Nanda, Sanjeev

Background and Objectives: Proteomics encompasses the exploration of protein composition, regulation, function, and pathways. Its influence spans diverse clinical fields and holds promise in addressing various women’s health conditions, including cancers, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disorders. However, no comprehensive summary of proteomics and menopausal health exists. Our objective was to summarize proteomic profiles associated with diseases and disorders in peri- and postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane database, Elsevier, and ScienceDirect until 2022. A total of 253 studies were identified, and 41 studies met the inclusion criteria to identify data of interest. These included the study design, disease, and proteomics/proteins of significance, as described by the authors. Results: The 41 studies covered diverse areas, including bone disorders (10 studies), cardiovascular diseases (5 studies), oncological malignancies (10 studies), and various conditions, such as obesity, nonalcoholic liver disease, the effects of hormone replacement therapy, and neurological diseases (16 studies). The results of our study indicate that proteomic profiles correlate with heart disease in peri- and postmenopausal women, with distinct sex differences. Furthermore, proteomic profiles significantly differ between women with and without osteoporosis. Additionally, patients with breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer exhibit notable variations in proteomic profiles compared to those without these conditions. Conclusions: Proteomics has the potential to enhance risk assessment and disease monitoring in peri- and postmenopausal women. By analyzing unique protein profiles, clinicians can identify individuals with heightened susceptibility to specific diseases or those already affected by established conditions. This review suggests that there is sufficient preliminary data related to proteomics in peri- and postmenopausal women for early identification of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancers, disease monitoring, and tailoring individualized therapies. Rigorous validation studies involving large populations are essential before drawing definitive conclusions regarding the clinical applicability of proteomic findings.

Background Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, medical staff and academic department workers reported increasing levels of stress and burnout because of strain on the health care system. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this strain and introduced several novel stressors, which included transitioning to remote work. Safe and scalable strategies are needed to help health care workers cope with these stressors. Aromatherapy may help address this need. Objectives To assess the effect of 2 aromatherapy interventions (essential oil blends termed STILL and FOCUS) on perceived mental/psychological health parameters for academic department workers working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Participants were advised to use STILL for 5 days (Monday through Friday). After a 2-day washout period (Saturday and Sunday), participants were instructed to use FOCUS for 5 days (Monday through Friday). Participants completed a visual analog scale survey evaluating restlessness, fatigue, anxiety, stress, happiness, energy, relaxation, calmness, and well-being before and after each of the 2 intervention periods. Results Twenty academic department remote workers participated in the study. Mental/psychological health surveys were completed by 6 participants before and after using STILL and by 10 before and after using FOCUS. Five participants answered all survey questions before and after both interventions. Although mean (SD) perceived stress scores improved after both the STILL (4.3 [2.3] vs 1.8 [1.7], P = .03) and FOCUS (2.9 [2.3] vs 1.5 [1.4], P = .02) interventions, this improvement was not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction (adjusted α = .006). Most participants (73.3%) reported that participating in the study was worthwhile, and 81.3% indicated that they would recommend aromatherapy to others. Conclusions The STILL and FOCUS aromatherapy interventions did not significantly improve mental/psychological health parameters for remote academic department workers, although perceived stress was marginally improved and participants reported a perceived benefit from using aromatherapy.

Background We previously reported on a pilot study to assess the incorporation of a novel wellness assessment device, the Preventiometer (iPEx5 GmbH, Greifswald, Germany), into an academic medical practice. The present follow-up study expands on those data and evaluates the acceptability of the assessment process in a larger sample population. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate participant satisfaction with the Preventiometer wellness assessment. Methods A total of 60 healthy volunteers participated. Each participant underwent a comprehensive wellness assessment with the Preventiometer and received data from more than 30 diagnostic tests. A 32-question survey (with a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10) was used to rate the wellness assessment tests and participants’ impressions of the wellness assessment. Results Each assessment had a significantly higher rating than 7 ( P < .001), and the majority of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied (98.3%), and they strongly agreed that they were engaged the entire time (93.2%), and liked the instant test results feature of the Preventiometer device (93.2%). Conclusion This study confirms findings from our previous pilot study regarding the feasibility of the Preventiometer as a wellness assessment tool. The study further demonstrated that 98% of participants were satisfied with the assessment and that all of them would recommend it to others.

Background Periodic wellness assessments can provide an estimate of a person’s relative risks for major diseases, but wellness visits are underused. Our suggestion is to use a comprehensive device during a single visit. Objective The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a novel one-stop wellness device (Preventiometer; iPEx5 GmbH, Greifswald, Germany) for performing multiple tests and providing a comprehensive wellness assessment in a short period. Methods A Preventiometer was used to provide wellness assessments for 10 healthy volunteers who then answered a 25-question survey to rate their satisfaction with the testing and their overall impression. Results All volunteers agreed or strongly agreed with the following: The assessment reports were easy to understand, the Preventiometer met their satisfaction, the participants were comfortable during the assessment, and all measurements and testing were well coordinated. Participants liked the instant test result feature. Most (90%) agreed that the machine was useful for a quick health assessment for busy people, and 70% felt that it was time efficient. Conclusion In this feasibility pilot study, the Preventiometer performed multiple tasks and provided a comprehensive wellness assessment in a short period. Participants reported remarkably high satisfaction with the tests. A larger study is needed to prove that this is a pragmatic approach to help individuals improve their health.