Maintaining Resources for Traditional Medicine: A Global Overview and a Case Study from Buganda (Uganda)

 Presentations at a session of the 13th Congress of the International Society for Ethnobiology (ISE, May 2012) provided a global overview of ‘maintaining resources for traditional medicine’. Two themes received special attention, transmission of traditional medical knowledge and conservation of medicinal plants. The consensus at the well attended session was that traditional medicine can play a useful role in primary healthcare, including for chronic complaints and spiritual problems. However, the use of traditional medicine is declining in many places. Some practical efforts at maintaining resources for traditional medicine are described. A case study for Buganda (Uganda), given in greater detail, shows that progress in maintaining resources for traditional medicine can be impeded by forces not directly related to its intrinsic merits. The value of making efforts to maintain resources for traditional medicine is discussed in relation to its contribution to biocultural conservation, much needed today to counter balance the homogenising and ecologically destabilising influences of globalisation.     

激素联合丙种球蛋白治疗小儿重症肌无力的疗效及对患儿免疫球蛋白和补体的影响

目的：探讨激素联合丙种球蛋白治疗小儿重症肌无力的临床疗效及对患儿免疫球蛋白和补体的影响。方法：回顾性分析在我院治疗的70例重症肌无力患儿的临床资料,采用随机序号的方式将其分为观察组和对照组各35例,观察组给予甲泼尼龙联合丙种球蛋白,对照组仅给予甲泼尼龙,观察两组的临床疗效及免疫球蛋白和补体变化情况。结果：观察组总有效率为94．3％明显优于对照组74．3％,两组比较有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;观察组症状明显缓解时间（6．55±1．35）d以及总住院天数（17．15±3．65）d较对照组明显缩短,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：采用激素联合丙种球蛋白治疗小儿重症肌无力,可以明显改善患者肌无力症状,获得较为满意的临床疗效,值得进一步推广使用。     

胸腔镜与传统手术方法对非小细胞肺癌患者的临床疗效

目的:比较电视胸腔镜手术与传统手术方法对非小细胞肺癌治疗的临床效果.方法:选择2010年5月至2012年6月本院收治的非小细胞肺癌患者84例,随机分为VATS组和OT组,各42例,VATS组行全胸腔镜肺叶切除术;OT组行传统开胸肺叶切除术.比较两组患者手术时间、淋巴结清扫数、术中出血量、术后引流时间、住院天数、术后疼痛和并发症发生情况,观察并比较两组患者术后3d血清CRP、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-10水平.结果:VATS组术后引流时间、住院时间明显短于OT组(P＜0.05);两组手术时间、淋巴结清扫数、术中出血量及并发症发生率比较无统计学差异(P＞0.05);VATS组术后1d、3d疼痛评分明显低于OT组(P＜0.05);VATS组术后3d血清CRP、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-10水平明显低于OT组(P＜0.05).结论:与传统手术相比,电视胸腔镜手术对患者创伤较小,患者术后炎症反应较低,痛苦较小,可作为非小细胞肺癌的推荐手术方式.     

腹腔镜胆囊摘除术与传统开腹手术治疗急性胆囊炎的临床疗效对比

目的:比较腹腔镜胆囊摘除术与传统开腹手术在急性胆囊炎的临床疗效。方法:选取我院2013年3月至2014年3月期间收治的急性胆囊炎患者100例,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组50例。对照组采用传统开腹手术治疗,实验组采用腹腔镜胆囊摘除术(LC)治疗。观察并比较两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、临床疗效、住院时间、胃肠道恢复情况及术后并发症的发生率等。结果:与对照组比较,实验组患者术中出血量少、手术时间短,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,实验组患者术后肠道功能恢复时间及下床活动时间均较早,且住院时间较短,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);实验组总有效率(94.0%)高于对照组(82.0%),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);实验组患者不良反应发生率(24.0%)低于对照组(52.0%),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:腹腔镜胆囊摘除术对于改善急性胆囊炎患者的治疗效果具有积极作用,出血少损伤小,术后恢复好,适于在临床上进一步推广和应用。     

Notch-Hif-1-alpha信号通路参与调控大鼠肝再生过程的研究

目的：探讨使用酌分泌酶抑制剂Fli-06 特异性阻断Notch 信号通路后,大鼠肝部分切除术后肝再生的情况并初步阐明 Notch-Hif-1-alpha信号通路调控肝再生的可能机制。方法：取SD 大鼠分为对照（生理盐水注射组,n=24）和抑制剂组（酌分泌酶抑制剂 注射组,n=24）。给予药物处理后,两组分别施行大鼠肝部分切除术,术后0 d,1 d,3 d,5 d,每个时间点分别留取对照组（n=6）及抑 制剂组（n=6）再生的肝组织,并检测相应肝重体重比,免疫组化法检测再生肝PCNA（增殖细胞核抗原,Proliferation Cell Nuclear Antigen）表达,RT-PCR 检测再生肝组织中的Notch1、Hes1、VEGF mRNA的变化,Western-Blot 法检测NICD（Notch 胞内段,Notch Intracellular Domain）、Hif-1-alpha（低氧诱导因子-1-alpha,Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1琢)蛋白在肝再生过程的变化情况。结果：1、肝部分切除 术后3 d和5 d,抑制剂组肝重体重比明显低于对照组差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;2、免疫组织化学染色结果提示：抑制剂组再生 肝PCNA阳性细胞率在术后1 d,3 d,5 d 均明显低于对照组（P<0.05）;3、Western blot 结果表明：NICD 和Hif-1-alpha蛋白水平明显低 于对照组（P<0.05）;同时RT-PCR 结果提示：抑制剂组Hes1 的mRNA表达量术后1 d,3 d明显低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义 （P<0.05）。同时,抑制剂组VEGF mRNA 水平在术后3 d,5 d明显低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：在大鼠肝部分 切除术后肝再生过程中,使用酌分泌酶抑制剂Fli-06 抑制Notch 信号通路后,大鼠的肝再生能力明显降低,Notch-Hif-1alpha信号通 路可能参与调控了大鼠肝部分切除术后肝再生过程。     

有氧康复运动联合中药对脑瘫患儿血清NSE、EF-1、1,25-(OH)2-VitD3 的影响

目的:探讨有氧康复运动联合中药口服对脑瘫患儿血清NSE、EF-1、1,25-二羟维生素D3水平变化的影响及临床意义。方法:选取我院收治的脑瘫患儿80例,根据治疗方案不同分为对照组及实验组,对照组予以常规内科治疗及康复锻炼,实验组予以有氧康复联合中药口服治疗。比较各组患儿治疗前后糖化分解烯醇酶NSE、内皮素EF-1、1,25-二羟维生素D3、食欲、排便、面色、体质、淀粉酶等水平变换情况。结果:实验组NSE及EF-1水平低于对照组(P0.05),实验组1,25-二羟维生素D3及微量元素、淀粉酶、体质体征水平高于对照组,其结果均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:有氧康复运动联合健脾益气的中药汤药口服可降低脑瘫患儿血清NSE及EF-1间接促进神经系统恢复,且加速1.25-二羟Vit D3合成效率,促进患儿对营养物质的吸收及代谢,治疗小儿脑瘫临床疗效理想。     

Potential role of metabolomics in the improvement of research on traditional African medicine

The global market for herbal medicine is growing steadily. The usage of herbal medicine is particularly common in many parts of Africa; the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 80% of Africans rely on traditional African medicines (TAMs) for treating various diseases. TAMs hold promise in preventive treatment, early disease intervention and personalized medicine. However, clinical integration of TAMs is restricted due to limited information concerning their characterization. Presently, many studies on TAMs utilize a reductionist approach, making it extremely difficult to understand the holistic modifying effects that these therapeutic agents may have on biological systems. Fortunately, emerging technologies such as metabolomics platforms adopt a ⿿top-down⿿ strategy that permits a holistic evaluation of the components, metabolic pathways and biomarkers modified by TAMs, which can aid in addressing common concerns over safety and toxicity, while also ensuring that quality control standards are met. Metabolomics approaches may also be beneficial for advancing our understanding of the efficacy and mechanism of action of TAMs, and may contribute to the advancement of research and drug discovery, early diagnosis, preventive treatment and TAMs-driven personalized medicine in Africa. This review also considers the main challenges that may hinder the adoption and integration of metabolomics approaches in research on TAMs in Africa and suggests possible solutions.     

Cloning,recombinant production and crystallographic structure of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen from radioresistant archaeon Thermococcus gammatolerans

Thermococcus gammatolerans is a strictly anaerobic; hyperthermophilicarchaeon belongs to the order Thermococcales in the phylum Euryarchaeota. It was extracted from a hydrothermal vent from the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California, Mexico). Different studies show that T. gammatolerans is one of the most radioresistant organisms known amongst the archaea. This makes it a unique model to study adaptations to the environment and to study DNA repair mechanisms in an organism able to tolerate harsh conditions. A key protein in these mechanisms is the Proliferation Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA). Its function is focused on their ability to slide along the DNA duplex and coordinating the activities of proteins mainly related to DNA edition and processing. Analysis of archaeal proteins have proven to be enormously fruitful because much of the information obtained from them can be extrapolated to eukaryotic systems, and PCNA is no exception. Here we report the cloning, recombinant expression and crystallographic structure of PCNA from T. gammatolerans (TgPCNA).     

Analyzing the performance of ArcCHECK diode array detector for VMAT plan

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate performance of ArcCHECK diode array detector for the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) patient specific quality assurance (QA). VMAT patient specific QA results were correlated with ion chamber measurement. Dose response of the ArcCHECK detector was studied.

Background

VMAT delivery technique improves the dose distribution. It is complex in nature and requires proper QA before its clinical implementation. ArcCHECK is a novel three dimensional dosimetry system.

Materials and methods

Twelve retrospective VMAT plans were calculated on ArcCHECK phantom. Point dose and dose map were measured simultaneously with ion chamber (IC-15) and ArcCHECK diode array detector, respectively. These measurements were compared with their respective TPS calculated values.

Results

The ion chamber measurements are in good agreement with TPS calculated doses. Mean difference between them is 0.50% with standard deviation of 0.51%. Concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) obtained for ion chamber measurements is 0.9996. These results demonstrate a strong correlation between the absolute dose predicted by our TPS and the measured dose. The CCC between ArcCHECK doses and TPS predictions on the CAX was found to be 0.9978. In gamma analysis of dose map, the mean passing rate was 98.53% for 3% dose difference and 3 mm distance to agreement.

Conclusions

The VMAT patient specific QA with an ion chamber and ArcCHECK phantom are consistent with the TPS calculated dose. Statistically good agreement was observed between ArcCHECK measured and TPS calculated. Hence, it can be used for routine VMAT QA.