Environmental neurology: Concepts and short history of an interdisciplinary approach to etiology, treatment and prevention.

Environmental Neurology (EN), a sub-discipline of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, favors an interdisciplinary collaboration allowing a holistic approach to understanding the impact of environmental factors on the nervous system and their relationship with neurological diseases. Several examples of diseases and conditions show the large scope of subjects addressed by EN. The EN sub-discipline focuses on both individual and population issues thus joining patient care and public health, respectively. Neuropathogenesis is addressed by several major questions: How do the environment and nervous system interact? Which exogenous factors can trigger neurological disease? When, where and how do they act? What are the therapeutic implications, and how can these disorders be controlled or prevented. To answer such questions, we address the incentive for, philosophy of and methods developed by EN, which seeks to safeguard Brain Health and, thus, the quality of life.

Selenium and zinc protections against metal-(loids)-induced toxicity and disease manifestations: A review.

Metals are ubiquitous in the environment due to huge industrial applications in the form of different chemicals and from extensive mining activities. The frequent exposures to metals and metalloids are crucial for the human health. Trace metals are beneficial for health whereas non-essential metals are dangerous for the health and some are proven etiological factors for diseases including cancers and neurological disorders. The interactions of essential trace metals such as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) with non-essential metals viz. lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in biological system are very critical and complex. A huge number of studies report the protective role of Se and Zn against metal toxicity, both in animal and cellular levels, and also explain the numerous mechanisms involved. However, it has been considered that a tiny dyshomeostasis in the metals/trace metals status in biological system could induce severe deleterious effects that can manifest to numerous diseases. Thus, in this particular review, we have demonstrated the critical protection mechanism/s of Se and Zn against Cd, Pb, As and Hg toxicity in a one by one manner to clarify the up-to-date findings and perspectives. Furthermore, biomolecular consequences are comprehensively presented in light of particular cellular/biomolecular events which are somehow linked to a subsequent disease. The analyzed reports support significant protection potential of Se and Zn, either alone or in combination with other agents, against each of the abovementioned non-essential metals. However, Se and Zn are still not being used as detoxifying agents due to some unexplained reasons. We hypothesized that Se could be a potential candidate for detoxifying As and Hg regardless of their chemical speciations, but requires intensive clinical trials. However, particularly Zn-Hg interaction warrants more investigations both in animal and cellular level.

Framework negotiations: diagnostic insights among alternative medical practitioners participating in integrative medicine case conferences.

Medical anthropology concerns itself with cultural interpretations of health and illness in complex pluralistic societies whose members incorporate multiple strategies to address health issues. This research explored the variety of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics introduced into biomedically structured clinical evaluation. A field study of routine case conferences held within a clinical fellowship program in integrative medicine (IM) provided the ideal setting to explore contrasting conceptualizations of disease. Study results yielded five core sources of information sought by CAM practitioners, typically not addressed in biomedicine: social relations history within family of origin, emotional health, energetic health, spiritual health, and in-depth nutritional evaluation.

Concepts and necessity of preventive medical services for the 21st century

Not only disease patterns but also the contents and concepts of medical services are rapidly changing recent years. A quick look at the evolution of health care services shows that it has evolved in two major ways. First, medical interventions are gradually moving towards the prevention before diseases development. Second, the medical services have become individualized or tailored. The shift to preventive medical care is the most anticipated change in medical services in the 21st century. Theses phenomena are believed as a logical progression in the transition and evolution of medical services, and as a equivalence of the changing medical environment, such as progress in health care technology and changes in life value etc. Clinical practice based on evidence-based medicine is what distinguishes modern medicine from traditional medicine. Preventive medical services have also been established based on scientific evidence. The academic knowledge used as a basis for preventive medical services comes from the investigation of disease etiology, i.e. epidemiology. In the 21st century, the preventive medical service will be differentiated and enlarged to broad areas of medical practice and the target of the service may be focused to the a variety of complex diseases.

Influences of Qi Deficiency and Qi Stagnation in the Pathogenesis of Coronary Heart Disease with Heart-Blood Stagnation Syndrome / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To compare the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD) with heart_blood stagnation syndrome (HBSS) due to Qi deficiency and Qi stagnation. Methods Indices such as endothelin,NO,TXB 2 ,6-Keto-PGF 1? ,blood rheology,platelet aggregation rate,atrial natriuretic factor,high_frequency electrocardiogram and cardiac function were observed. Results The changes of the above indices in CHD with HBSS due to Qi stagnation (Group A)were smaller than those due to Qi deficiency(Group B). Conclusion Qi stagnation is the primary stage of CHS with HBSS,the pathological changes being mild;Qi deficiency is the advanced stage,the pathological changes being severe.