Research Publications
The Health + Resilience Institute actively contributes to the global scientific community through peer-reviewed publications in medicine, public health, and integrative healthcare. Our research reflects our commitment to evidence-based practice, innovation, and the continuous improvement of healthcare education and delivery.
A consensus-based reporting guideline extension designed to improve the transparency and reproducibility of dry needling (DN) case reports. A prospectively registered, two-round modified e-Delphi process was conducted with 13 voting panellists from seven countries, including experts affiliated with seven universities, and reporting followed the CREDES guideline. Consensus produced 16 DN-specific reporting items extending CARE, covering treatment specificity, anatomical targeting, needle and procedural parameters, clinician expertise, and optional imaging guidance. Following consensus, an open-access CARE-DN online tool was developed and usability-tested, enabling structured clinical documentation and journal-ready CARE-DN PDF export for case report submission. Available at care.healthandresilience.org
A narrative review evaluating propolis as a candidate adjunctive therapy for COVID-19, synthesizing mechanistic, in silico, in vitro, and clinical evidence published between January 2020 and May 2025. The review summarizes molecular docking studies reporting interactions of more than forty propolis constituents with key viral and host targets, alongside in vitro findings suggesting inhibition of viral entry and replication and attenuation of inflammatory signaling. Early clinical evidence, including seven studies and two case reports, suggests possible benefits in symptom severity and hospitalization duration, with no serious adverse events reported. Larger, placebo-controlled trials using standardized, well-characterized propolis extracts to confirm efficacy and safety are needed.
A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of yoga interventions in correctional settings, based on a preregistered PROSPERO protocol. Ten studies, twelve publications, and 1,815 incarcerated participants were included. Across diverse formats, yoga was feasible and acceptable and was associated with reductions in distress, anger, and trauma-related symptoms, alongside improvements in mood, self-regulation, and mindfulness. Evidence for women and girls was limited but promising in trauma-informed programs. Methodological heterogeneity and short follow-up limit firm conclusions, supporting the need for larger, well-controlled trials with standardized outcomes.
A structured literature review of sixty-seven randomized trials on non-pharmacological physiotherapy for cervical myofascial pain syndrome published between 2019 and 2025. The study found consistent and clinically meaningful improvements with structured exercise programs, particularly when combined with dry needling or myofascial release techniques, while multimodal protocols generally outperformed single-modality care. Adjunctive modalities such as ESWT, TECAR, laser, TENS, and microcurrent showed positive but heterogeneous results, underscoring the need for standardized, sham-controlled trials with longer follow-up to clarify long-term efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
A randomized, triple-blind, three-arm clinical trial protocol on hospitalized COVID-19 patients, testing Greek poplar-type propolis extract as an adjunct to standard care. The design (n=441, three groups: propolis, placebo, standard care) and endpoints are described in detail. Primary outcomes: RT-PCR negativization time and hospitalization duration. Secondary outcomes: body temperature, cough severity, LCQ, and safety, alongside methodological standards. Composed in collaboration with Professor Dr. J. Brown, University of Surrey, UK.
