Objective: To scrutinize repeatability of measurements of galvanic skin response (GSR) using a complementary therapy device. Methods: GSR diagnosis is closely related to the Chinese system of acupuncture points. These are assumed to show increased electrical conductivity that is super influenced by the (stressed or weak) state of related organs and organ systems including the vagal / simpatico system. GSR techniques apply a constant voltage. For the device used here, a "biophoton therapy device", a circuit includes a brass electrode that is held in one hand of the test person, and a style electrode for contact with his or her other hand. When the organism is exposed to external influences, skin conductivity may change within split seconds (increase or decrease). Here, it was aimed to transfer information from test substances into the circuit. Paracetamol® was dissolved in water, and both this test probe and control water were put into quartz glass vials. Following a sequence unknown to the tester, the vials were inserted into the input quartz-glass beaker of the device. A decrease in skin conductivity due to the information from Paracetamol ® is assumed to be measurable at the acupuncture point "TW-1D-lefthand-pituitary gland". Repeated measurements with breaks for recovery were carried out. Three sub studies consisted of 5 unblinded and 10 blinded tests each. Depending on the sub study, one to five different tested volunteers and testers were involved. Data were analyzed blind using a two-way analysis of variance with treatment (i.e. test or control) and sub study as independent variables and the frequency of diagnosed indicator drops as the dependent variable. Furthermore, frequency of diagnosed indicator drops was compared to the frequency of non drops both for the test and the control probe in four field tables. In a random distribution, one would expect about 50% in each of the four fields. Results: A significant main effect for treatment group was observed over all three studies (p .05), indicating that there were no differences between the three sub studies. In addition, no interaction effect between the variables treatment group and sub study was found (p>.05). This means that (a) the significant overall difference between treatment groups holds for each sub study in the same way and (b) the non-difference between sub studies holds both for intoxication and non-treatment. In terms of the pooled results of all three substudies the test probe was correctly detected in 77.5% of cases, with 22.5% false positive results. In reverse, the neutre control was correctly diagnosed in 68.6%, with 31.4% false negative results. Conclusion: Results suggest that information from substances can influence biological systems and that measurements of electric skin conductivity, as used for diagnostic purposes, are repeatable under standardized and blind conditions.
Family is societal institution that is conceptualized as "Vital" and "Valid" its importance is emphasized by social conservatives across cultures.Consanguinity is usually socially motivated and can be genetically harmful; it is a state of being descended from a common ancestor.It has been practiced by many societies around the globe from time immemorial, and a part of most civilizations as far back as the Old Testament of the Bible, and in the Arab world before the emerging of the Islam, and therefore, it is not monopoly where Islamic faith prevails.We scrutinize the effect of consanguinity on family health, its benefits and its detriments, and how should be tackled on medical and policy levels.We also pursue the Islamic attitude and discourses on the marriage custom, law, ethics and principles.Attention is then drawn to the cultural influences and challenges in the Arab word.
Prasaplai is a traditional Thai herbal remedy for primary dysmenorrhea, while Mefenamic acid is one of the conventional drugs used to treat this illness. To control the efficacy, quality, and safety of the herb, we extracted Prasaplai with 70% ethanol and tested its toxicity in vivo and in vitro. The results showed non-toxicity to cells, whether in rats or humans. In terms of the sampling process, 516 patients were recruited, but only 207 of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria and took part in the study. The participants were randomized into the control group (N = 104) and the treatment group (N = 103). In this study, we carried on a clinical trial phase III by giving to the control group (group 1) 2 capsules (250 mg/cap) of Mefenami acid that looked similar to Prasaplai capsules in the same manner that Prasaplai capsules were given. For the treatment group (group 2), 2 capsules (200 mg/cap) of Prasaplai extract was given 3 times a day for 3 days starting at the onset of each period for 6 periods. The severity of pain as well as the signs and symptoms of possible side effects were examined and followed up every month. The hematology, blood chemistry, and liver function and renal function were studied before starting the treatment and at months 3and 6 during the treatment. The side effects and efficacy of both drugs were compared based on age, BMI, menarche, and the durations of menses and cycles. The data were analyzed using ANOVA. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The hematology, blood chemistry, liver function, and renal function were within the normal limits both before and during the treatment for both groups. Furthermore, the two drugs had no severe side effects. A comparison of the decrease in the severity of primary dysmenorrhea demonstrated that the degree of pain relief was not statistically different between the two groups. Based on the results, it can be concluded that Prasaplai 70% alcohol extract is as efficacious in relieving primary dysmenorrhea as Mefenamic acid with no side effects.
Objective: To assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for eight new treatments from a life-long perspective.Methods: A contingent valuation with virtual examples and dichotomous choice questions is circulated to Finnish clinicians (N 146) and politicians (N 73).Costs and utilities (15D, EQ-5D) are obtained from Finnish sources, and the health care payer perspective is assumed.Health benefits are measured using life-years gained (LYG) and quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) gained, and 3% and 0% annual discounting is done.The results are presented as different WTP thresholds (incremental and aggregate cost-effectiveness ratios, and incremental investments, II).Heterogeneity is handled using conditional (Hurdle) modeling.Results: In 1,092 decisions, the mean discounted (undiscounted) incremental WTP/QALY gained is €102,616 (€78,686) and €94,770 (€77,856) measured with 15D and EQ-5D, respectively.The mean discounted (undiscounted) incremental WTP/LYG is €66,277 (€58,160).The highest incremental WTPs are reported for cancer (€205,994-250,509/QALY gained) and lowest for metabolic disease (€23,492-43,398/QALY gained) treatment.The discounted (undiscounted) IIs to health care are €83,886 (€85,398) Euros; metabolic presenting the highest (€199,499-213,808) and coronary heart disease treatment (€36,124-36,736) the lowest value for the lifetime of the patient.WTP is dependent upon disease/treatment, patient's age, time preference, health benefit type and discounting.Minor differences between clinicians and politicians are observed.Conclusion: WTP vary for different diseases and is not explained by incremental costs.Thus, a single WTP for all treatments/diseases hypothesis do not gain empirical support -WTP is better explained by treatment and patient/disease characteristics.Cost-effectiveness and II have a trade-off, which encourages studies including both efficiency and affordability.
Objective: The objective of this work was to determine any changes in HRV (heart rate variability) using shorttime measurements (140 seconds) in a quasi-experimental therapeutic application study on Reiki.Method: HRV was determined using a ready at hand electrocardiogram device the size of a cellular phone, which requires a measuring time of 140 seconds and electrode contact only with the finger tips.Measurements were performed on healthy test subjects, before and after a defined control rest period and a defined test intervention period (Reiki treatment).27 test subjects were enrolled.Results: SDNN (the standard deviation of all heartbeat intervals in ms) and TP (total power of heartbeat interval variability in the frequency range 0.003 -0.4 Hz in ms 2 ) were together interpreted as an indicator of test subjects' autonomic nervous activity and as a measure of their ability to cope with demands on their health (regulatory capacity).These values increased both in the control (p < 0.05) and in the test intervention period (p < 0.01).However the increase was more marked after the Reiki intervention (57.8% / 81.7%) than it was after the control rest period (19.6% / 42.8%) (interactions: p < 0.01 / p > 0.05).The LF/HF ratio (sympathico-vagal balance) was interpreted as a measure of the balance between activation and relaxation.No changes in the LF/HF ratio were observed in the course of the control or the test intervention period (p > 0.05). Conclusion:Both control rest and Reiki treatment had a favourable effect on heart rate variability, but the effect of Reiki treatment was markedly stronger.The measurement device used seems to be a promising tool for practical application studies of this kind.
Background/purpose: This work describes a new skin disease for the first time, Adams disease, and the management of the disease.Methods: Adams disease is caused by chafing and irritations, causes the skin to form rashes or thickening, crack and bleed.The skin is also sensitive to temperature and moisture changes and responds with itching and pain.Other symptoms include a swollen lower leg and a retina tear.Results: Adams disease of the fingers responds to hot water treatments.Capsaicin cream is effective against rashes anywhere on the body and thickening of the palms and soles of the feet.The swollen lower leg responds temporarily to hot water and oral steroids.Conclusion: Adams disease may be an auto-inflammatory disease caused by dysfunctional transient receptor potential cation vanilloid 1 channels.The disease is chronic, has exacerbations and remissions and can be managed with hot water treatments and capsaicin cream.
Tuberculosis (TB) is now a global public health problem that has been exacerbated by the emergence of multi- and extensively-drug resistant (MDR and XDR, respectively) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There have been claims in the region by Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) about being able to treat the symptoms of TB, but their work lacked proper documentation. A structured questionnaire was used to test the ability of (TMPs) to diagnose and treat symptoms of TB; the medicinal plants used treat TB symptoms, as well as the influence of socio-economic and cultural factors on the indigenous communities' choice of treatment. A total of 99 TMPs and 22 TB patients were interviewed. Over 30 medicinal plants were mentioned as being used to treat symptoms of TB, an indication of wide knowledge on management of TB in the region. Treatment costs were found to influence the patients' choice of TB treatment and a large proportion of the TMPs were found to be of advanced age (60-80 years of age). The conclusion was that TMPs have reasonable knowledge about TB and its management. There is urgent need to tap the indigenous knowledge from the custodians and scientifically validate it for future drug development.
A special issue about Medical Ethnobiology is justified by many reasons: first, the contribution of ethnobiologists for a better understanding and description of the traditional medical systems [see 1] which constitute, for sure, for some peoples, a unique or at least complementary practice; second, the opportunity created for the dialogue with other important disciplines, such as medical anthropology, social medicine and medical Ethnobiology and others [1,2].And, also, we have a great variety of theoretical and methodological approaches that can be "addressed" as Medical Ethnobiology.This diversity is shown in the articles, which are part of this special issue.Under my perspective this group of papers shows an at least riveting scenario of the traditional medical systems.For example, the communities that "share" their traditional practices with our biomedicine (see, for example [3]), obviously need to make choices for the treatment of their illnesses.They need to opt for a resource regardless of another, revealing sometimes a chain of choices that are evidenced in the different therapeutic trajectories [4].The works that were joint in this special issue analyze some of these contexts from different points of view, be it about plant and animal use or about the complexity of a particular group's way of life.I am convinced that opportunities for debates were created with the publication of these articles, and with the hope that it can stimulate the dialogue among different researchers.
This article is about an ethnobiological and ethnoecological research among Kulina People from the Upper Envira River, located in the Amazon Region, State of Acre, Brazil. The data was collected during two work trips to 10 villages of three Indian Lands (IL) in 2008 and 2009. The field work was based on participant observation, open, semistructured and structured interviews and walk-in-the-woods technique. The total population was 423 distributed in 77 dwellings. The gender proportion is 49,7% of women to 50,3% of men. Fifty one per cent are under 15 years old. The most important health problems are respiratory and digestive signs and symptoms, dermatosis and ophidian attacks. Kulina diet is based on cultivated foods, hunt and fishes. There is a variety of fruits collected in the forest. The cultivation system has high biodiversity and is about 1 ha. We recorded 193 medicinal plants species to a large number of purposes. The number of species recorded, indications by Kulina about properties and potential uses to health for these plants indicate an important ethnobotanic knowledge and requires new researches among them. We calculate that a great number of species is yet to register.
Many strategies are currently used by researchers and pharmaceutical companies to search for new drugs for medical and pharmaceutical purposes. The choice of a strategy depends primarily on the costs involved, team background in a given area, and/or promising results pointed at certain approaches. Ethnobotanical/ethnopharmacological studies are proving to be powerful tools in the search for new drugs. However, despite being scientifically recognized claimed approaches, it is necessary to recognize that the relationship among people, their traditions, and the use of natural resources for medical purposes can be quite complex. In this opinion article, our intention is to show the implications of some findings of our research group that may be relevant to the search for new drugs in semi-arid regions.
The nutritional, phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the acetone, methanol and water extracts of the leaves of Amaranthus asper were investigated using standard analytical methods in order to assess the numerous potential of the plant leaves.The proximate analysis showed that the leaves of this plant contained moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre, energy and carbohydrate.Elemental analysis in mg/100 g (DW) indicated that the leaves contained sodium (0.0373), potassium (2.872), calcium (2.504), Magnesium (0.569), Iron (419), Zinc (26), phosphorus (0.177), Copper (18), Manganese (91), and Nitrogen (1.78).The chemical composition in mg/100 g (DW) for alkaloid, saponins, and phytate were 0.3, 7.0 and 9.25 respectively.Comparing the nutrient and chemical constituents with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values, the results reveal that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of nutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals and low levels of toxicants.At 1mg/ml, the acetone extract caused 98.2% ABTS radical scavenging inhibition while the methanol, water and BHT caused inhibition at 95.4, 97.1 and 99.3% respectively.The result for DPPH scavenging activity was close to that of ABTS.The plant was also rich in the different polyphenols analyzed in this study.The ferrous reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values for acetone extract (1084.9) is much higher than that of methanol (143.5),water (42.4),BHT (63.5), and catechin (972.02)but lower than those of ascorbic acid (1632.1)and quercetin (3107.3).The methanol extract has antibacterial activity against all the Gram-positive organisms used in this study.This study has to some extent validated the need for the use of the leaves of Amaranthus asper for nutritional and medicinal purposes.
Given the high importance of historical documental sources to better understand the dynamics of current pharmacopoeias, this work investigated the prescription book of the hospital of Sao Bento Monastery in Olinda (Northeastern Brazil) written by the physician Joaquim Jeronimo Serpa for the years of 1823 and 1824. The main aims of the work were to identify the medicinal plants used in formulations, identify the similarity among prescribed species within these years, access the proportion of plant-based medicines in the prescriptions and to access the contribution of species from the Americas in the formulations. A total of 63.8% of prescriptions had one or more plant species. We found 41 plant species in the prescriptions, most of them being exotic although native species were getting importance in the period. The most cited species were Papaver somniferum L., Rheum officinale Baill., Psychotria ipecacuanha (Brot.) Stokes, Cinchona sp. and Guaiacum officinale L. The similarity between the years was slow (46.5%), because of an increase in the number of prescribed species for the year of 1824. The importance of plants for the medicine at that time was elucidated, but, regarding native species, it is necessary to find out which factors influenced the incorporation of American plants on the official medicine.
The objective of this study is to evaluate in vitro antimicrobial activity of urine from pregnant subjects following cranberry juice cocktail (CJC) or placebo ingestion against common pathogens causing asymptomatic bacteriuria.This study was conducted as an adjunct to a larger randomized, controlled trial.4-hour uninfected urine samples were collected from 28 pregnant women who were randomized to cranberry or placebo in three groups: A. CJC 240 ml two times daily (C, C; n=10), B: CJC in the AM, then placebo in the PM (C, P; n=10), C: placebo two times daily (P, P; n=8).The pH of all specimens was adjusted to 7 and filtered.Aliquots were independently inoculated with overnight culture of 10 2-3 cell/ml each of single strains of E. coli with both type I and type II fimbriae, K. pneumoniae, and C. albicans, and incubated.CFU/ml of each specimen was enumerated by subculture with quantitative plate counts in duplicate.There were no differences between groups for any of the pathogens studies based on treatment allocation.We demonstrated no differences in direct antimicrobial activity against E. coli, K. pneumonia or C. albicans in the urine of pregnant based on differing daily cranberry doses.This may be due to beta-error.
Given the high importance of historical documental sources to better understand the dynamics of current pharmacopoeias, this work investigated the prescription book of the hospital of São Bento Monastery in Olinda (Northeastern Brazil) written by the physician Joaquim Jerônimo Serpa for the years of 1823 and 1824. The main aims of the work were to identify the medicinal plants used in formulations, identify the similarity among prescribed species within these years, access the proportion of plant-based medicines in the prescriptions and to access the contribution of species from the Americas in the formulations. A total of 63.8% of prescriptions had one or more plant species. We found 41 plant species in the prescriptions, most of them being exotic although native species were getting importance in the period. The most cited species were Papaver somniferum L., Rheum officinale Baill., Psychotria ipecacuanha (Brot.) Stokes, Cinchona sp. and Guaiacum officinale L. The similarity between the years was slow (46.5%), because of an increase in the number of prescribed species for the year of 1824. The importance of plants for the medicine at that time was elucidated, but, regarding native species, it is necessary to find out which factors influenced the incorporation of American plants on the official medicine.
Rural communities have complex strategies for health conservation: the use of local pharmacopoeia, visits to curanderos (traditional healers) and the use of the scientific official system of medicine. Through 129 semi-structured surveys in 6 villages of the Arid Chaco forest of western Cordoba Province 151 plants species (117 natives and 34 exotics) were registered for diverse uses: digestive, external frictions, respiratory, diuretic, circulatory, sedative, magic, feminine, etc. Besides, differential use by men and women was registered associated to particular cultural roles. 90% of the species were previously registered for the region by several botanists, folklorists and geographers. Thus, a historical continuum in the knowledge of medicinal plants can be pointed out. This knowledge on medicinal plants seems to be part of the culture of the criollos, inhabitants of the rural areas of Argentina traditionally dedicated to stockbreeding. Although same socio-cultural changes occurred in the last 100 years, still persist an ethno-medic system related to a comprehensive treatment of patients, which try the disorders simultaneously in physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental levels.
The ethnobiological analysis of Fang homegardens in Southern Cameroon reveals striking contrasts between the frontyard and the backyard. Plants and their uses, as well as attitudes of villagers, clearly reflect opposite functions. The frontyard is a public space that is regularly maintained in a clean state. This is a pleasing and freely accessible space, where plants are mainly ornamental or provide only slight shade, as this space must remain well illuminated and offer a bright view. By contrast, the backyard is a dark private space. Access is restricted and protected by magic. In this space, people communicate with the supernatural world, discretely experiment with new magical, medicinal, and food plants. Like the two sides of a coin, the frontyard and the backyard have complementary values that can be understood only in the light of the turbulent history of the Fang. They constitute powerful physical, spatial and cultural poles that fulfill a series of embedded functions that mark out the life history of the Fang, the social relationships within different members of the communities, and the symbolically rich settings for everyday life and rituals. Ultimately, they form an assemblage that efficiently reduces exposure to diseases. The cultural control of risks on health does not only concern the physical and functional layouts of the landscape—that efficiently reduce the incidence of vector-borne and transmissible diseases—but it also concerns the symbolic control of supernatural forces, which are much less immediately tangible causes of sickness, pain, trouble, conflict and even death.
A special issue about Medical Ethnobiology is justified by many reasons: first, the contribution of ethnobiologists for a better understanding and description of the traditional medical systems [see 1] which constitute, for sure, for some peoples, a unique or at least complementary practice; second, the opportunity created for the dialogue with other important disciplines, such as medical anthropology, social medicine and medical Ethnobiology and others [1, 2]. And, also, we have a great variety of theoretical and methodological approaches that can be “addressed” as Medical Ethnobiology. This diversity is shown in the articles, which are part of this special issue.
Animals have been used as treatment for various illnesses by many human cultures. This paper explores the phenomenon of zootherapy in the Federal District, Central West region of Brazil. Fieldwork was carried out from September to October 2006 by visiting one permanent free market in each of three cities within Brazilian Federal District. Data were obtained by open-ended interviews of six traders (four women and two men), who were questioned about zootherapeutic species, modes of use and administration of the folk remedies, as well as the diseases for which they are prescribed. A total of 30 animals belonging to nine taxonomic groups were recorded. Fats are the body parts most cited as sources of medicines (n= 21; 57%), but other raw materials including leather, feather, gizzard, cartilage, liver (bile), milk, and spines are used to prepare both traditional medicines and charms. Zootherapy should be viewed from the multidimensional perspective of sustainable development. The exploration of animals for medicinal purposes should be a major subject in discussions on conservation biology, public health policies, sustainable management of natural resources, bioprospection and patents.
Numerous studies were published, investigating the associations of ApoE and ACE polymorphisms with longevity.In 1995, we conducted based cross-sectional study among 823 elderly Arab residents in Israel for studying the prevalence and genetics of dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT).Epidemiological and genes results of (ApoE + ACE) were reported The ApoE frequency was the lowest in the world and no association was found between ACE and DAT.During 2008, we conducted a follow up study looking for survival and mortality rate among the same participants to endeavor if there is any relationship between genes and longevity.The total mortality rate among both genders after thirteen years was 66.34%, and the survival subjects of 88 years or older were 34 persons only out of the initial number 270 in 1995 (34/270 = 12.6%).We used the Chi-Square test to examine the null hypothesis (no difference between observed and expected results): When we compare the survival rate among both sexes in age group (60-74) in 1995 vs. age group (73-87) in 2008.We observed statistically significant high survival rate among males (p=0.003)comparing to females in the same age groups.In contrary, at advanced age, when we compare the survival rate in age group (75-85+) in 1995 vs. age group (88-98+) in 2008, we observed high and significant survival rate among females (p=0.033).Conclusion: High rate of mortality was observed among females in age groups (60-74) in1995 and age group (73-87) in 2008, and high rate of mortality at advanced age was observed among males at advanced age group (75-85+) in 1995 and age group (88-98+) in 2008.More females live longer than men and no association was found between ApoE, ACE genes and longevity, that seems that longevity is exceedingly dependent on other genes in addition to the environmental factors.
The nutritional, phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the acetone, methanol and water extracts of the leaves of Amaranthus asper were investigated using standard analytical methods in order to assess the numerous potential of the plant leaves. The proximate analysis showed that the leaves of this plant contained moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre, energy and carbohydrate. Elemental analysis in mg/100 g (DW) indicated that the leaves contained sodium (0.0373), potassium (2.872), calcium (2.504), Magnesium (0.569), Iron (419), Zinc (26), phosphorus (0.177), Copper (18), Manganese (91), and Nitrogen (1.78). The chemical composition in mg/100 g (DW) for alkaloid, saponins, and phytate were 0.3, 7.0 and 9.25 respectively. Comparing the nutrient and chemical constituents with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values, the results reveal that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of nutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals and low levels of toxicants. At 1mg/ml, the acetone extract caused 98.2% ABTS radical scavenging inhibition while the methanol, water and BHT caused inhibition at 95.4, 97.1 and 99.3% respectively. The result for DPPH scavenging activity was close to that of ABTS. The plant was also rich in the different polyphenols analyzed in this study. The ferrous reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values for acetone extract (1084.9) is much higher than that of methanol (143.5), water (42.4), BHT (63.5), and catechin (972.02) but lower than those of ascorbic acid (1632.1) and quercetin (3107.3). The methanol extract has antibacterial activity against all the Gram-positive organisms used in this study. This study has to some extent validated the need for the use of the leaves of Amaranthus asper for nutritional and medicinal purposes.
