Hypertension Therapy Using Acupuncture and Herbals of Leds and Carrots

Background: Hypertension or high blood pressure is an increase in systolic blood pressure of more than 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of more than 90 mmHg in two measurements with an interval of five minutes in rest or quiet state. Hypertension in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is categorized in Xuan Yuan (vertigo) and Tou Tong (headache). Purpose: To determine the effect of acupuncture therapy using Fengchi (GB20), Taichong (LR3), Hegu (LI4) points and 2 additional points, namely Xuehai (SP10) and Chize (LU5) and herbs therapy for celery (Apium graveolens L.) and carrots (Daucus carota L.) for people with hypertension. Methods: Treatment of hypertension with acupuncture and herbs therapy. Acupuncture therapy was carried out at Fengchi (GB20), Taichong (LR3), Hegu (LI4) points with the principle of liver fire sedation and Xuehai (SP10) and Chize (LU5) with the tonification principle. In herbs therapy, patients were given fresh celery (Apium graveolens L.) and carrots (Daucus carota L.) which had a hypotensive effect. Results: Hypertension treatment with acupuncture therapy was given 12 times, 3 times a week. Herbs therapy was given for 4 weeks, taken once a day in the afternoon with a dose of 200 ml. This therapy could reduce the patient's blood pressure. Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy in Fengchi (GB20), Taichong (LR3), Hegu (LI4) Xuehai (SP10), Chize (LU5) plus fresh celery herbs (Apium graveolens L.) and carrots (Daucus carota L.) could reduce blood pressure and additional complaints in hypertensive patient

Therapy for Irregular Menstruation with Acupunture and Herbal Pegagan (Centella Asiatica (L.))

Background : Menstruation is bleeding periodic scale and cyclical from uterus extrication (deskuamasi) endometrium. Menstruation bleeding is complex interaction result wich involve hormone system and body system, that are hypothalamus, hypofisis, ovarium and uterus. Every woman has different menstruation cycle. The causes of irregular menstruation are genetic and bad habit life. While according to TCM, irregular menstruation is Yue Jing Bu Tiao. Purpose : to knowing the effect of acupuncture therapy and point of Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjao (SP 6) and Shenmen (HT 7). Therapy was given 12 times, 3 times every week. Herbal therapy wich given was pegagan (Centella asiatica (L)) with dose 0,3 and consumed everyday after eat. Result : therapy that used acupuncture and herbal in irregular menstruation case showing menstruation cycle change, that was menstruation cycle became shorter from 76 days to 41 days. Conclusion : acupuncture therapy on point of Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjao (SP 6), Shenmen (HT 7), and pegagan herbal (Centella asiatica (L)) could shorten menstruation cycle from 76 days to 41 days

Evaluating the use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for detection of <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> in Indonesian clinical isolates

Background: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a method already claimed as a simple technique to amplify DNA/ RNA using four to six primers as “a set” from conserved sequence of target gene. In this study we optimize the use of LAMP for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical isolates from Indonesia.Methods: Procedures to perform LAMP were optimized, then the method was applied to 122 archieved samples of DNA’s Mtb from clinical TB patients with Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) smears positive. The samples were obtained in 2008 from 13 provinces in Indonesia for genotyping study, which then become collections of Center for Biomedical and Basic Technology of Health (CBBTH), NIHRD Indonesia. The optimization tests include sensitivity and specificity tests of several sets primers, which were evaluated using 10-fold serially diluted DNA of Mtb H37Rv and 12 species of Mycobacteria. Three equipments consisted of LAMP turbidimeter, heating block and water bath were compared for its ability in DNA amplification. Detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical isolates used set primers specific for gyrB gene, amplicon was detected with UV fluorescence system.Results: The results showed that the highest sensitivity was obtained using the set primers specific for 16S rRNA and gyrB which could detect 10.0 fg to 1.0 pg genomic DNA of Mtb H37Rv. The set primers specific for gyrB gene was the most specific primers. Application of LAMP using gyrB set primers on Indonesian clinical isolates showed 94.2% (114/121) positivity rate.Conclusion: LAMP method is potentially used in TB diagnosis in Indonesia. (Med J Indones. 2012;21:188-95)Keywords: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification, rim gene, 16S rRNA gene, gyrB gene, Mycobacterium tuberculosis</p