To estimate the efficacy of AWB therapy and to gather evidence in regard to effector mechanisms, we effected a systematic review of articles accessible t...
A library of extracts from plants used in Chinese Traditional Medicine was screened for inhibition of T lymphocyte proliferation. An ethyl acetate extract from aerial parts of Artemisia argyi showed promising activity and was submitted to HPLC-based activity profiling to track the active compounds. From the most active time window, three guaianolid...
Background
Physicians are faced with a growing number of patients after renal transplantation undergoing graft-unrelated surgery. So far, little is known about the postoperative restitution of graft function and the risk factors for a poor outcome.
Methods
One hundred one kidney transplant recipients undergoing graft-unrelated surgery between 2005...
Background:
Artemisia annua L. has gained increasing attention for its anticancer activity. However, beside artemisinin, less is known about the possible bioactive ingredients of Artemisia annua and respective herbal preparations. We hypothesized that, in addition to artemisinin, Artemisia annua preparations might contain multiple ingredients with...
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the aims and results of the JPIAMR (Joint Programming Initiative on AntiMicrobial Resistance) project “Appropriate use of antibiotics: the role of CAM treatment strategies”. An additional aim is to raise some key questions and challenges with respect to the way forward.
Aim:
The aim of this narrative review was to explore the potential contributions of CAM to reduce antibiotic use.
Methods:
We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews with a specific, limited set of search terms and collected input from a group of expert CAM researchers to answer the question: What is known about the...
Ethnopharmacological relevance
The improvement of wound healing has always been an important issue for both ethnopharmacological and modern medical research. In this study, we used state-of-the-art methods to investigate extracts of plants used traditionally in Nepal for more than 1000 years to treat inflammatory injuries.
Aim of the study
We focu...
Background:
Many patients in Germany use naturopathic treatments and complementary medicine. Surveys have shown that many also use them as a concomitant treatment to surgery.
Methods:
Multiple databases were systematically searched for systematic reviews, controlled trials, and experimental studies concerning the use of naturopathic treatments a...
Background
Due to the increasing number of patients after kidney transplantation, elective and emergency surgery of transplanted patients is becoming a relevant challenge in clinical routine. The current data on complication rate of patients after kidney transplantation, which must undergo another elective or emergency abdominal surgery, is inhomog...
Background: Evaluation of efficacy, safety and feasibility of hyperthermic baths (HTB; head-out-of-water-immersion in 40°C), twice a week, compared to a physical exercise program (PEP; moderate intensity aerobic exercises) in moderate to severe depression.
Method: Single-site, open-label randomized controlled 8-week parallel-group pilot study at an...
Background
Skull metastases are rare, they can eventually cause pain, and can invade the brain. Viscum album extracts (VAEs) are used as an adjuvant treatment in cancer.
Methods and Results
A 68‐year‐old patient with rectal cancer presented with lung metastases, and metastases to multiple bone sites, the chest wall, and the liver were later identi...
Objectives:
Over time different systems were developed for the characterization of individuals according to their physical and psycho-vegetative traits which until today play a role in complementary medicine. This pilot study aimed at investigating if the concepts of polar constitutional types of anthroposophic medicine and according to Kretschmer...
Generell gelten komplementärmedizinische Verfahren, was Infektionen betrifft, als risikoarm. Kontrollierte Studien oder systematische Übersichtsarbeiten über die Häufigkeit von Infektionen bei komplementärmedizinischen Therapieverfahren liegen nur sehr vereinzelt, zum Beispiel zur Akupunktur und Moxibustion (Wärmebehandlung bei Akupunktur), vor. Di...
Background Plant-based test systems have been described as a useful tool for investigating possible effects of homeopathic preparations. The last reviews of this research field were published in 2009/2011. Due to recent developments in the field, an update is warranted. Publications on plant-based test systems were analysed with regard to publicati...
Objective
In Europe extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis were traditionally used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. We investigated the capacity of standardized aqueous extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis on human primary lymphocyte function in vitro, as activated lymphocytes are an important mediator of rheumatic diseases.
Methods
Lymphocyte p...
Among the known or suspected risk factors, inflammation plays an important role in infectious and non-infectious pathways leading to cancer. Green tea polyphenols have been associated with reducing inflammation and protection against carcinogenesis, especially in prostate cancer. While most of the research in this field, so far, has focussed on epi...
Background
The purpose of this review was to identify the relationship between the gut microbiome and the development of postoperative complications like anastomotic leakage or a wound infection. Recent reviews focusing on underlying molecular biology suggested that postoperative complications might be influenced by the patients’ gut flora. Therefo...
Equisetum arvense, known as common horsetail, is used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and is the plant with the highest concentration of silica. Yet it is unknown if the medicinal properties are mediated by its silica content. In the current study, optimal conditions for silica-rich horsetail preparations were identified. Bioactivity of...
Intake of isothiocyanates (ITCs), naturally occurring as hydrolization products from glucosinolates (GLSs) in brassicaceae, has, in epidemiological studies, been weakly to moderately inversely correlated with the risk of colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Numerous preclinical studies demonstrate chemopreventive mode of actions of I...
Background
Mistletoe extracts have anti-tumor properties and are approved for subcutaneous use in cancer patients. Data on Intravenous application are limited.
Methods
An aqueous extract from pine-mistletoe was used to investigate maximum tolerable dose (MTD) and safety of intravenous application. It was infused once weekly for 3 weeks in patients...
Datasets underlying Figs 1–9.
(XLSX)
Tumor cells have the capacity to secrete immunosuppressive substances in order to diminish dendritic cell (DC) activity and thereby escape from immune responses. The impact of mistletoe (Viscum album) extracts (VAE), which are frequently used as an additive anti-cancer therapy to stimulate the immune response, is still unknown. Using a human cellul...
Background
Despite advances in the treatment of depression, one-third of depressed patients fail to respond to conventional antidepressant medication. There is a need for more effective treatments with fewer side effects. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether hyperthermic baths reduce depressive symptoms in adults with depressive d...
