Background Large-scale empirical and observational studies confirm the safety and efficacy of short-term intermittent fasting; however, prolonged fasting (fasting for more than two days or more) is not well studied. This study investigated the safety, physiological, and psychological effects of a medically supervised fasting (MSF) regimen on healthy volunteers. Methods In this observational study, 117 female participants with an average age of 21.02 (± 1.45) years underwent 10 days of medically supervised fasting. Daily symptom scores and 24-hour food recalls were collected, along with serum levels of vitamin D and calcium, a complete blood count, anthropometric measurements, quality of life (QoL), and subjective mood, anxiety, and depression scores, at the baseline and at the end of fasting. Results Compared to baseline, significant improvements were observed in vitamin D levels (z = -8.79, p = 0.000), calcium levels (z = -4.08, p = 0.000), red blood cell count (z = -4.61, p = 0.000), and hemoglobin levels (z = -5.57, p = 0.00). Improvements were observed in physical QOL (t (116) = -4.51, p = 0.000); psychological QOL (t (116) = -4.70, p = 0.000); and social QOL (t (116) = -2.68, p = 0.008). We also observed significant reductions in body weight (55.83 (±11.38), 52.99 (±10.94); p = 0.00) and other anthropometric measures. More than 80% (n = 94) experienced at least one symptom associated with fasting. The symptoms associated with fasting changed significantly (p<0.05), with most symptoms peaking from day 3 to day 7 of fasting with remission from day 8 onwards. Conclusion Our findings suggest that MSF is associated with significant improvements in physiological and psychological variables. The symptoms associated with MSF are to be considered in clinical decision-making, and follow-up of patients on fasting therapy, particularly during the peaking of symptoms, may be warranted.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42183 | DOI Listing |
Radiol Phys Technol
January 2025
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
Self-supervised learning (SSL) has gained attention in the medical field as a deep learning approach utilizing unlabeled data. The Jigsaw puzzle task in SSL enables models to learn both features of images and the positional relationships within images. In breast cancer diagnosis, radiologists evaluate not only lesion-specific features but also the surrounding breast structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Psychotraumatol
December 2025
The Sliver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
There is a risk of re-traumatisation for survivors of trauma who engage with the Justice system, given their high propensity to encounter situations that trigger traumatic responses. While a growing body of research has explored the experience of trauma informed practice (TIP) from service user perspectives, little research has incorporated the views and experiences of practitioners working in the Justice system in terms of the implementation of TIP in their service setting. An exploratory, qualitative research design based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHemasphere
January 2025
Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands.
Limited data are available on VWF activity (VWF:Act) and factor VIII (FVIII:C) levels during delivery after VWF/FVIII concentrate administration in women with von Willebrand disease (VWD). We aimed to evaluate treatment with a specific VWF/FVIII concentrate on factor levels in women with VWD during delivery and the postpartum period. A retrospective single-center study was conducted between January 1, 2008, and August 1, 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatient Prefer Adherence
December 2024
Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, 6419 PC, The Netherlands.
Purpose: Interest in prehabilitation, the preoperative enhancement of patients' condition, is rising in the surgical field. Challenging factors appear to be patients' motivation to participate in and their compliance with prehabilitation programs. The aim of this qualitative study was to study the real-life experience of prehabilitation by assessing the lived experience and perceptions of participants in a multimodal prehabilitation program and to explore factors that influence participation and compliance during prehabilitation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Osteopathic Medicine, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, USA.
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate how demographic factors influence medical students' attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and their perceptions of vaccine education in medical school curricula.
Methods: A 28-question anonymous online survey was distributed to 640 medical students at one academic medical institution. Individual attitudes toward vaccines were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale.
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