Alternate healing and medicine : the roles of naturopathy, homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic and medical practice in the health system

This thesis is concerned with understanding the roles of four alternate healing systems and medical practice in the community's health behaviour. The four alternate systems are naturopathy, homoeopathy, osteopathy and chiropractic. The research reported developed from work supported by the Committee of Inquiry into Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Homoeopathy and Naturopathy conducted under the chairmanship of Professor E. C. Webb set up by the Australian Government in 1975. The study concentrates on the factors which influence individual clients in their decisions to consult healers for treatment. An underlying assumption is that an analysis of the processes that effect such decisions will lead to further knowledge of the community's attitudes towards the functions of alternate healing and medicine. A review of the historical backgrounds and current status of the four alternate healing systems leads to the conclusion that they differ in a variety of areas. These areas include treatment modalities, historical backgrounds, occupational development and rapprochement with medicine. Homoeopathy, osteopathy and chiropractic emerged as distinct approaches to healing late in the nineteenth century. Naturopathy tends to be a philosophy or style of life as much as a health system in its own right. Their relationships with medicine also vary; osteopathy and naturopathy receive some acceptance, some homoeopaths are tolerated, whilst chiropractic is ostracised and vilified. A common paradigm of treatment underlies all four alternate approaches to healing. They all eschew the use of synthetic pharmaceuticals and invasive treatments and accept an indigenous theory of disease and a belief in the vis medicatrix naturae or the healing power of nature. An inevitable concomitant of this paradigm is that they believe that healing and health must be self-engendered. They rest within the client and his or her actions, not within the hands, skills or power of the healer. It is these characteristics combined with the alternate healers ' claims to espouse a similar scientific rationale for their approaches, and their functioning as parallel healers to medicine, that establishes their special relationship with medicine. This relationship become s more problematic in the face of medicine's hegemony and claim to unique legitimacy as the community's sole healing system. The interaction between these systems and medical practice can be gauged through articles related to the four alternate healing systems that have appeared in the medical literature. Interest has been cyclical but appears to have markedly increased in the past two decades. In this period it has included exploratory and descriptive writing; concern with controlling and/or eradicating the healers; desire to protect an ignorant and vulnerable public and. finally understanding and exploration of what the alternate healers might have to offer. At the same time, the public or institutionalized role has been one of denial and suppression through ostracism and legal constraints. In spite of medicine's position the alternate healing systems have found growing community acceptance so that it is problematical and probably unacceptable now to consider their use as a 'deviant ' health action. Increasing interest in the characteristics of clients has provided a consensus that they are similar to the adult population and are more likely to suffer from musculoskeletal and chronic illnesses. They are no more likely to be neurotic or gullible than the general community, but probably more practical and more oriented towards an active involvement in the healing process. The impact of these issues is explored, through comparing the strategies taken into account when choosing a treatment. These include attending one of the alternate healers exclusively for a condition; attending an alternate healer and a medical practitioner for the same problem; attending a medical practitioner solely or not consulting any healer. Respondents from surveys of alternate healer clients and the general community were classified according to their use of these four strategies, and the influences on their decisions at different stages of the treatment decision making process were compared.

Hypertrophic osteopathy associated with renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma in a dog

A 6-year-old male, Belgian shepherd dog was presented with lethargy, oliguria, hematuria, and reluctance to move. The dog developed hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma. A nephrectomy was performed and after a year, the dog was completely asymptomatic, and no evidence of metastatic disease was present.

Undifferentiated pulmonary adenocarcinoma of clear cells associated to hypertrophic osteopathy in a dog

Background: Most of the primary pulmonary tumors in dogs are malignant and from epithelial origin, being bronchioalveolar tumors more prevalent. Adenocarcinoma of clear cells, however, is a very rare pulmonary tumor and its origin is still unknown. It is related to several clinical abnormalities, including hypertrophic osteopathy, an unusual paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by a periosteal reaction along the shaft of long bones. Because of the unusual presentation of the pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the aim of this study was to describe the radiographic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical fi ndings of a dog affl icted with hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to an undifferentiated pulmonary adenocarcinoma of clear cells. Case: A 12-year-old, 45 kg, not castrated male Great Dane dog was presented with painful swelling of all four limbs and moderate respiratory distress. Radiographic examination and computed tomography of the limbs showed palisade-like periosteal bone proliferation involving radius, ulna, femur, patella, tibia, fi bula, tarsus, metacarpal, metatarsal and digits, suggesting hypertrophic osteopathy. Radiographic examination and computed tomography of the lungs also showed a round mass well delimited localized in the right diaphragmatic lobe. A lobectomy of the right diaphragmatic lobe and partial lobectomy of accessory lobe were performed. A poorly differentiated clear squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by histological examination. An immune-panel of CK5/CK6, CK7, p63 and TTF-1 was used for immunophenotyping. Immunostaining was weakly positive for CK5/CK6 and negative to all others. Therefore, the diagnosis was poorly differentiated clear cell adenocarcinoma. The dog showed improvement in clinical signs seven days after surgery. One month postoperatively, radiographic examination of the limbs showed less intense periosteal reaction and initiation of bone remodeling. Discussion: Primary pulmonary tumors are considered very infrequent in small animals, but its true incidence rate is dif- fi cult to establish in animal populations. The histological origin of the tumor in the present case, as verifi ed in the literature, is not well established by histological analysis. In these situations, the immunohistochemistry panel may be useful. The modifi cation of the diagnosis between histological analysis and by immunohistochemistry, among other factors, might be due to transdifferentiation from one phenotype to another at various stages in the neoplastic process. The clear cell appearance observed in this case may be verifi ed in all types of carcinoma due to intracellular accumulation of glycogen, most of which is dissolved during the preparation of paraffi n sections. This uncommon neoplasm apparently did not infl uence the radiographic or tomographic fi ndings of the hypertrophic osteopathy in the present case. The frequency of metastases depends on the histological type of the tumor, being common in the pulmonary adenocarcinoma and usually to tracheobronchial lymph nodes and pulmonary parenchyma. Although in this case the imaging studies did not show metastases to other pulmonary lobes, the histological exams showed metastatic lesions that may be associated to the dog’s death after the surgery.

Medical school inquiry. Staff report to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, 85th Cong. 1st sess. containing background information relating to schools of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy and public health.

Mode of access: Internet.

Professional education : Medicine including osteopathy and physiotherapy.

Mode of access: Internet.

The osteopathic physician and surgeon; osteopathy as a career.

Published in 1946 under title: Osteopathy as a career.

Learning environment, preparedness and satisfaction in osteopathy in Europe: The PreSS study

Objective: 1) to assess the preparedness to practice and satisfaction in learning environment amongst new graduates from European osteopathic institutions; 2) to compare the results of preparedness to practice and satisfaction in learning environment between and within countries where osteopathy is regulated and where regulation is still to be achieved; 3) to identify possible correlations between learning environment and preparedness to practice. Method: Osteopathic education providers of full-time education located in Europe were enrolled, and their final year students were contacted to complete a survey. Measures used were: Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and a demographic questionnaire. Scores were compared across institutions using one-way ANOVA and generalised linear model. Results: Nine European osteopathic education institutions participated in the study (4 located in Italy, 2 in the UK, 1 in France, 1 in Belgium and 1 in the Netherlands) and 243 (77%) of their final-year students completed the survey. The DREEM total score mean was 121.4 (SEM: 1.66) whilst the AAMC was 17.58 (SEM:0.35). A generalised linear model found a significant association between not-regulated countries and total score as well as subscales DREEM scores (p<0.001). Learning environment and preparedness to practice were significantly positively correlated (r=0.76; p<0.01). Discussion: A perceived higher level of preparedness and satisfaction was found amongst students from osteopathic institutions located in countries without regulation compared to those located in countries where osteopathy is regulated; however, all institutions obtained a 'more positive than negative' result. Moreover, in general, cohorts with fewer than 20 students scored significantly higher compared to larger student cohorts. Finally, an overall positive correlation between students' preparedness and satisfaction were found across all institutions recruited.

Alterações da expressão da proteína PHEX na Hanseníase

A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa causada pelo Mycobacteruim leprae, um bacilo intracelular obrigatório, que prolifera principalmente na pele e nos nervos periféricos no interior de células como macrófagos e células de Schwann. A transmissão ocorre por meio das mucosas das vias respiratórias, provavelmente por aerossóis expelidos por indivíduos infectados. O homem é o seu hospedeiro natural sendo a multiplicação do bacilo muito lenta, com um período de geração estimado de 14 dias. Apesar da mínima variação no genoma do M. leprae, a doença é caracterizada por um espectro de formas clínicas bem definido, decorrente da capacidade de resposta imune do hospedeiro. Em pacientes classificados como multibacilares (MB) a doença é disseminada, com inúmeras lesões de pele e proliferação bacilar considerável. Nesses indivíduos ocorre hiporresponsividade celular ao M. leprae. Nas formas paucibacilares (PB), os pacientes apresentam uma ou poucas lesões, a carga bacilar é pequena e, às vezes não observada por meio da baciloscopia tradicional e ocorre resposta imune patógeno-específica. As incapacidades físicas nos pacientes decorrem da neuropatia e osteopatia e podem ser irreversíveis. Essas deformidades podem avançar mesmo após a diminuição da carga bacilar com o final do tratamento poliquimioterápico. A presente tese teve por objetivo estudar as implicações da proteína PHEX nas alterações fisiopatológicas da hanseníase, em especial as alterações ósseas. A proteína PHEX (Phosphate-regulating gene with Homologies to Endopeptidase on the X chromosome) é expressa em várias células humanas e, no primeiro artigo que compõe essa tese, demonstramos que o M.leprae leva à diminuição da expressão de PHEX em linhagens de células de Schwann e osteoblastos humanos. Este efeito foi igualmente causado por outras espécies de micobactérias. No segundo manuscrito ora submetido, observamos que em leucócitos sanguíneos de pacientes hansenianos também ocorreu modulação negativa de PHEX. Este efeito não se relacionou com a capacidade de produção de citocinas inflamatórias frente ao M. leprae in vitro ou com alterações bioquímicas. O efeito inibidor da mineralização ocasionado pela modulação negativa de PHEX talvez contribua para a doença óssea da hanseníase, auxiliando a explicar a capacidade do M. leprae de penetrar e sobreviver no osso.

Fasciathérapie et identité professionnelle

Tese apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Ciências Sociais, especialidade em Psicologia

A systematic review investigating the effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for the management of low back and/or pelvic pain (LBPP) in pregnancy

Aim: To evaluate and summarize the current evidence on the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine for the management of low back pain and/or pelvic pain in pregnancy.

Background: International research demonstrates that 25-30% of women use complementary and alternative medicine to manage low back and pelvic pain in pregnancy without robust evidence demonstrating its effectiveness.

Design: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine for low back and/or pelvic pain in pregnancy.

Data Sources: Cochrane library (1898-2013), PubMed (1996-2013), MEDLINE (1946-2013), AMED (1985-2013), Embase (1974-2013), Cinahl (1937-2013), Index to Thesis (1716-2013) and Ethos (1914-2013).

Review Methods: Selected studies were written in English, randomized controlled trials, a group 1 or 2 therapy and reported pain reduction as an outcome measure. Study quality was reviewed using Risk of Bias and evidence strength the Cochrane Grading of Recommendations and Development Evaluation Tool.

Results: Eight studies were selected for full review. Two acupuncture studies with low risk of bias showed both clinically important changes and statistically significant results. There was evidence of effectiveness for osteopathy and chiropractic. However, osteopathy and chiropractic studies scored high for risk of bias. Strength of the evidence across studies was very low.

Conclusion: There is limited evidence supporting the use of general CAM for managing pregnancy-related low back and/or pelvic pain. However, the restricted availability of high-quality studies, combined with the very low evidence strength, makes it impossible to make evidence-based recommendations for practice.

Programa de preparación física para controlar el desequilibrio muscular lumbo-pelvico como factor de riesgo de la pubalgia en los jugadores de la categoría sub 21 del club deportivo los millonarios

El presente trabajo es el resultado de un exhaustivo proceso investigativo a cerca de los factores de riesgo que predisponen al futbolista de alta competencia a padecer una entidad patológica severamente incapacitante como es la Pubalgia, la cual interfiere en el desempeño del mismo. Inicialmente el trabajo se centra en la revisión y comprensión de los conceptos básicos relacionados con salud, perfil del fisioterapeuta, actividad física, altas demandes cinéticas, anatomía y biomecánica normal de la Pélvis y sus alteraciones, definición de la Pubalgia, los principales factores de riesgo tanto intrínsecos como extrínsecos y el manejo médico y fisioterapéutico de esta entidad patológica.

Avaliação da presença de osteopatia decorremte do diabetes tipo 1 em criança e adolecentes do Rio Grande do Norte

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and osteoposes are chronic diseases with great socioeconomic consequences, mainly due to the late complications and consequent disabilities. The potential effects of DM on bone metabolism remain a very conroversial issue, and disagreement exists with regard to the clinical implications of diabetic osteopenia and the mechanism of its ocurrence. The issue is further complicated by the contribuicion of the especific factors, such as duration of disease an dthe degree of metabolic control. The objective of this study is to identify the osteopathy in children and adolescents with DM 1 assisted in the hospital of pediatrics, UFRN, through biochemical markers of bone and mineral metabolism and the extent of bone mineral density. The study was composed by 74 diabetics type 1 patients (DM1) of both gender and aged 6 to 20 yars. Normoglicêmic group was composed by 97 healthy subjects of both genders, which showed the same age range of DM1, in addition to same socioeconomic class. These individuals qere students from the networks of public education in the city of Natal-RN, randomly invited to paticipate in our study. Both groups DM1 and NG were divided intofour subgroups, according to the classification of tanner , T1, T2, T3, T4 for achieving a benchmark. Diabetic individuals showed up with a poor glycemic control. the group DN1 T4 showed an incresead value for total protein, albumin, urea and microalbumiuria are predictors of grumelura injury in DM1 patients . The total alkaline phosphatase activitywas kept on high levels for both groups because they are in a stature development age. For osteocalcin there were decreased levels for groups Dm1 T1, T2, and T3 when compared to their NG (s), suggesting that this decrease could be associated with reduction in the number and/or differentiation os osteoblasts thereby contributing to reducing bone formation. There were no changes in the activity of TRAP. The serum concentrations of total and ionized calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were included within the RV. It was observed that the BMD (Z- SCORE ) has always been within the RV for both groups, despite to DM1 T4. Taking all together, our results support the hypothesis that children and adolescents with type 1 DM present the risk in the long run to suffer a reduction in the bone mass, associated to poor glicemic control and disease duration. It could limit the bone growth and increase the probality of development of osteopenia, as well as other complications surch as retinopathy and renal failure

Hiperoxalúria primária com insuficiência renal crônica terminal em lactente

Objetivo: descrever caso clínico de um lactente com insuficiência renal crônica terminal, causada por hiperoxalúria primária.Método: após revisão da literatura, verifica-se a raridade da doença; na França, a prevalência é de 1,05/milhão, com taxa de incidência de 0,12/milhão/ano. Pesquisa abordando centros especializados mundiais detectou, em 1999, 78 casos em lactentes; destes, em 14% o quadro inicial foi de uremia. A gravidade e a raridade da doença sugerem o relato deste caso.Resultados: criança de sexo feminino, com quadro de vômitos e baixo ganho de peso desde os primeiros meses de vida, desenvolveu insuficiência renal terminal aos 6 meses de idade, sendo mantida em tratamento dialítico desde então. Aos 8 meses, foi encaminhada para esclarecimento diagnóstico, apresentando déficit pôndero-estatural grave e os seguintes exames laboratoriais: uréia= 69 mg/dl, creatinina=2,2 mg/dl e clearance de creatinina= 12,5 ml/min/1.73m²SC. O exame de urina foi normal, a ultra-sonografia renal revelou tamanho normal e hiperecogenicidade de ambos os rins. A dosagem de oxalato urinário foi de 9,2mg/kg/dia ou 0,55 mmol/1.73m²SC, e a relação oxalato:creatinina, de 0,42. A biópsia renal diagnosticou presença de grande quantidade de depósitos de cristais de oxalato de cálcio no parênquima renal. A radiografia de ossos longos evidenciou sinais sugestivos de osteopatia oxalótica, e a fundoscopia indireta, sinais de retinopatia por oxalato. A criança foi mantida em diálise peritoneal ambulatorial contínua, tendo sido iniciado tratamento com piridoxina.Conclusões: a hiperoxalúria primária deve ser considerada como um dos diagnósticos diferenciais de insuficiência renal crônica em lactentes, especialmente na ausência de história sugestiva de outras patologias.

A influência da deficiência estrogênica no processo de remodelação e reparação óssea

INTRODUÇÃO: Nestes últimos anos, descobriu-se a complexidade dos mecanismos que influenciam a atividade óssea, e grande parte das pesquisas direcionou-se para o estudo de fatores capazes de modular as funções ósseas. Essa expansão da pesquisa deve-se, em parte, ao reconhecimento da osteoporose como importante problema na velhice. A osteoporose constitui uma das osteopatias mais comuns, caracterizando-se pela redução da massa óssea, determinada, por sua vez, pelo desequilíbrio entre reabsorção e neoformação. OBJETIVO: Apresentar uma revisão da literatura sobre os principais aspectos da remodelação e da reparação associados à deficiência estrogênica. Remodelação óssea: O osso apresenta processo contínuo de remodelação, entretanto anormalidades nesse processo ocorrem em algumas doenças, entre elas a osteoporose, sendo que a deficiência estrogênica parece ter o papel principal na sua gênese. Reparação óssea: Tal processo envolve uma cascata complexa de respostas biológicase, assim como a remodelação, é afetado por fatores locais e externos e regulado pela interação de diferentes mecanismos. Portanto, o aumento ou o decréscimo da capacidade de reparação óssea têm sido relacionados a alterações ocorridas na remodelação. Deficiência estrogênica e metabolismo ósseo: A maioria dos autores sugere uma redução na capacidade de remodelação e de reparação do tecido. DISCUSSÃO: Ainda não está determinado qual estágio da reparação é mais alterado, se a fase inicial de formação do calo ósseo, se a de mineralização ou se a fase tardia da reparação, a remodelação óssea. CONCLUSÃO: Como os mecanismos fisiológicos e a patogênese das alterações ósseas causadas pela deficiência estrogênica não estão completamente estabelecidos, novas pesquisas ainda são necessárias.

Osteopatía hipertrófica canina: Relato de caso

A case of a 11 year old Boxer dog with hypertrophic osteopathy is presented. This is an uncommon pathological process characterized by bilaterally symmetric and generalized periosteal proliferative in long bones and falanges.