“The Tools of Your Chants and Spells”: Stories of Madwomen and Indian Practical Healing

ABSTRACT

A longstanding trope in Indian psychiatry, and in popular representations of it, involves the efficacy of incantations and exorcism in healing afflictions of the mind, notably hysteria. In many accounts, from nineteenth century medical journals to twenty-first century popular films, a medicine deemed at once ‘Western’ and universal is granted the ability to diagnose neurotic afflictions, but rendered incapable of curing them, while bodily techniques referred to as ‘Indian’ are granted efficacy. In this article, I explore the subtleties and implications of this recurrent knowledge paradigm. I argue that a particular arrangement—one in which difference is established through equivalence—undergirds the terms by which medicine comes to be viewed as a cultural encounter. As these progressive formulations are often founded on stories about women’s madness, I ask, what are the implications of an arguably pragmatic ethos founded on an uneven—and deeply gendered—resolution to postcolonial knowledge problems?     

Does Rest Time before Ultrasonography Imaging Affect Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Thickness,Cross-Sectional Area and Echo Intensity Measurements?

In the work described here, our aim was to determine, in an elderly population, changes in muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA) and echo intensity (EI) of the quadriceps muscles at four time points (0, 5, 10 and 15 min; i.e., T0, T5, T10 and T15, respectively) after changing from a standing to supine position. Twenty-one elderly participants (14 men: 68.1 ± 4.6 y; 8 women: 66.8 ± 4.1 y) were evaluated at four time points. Rectus femoris CSA (RF_CSA), MT and EI of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscles were assessed. EI significantly increased from T0 to T5, T10 and T15 (p < 0.001), whereas no differences were observed between T5 and T15 in the rectus femoris (RF_EI), vastus intermedius (VI_EI) and quadriceps femoris (QF_EI). No differences were observed between any time points in the RF_CSA and MT of QF muscles. In summary, these results suggest that periods >5 min are not necessary to obtain consistent MT and EI measurements of quadriceps femoris muscles in the elderly population.     

Variation of resting energy expenditure after the first chemotherapy cycle in acute leukemia patients

Changes in resting energy expenditure (REE) of cancer patients vary depending on type of tumor, treatment time point and kind of treatment. Little is known about REE of acute leukemia adult patients after treatment, especially with results related to body weight or fat free mass (FFM). This study aimed to assess changes in REE of acute leukemia adult patients before and after the first remission induction. Evaluation of REE was performed by indirect calorimetry and predicted REE was calculated by Harris-Benedict equation. Weight and height were measured and compared to a control group of healthy individuals. FFM was assessed by bioelectrical impedance for adjusting REE values. We evaluated 18 patients and 26 healthy individuals. At diagnosis, patients presented REE, REE/weight, and REE/FFM higher than the controls. Reductions of REE, REE/weight, and REE/FFM were also observed in patients after the first cycle of chemotherapy. The predicted REE for the patients group showed significant lower value compared with measured REE. Before the first cycle of chemotherapy REE was increased but undergoes a reduction after treatment, reaching values similar to the controls. For predictive Harris-Benedict equation, stress factors should be added to avoid underestimation of REE before and after chemotherapy.     

The marks of gunshot wounds to the face

IntroductionThis article deals with the occurrence of health problems due to gunshot wounds to the face among military police officers, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, who were submitted to surgery at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology Clinic of Hospital Central da Polícia Militar.ObjectiveTo identify the profile of patients submitted to surgery as a result of gunshot wounds, the anatomical distribution of maxillofacial fractures, the identified sequelae and complications, the health specialties involved in the rehabilitation of these patients, and to discuss the social, emotional and work performance-related effects of work among these subjects.MethodsA retrospective epidemiological study was carried out based on secondary data from military police officers who were submitted to surgery at Hospital Central da Polícia Militar due to gunshot wounds from June 2003 to December 2017.ResultsDuring the study period, 778 surgeries were performed in the operating room by the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology service at Hospital Central da Polícia Militar, 186 of which were due to gunshot wounds (23.9%). All patients were males and the mean age 34.7 years. Bone segment loss was the most common sequela. Facial esthetic impairment and reports of insomnia were the most often identified late consequences of impact on health and social life. Regarding the occupational impacts of the sustained injury, the mean time away from work due to medical leave for the treatment of maxillofacial injuries was 11.7 months.ConclusionThe treatment of gunshot wounds patients with facial injuries requires multiple surgical interventions and their rehabilitation requires the involvement of different health specialties. Further studies are needed to qualitatively analyze the impact of this type of facial trauma on the patients' lives and their social consequences.     

(Technically) Difficult colonoscope insertion – Tips and tricks

Cecal intubation is a critical aspect of effective, complete colonoscopy. Difficult colonoscopy is most often considered as one in which it is challenging or impossible to reach the cecum. It may be a common occurrence due to patient and/or endoscopist factors. Incomplete colonoscopies should be avoided, since patients in this context present an important prevalence of lesions that escape examination. The approach to successful cecal intubation should depend on characterization of the problem as redundant colon or difficult sigmoid colon. Most patients with a prior incomplete colonoscopy can be colonoscoped successfully, if careful attention is paid to technique, using a variety of scopes, colonoscopy methods and additional equipment. Sufficient time should be allotted to make the attempt.     

Apoptosis and asthma in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. The persistence of airway inflammation depends on a decrease in apoptosis of T lymphocytes and eosinophils and survival of these activated cells. T lymphocytes expressing gamma delta receptors can be identified in human lungs and play an important role in immune defence against pathogens and in the regulation of chronic inflammation. Aging is associated with evidence of some immune dysregulation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the apoptosis receptors of T lymphocytes in long-lasting asthma, to establish their correlation with activation markers such as CD25+ and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR+, and to analyze the gama delta T cell expression in this disease. METHODS: A group of 64 individuals (group A) who had had asthma for more than 30 years (mean age [+/-SD] 72 +/- 5 years) and 61 healthy individuals acting as controls--group B with 41 individuals (mean age 79 +/- 7 years) and group C with 20 individuals (mean age 38 +/- 12 years) were included in the study. All subjects underwent clinical evaluation and spirometric testing. Peripheral blood cells were stained with monoclonal antibodies anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD25, anti-TCR gamma delta, anti-HLA-DR and anti-CD95. Statistical comparisons were performed between the asthmatics and the elderly control group and between the elderly control group and the adult control group. RESULTS: The average percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second was 73.6 gamma delta 25.3. The mean values of T cell receptors for asthma group A vs elderly control group B vs adult control group C respectively, were the following: CD3, 74.9+/-7 vs. 74.8 +/- 8.8 (P=ns) vs. 76.7 +/- 4.2 (P=ns); CD4, 48.8 +/- 8.7 vs. 43.5 +/- 10.2 (P=ns) vs. 44.8 +/- 3.8 (P=ns); CD8, 23.3 +/- 7.9 vs. 25.7 +/- 10.2 (P=ns) vs. 25.6 +/- 4.5 (P=ns); CD25, 14.3 +/- 5.9 vs. 22.4 +/- 7.8 (P = .0001) vs. 5.5 +/- 2.4 (P = .0001); TCR gamma delta, 2.8 +/- 2.1 vs. 4.1 +/- 3.3 (P < .05) vs. 4.6 +/- 2.1 (P=ns); HLA-DR, 18.4 +/- 9.2 vs. 17.8 +/- 5.9 (P=ns) vs. 15.4 +/- 5.1 (P=ns) and CD95, 49.3 +/- 13.7 vs. 52.6 +/- 12.1 (P=ns) vs. 13.8 +/- 10.8 (P = .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The immunological and inflammatory changes related to ageing may cause an increase in CD95 and CD25 T cell expression. In asthma, blood cells may express increased activation and apoptosis markers but in elderly patients taking steroids, these receptors remain within normal ranges. The number of gamma delta T cells may be lower in long-lasting asthma, and have a limited modulatory effect on allergic inflammatory reactions. The evaluation of patients with long-lasting asthma should take into account the immunological and inflammatory changes present in the elderly in order to avoid results being misinterpreted.