Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants around Mt.Yinggeling,Hainan Island,China

Aim of the study

The main objectives were to collect information on the use of medicinal plants and compare medicinal plant traditions between Run and Qi.

Materials and methods

Information was obtained from semi-structured interviews, personal conversation and guided fieldtrips with herbalists.

Results

385 species belonging to 290 genera in 104 families were used for the treatment of various diseases. Rubiaceae (20 species), Euphorbiaceae and Compositae (19 species respectively) were predominant families used by herbalists. The most species were used for injuries (20.1%), muscular–skeletal system disorders (18.3%) and infections/infestations (18.0%). The coefficient of similarity (36.6%) shown a high consensus of plant species used by Run and Qi. The ‘informant agreement ratio’ values for both Run and Qi are rather low (less than 0.3).

Conclusions

Traditional medicinal plants still play an important role in medical practices of Li Ethnic Group around Mt.Yinggeling. There is a close relationship of medicinal plant traditions between Run and Qi. Further investigation is necessary to record this valuable knowledge before its disappearance.     

Immunogenicity and safety of a novel yeast Hansenula polymorpha-derived recombinant Hepatitis B candidate vaccine in healthy adolescents and adults aged 10–45 years

The aim was to determine whether the immunogenicity of an investigational hepatitis B vaccine (spHB) is at least as high as that of a licensed control vaccine, Engerix B^®, and to evaluate its safety before inclusion in new pediatric combination vaccines. Two randomized, controlled, blind-observer, Phase 3 trials were performed: one in Argentina (344 participants aged 10–15 years, 10 μg HBsAg/dose) and one in Uruguay (344 participants aged 16–45 years, 20 μg HBsAg/dose). Both vaccines were given in a 0, 1, 6 month schedule to all participants with a baseline anti-Hep B antibody titer <0.6 mIU/mL. Antibody titers were measured pre-dose 1, 1 month after dose 2, pre-dose 3, and 1 month after dose 3. Statistical non-inferiority analyses were performed on seroprotection rates (SP) post-dose 3 (% with anti-Hep B titers ≥10 mIU/mL; delta non-inferiority limit of −10%). In both studies, SP for the spHB vaccine was 100% and the spHB vaccine was non-inferior in terms of SP to the licensed control vaccine. GMTs post-dose 3 were approximately 1.8- and 4.1-fold higher for spHB in the 10–15 year and 16–45 year age groups, respectively. Reactogenicity was low for each vaccine, after each dose. This highly immunogenic hepatitis B candidate vaccine was selected for further investigation as a component of new pediatric combination vaccines.     

Associations between street connectivity and active transportation

Background  

Past studies of associations between measures of the built environment, particularly street connectivity, and active transportation (AT) or leisure walking/bicycling have largely failed to account for spatial autocorrelation of connectivity variables and have seldom examined both the propensity for AT and its duration in a coherent fashion. Such efforts could improve our understanding of the spatial and behavioral aspects of AT. We analyzed spatially identified data from Los Angeles and San Diego Counties collected as part of the 2001 California Health Interview Survey.