Objective: Herbal and natural supplements have gained popularity as alternative treatments to insomnia and sleep disorders due to their perceived safety and potential effectiveness. This literature review summarizes the current evidence on the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of commonly used supplements for sleep, including valerian, hops, kava, German chamomile, cherry, tryptophan, theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and zinc. Methods: We conducted literature review of clinical research on herbal and supplements for sleep reported to date. We summarized key findings and reviewed outcomes related to clinical efficacy and side effects. Results: Findings suggest that certain supplements, particularly valerian, hops, and melatonin, could be effective in improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms through modulation of neurotransmitter systems and regulation of sleep-wake cycles. However, the strength of the evidence varies with unestablished optimal dosages, formulations, and treatment durations. Although generally considered safe, these supplements are not without risks, such as rare but serious adverse effects associated with kava and potential interactions with prescription medications. The quality and purity of supplements also vary widely due to a lack of strict regulations. Conclusion Healthcare providers should remain informed about the latest research and work closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans. Herbal and natural supplements may offer promising alternatives or adjunct treatments for insomnia and sleep disorders, but their use should be guided by the best available evidence and individual patient requirements. Larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of these supplements for clinical decision-making.

Objective: Herbal and natural supplements have gained popularity as alternative treatments to insomnia and sleep disorders due to their perceived safety and potential effectiveness. This literature review summarizes the current evidence on the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of commonly used supplements for sleep, including valerian, hops, kava, German chamomile, cherry, tryptophan, theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and zinc. Methods: We conducted literature review of clinical research on herbal and supplements for sleep reported to date. We summarized key findings and reviewed outcomes related to clinical efficacy and side effects. Results: Findings suggest that certain supplements, particularly valerian, hops, and melatonin, could be effective in improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms through modulation of neurotransmitter systems and regulation of sleep-wake cycles. However, the strength of the evidence varies with unestablished optimal dosages, formulations, and treatment durations. Although generally considered safe, these supplements are not without risks, such as rare but serious adverse effects associated with kava and potential interactions with prescription medications. The quality and purity of supplements also vary widely due to a lack of strict regulations. Conclusion Healthcare providers should remain informed about the latest research and work closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans. Herbal and natural supplements may offer promising alternatives or adjunct treatments for insomnia and sleep disorders, but their use should be guided by the best available evidence and individual patient requirements. Larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of these supplements for clinical decision-making.

Objective: Herbal and natural supplements have gained popularity as alternative treatments to insomnia and sleep disorders due to their perceived safety and potential effectiveness. This literature review summarizes the current evidence on the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of commonly used supplements for sleep, including valerian, hops, kava, German chamomile, cherry, tryptophan, theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and zinc. Methods: We conducted literature review of clinical research on herbal and supplements for sleep reported to date. We summarized key findings and reviewed outcomes related to clinical efficacy and side effects. Results: Findings suggest that certain supplements, particularly valerian, hops, and melatonin, could be effective in improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms through modulation of neurotransmitter systems and regulation of sleep-wake cycles. However, the strength of the evidence varies with unestablished optimal dosages, formulations, and treatment durations. Although generally considered safe, these supplements are not without risks, such as rare but serious adverse effects associated with kava and potential interactions with prescription medications. The quality and purity of supplements also vary widely due to a lack of strict regulations. Conclusion Healthcare providers should remain informed about the latest research and work closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans. Herbal and natural supplements may offer promising alternatives or adjunct treatments for insomnia and sleep disorders, but their use should be guided by the best available evidence and individual patient requirements. Larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of these supplements for clinical decision-making.

Objective: Herbal and natural supplements have gained popularity as alternative treatments to insomnia and sleep disorders due to their perceived safety and potential effectiveness. This literature review summarizes the current evidence on the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of commonly used supplements for sleep, including valerian, hops, kava, German chamomile, cherry, tryptophan, theanine, melatonin, magnesium, and zinc. Methods: We conducted literature review of clinical research on herbal and supplements for sleep reported to date. We summarized key findings and reviewed outcomes related to clinical efficacy and side effects. Results: Findings suggest that certain supplements, particularly valerian, hops, and melatonin, could be effective in improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms through modulation of neurotransmitter systems and regulation of sleep-wake cycles. However, the strength of the evidence varies with unestablished optimal dosages, formulations, and treatment durations. Although generally considered safe, these supplements are not without risks, such as rare but serious adverse effects associated with kava and potential interactions with prescription medications. The quality and purity of supplements also vary widely due to a lack of strict regulations. Conclusion Healthcare providers should remain informed about the latest research and work closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans. Herbal and natural supplements may offer promising alternatives or adjunct treatments for insomnia and sleep disorders, but their use should be guided by the best available evidence and individual patient requirements. Larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of these supplements for clinical decision-making.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Ivermectin ; Larva Migrans

This article evaluates the overall current disease burden of North Korea through the recent databases of international organizations. It is notable that North Korea as a nation is exhibiting a relatively low burden from deaths and that there is greater burden from deaths caused by non-communicable diseases than from those caused by communicable diseases and malnutrition. However, the absolute magnitude of problems from communicable diseases like TB and from child malnutrition, which will increase the disease burden in the future, remains great. North Korea, which needs to handle both communicable and nutritional conditions, and non-communicable diseases, whose burden is ever more increasing in the nation, can now be understood as a country with the 'double-burden' of disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; Communicable Diseases/epidemiology/*mortality ; Databases, Factual ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology/mortality ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Diuresis*

No abstract available.
Erythromelalgia* ; Thorax*

Objective: Previous studies have suggested various causes of restless legs syndrome (RLS), including iron and dopamine concentrations in the brain. Genetic influences have also been reported in many studies. There is also a possibility that circadian clock genes may be involved because symptoms of RLS worsen at night. We investigated whether CLOCK and NPAS2 gene polymorphisms were associated with RLS. Methods: A total of 227 patients with RLS and 229 non-RLS matched controls were assessed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria. Genotyping was performed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and high-resolution melting curve analyses. Results: Although the genotype distributions of the CLOCK variants (rs1801260 and rs2412646) were not significantly different between patients with RLS and non-RLS controls, the allele frequencies of CLOCK rs1801260 showed marginally significant differences between the two groups (X2 =2.98, p=0.085). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the distribution of CLOCK haplotypes (rs1801260-rs2412646) between patients with RLS and non-RLS controls (p=0.013). The distributions of allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic variants of NPAS2 (rs2305160 and rs6725296) were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion Our results suggest that CLOCK variants may be associated with decreased susceptibility to RLS.