Perspectives of traditional health care system of Sikkim, North-East India – An ethno-pharmacological survey and analysis

965-981The Indo-Himalayan Mountain state of Sikkim has abundant reserves of bio-diversity of ancient ancestry. Many folklore healers are renowned in Sikkim for their valuable traditional knowledge, especially for the use of combination drug therapy to treat bone fracture. In the cross-cultural ethnopharmacological survey, a predesigned questionnaire was used for interviews at the residence of respective folklore healers. Their patient handling and preparations of formulations have been documented in written and audio-visual format. The standard statistical indices selected relevant for the present study. The record of traditional knowledge on 193 different formulations used for 49 various human ailments have been enumerated during this survey. A total of 121 plants belonging to 65 families were found to be used as a component for 193 formulations. Graphical representation of the frequency of citation, especially survey and reference data shown significant correlation indicating common and specific use of plants in the treatment of different diseases. The scientific research on medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners and the application of ethnobotanical products in the folklore healthcare system significantly help in the sustainable development of traditional healthcare practices of the region. For the research fraternity, the quantitative analysis of survey data is gaining wider acceptability due to relative importance

Perspectives of traditional health care system of Sikkim, North-East India – Anethno-pharmacological survey and analysis

The Indo-Himalayan mountain state of Sikkim has abundant reserves of bio-diversity of ancient ancestry. Many folklore healers renowned in Sikkim for their valuable traditional knowledge, especially for the use of combination drug therapy to treat bone fracture. In the cross-cultural ethnopharmacological survey, a predesigned questionnaire was used for interviews at the residence of respective folklore healers. Their patient handling and preparations of formulations have documented in written and audio-visual format. The standard statistical indices selected relevant for the present study. The record of traditional knowledge on 193 different formulations used for 49 various human ailments has enumerated during this survey. A total of 121 plants belonging to 65 families were found to be used as a component for 193 formulations. Graphical representation of the frequency of citation, especially survey and reference data shown significant correlation indicating common and specific use of plants in the treatment of different diseases. The scientific research on medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners and the application of ethnobotanical products in the folklore healthcare system significantly help in the sustainable development of traditional healthcare practices of the region. For the research fraternity, the quantitative analysis of survey data is gaining wider acceptability due to relative importance

The efficacy of antibiotics to control colibacillosis in broiler poultry: a systematic review

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics to prevent or control colibacillosis in broilers. Studies found eligible were conducted controlled trials in broilers that evaluated an antibiotic intervention, with at least one of the following outcomes: mortality, feed conversion ratio (FCR), condemnations at slaughter, or total antibiotic use. Four electronic databases plus the gray literature were searched. Abstracts were screened for eligibility and data were extracted from eligible trials. Risk of bias was evaluated. Seven trials reported eligible outcomes in a format that allowed data extraction; all reported results for FCR and one also reported mortality. Due to the heterogeneity in the interventions and outcomes evaluated, it was not feasible to conduct meta-analysis. Qualitatively, for FCR, comparisons between an antibiotic and an alternative product did not show a significant benefit for either. Some of the comparisons between an antibiotic and a no-treatment placebo showed a numerical benefit to antibiotics, but with wide confidence intervals. The risk-of-bias assessment revealed concerns with reporting of key trial features. The results of this review do not provide compelling evidence for or against the efficacy of antibiotics for the control of colibacillosis

Efficacy of bacterial vaccines to prevent respiratory disease in swine: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

A systematic review and network meta-analysis (MA) was conducted to address the question, ‘What is the efficacy of bacterial vaccines to prevent respiratory disease in swine?’ Four electronic databases and the grey literature were searched to identify clinical trials in healthy swine where at least one intervention arm was a commercially available vaccine for one or more bacterial pathogens associated with respiratory disease in swine, including Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia, Actinobacillus suis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Pasteurella multocida, Stretococcus suis, Haemophils parasuis, and Mycoplasma hyorhinis. To be eligible, trials had to measure at least one of the following outcomes: incidence of clinical morbidity, mortality, lung lesions, or total antibiotic use. There were 179 eligible trials identified in 146 publications. Network MA was undertaken for morbidity, mortality, and the presence or absence of non-specific lung lesions. However, there was not a sufficient body of research evaluating the same interventions and outcomes to allow a meaningful synthesis of the comparative efficacy of the vaccines. To build this body of research, additional rigor in trial design and analysis, and detailed reporting of trial methods and results are warranted

Perspectives of traditional health care system of Sikkim, North-East India – An ethno-pharmacological survey and analysis

965-981The Indo-Himalayan Mountain state of Sikkim has abundant reserves of bio-diversity of ancient ancestry. Many folklore healers are renowned in Sikkim for their valuable traditional knowledge, especially for the use of combination drug therapy to treat bone fracture. In the cross-cultural ethnopharmacological survey, a predesigned questionnaire was used for interviews at the residence of respective folklore healers. Their patient handling and preparations of formulations have been documented in written and audio-visual format. The standard statistical indices selected relevant for the present study. The record of traditional knowledge on 193 different formulations used for 49 various human ailments have been enumerated during this survey. A total of 121 plants belonging to 65 families were found to be used as a component for 193 formulations. Graphical representation of the frequency of citation, especially survey and reference data shown significant correlation indicating common and specific use of plants in the treatment of different diseases. The scientific research on medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners and the application of ethnobotanical products in the folklore healthcare system significantly help in the sustainable development of traditional healthcare practices of the region. For the research fraternity, the quantitative analysis of survey data is gaining wider acceptability due to relative importance

The efficacy of antibiotics to control colibacillosis in broiler poultry: a systematic review

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics to prevent or control colibacillosis in broilers. Studies found eligible were conducted controlled trials in broilers that evaluated an antibiotic intervention, with at least one of the following outcomes: mortality, feed conversion ratio (FCR), condemnations at slaughter, or total antibiotic use. Four electronic databases plus the gray literature were searched. Abstracts were screened for eligibility and data were extracted from eligible trials. Risk of bias was evaluated. Seven trials reported eligible outcomes in a format that allowed data extraction; all reported results for FCR and one also reported mortality. Due to the heterogeneity in the interventions and outcomes evaluated, it was not feasible to conduct meta-analysis. Qualitatively, for FCR, comparisons between an antibiotic and an alternative product did not show a significant benefit for either. Some of the comparisons between an antibiotic and a no-treatment placebo showed a numerical benefit to antibiotics, but with wide confidence intervals. The risk-of-bias assessment revealed concerns with reporting of key trial features. The results of this review do not provide compelling evidence for or against the efficacy of antibiotics for the control of colibacillosis.This article is published as Sargeant, Jan M., Michele D. Bergevin, Katheryn Churchill, Kaitlyn Dawkins, Bhumika Deb, Jennifer Dunn, Catherine M. Logue, Anastasia Novy, Annette M. O'Connor, Mark Reist, and Charlotte B. Winder. "The efficacy of antibiotics to control colibacillosis in broiler poultry: a systematic review." Animal Health Research Reviews 20, no. 2 (2019): 263-273. DOI: 10.1017/S1466252319000264. Posted with permission.</p

A systematic review of the efficacy of antibiotics for the prevention of swine respiratory disease

Prevention and control of respiratory disease is a major contributor to antibiotic use in swine. A systematic review was conducted to address the question, ‘What is the comparative efficacy of antimicrobials for the prevention of swine respiratory disease?’ Eligible studies were controlled trials published in English evaluating prophylactic antibiotics in swine, where clinical morbidity, mortality, or total antibiotic use was assessed. Four databases and the gray literature were searched for relevant articles. Two reviewers working independently screened titles and abstracts for eligibility followed by full-text articles, and then extracted data and evaluated risk of bias for eligible trials. There were 44 eligible trials from 36 publications. Clinical morbidity was evaluated in eight trials where antibiotics were used in nursery pigs and 10 trials where antibiotics were used in grower pigs. Mortality was measured in 22 trials in nursery pigs and 12 trials in grower pigs. There was heterogeneity in the antibiotic interventions and comparisons published in the literature; thus, there was insufficient evidence to allow quantification of the efficacy, or relative efficacy, of antibiotic interventions. Concerns related to statistical non-independence and quality of reporting were noted in the included trials

Efficacy of bacterial vaccines to prevent respiratory disease in swine: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

A systematic review and network meta-analysis (MA) was conducted to address the question, ‘What is the efficacy of bacterial vaccines to prevent respiratory disease in swine?’ Four electronic databases and the grey literature were searched to identify clinical trials in healthy swine where at least one intervention arm was a commercially available vaccine for one or more bacterial pathogens associated with respiratory disease in swine, including Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia, Actinobacillus suis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Pasteurella multocida, Stretococcus suis, Haemophils parasuis, and Mycoplasma hyorhinis. To be eligible, trials had to measure at least one of the following outcomes: incidence of clinical morbidity, mortality, lung lesions, or total antibiotic use. There were 179 eligible trials identified in 146 publications. Network MA was undertaken for morbidity, mortality, and the presence or absence of non-specific lung lesions. However, there was not a sufficient body of research evaluating the same interventions and outcomes to allow a meaningful synthesis of the comparative efficacy of the vaccines. To build this body of research, additional rigor in trial design and analysis, and detailed reporting of trial methods and results are warranted.This article is published as Sargeant, Jan M., Dapeng Hu, Annette M. O’Connor, Chong Wang et al. "Efficacy of bacterial vaccines to prevent respiratory disease in swine: a systematic review and network meta-analysis." Animal Health Research Reviews 20, no. 2 (2019): 274-290. DOI: 10.1017/S1466252319000173. Posted with permission.</p

A systematic review of the efficacy of antibiotics for the prevention of swine respiratory disease

Prevention and control of respiratory disease is a major contributor to antibiotic use in swine. A systematic review was conducted to address the question, ‘What is the comparative efficacy of antimicrobials for the prevention of swine respiratory disease?’ Eligible studies were controlled trials published in English evaluating prophylactic antibiotics in swine, where clinical morbidity, mortality, or total antibiotic use was assessed. Four databases and the gray literature were searched for relevant articles. Two reviewers working independently screened titles and abstracts for eligibility followed by full-text articles, and then extracted data and evaluated risk of bias for eligible trials. There were 44 eligible trials from 36 publications. Clinical morbidity was evaluated in eight trials where antibiotics were used in nursery pigs and 10 trials where antibiotics were used in grower pigs. Mortality was measured in 22 trials in nursery pigs and 12 trials in grower pigs. There was heterogeneity in the antibiotic interventions and comparisons published in the literature; thus, there was insufficient evidence to allow quantification of the efficacy, or relative efficacy, of antibiotic interventions. Concerns related to statistical non-independence and quality of reporting were noted in the included trials.This article is published as Sargeant, Jan M., Dapeng Hu, Annette M. O’Connor, Chong Wang et al. "A systematic review of the efficacy of antibiotics for the prevention of swine respiratory disease." Animal Health Research Reviews 20, no. 2 (2019): 291-304. DOI: 10.1017/S1466252319000185. Posted with permission.</p

The efficacy of litter management strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality in broiler chickens: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted to address the question, ‘What is the efficacy of litter management strategies to reduce morbidity, mortality, condemnation at slaughter, or total antibiotic use in broilers?’ Eligible studies were clinical trials published in English evaluating the efficacy of litter management in broilers on morbidity, condemnations at slaughter, mortality, or total antibiotic use. Multiple databases and two conference proceedings were searched for relevant literature. After relevance screening and data extraction, there were 50 trials evaluating litter type, 22 trials evaluating litter additives, 10 trials comparing fresh to re-used litter, and six trials evaluating floor type. NMAs were conducted for mortality (61 trials) and for the presence or absence of footpad lesions (15 trials). There were no differences in mortality among the litter types, floor types, or additives. For footpad lesions, peat moss appeared beneficial compared to straw, based on a small number of comparisons. In a pairwise meta-analysis, there was no association between fresh versus used litter on the risk of mortality, although there was considerable heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 66%). There was poor reporting of key design features in many studies, and analyses rarely accounted for non-independence of observations within flocks.This article is published as Sargeant, Jan M., Dapeng Hu, Annette M. O’Connor, Chong Wang et al. "The efficacy of litter management strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality in broiler chickens: a systematic review and network meta-analysis." Animal Health Research Reviews 20, no. 2 (2019): 247-262. DOI:10.1017/S1466252319000227. Posted with permission.</p