Systematic reviews of complementary therapies - an annotated bibliography. Part 1: Acupuncture

Background Complementary therapies are widespread but controversial. We aim to provide a comprehensive collection and a summary of systematic reviews of clinical trials in three major complementary therapies (acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy). This article is dealing with acupuncture. Potentially relevant reviews were searched through the register of the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field, the Cochrane Library, Medline, and bibliographies of articles and books. To be included articles had to review prospective clinical trials of acupuncture; had to describe review methods explicitly; had to be published; and had to focus on treatment effects. Information on conditions, interventions, methods, results and conclusions was extracted using a pretested form and summarized descriptively. Results From a total of 48 potentially relevant reviews preselected in a screeening process 39 met the inclusion criteria. 22 were on various pain syndromes or rheumatic diseases. Other topics addressed by more than one review were addiction, nausea, asthma and tinnitus. Almost unanimously the reviews state that acupuncture trials include too few patients. Often included trials are heterogeneous regarding patients, interventions and outcome measures, are considered to have insufficient quality and contradictory results. Convincing evidence is available only for postoperative nausea, for which acupuncture appears to be of benefit, and smoking cessation, where acupuncture is no more effective than sham acupuncture. Conclusions A large number of systematic reviews on acupuncture exists. What is most obvious from these reviews is the need for (the funding of) well-designed, larger clinical trials

Effect of Age on Blood Biochemical Profiles of the African Black Ostrich in Ghana

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of age on blood biochemical indices in the African Black Ostrich. Blood samples were collected from 56, 60 and 64-week old ostriches (8 birds per age group) from a private farm and the blood biochemical profiles in the plasma of the birds determined. The 64 week-old ostriches had higher cholesterol levels than the 56 and 60 week old ostriches. The overall mean cholesterol level was 1.81 mmol/L. Triglyceride levels were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by age with the 64 week-old ostriches having higher values than 60 week-old ostriches (0.64 mmol/L versus 0.48 mmol/L). The overall mean triglyceride concentration was 0.55 mmol/L. The other biochemical parameters measured were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by age. Results from this study demonstrate that age influences the productivity and health of the African Black Ostrich in Ghana.L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’effet de l’âge sur les indices biochimiques sanguins de l’autruche noire d’Afrique. Des échantillons de sang ont été prélevés sur des autruches âgées de 56, 60 et 64 semaines (8 oiseaux par groupe d’âge) dans une ferme privée, et les profils biochimiques du sang dans le plasma de ces oiseaux ont été déterminés. Les autruches âgées de 64 semaines avaient des taux de cholestérol plus élevés que celles âgées de 56 et 60 semaines. Le taux de cholestérol total moyen était de 1,81 mmol / L. Les taux de triglycérides étaient significativement (P <0,05) influencés par l’âge, les autruches âgées de 64 semaines ayant des valeurs supérieures à celles de 60 semaines (0,64 mmol / L contre 0,48 mmol / L). La concentration totale moyenne de triglycérides était de 0,55 mmol / L. Les autres paramètres biochimiques mesurés n’étaient pas significativement (P> 0,05) affectés par l’âge. Les résultats de cette étude démontrent que l’âge influence la productivité et la santé de l’autruche noire d’Afrique au Ghana.Mots-clés: Age; Autruche noire d’Afrique; Profil biochimiqu

The effect of age on haematological studies in ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Abstract Blood samples were collected from 56, 60 and 64-week old ostriches (8 birds per age group) from a private farm (Crossgee Farms) and the haematological profiles in the plasma of the birds determined. The White Blood Cells (WBC) counts significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with increase in age. The WBC counts for 56-week old ostriches were higher than that for the 64-week olds (96.78 x 10 9 /L versus 84.3 x 10 9 /L), with an overall mean total count of 90.77 x 10 9 /L. The Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by age. The 64 weeks old ostriches had a higher value than the 60 weeks old ostriches (105.20 fL versus 81.29 fL). The overall mean MCV level was 94.21 fL. Lymphocyte, granulocytes, red blood cells, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), platelets, haemoglobin and packed cell volume were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by age. Results from this study demonstrate that age influences the WBC and MCV of the African Black Ostrich reared under humid tropical conditions as prevailing in Ghana

Epidemiological Transition and the Double Burden of Disease in Accra, Ghana

It has long been recognized that as societies modernize, they experience significant changes in their patterns of health and disease. Despite rapid modernization across the globe, there are relatively few detailed case studies of changes in health and disease within specific countries especially for sub-Saharan African countries. This paper presents evidence to illustrate the nature and speed of the epidemiological transition in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. As the most urbanized and modernized Ghanaian city, and as the national center of multidisciplinary research since becoming state capital in 1877, Accra constitutes an important case study for understanding the epidemiological transition in African cities. We review multidisciplinary research on culture, development, health, and disease in Accra since the late nineteenth century, as well as relevant work on Ghana’s socio-economic and demographic changes and burden of chronic disease. Our review indicates that the epidemiological transition in Accra reflects a protracted polarized model. A “protracted” double burden of infectious and chronic disease constitutes major causes of morbidity and mortality. This double burden is polarized across social class. While wealthy communities experience higher risk of chronic diseases, poor communities experience higher risk of infectious diseases and a double burden of infectious and chronic diseases. Urbanization, urban poverty and globalization are key factors in the transition. We explore the structures and processes of these factors and consider the implications for the epidemiological transition in other African cities