Limitation in tidal volume expansion partially determines the intensity of physical activity in COPD [letter to the editor]

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Letter to the editor : Alternative methods for measuring thoracic stiffness in COPD

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Immediate effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [letter to the editor]

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Safety of thrust joint manipulation in the thoracic spine : a systematic review [letter to the editor]

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Short-term effects of a course of manual therapy and exercise in people with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : a preliminary clinical trial

Objective: The purpose of this preliminary study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a study that measures the short-term effects of a course of manual therapy (MT) and exercise (Ex) in people with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Fifteen participants (9 males; mean age, 56.1 years), with moderate COPD (mean % predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1% predicted], 61.8%), were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups: soft tissue therapy only (ST); ST and spinal manipulation (SM); or ST, SM, and Ex. The intervention continued for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), chronic respiratory questionnaire (CRQ-SAS) scores, distance walked in a 6-minute walking test, and monitoring for adverse events. Results: There was an increase in FVC for the SM + ST + Ex group compared with ST only and ST + SM (1.01 and 1.00 L, respectively). Distance walked increased in the ST + SM and ST + SM + Ex groups compared with ST only (120.0 and 168.0 m, respectively). Dyspnea levels decreased in the ST + SM and ST + SM + Ex groups compared with ST only (0.64 and 0.44, respectively). There were no major or moderate adverse events reported following ST or SM interventions. Conclusions: For this small group of patients, combining MT with Ex produced short improvements in FVC, distance walked, and dyspnea levels, with no major or moderate adverse events. This preliminary study showed that a larger study evaluating the clinical outcomes of MT for people with moderate COPD appears feasible.7 page(s

Antimicrobial activity of customary medicinal plants of the Yaegl Aboriginal community of northern New South Wales, Australia : a preliminary study

BACKGROUND: This study is a collaboration between Macquarie University researchers and the Yaegl Aboriginal Community of northern NSW, Australia to investigate the antimicrobial potential of plants used in the topical treatment of wounds, sores and skin infections. Based on previously documented medicinal applications, aqueous and aqueous ethanolic extracts of Alocasia brisbanensis, Canavalia rosea, Corymbia intermedia, Hibbertia scandens, Ipomoea brasiliensis, Lophostemon suaveolens and Syncarpia glomulifera and the aqueous extracts of Smilax australis and Smilax glyciphylla were tested against common wound pathogens, including antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. METHODS: Plant material was prepared as aqueous extractions modelled on customary preparations and using 80% aqueous ethanol. Extracts were assayed against a selection of clinically relevant Gram positive (Streptococcus pyogenes and sensitive and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria and a fungus (Candida albicans) using disc diffusion and MTT microdilution methods. Viability of treated microorganisms was determined by subculturing from microdilution assays. RESULTS: The extracts of Corymbia intermedia, Lophostemon suaveolens and Syncarpia glomulifera had promising levels of antimicrobial activity (MIC 31-1,000 µg/mL) against both antibiotic sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus as well as the fungus Candida albicans (clinical isolate). CONCLUSION: Aqueous and 80% aqueous ethanolic extracts of Lophostemon suaveolens, Corymbia intermedia and Syncarpia glomulifera exhibited promising levels of antimicrobial activity against a range of both antibiotic sensitive and resistant strains of microorganisms. This is the first report of antimicrobial activities for C. intermedia and L. suaveolens and the leaves of S. glomulifera. This study demonstrates the value of customary knowledge in the identification of new sources of antimicrobial treatments.7 page(s

Detection of Staphylococcus aureus with a fluorescence in situ hybridization that does not require lysostaphin

To detect with whole-cell fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Staphylococcus aureus is typically permeabilized with lyozyme and lysostaphin. We tested whether it was feasible to detect S. aureus and differentiate it from Staphylococcus epidermidis with lysozyme-only permeabilization. We compared lysozyme permeabilizationto S. aureus permeabilized with lysozyme in combination with lysostaphin. It was determined that S. aureus treated with agarose, methanol, and lysozyme could be detected with FISH. The 1hr protocol is a useful alternative to conventional FISH.6 page(s

An Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of Chungtia village, Nagaland, India

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional medicinal plant knowledge is an integral and very important part of Indigenous cultures worldwide. For many communities there is a great urgency in recording this knowledge in written form. This is the first ethnobotanical report of medicinal plant knowledge of the Nagaland Ao tribe of Chungtia village and is an important step in the preservation of this culturally and medicinally significant knowledge. Aim of the study: The aim of the presented work was to perform an ethnobotanical study on plants of medicinal and other significance to the Chungtia villagers of Nagaland, North East India. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected from traditional practitioners and Elders of Chungtia village by means of open group discussions and semi-structured interviews of groups and individuals using questionnaires. The interviews were also recorded in an audio format in the local Mongsen language. The gathered ethnobotanical knowledge was compared with reported ethnobotanical usages worldwide and reported biological properties and phytochemical studies relevant to the Chungtia villagers' applications. Results: A total of 135 plant species of 69 families and 123 genera were recorded for medicinal and household maintenance applications. Those applications were grouped into 13 categories based on Chungtia villagers' classification system. The families most represented were Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae. The most reported uses were for gastrointestinal problems, followed by dermatological problems. The most commonly used plant parts were leaves, followed by fruits and stems and they were most commonly administered as a paste, decoction, infusion, juice or poultice, or taken orally with no preparation. There was strong agreement among the informants as to the usages of the plants (informant consensus factor 0.80–0.91). The use value of 6 for Cassia floribunda, Dolichos lablab, Hedyotis scandens, Phyllanthus urinaria and Rhus javanica indicated these are the most important species. Forty four of the 135 plants had a fidelity level of 100%. Conclusion: This study has helped to document and preserve in written format important traditional plant knowledge of 135 plants of the Chungtia villagers, assisting them in the continued preservation of their cultural values.13 page(s

Phytochemical profile and antibacterial and antioxidant activities of medicinal plants used by Aboriginal people of New South Wales, Australia

Aboriginal people of Australia possess a rich knowledge on the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of sores, wounds, and skin infections, ailments which impose a high global disease burden and require effective treatments. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities and phytochemical contents of extracts, obtained from eight medicinal plants used by Aboriginal people of New South Wales, Australia, for the treatment of skin related ailments, were assessed to add value to and provide an evidence-base for their traditional uses. Extracts of Acacia implexa, Acacia falcata, Cassytha glabella, Eucalyptus haemastoma, Smilax glyciphylla, Sterculia quadrifida, and Syncarpia glomulifera were evaluated. All extracts except that of S. quadrifida showed activity against sensitive and multidrug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 7.81 to 1000 μg/mL. The sap of E. haemastoma and bark of A. implexa possessed high total phenolic contents (TPC) and strong DPPH radical scavenging abilities. A positive correlation was observed between TPC and free radical scavenging ability. GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane extract of S. glomulifera identified known antimicrobial compounds. Together, these results support the traditional uses of the examined plants for the treatment of skin related ailments and infections by Aboriginal people of New South Wales, Australia.14 page(s

Phytochemical Profile and Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Medicinal Plants Used by Aboriginal People of New South Wales, Australia

Aboriginal people of Australia possess a rich knowledge on the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of sores, wounds, and skin infections, ailments which impose a high global disease burden and require effective treatments. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities and phytochemical contents of extracts, obtained from eight medicinal plants used by Aboriginal people of New South Wales, Australia, for the treatment of skin related ailments, were assessed to add value to and provide an evidence-base for their traditional uses. Extracts of Acacia implexa, Acacia falcata, Cassytha glabella, Eucalyptus haemastoma, Smilax glyciphylla, Sterculia quadrifida, and Syncarpia glomulifera were evaluated. All extracts except that of S. quadrifida showed activity against sensitive and multidrug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 7.81 to 1000 g/mL. The sap of E. haemastoma and bark of A. implexa possessed high total phenolic contents (TPC) and strong DPPH radical scavenging abilities. A positive correlation was observed between TPC and free radical scavenging ability. GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane extract of S. glomulifera identified known antimicrobial compounds. Together, these results support the traditional uses of the examined plants for the treatment of skin related ailments and infections by Aboriginal people of New South Wales, Australia