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Two Case Reports: Acupuncture Treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Jihe Zhu,
Blagica Arsovska,
Kristina Kozovska,
Karolina Nikolovska
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, May 2017
Pages:
54-56
Received:
27 January 2017
Accepted:
4 March 2017
Published:
20 March 2017
Abstract: The trigeminal nerve is the 5th cranial nerve and it carries sensation from the face to the brain. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the trigeminal nerve and produces intense facial pain along one or more of the three branches of this nerve. Pain may be triggered by eating, brushing of the teeth, touching trigger points on the face during everyday activities such as washing the face or applying make-up or even air drafts, which increase the discomfort of those suffering from this disorder. For trigeminal neuralgia the Western Medicine suggests treatment with medications, surgery and stereotactic radiation therapy. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), trigeminal neuralgia usually occurs when there is blockage in the stomach meridian and the main treatment for trigeminal neuralgia is acupuncture. In this article are shown two patients, males, both 66 years old, diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. Acupuncture treatments were made in our clinic for TCM and acupuncture with fire needle on a trigger i.e. Ashi points. One of the patients needed only one treatment, the other needed six treatments.
Abstract: The trigeminal nerve is the 5th cranial nerve and it carries sensation from the face to the brain. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the trigeminal nerve and produces intense facial pain along one or more of the three branches of this nerve. Pain may be triggered by eating, brushing of the teeth, touching trigger points o...
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Anti-ulcerogenic Action Mechanism of Maytenus ilicifolia Detected by mRNA RT-PCR and Free Radical Scavenging Activity Evaluated by ESR
Dalva Pazzini,
Elder Bruno Fontes,
Ana Paula D. Hory,
Adevailton B. Santos,
Oswaldo Baffa,
Rosângela Bezerra,
Silvana Pasetto,
Eduardo José Crevelin,
Luiz Alberto Beraldo Moraes,
Angela Kinoshita,
Ana Cláudia B. Paula-Zurron
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, May 2017
Pages:
57-64
Received:
24 February 2017
Accepted:
24 March 2017
Published:
30 March 2017
Abstract: Maytenus ilicifolia, known as “espinheira-santa”, is used in the popular medicine for peptic ulcer treatment. This work evaluates the preventive and curative actions of M. ilicifolia in animals, the healing activity by EGF expression detected by RT-PCR as well as the anti-oxidative activity by Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy (ESR). Oral administration of M. ilicifolia (300 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) one hour before the ulcerogenic agent application prevented the ulcer formation 42 ± 0.98% and 72 ± 1.2% (p <0.05 and p <0.001, respectively), in comparison with the negative control tween 80, preserving the cytoprotection characteristics of the gastric mucosa and assuring the integrity of gastric glands and gastric fossets. The animals treated with tween, had the epithelium and the mucosa layer damaged and accentuated vascularization. The healing activity of M. ilicifolia (500mg/kg, p.o.) was 71 ± 1.4% (p <0.001) in chronic ulcer experiments induced by acetic acid. EGF expression detected by RT-PCR confirmed the healing activity. Histological analysis showed the recovery of the mucosal layer and the epithelium surface harmed by the acetic acid. Studies in vitro by Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy assessed the anti-oxidative action of M ilicifolia. Experiments with DPPH (2.2-Diphenyl -1-picrylhydrazyl) demonstrated that the polar fraction of M. ilicifolia presents an IC50 of 0.680.09 mg/ml. The value of 92 mg/ml was found for IC50 in experiments with the radical OH, produced by the Fenton Reaction and detected through spin adduct DMPO-OH. Mass spectrometry analysis of crude extracts and fractions from M. ilicifolia was carried out and compounds of pentacyclic triterpenes class were identified.
Abstract: Maytenus ilicifolia, known as “espinheira-santa”, is used in the popular medicine for peptic ulcer treatment. This work evaluates the preventive and curative actions of M. ilicifolia in animals, the healing activity by EGF expression detected by RT-PCR as well as the anti-oxidative activity by Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy (ESR). Oral admini...
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Evaluation of Skin Protective Effect Using in Vitro Cell Line Models of Biofield Energy-Consciousness Energy Healing Treated Herbomineral Formula
William Dean Plikerd,
Mahendra Kumar Trivedi,
Alice Branton,
Dahryn Trivedi,
Gopal Nayak,
Mayank Gangwar,
Snehasis Jana
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, May 2017
Pages:
65-75
Received:
28 March 2017
Accepted:
10 April 2017
Published:
9 May 2017
Abstract: Alternative or natural systems of medicine are practiced worldwide that mostly emphasize research of herbal formulations, which might be helpful against various disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of The Trivedi Effect®-Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment on an herbomineral test formulation and cell medium (DMEM) for the skin health. The formulation contained minerals (zinc chloride, sodium selenate, and sodium molybdate), L-ascorbic acid, herbal (Centella asiatica) extract, and tetrahydrocurcumin (THC). The test formulation and DMEM media were divided into two equal parts. One part received Biofield Energy Treatment (BT) by William Dean Plikerd and other part was denoted as the untreated test items (UT). MTT assay showed that the test formulation was found safe and nontoxic with greater than 75% cell viability against various tested concentrations. The cell proliferation using BrdU method showed improved cell proliferation by 43.63% and 10.97% in the BT-DMEM + UT-Test formulation and BT-DMEM + BT-Test formulation group, respectively at 17.5 µg/mL compared with the untreated group. The collagen level was significantly increased by 2.65% and 23.56% at 2.5 and 1.25 µg/mL, respectively in the UT-DMEM + BT-Test formulation compared with the untreated group. The elastin level was increased by 8.34% at a concentrations of 2.5 µg/mL in the BT-DMEM + BT-Test formulation group compared with the untreated group. However, the hyaluronic acid (HA) level was increased by 2.60% at 0.625 µg/mL in the BT-DMEM + UT-Test formulation group compared with the untreated group. Moreover, melanin synthesis was decreased by 14.22% and 17.61% in the UT-DMEM + BT-Test formulation and BT-DMEM + UT-Test formulation groups, respectively at a concentration of 0.125 µg/mL. Anti-wrinkling activity in HFF-1 cells showed improve cell viability by 14.54% and 11.32% at 1.25 µg/mL in the UT-DMEM + BT-Test formulation and BT-DMEM + BT-Test formulation groups, respectively compared with the untreated group. Wound healing scratch assay results showed significantly increased healing rates by 10.5% and 8.3% in the HFF-1 and HaCaT cells lines, respectively in the Biofield Energy Healing based test formulation. In conclusion, The Trivedi Effect® based test formulation and DMEM could be useful to improve the skin ECM components, along with protection against UV-B rays, which could be useful for the development of an effective cosmetic product for the prevention and treatment of several skin problems such as erythema, contact dermatitis, skin aging, wrinkles and/or change in the skin color, etc. as an anti-ageing, skin-whitening, and anti-wrinkling.
Abstract: Alternative or natural systems of medicine are practiced worldwide that mostly emphasize research of herbal formulations, which might be helpful against various disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of The Trivedi Effect®-Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment on an herbomineral test formulation and cell medium (DMEM)...
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Bacteriuria and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern Among HIV Patients Attending ALERT Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Yemisrach Getu,
Ibrahim Ali,
Tsehaynesh Lema,
Habtamu Belay,
Biruk Yeshetela
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, May 2017
Pages:
76-82
Received:
16 March 2017
Accepted:
30 March 2017
Published:
16 May 2017
Abstract: Urinary tract infections are some of the most common bacterial diseases both in general population and amongst HIV infected patients. It is important to define the prevalence and drug susceptibility pattern of bacteriuria among HIV patients in Ethiopia and especially in Addis Ababa, because of the information scarcity about bacteriuria in HIV patients in our region. A cross sectional study was conducted in ALERT Center; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; from 2014 to 2015 among 165 adult HIV patients. Midstream urine was collected with sterile wide-mouthed urine cups. Samples were inoculated to Cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient, Blood agar and MacConkey accordingly and biochemical tests performed to identify the isolates. Drug susceptibility pattern of isolates were determined using the disk diffusion techniques. Data analyzed using SPSS version-20 software package. Chi-square test was used to see the association between the outcome variable and independent and the strength of the association was identified using odds ratio in the binary logistic regression. Female study participants showed at least three times more likely to have bacteriuria (AOR=3.25, 95% CI= 0.98-10.79) than the male. Subsequent multivariate analysis CD4 value less than 200 cells/mm3 (p=0.02) retained its significance association. Presence of dysuria was almost three times (AOR=2.87; 95% CI=0.84-9.79) and previous history of UTI at least two times (AOR=2.38; 95%=0.73-7.72) more likely to have bacteriuria than absence of them. The isolated bacteria were E. coli (38.5%), followed by S. aureus (30.8%), P. mirabilis (11.5%), S. epidermidis (11.5%) and S. saprophyticus (7.7%). Bacterial isolates in the current study were most sensitive to ceftriaxone (100%), nitrofurantoin (88.46%), gentamicin (84.62%) and ceftazidime (84.62%) while resistant to ampicillin (84.62%), tetracycline (92.31%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (88.46%). The occurrence of bacteriuria and susceptibility pattern of the antibiotics in the current study was comparable to other studies in HIV patients. The identified bacteria were reported by other authors as UTI causative agents in HIV patients. Still, bacteriuria in HIV patients needs more consideration for better management and preventing drug resistance.
Abstract: Urinary tract infections are some of the most common bacterial diseases both in general population and amongst HIV infected patients. It is important to define the prevalence and drug susceptibility pattern of bacteriuria among HIV patients in Ethiopia and especially in Addis Ababa, because of the information scarcity about bacteriuria in HIV patie...
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Risk Factors of HIV/AIDS Among Secondary and Preparatory School Students in Dire Dawa City, Ethiopia
Dawit Daniel,
Zinabe Seyoum,
Alemusa Gipo
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 3, May 2017
Pages:
83-92
Received:
21 March 2017
Accepted:
1 April 2017
Published:
22 June 2017
Abstract: Youth are exposed to risk behavior which includes unsafe sex, drug abuse & alcohol and also there are different factors which are associated with their risk behaviors. The main objective of this study is to identify behavioral risk factors for HIV/AIDS among high school students of Dire Dawa city. A cross-sectional school-based design using stratified random sampling technique was employed. Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaire among 840 adolescent high school students. Data analysis involved univariate analysis, bivariate analysis followed by multiple logistic regression analysis to identify determinants of unsafe sexual practice. The findings revealed that 392(48.3%) of respondents had sex. The mean age at first sex was 16.6(+0.84) and 15.6(+0.9) years for males and females respectively. The risk of unsafe sex was high among male students [AOR=13.176, 95% CI (3.894, 44.586)] and those using substance & alcohol [AOR=2.098, 95% CI (1.386, 3.17)] whereas the risk was less among students not watching pornography [AOR=0.098, 95% CI (0.023, 0.419)] and earning better income [AOR=0.85, 95% CI (0.025, 0.289)]. Female students started sexual practice earlier than their male counterpart and half of the students are engaged on unsafe sex which requires urgent intervention. Therefore stakeholders has to increase connections between students and their schools through the use of media. Furthermore they should work towards making communities safe and supportive for youth development.
Abstract: Youth are exposed to risk behavior which includes unsafe sex, drug abuse & alcohol and also there are different factors which are associated with their risk behaviors. The main objective of this study is to identify behavioral risk factors for HIV/AIDS among high school students of Dire Dawa city. A cross-sectional school-based design using stratif...
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