The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines Among a Sample of Canadian Menopausal‐Aged Women

Introduction : Despite questionable efficacy and safety, many women use a variety of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to relieve menopause symptoms. Methods : We examined the determinants and use of CAM therapies among a sample of menopausal‐aged women in Canada by using a cross‐sectional Web‐based survey. Results : Four hundred twenty‐three women who were contacted through list serves, e‐mail lists, and Internet advertisements provided complete data on demographics, use of CAM, therapies, and menopausal status and symptoms. Ninety‐one percent of women reported trying CAM therapies for their symptoms. Women reported using an average of five kinds of CAM therapies. The most common treatments were vitamins (61.5%), relaxation techniques (57.0%), yoga/meditation (37.6%), soy products (37.4%), and prayer (35.7%). The most beneficial CAM therapies reported were prayer/spiritual healing, relaxation techniques, counseling/therapy, and therapeutic touch/Reiki. Demographic factors and menopausal symptoms contributed to 14% of the variance (P < .001) in the number of CAM therapies tried. Discussion : Results support previous research showing that menopausal women have high user rates of CAM therapy and show that specific demographic factors and somatic symptomatology relate to use of CAM therapies. Health care providers can benefit from understanding the determinants and use of CAM by women during the menopause transition if they are to help and provide quality care for this population.     

Reproductive physiology of free-living White Ibises (Eudocimus albus) in the Florida Everglades

We measured plasma concentrations of testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and corticosterone; and recorded changes in gonad size, body condition, molt, and brood patch development of free-living adult White Ibises (Eudocimus albus) during the breeding season in the Florida Everglades. White Ibises are colonially breeding, long-legged wading birds that inhabit freshwater and estuarine wetlands. They have flexible breeding schedules (nest initiation dates can range from January to September) and onset of nesting is usually associated with increased prey availability caused by concentration of small fish in pools during periods of wetland drying. In this paper, we present the hormonal and physical characteristics of White Ibis reproductive physiology. We classified White Ibis breeding into five stages: pre-breeding, display, copulation/egg production, incubation, and chick rearing. White Ibises showed cyclic gonadal development which corresponded to reproductive stage. Male and female testosterone concentrations increased during the display stage and decreased during copulation, incubation, and chick rearing. Female estradiol concentrations were highest during display and chick rearing and male estradiol concentrations were lowest during copulation. Female progesterone concentrations increased during display and remained high throughout the breeding season. Female ibises had low corticosterone concentrations that increased during incubation and were highest during chick rearing, concomitant with lower body condition and flight muscle-mass scores. Male ibis progesterone and corticosterone concentrations did not show seasonal changes and were more variable than concentrations in female ibises at similar stages. Males and females had elevated body condition scores during the display stage, which were depleted by the onset of incubation. Increased energy stores during display may be used later for fasting in male birds that do not eat during the 10-day copulation/egg production stage, and for egg production in female birds. During incubation, male and female ibises developed brood patches. Ibises molted in all stages of reproduction, indicating that ibis molt and reproductive physiology may not inhibit each other as in most temperate bird species. White Ibises showed similar patterns in reproductive physiology to other monogamous, seasonally breeding bird species in which both sexes incubate and care for the young.     

市售大黄、半夏、红花、茯苓掺伪的快速鉴别方法

目的：针对大黄、半夏、红花、茯苓等4种市售中药材和中药饮片容易出现假冒伪劣的现象,运用简单实用的真伪鉴定方法进行快速鉴别,准备应用于本科教学实验中,将极大地调动学生的学习兴趣,提高学生对常用中药材的真伪鉴别能力,又可以通过简单有效的真伪鉴定方法打击市场的掺伪品,保证临床使用安全有效。方法：采用性状、显微、理化、薄层鉴别等简单实用的真伪鉴定方法进行快速鉴别。结果：4种中药材和中药饮片及其伪品或掺伪品在显微特征、色谱行为、理化反应结果上有明显差别。结论：4种中药材和中药饮片掺伪严重,仅凭肉眼进行性状鉴定难以辨别,而用水试、显微鉴别、薄层鉴别等方法则较容易快速有效的区别。     

冰片及其掺伪品的快速检验方法探讨

目的：探讨冰片及其掺伪品的快速检验方法。方法；应用性状、理化反应、薄层色谱、紫外光谱对冰片及其掺伪品进行鉴别研究。结果：用上述方法可检出冰片掺伪品。结论：所拟定的方法快速、简便、可靠。     

掺假穿山甲的检定

目的：建立掺假穿山甲的定性、定量检定方法；方法：应用分析化学原理对掺假物进行定性分析，用EDTA配位滴定法对掺假物进行定量分析；结果：定性分析检出掺假物为硫酸镁，定量分析平均回收率为99．31％，RSD=0．2％；结论：该定性定量方法专属性强，简便、快速、准确，适合于基层药检所及药品经营单位的分析检验。     

Factors affecting haematological profiles in three indigenous Ethiopian sheep breeds

Haematological parameters were studied in 377 apparently healthy sheep comprising three indigenous breeds of Ethiopia. The effect of breed, age, gender and season on the haematological values was assessed. There was significant (P<0.01) breed difference for all erythrocytic series. Red blood cells (RBCs) and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly higher (P<0.01) in Menz than in Wello and Tukur breeds. However, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was significantly lower (P<0.001) in Menz than in other breeds. Lymphocyte and eosinophil levels were significantly higher (P<0.001) in Menz than in Tukur and Wello breeds. Neutrophil and monocyte concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.001) in Wello and Tukur than in Menz sheep. Gender had no significant (P>0.05) effect on erythrocytic and leukocytic parameters. There was a decrease in lymphocytes with increasing age, whereas the reverse was true for neutrophils. RBCs and PCV were significantly higher (P<0.05) during the dry season than any other seasons. Total white blood cell (WBC) count was significantly higher (P<0.0001) during the long rainy season than during other seasons. The Hb, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the indigenous breeds were higher than those of exotic sheep breeds. Our study is believed to aid clinical assessment and disease diagnosis in these breeds.     

中药综合疗法治疗宫外孕的临床疗效观察与探讨

以活血祛瘀、消症杀胚为治则,汤药、成药内服,肌注丹参注射液,外敷及保留灌肠同步进行。治疗输卵管妊娠25例,24例经15～64天治疗而痊愈,仅1例中转手术治疗。     

南昌市不同生境蚊幼虫生长状况调查

目的了解南昌市蚊虫孳生的水体以及蚊幼虫的消长趋势,为制订灭蚊方案提供理论依据。方法勺捕法和容器指数法。结果大中型水体阳性率63.16%,库蚊、按蚊、伊蚊3种蚊属均有发现,11种水体中,8种水体曾发现有蚊幼虫孳生,大中型水体生长高峰在6月,幼虫密度为2.88条/勺,5种大中型水体蚊幼虫密度最高的是菜园水沟,密度为2.36条/勺。容器的阳性率为36.06%,4种容器中库蚊、按蚊、伊蚊3种蚊属均有发现,容器中生长高峰以6月最高,密度指数为77.03%,4种容器的阳性率以轮胎最高为40.76%。结论蚊虫控制工作的重点是在每年的6月,容器、地面积水、污水是治理的重点。     

不同品种桑叶高效液相指纹图谱的聚类分析

目的研究四川地区主流桑树品种桑叶的HPLC指纹图谱,并进行聚类分析,探讨品种对桑叶化学成分累积的影响。方法建立桑叶的HPLC指纹图谱,对16批样品共有峰峰面积进行聚类。结果不同品种桑叶相似度均大于0.90,但所含化学成分的含量存在差异,相同基原不同品种的桑叶被聚类到了不同类别中。结论桑叶中化学成分的累积与品种有一定相关性。