Epilepsy in Ancient India

The ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda, meaning science of life, is the oldest system of medicine in the world. Epilepsy is defined as Apasmara: apa, meaning negation or loss of; smara, meaning recollection or consciousness. Aura was recognized and was called Apasmara Poorva Roopa. A large number of symptoms indicative of aura were listed. Worthy of mention are subjective sensation of sounds, sensation of darkness, feeling of delusion, and dream-like state. An actual attack of Apasmara includes falling down; shaking of the hands, legs, and body; rolling up of the eyes; grinding of the teeth; and foaming at the mouth. Four major types of epilepsy based on the disturbance of doshas (humors) that govern the physiological and physiochemical activities of the body are mentioned. Apasmara is considered a dangerous disease that is chronic and difficult to treat. Several causes are mentioned. Treatment included correcting the etiological factors and dietary regimen and avoiding dangerous places that may result in injuries.     

Polymorphisms in manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase genes: functional study in Hong Kong Chinese asthma patients

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species may contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma. Functional genetic polymorphisms of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase are good candidates for asthma susceptibility. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of the manganese-containing form of SOD (MnSOD) gene at amino acid position 16 (Val16Ala) and catalase gene in the promoter at A-21T and C-262T polymorphisms and asthma in a Hong Kong Chinese population. METHODS: The association study was conducted in a case-control design in asthma patients (n=251) and healthy controls (n=316) by genotyping. The functional significance was assessed by determining erythrocyte SOD and catalase activity. RESULTS: The Val allele of MnSOD at Val16Ala and the A allele of catalase gene at A-21T were not different between patients and controls, while the C allele of catalase gene at C-262T was found to be significantly different between patients and controls (P=0.033). The less frequent variant of catalase gene (-262T) was found to be protective from the development of asthma in a Hong Kong Chinese non-smoking population (adjusted odds ratio=0.35, 0.15-0.85; P=0.017). Asthma patients had elevated erythrocyte SOD and catalase activities in comparison with healthy controls (P<0.01). However, their activities were not associated with different genotypes within healthy controls or asthma patients. CONCLUSION: This is the first report showing that SOD and catalase functional activities are not associated with their respective genetic polymorphisms but related to the presence of asthma in a Hong Kong Chinese population.     

猕猴桃中药复方制剂对血清SOD及MDA含量的影响

猕猴桃中药复方制剂系采用猕猴桃汁为基质，配加绞股蓝、丹参等中药的有效成分制成。为了研究它的保健作用，在６３例５０岁以上、无急性疾病的中、老年人，３６例３０～４９岁健康的青年，３２例１４～１７岁健康的少年中进行试验，１０ｍｌ每日２次连续服用３０天后，中老年人血液ＳＯＤ显著增高，７０岁以上老人平均增高２．８倍，血清ＭＤＡ明显下降，７０岁以上平均下降８７．５％。     

The utilization of traditional Chinese medicine and associated factors in Taiwan in 2002

Background Previous studies have noted that there is a high utilization rate of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services in Taiwan, China and in western countries, but few studies investigated factors associated with the utilization of TCM in Taiwan. This study analyzes the utilization rate and the factors associated with the utilization of TGM in Taiwan. Methods Data for this study were from the 2002 HPKAP Survey that conducted the face-to-face questionnaire interviews of people aged 15 years and over from October 2002 to March 2003 in Taiwan. This study analyzed the utilization of TCM outpatient services, including admission to the hospital and clinic visits. Results A total of 26 755 participants completed the survey in the six-month period. The data revealed that 10.4% of participants had utilized TCM services in the past one month while 4.2% of participants utilized TCM only (without using Western medicine outpatient services (WM) or Folk therapy (F'I')). The average visits of TCM services per patient was higher among people who had utilized TCM and FT services (2.68 visits) than among those who had utilized WM and FT services (2.15 visits) or TCM services alone (2.15 visits) during the previous one month. Younger people (odds ratio OR= 1.78, 95%C/= 1.47-2.16), women (compared with men), and people with higher education levels (OR = 1.58, 95%CI =1.25-1.98) were more likely to visit TCM than compared groups. People with self-reported poor health status (OR = 2.07,95%CI = 1.76-2.44) and people who exercise regularly (OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.07-1.27) had higher ORs to visit TCM service than comparison group.Conclusions There is a high utilization of TCM in Taiwan. Further studies are needed to investigate the related factors and determinants between the utilization of TCM and the utilization of FT in Taiwan.     

中西医结合治疗酒精性肝病的疗效观察

目的　观察用常规方法及中西医结合方法治疗酒精性肝病的疗效差异。方法　将 5 6例酒精性肝病患者随机分为二组 ,对照组常规方法治疗 ,治疗组常规方法加中医辩证施治。结果　两组治疗三个月后 ,治疗组消化道症状消除 ,GOT/GPT恢复正常 ,γ -GT恢复正常 ,B超声像图好转等四个观察指标明显优于对照组。结论　中西医结合治疗酒精性肝病目前仍是可靠和可取的方法     

Local anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair in adolescents

Background Many centers use local anesthesia for adult inguinal hernia surgery in the setting of day-case surgery. There are no reports on, or guidelines for, use of anesthesia for inguinal hernia surgery in adolescents. We describe our initial experience with the use of local anesthesia and intravenous sedation for inguinal hernia surgery in adolescents in the setting of a day-surgery facility. Methods The charts of 14 consecutive adolescent patients (aged 12–17) who had inguinal hernia surgery from July 2004 to March 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Intravenous sedation was administered 1–3 min before injection of local anesthetic. Sedation consisted of midazolam 0.085 mg kg⁻¹ and either fentanyl 0.85 μg kg⁻¹ or ketamine 0.085 mg kg⁻¹, according to the preference of the anesthesiologist. Additional sedation with half the initial dose was administered if required. Local anesthesia using a combination of lignocaine and bupivacaine was administered by the surgeon with infiltration in the skin and deep tissues. Results Fourteen adolescents aged 12–17 years (mean 14.8 ± 1.37), weighing 34–100 kg (mean 61.2 ± 16.5), had 15 inguinal hernia repairs with sedation and local anesthesia. All the patients were male. All completed the surgery with sedation and local anesthesia. None required conversion to general anesthesia. There were no immediate or subsequent complications. Mean time from the end of surgery to discharge home was under 2 h (mean 106 ± 36 min). Examination of patient charts did not reveal any complaints regarding the surgery or the postoperative course at the postoperative follow up visit. Conclusions The use of local anesthesia with intravenous sedation for inguinal hernia repair in the adolescent age group seems feasible and requires further prospective study.     

运用中国古典音乐应对胃癌病人的术前焦虑

[目的 ]探讨中国古典音乐治疗胃癌病人术前焦虑的作用。 [方法 ]随机将 60例早期胃癌病人分成实验组和对照组。两组均给予解释、指导、鼓励、安慰等支持性治疗 ,实验组再给予音乐治疗。应用Zung氏焦虑自评量表 (SAS)对两组病人进行评估。 [结果 ]两组病人在支持性治疗前焦虑评分比较无统计学意义 ,而实验组病人在给予音乐治疗后焦虑分值比对照组有统计学意义(P <0 .0 5 )。 [结论 ]中国古典音乐影响人的情绪行为 ,从而引起愉快、舒适的情绪 ,有改善和调整人的大脑皮层的功能     

Clinical observations on the use of the Chinese herbTripterygium wilfordii Hook for the treatment of nephrotic syndrome

A preparation of extracts from the root of the Chinese medicinal herbTripterygium wilfordii Hook was administered orally at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight per day to 13 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Eight children, including 4 who were steroid resistant, went into remission which was maintained in 4 for up to 3 years after withdrawal of treatment. In 3 children the proteinuria lessened with the return of plasma protein concentration to normal, and in 1 child this improvement was maintained for 4 years after treatment ceased. No serious side-effects were noted, but a temporary anti-fertility activity has been noted in other studies of both men and women.     

How do clinicians learn to request permission for autopsies?

A postal survey of 434 clinicians at four local hospitals was undertaken in order to identify the methods by which clinicians learn how to request permission for hospital autopsies and to assess the preferred techniques and timing of relevant communication skills training. The majority of 128 responding clinicians had learnt through personal experience with some assistance from senior colleagues and peers. Few clinicians appeared to have learnt through formal training. The preferred methods for the provision of communication skills training were training in small groups (such as seminars or tutorials) and observation of clinicians at work. The most desirable time for the provision of this training was considered to be between the beginning of the final undergraduate year and the end of the pre-registration house officer year. The communication skills training provided within medical education is in need of improvement. More emphasis should be given to clinical-task- or situation-specific applications such as requesting permission for autopsies.