No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Tech.(Somatology)) - Central University of Technology, Free state, 2013 / The role of the modern woman has drastically altered within the last 20 years. Aiming to find a balance and adequate time to address both family and work demands requires fine planning and compromise, most likely leading to a woman who is overstressed, fatigued, impatient and anxious. A fatigued body, induced by stress overload, may result in an elevation in blood pressure, pulse rate and breathing rate. These physiological alterations may predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease and a compromised immune system. Currently, the dynamics between physiological changes within the body and the influence of aromatherapy essential oils are not well defined or researched. Limited information is available to explain the influence of aromatherapy essential oils as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on female physiological parameters, specifically blood pressure, pulse rate and breathing rate. The aim of the research study firstly was to evaluate the physiological alterations in the female human body in response to aromatherapy Ylang ylang essential oil, and secondly, to determine the perceptions regarding the physiological and psychological abilities of the participants upon completion of the treatment course. The outcome of this study will contribute to the scientific knowledge of aromatherapy essential oils as a CAM therapy. A single blind, experimental case-control study design was followed. This research study recruited 36 voluntary female participants from the Bloemfontein area between the ages of 20 and 45 years. The 36 participants were divided equally into group A and B. Group A commenced with the face control (carrier oil only), followed by three face experimental treatments (Ylang ylang essential oil blend). Thereafter, the back control was conducted, followed by three back experimental treatments. Similarly, group B commenced with three back experimental treatments, followed by the back control. The three face experimental treatments followed and concluded with the face control. Demographic and post-treatment questionnaires were utilised to ascertain demographic data and any perceptive physiological and psychological changes. The blood pressure, pulse rate and breathing rate physiological parameters were measured by utilizing the Nihon Kodhen apparatus. Physical stress indicators such as elevated pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and breathing rate increased during stress were reduced at a quicker rate in aromatherapy treatments where Ylang ylang essential oil was present. Dermal application of Ylang ylang essential oil produced more prominent improvements when applied to the back area, indicating that a larger absorption surface provides superior improvements in the physical parameters. Most participants perceived an improvement in stress levels, concentration levels, energy levels and self esteem levels. In general, it seems probable that Ylang ylang essential oil had a positive effect on stress and had a reductive effect on some of the physiological parameters. The topic of complementary and alternative therapies is a diverse one. Various opinions, whether justifiable or not, are possibly influencing the public domain which has become directed at CAM therapies as alternatives to conventional medicine. The most evident and probable shortcoming in CAM therapy research lies in the lack of scientific research and evidence. Thus, more research is required in order to contribute to this field of study by adding knowledge and provide a better understanding of the topic. This study has contributed to the knowledge of CAM therapies.

BACKGROUND:Available measures of patient-reported outcomes for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) inadequately capture the range of patient-reported treatment effects. The Self-Assessment of Change questionnaire was developed to measure multi-dimensional shifts in well-being for CAM users. With content derived from patient narratives, items were subsequently focused through interviews on a new cohort of participants. Here we present the development of the final version in which the content and format is refined through cognitive interviews.METHODS:We conducted cognitive interviews across five iterations of questionnaire refinement with a culturally diverse sample of 28 CAM users. In each iteration, participant critiques were used to revise the questionnaire, which was then re-tested in subsequent rounds of cognitive interviews. Following all five iterations, transcripts of cognitive interviews were systematically coded and analyzed to examine participants' understanding of the format and content of the final questionnaire. Based on this data, we established summary descriptions and selected exemplar quotations for each word pair on the final questionnaire.RESULTS:The final version of the Self-Assessment of Change questionnaire (SAC) includes 16 word pairs, nine of which remained unchanged from the original draft. Participants consistently said that these stable word pairs represented opposite ends of the same domain of experience and the meanings of these terms were stable across the participant pool. Five pairs underwent revision and two word pairs were added. Four word pairs were eliminated for redundancy or because participants did not agree on the meaning of the terms. Cognitive interviews indicate that participants understood the format of the questionnaire and considered each word pair to represent opposite poles of a shared domain of experience.CONCLUSIONS:We have placed lay language and direct experience at the center of questionnaire revision and refinement. In so doing, we provide an innovative model for the development of truly patient-centered outcome measures. Although this instrument was designed and tested in a CAM-specific population, it may be useful in assessing multi-dimensional shifts in well-being across a broader patient population.

This study investigates the promise of using therapeutic adventure as an alternative therapeutic approach to address a public health issue: Veterans reticence towards seeking mental health assistance, despite their rising rates of mental health issues. To examine how the intersection between conformity to traditional masculine norms and Outward Bound for Veterans (OB4V) programming impacted psychosocial development, a quasi-experimental, longitudinal design was implemented on 159 male Veterans. The primary goals were twofold: 1) to determine whether improvement in six therapeutic outcome variables occurred due to the OB4V intervention; 2) to discover whether male Veterans’ level of conformity to traditional masculine norms influenced change in the therapeutic outcome variables. Outcome variables included: 1) mental health status; 2) personal growth initiative; 3) attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help; 4) psychological mindedness; 5) restriction of emotions; 6) subjective wellbeing. Results indicated a significant effect of treatment, suggesting that the OB4V treatment promoted Veterans improvement in all the therapeutic outcome variables, except psychological mindedness. Findings also showed that the significant effect of treatment was associated with Veterans’ improvement in therapeutic outcome variables over all time points irrespective of their level of conformity to traditional masculine norms. / text

Les objectifs de ce travail étaient d’évaluer la prévalence vie entière des traitements à visée psychotrope et les caractéristiques associées à cet usage dont l’adéquation avec l’existence de troubles psychiatriques. Les travaux ont été réalisés à partir des données issues de l’enquête Santé Mentale en Population Générale sur un échantillon de 36 785 adultes représentatifs de la population générale française. Un tiers des sujets a rapporté avoir fait usage d’au moins un traitement psychotrope au cours de la vie. L’inadéquation diagnostic-traitement est retrouvée dans le sens « usage en l’absence de trouble psychiatrique » aussi bien que dans le sens « absence d’usage en présence de trouble identifié ». Ainsi, seul un tiers des sujets avec un diagnostic de trouble dépressif récurrent a fait usage d’un traitement antidépresseur ou thymorégulateur. Concernant l’utilisation de traitements alternatifs, seuls 1,3 % des personnes rapportent un usage de traitement homéopathique à visée psychotrope. Ces traitements sont principalement utilisés par des personnes présentant un trouble anxieux en association avec un traitement psychotrope conventionnel. Des études ultérieures documentant l’ensemble des traitements à visée psychotrope utilisé dans le traitement des symptômes psychiques permettraient d’affiner les résultats sur l’adéquation diagnostic-traitement et d’estimer le nombre de sujets évitant le recours aux traitements conventionnels par l’utilisation d’alternatives thérapeutiques. / The aims of this work were to assess the lifetime prevalence of psychotropic drug use and the characteristics associated with use, particularly the congruence with psychiatric diagnoses. The studies were performed using the database from the survey Mental Health in the General Population including 36 785 persons representative of the French general population. One out of three subjects reported a lifetime use of psychotropic treatment. The non-congruence between diagnosis and psychotropic drug was observed in the pattern “use without psychiatric disorders” as well as in the pattern “no use with psychiatric disorders”. So, only one out of three persons with recurrent major depressive disorder reported having used an antidepressant or a mood stabilizer. Regarding complementary and alternative medicine use, only 1,3% of persons reported use of homeopathic treatment for psychiatric symptoms. These treatments were mainly used by persons with anxiety symptoms in association with conventional psychotropic drugs. Further studies assessing the all the treatments used for psychiatric symptoms would allow to refine the results on the congruence between diagnosis and psychotropic drug and to estimate the number of persons avoiding use of conventional psychotropic drugs by using complementary and alternative medicine.

Contexte. Les produits de santé naturels (PSN) suscitent de plus en plus d’intérêt au sein de la population. Les professionnels de la santé, dont les nutritionnistes, doivent être à l’affût de cette tendance afin de conseiller les utilisateurs et de limiter les risques liés à leur utilisation. Objectif. Explorer l’expérience, les perceptions et les besoins de formation des nutritionnistes du Québec à l’égard des PSN. Méthodes. Un sondage électronique a été envoyé à tous les membres de l’Ordre professionnel des diététistes du Québec via Fluid Survey. Les questions visaient à identifier les expériences, les attitudes à l’égard des PSN et de leur clientèle qui en consomme, les sources d’informations utilisées dans leurs consultations et d’identifier les besoins de formations en relation avec les PSN. Résultats. Au total, 295 nutritionnistes ont complété le questionnaire. Parmi ceux-ci, 93 % ont déjà reçu des questions portant sur les PSN. Environ 91 % ont déclaré consommer ou avoir déjà consommé un PSN et, au moins 94 % ont affirmé avoir recommandé un PSN. Aussi, 95 % de l’échantillon désiraient davantage d’informations sur les PSN. Enfin, ils ont une perception positive quant à leur rôle dans ce dossier, puisque 77 % de l’échantillon ont indiqué que le nutritionniste devrait être une source d’informations sur les PSN. Conclusion. Les grands constats de notre étude révèlent que le rôle des nutritionnistes du Québec en relation avec les PSN n’est pas clairement défini. Ils ont besoin de formation sur les PSN afin d’être outillés pour conseiller la population et, ainsi, leur ouvrir un nouveau champ d’expertise. / Background. Natural Health Products (NHPs) are becoming an increasing interest within the population. Health professionals, including nutritionists, must keep up to date with this trend in order to properly advise users and limit the risks associated with their use. Objective. Explore Quebec’s nutritionist’s experiences, perceptions and their training needs about NHPs. Methods. An electronic survey was administered to members of the Professional Order of Dietitians of Quebec through Fluid Survey. The 21 questions were designed to identify personal experiences, attitudes towards NHPs and towards their clientele that consume them, identify which sources of information they rely on and their training needs. Results. A total of 295 nutritionists completed the questionnaire. Among these, 93 % have already received questions on NHPs. Approximately 91 % of nutritionists admitted using or having used NHPs and at least 94 % said they recommended them. Also, 95 % of the sample would like to receive more information on NHPs. Finally, they have a positive perception as to their role regarding this subject, since 77 % indicated that the nutritionist should be a reliable source of information for NHPs. Conclusion. The major findings of our study are that Quebec’s nutritionists’ roles related to NHPs are not clearly defined. They need training on NHPs in order to be able to advise the population and, thus, form a new field of expertise for nutritionists.

Diploma thesis "Alternative medicine in the specialized media and reflections of these phenomena in the selected mainstream press media" is researching specialized magazines with content oriented on alternative medicine emerging in the 90's of the previous century and in one case in the beginning of the 21st century. Thesis specifically examinates magazines - social magazine Reflex (on account of alternative medicine materials in the 1990 and 1991), Regena ( 1990 and 1991), Regenerace (1993 and 1994) and Meduňka (2004). In their first years magazines are described from historical and content perspective and in the same time they are contrasted with the topical volume of their predecessors (except of Reflex magazine). Another part of thesis is dedicated to observing two important czech daily papers - Mladá fronta / Mladá fronta Dnes and Lidové noviny (at the same observed periods). All five volumes of both periodicals contained numerous references which proves attractivity of these themes for society as a whole. While the analysis of specialized magazines was dealing with form by which are people interested in alternative medicine, reading of Mladá fronta / Mladá fronta Dnes and Lidové noviny evaluated general attitude of media to reader mostly uninitiated to these matters.

Les progrès réalisés en immunologie ont orienté les recherches vers des approches et des stratégies de plus en plus prometteuses et innovantes afin de mieux manipuler la réponse immunitaire. Le but de nos recherches est la prévention et le traitement des maladies liées aux dysfonctionnements du système immunitaire, telles que les maladies auto-immunes, inflammatoires et malignes. Bien que l’inflammation constitue un processus physiologique indispensable au maintien de l’homéostasie suite à une infection ou à une lésion, elle est également associée à des pathologies infectieuses, auto-immunes et tumorales. Les stratégies thérapeutiques les plus utilisées pour traiter l’inflammation sont basées sur la neutralisation des médiateurs inflammatoires par des anticorps, des antagonistes moléculaires, des immunoglobulines intraveineuses, des corticostéroïdes, des médicaments anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens. En plus des traitements mentionnés, des produits issus de la phytothérapie ont été largement utilisés afin d’atténuer l'inflammation et la douleur dans plusieurs maladies inflammatoires et dans le cancer. Depuis des décennies, les préparations de Viscum album, connu sous le nom de « gui européen », sont largement utilisées dans le traitement du cancer comme thérapie auxiliaire. Bien que les mécanismes d’action soient partiellement connus, plusieurs hypothèses ont été proposées. En effet, les mécanismes anti-tumoraux du Viscum album impliquent des propriétés induisant une cytotoxicité, l'apoptose, l'inhibition de l'angiogenèse et plusieurs autres mécanismes immunomodulateurs. Ce travail décrit un nouveau mécanisme anti-inflammatoire de Viscum album, qui participe à l’effet thérapeutique de ces préparations. De plus, l’effet bénéfique anti-inflammatoire observé est associé à l’inhibition des voies pro- inflammatoires de COX2 et PGE2 dans les cellules épithéliales issues d’adénocarcinome du poumon. Ce travail a identifié un des mécanismes moléculaires de Viscum album associé à son effet anti-inflammatoire participant à ses bénéfices thérapeutiques. Ainsi, ces préparations pourraient être utilisées en combinaison avec d’autres traitements dans des maladies inflammatoires et dans le cancer. / Recent advances in immunology research have led us towards more promising approaches and strategies to manipulate the immune response to prevent or treat the diseases related to immune dysfunction such as autoimmune, inflammatory pathologies and malignant diseases. Although, immuno inflammation is a basal physiological phenomenon required to eliminate the causative agent and to initiate the healing process, it is a physiopathological symptom in a diverse conditions of infectious, autoimmune and tumoral origin. Various therapeutic strategies have been developed in order to reduce inflammation and pain, including the treatment with cytokine neutralizing antibodies, molecular antagonists, intravenous immunoglobulins, corticosteroids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and several others. In addition to these well known anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies, treatment with various phytotherapeutics has also contributed enormously to control inflammation and pain, associated with various severe inflammatory disorders and cancer. Viscum album (VA) preparations, commonly known as European mistletoe, are extensively used as complementary therapy in cancer for decades. However the mechanisms of action have been partially understood. Several mutually non-exclusive mechanisms have been proposed such as anti-tumor properties which involve the cytotoxic properties, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis and several other immunomodulatory mechanisms. This study reveals anti-inflammatory mechanism as another important mechanism of action of these phytotherapeutics, which is responsible for their therapeutic benefit and addresses the molecular mechanisms in the pro-inflammatory axis of COX-2 and PGE2 using in vitro experimental model of human lung adenocarcinoma. The present work contributes for a better understanding of mechanisms of action of Viscum album preparations underlying their therapeutic benefit and allows us to revitalize the therapeutic strategies used in treatment of inflammatory disorders and cancer.