text:
Mirrored: Friday, 20th of July 2012, 00:21:14 (CEST)
Settings: Loading the mirror...
Original: www.literotica.com Views: 142, 0 today
[1] Free Original Erotic Stories. [2]tag [3]Incest/Taboo[4]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 06Page 2 A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 06 by[5]FistofFury(c) "We could always take you to the doctor, and he could give you a prescription for the morning after pill. We do have insurance, that kind of thing would probably be covered." "What would we tell mom and dad? 'By the way, Jack might have gotten me pregnant, when we had unprotected sex, so we need to go to the doctor.' Somehow, I don't see that scenario having a happy ending." I totally agreed with her. If my dad stopped at just kicking my ass until I was the one who needed a doctor, I would be lucky. I ran through the options in my mind, and found none. The only thing that I could think of was to wait and see what happens. "Katie, I love you." I kissed her neck gently. She sobbed a couple of times, but I held fast to her. "Whatever happens, we will be alright." "But what if I'm pregnant, Jack? I love you too, but is it really realistic for us to have kids together? I don't want a bunch of half-wits, or flipper babies. I thought that if we ever got to the point in our relationship where we wanted children, we would just adopt, or I would get artificially inseminated, or something." Even with the gravity of the situation at hand, I was impressed with the amount of thinking that she had put into planning our relationship. If I wasn't in love with her, I would have said that it was a little creepy. "Turn over, K. I want to look at your face." She turned over, and placed her head on the pillow next to mine. She was no longer sobbing, but the tears still trickled down her cute little nose, making a small wet spot on my pillow case. "If you are pregnant we will deal with it. That's what adults do. Do you still want to be with me?" "Yeah, Jack. I want that more than anything." I kissed her lips tenderly. "Then no more tears, Katie. We will figure this shit out one day at a time." She nodded, and gave me a sheepish smile. "Thanks." "For what, K?" "For everything. I was stupid. It's all my fault, but you don't even seem mad at me." "Katie, we both did what we did together. You didn't trick me, or rape me. When you have sex, sometimes the girl gets pregnant. That's just a fact of life. It's true that there was a misunderstanding, but sometimes shit just happens." "So you aren't angry?" "No. I'm not, and I think that you should make up with Julia. It really doesn't sound like that it was her fault." "No, it wasn't. It was my fault..." I cut her admission of guilt off with a kiss. When our kiss finally broke, she smiled at me again. "No more of that. The past is in the past. It's over and done with, and we can't change anything that happened. It doesn't matter who was at fault." Her smile seemed to brighten up a few thousand watts, dimming the pale moonlight that shined through the bedroom window. Our lovemaking afterward was slow, just the way that I like it. I think that it was her way of trying to pay me back for being so understanding. It was true that I wasn't angry with the girls for the mix up, but I was very, very afraid. I was scared not only for Katie and I, but for our hypothetical unborn child. What would it be like to grow up knowing that your parents were brother and sister? What would it be like to raise a child while keeping our true relationship a secret from him, or her? Her orgasm was a pitiful thing, and my own was a long time in coming. No amount of hot teen Kegeling seemed to speed my climax. When I finally came, I pulled out and spurted across her pale, flat belly. She almost looked disappointed, but she never uttered a word about my choice of shooting range. She rubbed it into her skin, and tasted her fingers; but my sister's heart really wasn't into her porn star imitation. I guess that we both had more serious matters than sex on our minds. It was a long time before sleep returned to me. She laid in my arms, with her head on my chest. I heard her almost silent snores for the best part of an hour before darkness claimed me. Unfortunately, things that were much worse than insomnia awaited me in my dreams. * You should check out a new author on Literotica. His name is Djxt354. His story, "Niece Goes To College," is very good. He's listed on my favs. [6]Report Story by[7]FistofFury(c) 11 comments/ 87238 views/ 8 favorites Share the love IFRAME: [8]http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?locale=en_US&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.literotica.com%2Fs%2Fa-back-r ub-for-julia-ch-06&layout=button_count&show_faces=true&width=110&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=21 [9]Tweet [10]Share [11]Email Similar stories * [12]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 01 by [13]FistofFury 4.49 21 * [14]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 05 by [15]FistofFury 4.69 9 * [16]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 02 by [17]FistofFury 4.66 10 * [18]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 03 by [19]FistofFury 4.66 9 * [20]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 04 by [21]FistofFury 4.58 23 Also in this series * [22]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 01 4.49 * [23]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 02 4.66 * [24]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 03 4.66 * [25]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 04 4.58 * [26]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 05 4.69 * [27]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 07 4.57 * [28]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 08 4.70 * [29]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 09 4.71 * [30]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 10 4.69 Tags For This Story * [31]incest - * [32]sister sex - * [33]creampie - * [34]cock milking Report a Bug [35]Submit bug report [36]Previous 2 Pages:[37]12 Please Rate This Submission: 1 (*) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 5 (best) Submit Vote Please Rate This Submission: * 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 Please wait [38]Favorite Author [39]Favorite Story heart [40]SecretLovers, [41]bmac4418 and 6 other people favorited this story! Recent Comments by Anonymous [42]If the above comment contains any ads, links, or breaks Literotica rules, please report it. by [43]atheist_liberal04/15/12 [44]Good story But Katie's impulsive behaviour only makes me want to see Jack with Julia even more. [45]If the above comment contains any ads, links, or breaks Literotica rules, please report it. Show more comments or [46]Read All 11 User Comments or [47]Click here to leave your own comment on this submission! [48]Add a Comment Preview This is a preview of how your comment will appear. If it looks good, please click the "Submit Comment" below to post the comment. by Anonymous05/27/09 [49][...] [...] Edit comment orSubmit Comment Loading... Posting... Comment posted successfully - click here to view it or write another. Post a public comment on this submission (click here to send private anonymous feedback to the author instead). Title of your comment: ____________________ Your public comment about [50]A Back Rub For Julia Ch. 06: Post comment as (click to select): + (*) As Anonymous + ( ) As Literotica user ([51]Log In or [52]Signup) [INLINE] Please type in the security code ____________________You may also [53]listen to a recording of the characters. Preview comment [54]Send Feedback Send private anonymous feedback to the author (click here to post a public comment instead). Title your feedback: ____________________ Your feedback to [55]FistofFury: If you would like a response, enter your email address in this box: ____________________ [INLINE] Please type in the security code ____________________You may also [56]listen to a recording of the characters. Send feedback Loading... Sending... Feedback sent successfully - click here to write another. [57]Literotica Toy Store ADULT TOY & DVD STORE WITH FAST & DISCREET SHIPPING AND A GREAT SEXY SELECTION [58]shop.literotica.com [59]Taboo: The Series CLASSIC TALES OF FORBIDDEN FAMILY LOVE. SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES! [60]www.literoticavod.com [61]Login or [62]Sign Up * [63]Stories * [64]Poems * [65]Story Series * [66]Tags Portal * [67]Chat * [68]Forum * [69]Adult Store * [70]Movies * [71]Webcams * [72]Mobile Version * [73]FAQ * [74]Search English English|[75]Spanish|[76]German|[77]French|[78]Dutch|[79]Other languages All contents (c) Copyright 1998-2012. Literotica is a trademark. No part may be reproduced in any form without explicit written permission. [80]Terms Of Services|[81]Report A Problem [82]Free Original Erotic Stories. Username: ____________________ Password: ____________________[83]Forgot your password? [INLINE] Security code:[84] sound Please wait Login Change picture Your current user picture, all sizes: Default size User Picture Medium size User Picture Small size User Picture Tiny size User Picture You have a new user picture waiting for moderation. Select new user picture: (Submit) Upload and save [85]Cancel Upload successful User picture uploaded successfuly and waiting for moderation. [86]Close References Visible links 1. http://www.literotica.com/ 2. http://www.literotica.com/stories/index.php 3. http://www.literotica.com/c/taboo-sex-stories 4. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06 5. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 6. http://www.literotica.com/stories/report_story.php?id=478577 7. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 8. http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?locale=en_US&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.literotica.com%2Fs%2Fa-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06&layout=button_count&show_faces=true&width=110&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=21 9. http://twitter.com/share 10. http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.literotica.com%2Fs%2Fa-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06&title=Send%20a%20story%20via%20email&username=literotica 11. http://api.addthis.com/oexchange/0.8/forward/email/offer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.literotica.com%2Fs%2Fa-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06&title=Send%20a%20story%20via%20email&username=literotica 12. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-01 13. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 14. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-05 15. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 16. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-02 17. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 18. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-03 19. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 20. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-04 21. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 22. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-01 23. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-02 24. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-03 25. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-04 26. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-05 27. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-07 28. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-08 29. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-09 30. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-10 31. http://tags.literotica.com/incest 32. http://tags.literotica.com/sister%20sex 33. http://tags.literotica.com/creampie 34. http://tags.literotica.com/cock%20milking 35. http://www.literotica.com/stories/quest/bugs.php?id=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.literotica.com%2Fs%2Fa-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06 36. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06 37. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06 38. http://www.literotica.com/stories/addtofavs.php?type=member&id=1155920 39. http://www.literotica.com/stories/addtofavs.php?type=story&id=478577 40. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1308699 41. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1252453 42. http://www.literotica.com/stories/report_comment.php?id= 43. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1353752 44. http://www.literotica.com/stories/storyfeedbackboard.php?id=478577&pagehint=2#cid1264255 45. http://www.literotica.com/stories/report_comment.php?id=1264255 46. http://www.literotica.com/stories/storyfeedbackboard.php?id=478577&pagehint=6 47. http://www.literotica.com/stories/make_comment.php?id=478577&pagehint=2 48. http://www.literotica.com/stories/make_comment.php?id=478577 49. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06?page=2 50. http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=478577 51. http://www.literotica.com/members/main.php 52. http://www.literotica.com/stories/signup.php 53. http://www.literotica.com/stories/secretsound.php?key= 54. http://www.literotica.com/stories/anonfeedback.php?id=478577 55. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1155920&page=submissions 56. http://www.literotica.com/stories/secretsound.php?key= 57. http://shop.literotica.com/ 58. http://shop.literotica.com/ 59. http://www.literoticavod.com/studio/462/Standard-Digital/?search_x=search&a=fetishvod&custom_theater=2543 60. http://www.literoticavod.com/studio/462/Standard-Digital/?search_x=search&a=fetishvod&custom_theater=2543 61. http://www.literotica.com/members/main.php 62. http://www.literotica.com/stories/signup.php 63. http://www.literotica.com/stories/#stories 64. http://www.literotica.com/stories/#poems 65. http://www.literotica.com/series 66. http://tags.literotica.com/ 67. http://www.literotica.com/chat/ 68. http://www.literotica.com/stories/forumlang.php 69. http://shop.literotica.com/ 70. http://www.literoticavod.com/ 71. http://vipcams.literotica.com/ 72. http://i.literotica.com/ 73. http://www.literotica.com/faq/ 74. http://search.literotica.com/ 75. http://spanish.literotica.com/stories/ 76. http://german.literotica.com/stories/ 77. http://french.literotica.com/stories/ 78. http://dutch.literotica.com/stories/ 79. http://www.literotica.com/global/?mode=stories 80. http://www.literotica.com/stories/tos.php 81. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=81387&page=contact 82. http://www.literotica.com/ 83. http://www.literotica.com/members/lost_password.php 84. http://www.literotica.com/stories/secretsound.php?key= 85. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06?page=2 86. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06?page=2 Hidden links: 87. http://www.literotica.com/s/a-back-rub-for-julia-ch-06?page=2


text:
Great DIY Shelving Ideas
If you've ever thought that you needed a place to put something, odds are that you have used a shelf. I love shelves, and there are so many great ideas for DIY shelving, to fit any style and budget. Wall shelves, bookshelves, floating shelves — they are all great at holding stuff. And everyone has stuff. Find a DIY shelf to fit your style (and your stuff) here! (featured image via Melanie Falick's The Repurposed Library)
DIY Rope Shelves by Recreate Home
Painter's Ladder Freestanding Shelf by Ana White
Floating Bathroom Shelves Tutorial by Designed to Dwell
DIY Building Plans for Rustic Wall Bins by Remodelaholic
Crates and Baskets Entry Storage Shelf by Aimee Weaver
Upcycled Drawer Shelves A Great Display Idea by Shades of Grey
Stacked End Table Shelf by Infarrantly Creative
Reclaimed Wood and Leather Shelf by Camille Styles on TrendHunter
Beautiful Open Kitchen Shelving and other kitchen Ideas
Industrial Style Floating Shelf by Simplified Building
Old Crutches into an A-Frame Shelf by Mamie Jane's
Shelves instead of Upper Cabinets Kitchen Remodel Idea by Low Country Living

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- About Us
- Academics
- Staff
- Parents
- Students
- Admissions
- Careers
Campus social media links:
Harmony Public Schools are high performing K-12 public charter schools in Texas that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math to provide opportunities for underserved communities
Parents and Students: Here is our 2016-2017 HPS Student/Parent Handbook."
Click below to download the supply lists for the 2016-2017 school year.
Download the 2016-2017 School Calendar (here)!
The 2015-2016 school year has come to an end. We are so thankful to have had each of you as part of our school community this year! Please click below for an end of year message from our Principal, Mrs. Kyle Borel, to our students and parents.
Aug 29, 2016
| Breakfast
| Lunch
|Monthly Menu
It is the policy of HPS not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, or disability in its programs, services, or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, please contact Section 504/ADA Coordinator at (713) 343-3333 located at 9321 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S. Houston, TX 77099.
Nondiscrimination in Career and Technical Education Programs
HPS Child Find policy


text: Enjoying views of Mesongi village in Corfu, Minore Apartments is a family-run guesthouse that offers self-catering accommodation with free Wi-Fi. It features a restaurant with traditional flavours and a lush garden. Simply appointed, the studios come with air conditioning, TV and DVD player. Each features a dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. All units open up to a furnished balcony, from where you can enjoy views of the village and the gardens. Staff can provide car rental services and can organize hiking tours in the surrounding area. Babysitting services and airport transfer are available upon request and at surcharge. Minore Apartments lies within a 2 minutes' walk from the centre of Mesongi and within a 10 minutes' walk from the lively Moraitika. The Achilleion Palace is at 14 km. Free private parking is possible on site.


text:
|This is Smokin' Soprano jumping at Liberty. An off the track
Standardbred Pacer that I was proud to have in my presence for a
few short years. A regal and handsome gentleman that taught me
patience and respect. Smoke loves to play but he also has a very
strong work ethic. Smokes strives for excellence.
|This is Red. My teacher,
my best friend and
partner. He's been harder
on me than any horse I've
ever spent time with. Red
passed August 17th 2015.
I will be eternally grateful
for his friendship.
|Pisco needs a good reason
before he does anything
unless he considers it
It's all about fun to Pisco.
Don't let him get bored --
whatever you do!
|Angel showing off her Spanish Walk at
|Cerephina and I beginning the
magnetic connection at Liberty
|Watch Stormy May's video
The Path of the Horse
It will forever change the way you view horses!
|Red and I Bridleless. Yes,
this is possible...for the two
of you become one.
|Fill in the form below to sign up for our upcoming
newsletters and Blog!
|Human Training Creating Happy Horses
and a Magical Connection


text:
- Report: #915139
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: DIGITSEE.COM
DIGITSEE.COM1 Plaza Place Stamford, Connecticut United States of America
DIGITSEE.COM PCDEALS4U.com Bought what was supposed to be a software download for windows 7 pro, No DICE Stamford, Connecticut
Ripoff Report
About you?
Ripoff Report
A business' first
line of defense
on the Internet.
If your business is
willing to make a
commitment to
customer satisfaction
Click here now..
Does your business have a bad reputation?
Fix it the right way.
Corporate Advocacy Program™
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 07/20/2012 04:06 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/DIGITSEECOM/Stamford-Connecticut-06902/DIGITSEECOM-PCDEALS4Ucom-Bought-what-was-supposed-to-be-a-software-download-for-windows-915139. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report.
Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on DIGITSEE.COM
If you would like to see more Rip-off Reports on this company/individual, search here:Search Tips
In order to assure the best results in your search:
- Keep the name short & simple, and try different variations of the name.
- Do not include ".com", "S", "Inc.", "Corp", or "LLC" at the end of the Company name.
- Use only the first/main part of a name to get best results.
- Only search one name at a time if Company has many AKA's.
Advertisers above have met our
strict standards for business conduct.


text:
Tool | October 2015
State-by-State Guide to Taxes on Retirees
The Bottom Line
The Natural State is a low-cost, low-tax retirement destination. It exempts Social Security benefits and up to $6,000 of retirement income from its state income tax. All other income is taxed on a sliding scale ranging from 1% to 7%. The statewide sales tax is 6.5%, although food is taxed at 1.5%. Arkansas's real estate taxes are among the lowest in the nation.
State Sales Tax
6.5% (prescription drugs are exempt). City and county sales taxes can add up to another 5.5%; the average local combined rate is 9.3% Food is taxed by the state at 1.5%, and municipalities can add onto that as well.
Income Tax Range
Low: 0.9% (on up to $4,299 of taxable income)
High: 7% (on more than $35,100 of taxable income)
Service pay for active-duty members of the armed forces is completely exempt from income tax.
Social Security
Benefits are not taxed.
Exemptions for Other Retirement Income
Railroad Retirement benefits are exempt. Up to $6,000 in military, civil-service, state and local government, and private pensions is exempt. The exemption refers to income from public or private retirement systems, plans and programs. IRA distributions qualify for the $6,000 exemption if the taxpayer is 59 1/2 or older. Out-of-state government pensions also qualify for the exemption.
Qualifies for exemption of up to $6,000.
401(k)s and other Defined-Contribution Employer Retirement Plans
Qualifies for exemption of up to $6,000.
Private Pensions
Qualifies for exemption of up to $6,000.
Public Pensions
Qualifies for exemption of up to $6,000.
Property Taxes
All households are eligible for a homestead tax credit of up to $350.
Median property tax on Arkansas's median home value of $109,500 is $674, according to the Tax Foundation.
Tax breaks for seniors: The taxable assessed value of homes of residents 65 or older, or those who are disabled, is capped at the previous year's value unless improvements are made or the property is sold.
Inheritance and
Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax or estate tax.
Editor's Picks From Kiplinger
- 6 Tax Factors to Consider When Picking a Retirement Destination
- Retiree Tax Bite Varies By State
- SLIDE SHOW: 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees
- SLIDE SHOW: 10 Least Tax-Friendly States for Retirees
- SLIDE SHOW: 10 Things You Must Know About Social Security
- SLIDE SHOW: 10 Things You Must Know About Traditional IRAs
- SLIDE SHOW: 5 Costly Retirement Surprises
- SPECIAL REPORT: Maximize Your Social Security Benefits
- TOOL: Kiplinger's State-by-State Guide to Taxes
- TOOL: Find the Best, Latest Mortgage Rates in Any State


text:
Meze 99 Classics
"About Me I am a 52 year old audophile, from Bradenton Florida. I have been in this hobby, for about two years. The sound from headphone blew me away, and I dived down the proverbial rabbit hole and have not come back up. I use headphones to cope with pain from a back injury. Furthermore headphones allow me to hear the sound, without out side distractions...." --reddog
Philips SHE8000/28 In-Ear Headphone (Black/Red)
" These IEM's arent the greatest. But these ARE the greatest for $5!! Seperation is great, Clarity is great, Detail is great! Bass is superb! Doesnt muddle out the highs and mids. This is the best buds that ive had for just $5! A reminder, these arent audiophile IEM's, but because if the price, they are probably the best IEM's out there! " --Ezio
Razer HP-1 Barracuda 8-Channel Gaming Headphones
"These are my everyday gaming and music cans for like 10 years now through two sets of them. The bass response is unparalleled with USB powered built-in amplification and a dedicated 40 mm subwoofer driver. I imagine to get the same bass you would have to buy another can with a dedicated bass driver, and some do exist from different makers, but no one did it as clean as the razer barracuda...." --indopler
Technical Pro HPT990 Professional Headphone
"Expanding on the pros, other likes- - These cans are pretty comfortable imo, with the velour pads and soft headband. I havent had any problems with pressure points on the headband, and have been able to wear them for several hours on end without much fatigue. Clamping force is just right. Tighter than, for example, a Creative Aurvana Live, but looser than my FA-011s. Fairly light weight. -..." --kidcharlemagne
Razer Headset RZ04-00720200-R3M1 Battlefield3 Razer BlackShark Gaming Retail
"overall, a decent piece of kit for 90 pounds. fairs good in games (i find the noise cancelling mic great, others say they hear me very very clearly, all the time) but finds true love with music. running off computer with sound blaster zxr's and well pleased with clarity and all-roundness. can't compare with my akg k712's - but hey, the k712 pro is in a league of it's own and never leaves my house " --peperico
Razer Electra Essential Gaming & Music Headset (RZ04-00700200-R3U1)
" These things are HUUUUUUUUUUGE for what they have underneath. It's probably an overstatement because this monster of a headset isn't all it's really cut out to be. It's produced and advertised by Razer as a "Gaming Headset". In that assumption alone there's already a misleading information. For a pair of cans to be a gaming headset they need to have good output sound as well as good input..." --elm4171978
Meze 11 Neo
The Meze 11 Neo is a practical and go everywhere gadget, yet, on closer look, one discovers its hidden complexity. As you get closer, new facets are unveiled, the subtle curves arching at different angles, and the precision of crafting. Add to that the Meze signature sound. Comes in two finishes: Gun Metal & Iridium.
Meze Deco 11
Furthering our pursuit for pure expression through design we are proudly introducing the Meze 11 Deco earphones as a stylish yet practical device. It's more than an electronic gadget. It's your next favorite accessory. Elegant handcrafted beech wood enclosure reproducing crisp but warm, natural sound and a microphone on the flexible, non-tangle cord make this not only a performant...
RAZER Circumaural Banshee StarCraft II Gaming Headset
Designed exclusively for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty with a focus on maximum sound isolation, comfort and portability, the Razer Banshee provides everything you could wish for in a headset. The Razer Banshee features a newly developed, multi-color APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System that provides real-time feedback about the player's performance in-game. The Razer Banshee is...
Meze 55 Classics Ebony Wood Headphones
Please note that all Meze Headphones are individually Hand Crafted out of Ebony Wood. The Images Shown will not give a true representation of the headphones you purchase due to the different grains and tones that come with each piece of wood. The beauty of this is that you can have the satisfaction of knowing that nobody will ever have the same looking headphones as you. Truly one of a kind...


text:
The city of Nagoya, crowded with densely spaced skyscrapers.
Credit: David Evans
Creative #: 154326054
License type: Rights-managedRights-managed products are licensed with restrictions on usage, such as limitations on size, placement, duration of use and geographic distribution. You will be asked to submit information concerning your intended use of the product, which will determine the scope of usage rights granted.
Collection: National Geographic
Max file size: 6144 x 4096 px (20.48 x 13.65 in) - 300 dpi - 15.5 MB
Release info: No release required
Same seriesView all
Similar imagesView all
The City Of Nagoya Crowded With Densely Spaced Skyscrapers Stock PhotoAerial View,Building Exterior,City,Cityscape,Color Image,Day,Distant,Full Frame,Horizontal,Japan,Nagoya,No People,Outdoors,Photography,Population Explosion,Scenics,Skyscraper,Urban SprawlPhotographer David EvansCollection: National Geographic Nagoya, Japan.


text:
Kiwis not so shallow, according to finding love surveyFeb 12
"Women appear to be more practical than men with four times as many wanting their partner to have a job." Read More →
"Women appear to be more practical than men with four times as many wanting their partner to have a job." Read More →
Featured "It appears overseas-based fraudsters are preying on New Zealanders who engage in online sexual activity." Read More →
The increasing popularity of online dating services in New Zealand has caught the attention of scammers. Here's how to outwit and outlast the scammers Read More →
Featured Are you wondering how you're going to make it through Valentine's Day? Hey, we've got your back. Read More →
For an app that had such promise, it's really a piece of unsophisticated crap. Read More →
Featured How liberating will it feel seeing the data of how many times some douchebag has sent the exact same message. Read More →
Featured It's a social discovery app where users will never get unwanted matches and unlike other apps, Bumble suggests matches based on more 'relevant signals'. Read More →
We got to talking about how internet dating isn't so much an issue as it once was, and it got me to thinking about where dating was headed. Read More →
With Valentine's Day this month, we thought it was the perfect time to revisit one of our past articles "Find Love Online". Read More →


text:
Under Obama, Accreditors Are Still in the Hot Seat
Nearly two years into the Obama Administration, colleges have not gotten the relief they expected from the contentious battles over measuring quality that defined the Bush Education Department.
Instead, President Obama and Congressional Democrats are...
This content is available exclusively to Chronicle subscribers
Already a subscriber?
Log in now
Not a subscriber yet?
Subscribe now for instant access to this article and thousands of others, data tables, and interactive charts — all available exclusively for Chronicle subscribers. Plus your subscription includes weekly print or digital delivery of The Chronicle and The Review and the Chronicle iPad® Edition.Subscribe Today


text:
Workforce shortage will make procurement changes difficult
It's a Washington truism that everyone wants to make policy but no one wants to implement it. There is no lack of ideas about how to change the acquisition system. And, of course, some folks would rather do nothing at all because the current system, dysfunctional as it might be, works for them.
The Obama administration clearly has some procurement policy objectives, including a reduction in no-bid contracts. But any attempt at change must cope with a depressing reality: the lack of skilled acquisition professionals.
Agencies can always hire more people, Congress permitting. But good contracting officers, like fine wines, need time to develop their full potential. After years of neglecting the acquisition cadre, there is no quick fix for this problem.
So, what can be done in the short run? Any reform initiative must recognize the limitations of the existing workforce's members. Many of them are ill-equipped to exploit the dazzling array of powers and vehicles that have sprouted up in recent years. For now, we should return to the time-tested buying mechanisms of sealed bids and competitive proposals. Some disparage those systems as rules-based. But let's face the facts: Most contracting officers are better off using a complete and well-understood process than trying to innovate on the fly. We should limit the exotic stuff to contexts in which they make sense and the few officials who can handle them do so.
The Obama administration would also like to reduce outsourcing. But someone has to do the work the contractors are doing now, unless entire programs and functions are scrapped. So the amount of reduction depends on how many new civil servants Congress will authorize.
The outsourcing discussion has been deadlocked in a philosophical debate about what functions are inherently governmental. A pragmatic alternative is to think about outsourcing strategically. What functions can an agency contract out to free resources for its most important tasks?
One example, often cited by Professor Steven Schooner of the George Washington University Law School, is that contractors are ideal for one-time projects. When the work is done, the contract is over. Civil servants, however, are around for the long haul.
Another way to outsource is to find private-sector activities that can be put to government use. For instance, large hotel chains regularly provide furniture, food, facility maintenance, etc. Those activities don't differ much from running the physical plant of a barracks or prison. And because such companies aren't in the business of supplying the goods they buy, they could avoid the conflicts of interest that have bedeviled other large outsourcing programs.
Finally, there are many legal and administrative quirks that take up more time and effort than they are worth. Why, in the Internet Age, do problems regularly arise with delivering bids and proposals to the right place at the right time? Lots of those small, annoying issues could be fixed with relatively little money or effort.
The lack of experienced and skilled employees limits what the Obama administration can do with the procurement system. But even with those constraints, the system can improve.
About the Author
Joseph J. Petrillo is a lawyer at Washington law firm Petrillo and Powell.
E-Mail this page
Printable Format
Advanced Search
In the latest issue: grid security, agile development, BYOD and more!
Get the full issue
Steve Kelman contends that a recent report on agencies' prize challenges tells only half the success story.
OMB's Data Center Optimization Initiative gives agencies new metrics and goals for fiscal 2018.
NSA and the CIA have revamped themselves in the past year. FCW asked officials how well Fort Meade and Langley are collaborating in cyberspace in pursuit of their separate missions.
The latest version of the Defense Department-wide Enterprise Service Management Framework places more emphasis on managing IT risk.
Despite GSA's efforts to accelerate the FedRAMP approval process, the lack of agency reciprocity puts the program's central goals at risk.
Got some early-career colleagues who are doing great things in federal IT? Nominate them for FCW's 2016 Rising Star awards.
The agency software inventories required under the draft category management policy will be treasure maps that lead to efficient, effective, streamlined buying and unprecedented savings.
As experts warned of the "dire" threats posed by outdated federal technology, lawmakers grilled top feds, debated workforce issues and inched closer to backing a $3.1 billion fix-it fund.
The agency is making strides in developing and deploying border technologies but still has some weaknesses.
8609 Westwood Center Drive, Suite 500Vienna, VA 22182-2215 703-876-5100
© 1996-2013 1105 Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only.To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, visit: www.1105Reprints.com


text:
Synonyms of publicize in English:
1 I never publicize the fact
make known, make public, publish, announce, report, post, communicate, broadcast, issue, put out, distribute, spread, promulgate, disseminate, circulate, air;
[Antonyms] conceal
Definition of publicize in:
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
Comments that don't adhere to our Community Guidelines may be moderated or removed.
= trending


text:
Like markpea and Eric Rasch, after installing this plugin and trying to create a Wiki page, I found every one of my posts and pages has disappeared. Thankfully, they're still in the database and I was able to convert the posts and pages back.
But until this is resolved, stay very far away.


text:
my wordpress blog is at http://stolendesign.net/jesse theres lots of stuff on there but please don't leave due to information overload.
Specific things you might be interested in are some songs I have recorded http://stolendesign.net/jesse/?cat=17.
Mainly I guess it's the install itself that is going to interest you.
feedback is welcome and appreciated.


text:
I just upgraded to WP2.5 using Fantastico and am facing two issues:
- On the Widgets page, on the "Current Widgets" drop-down list I am seeing multiple occurrence of the same sidebars. My theme uses three widgetised sidebars, placed on the right, left and middle columns respectively (and registered on functions page in that very order) but the list shows sidebars as "Right", "Left","Left", "Middle","Middle","Middle". What could be wrong in my theme?
- I have 3 WP installs on my server and funnily on one of the installs the Dashboard never showed up (only the header band and nothing in content pane), this happened probably when I had upgraded to 2.3 WP. Scarier part is that even after the 2.5 upgrade the Dashboard still doesn't show up for this particular install. Can somebody help?


text:
Since last Thursday I have had the worst cold / sore throat / sinus thing that I'v had in years. I've been taking mainly tylenol for fever / pain and cough drops. Thank goodness my symptoms are so light for the pregnancy, because I feel terrible otherwise. I cough so hard I throw up sometimes. :(
I'm glad I have my first appt tomorrow I am getting really worried about the baby due to being so sick. I've never been sick in the first trimester before. Plus with so few pregnancy symptoms I don't even feel pregnant at all right now, just sick.
Has anyone else been really sick 1st trimester and the baby was okay? I'm just so worried about my poor baby having to suffer through me being sick. :(


text:
Contact Us
Enter Your Search:
Search tips
Search criteria
Journal titles
Results 1-25 (66)
Sort by:
Journal Title
Publication Date
« Previous
Go to page number:
Next »
Clipboard (0)
Clear All Filters
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (66)
« less
Aguilar, Inmaculada (4)
Martos, Francisco (4)
Perea-Milla, Emilio (4)
Vas, Jorge (4)
Kemper, Kathi J (3)
Modesto, Manuela (3)
Méndez, Camila (3)
Adedapo, Adeolu A (2)
Afolayan, Anthony J (2)
Boon, Heather S (2)
more »
Busato, André (2)
Büssing, Arndt (2)
Chandra, Goutam (2)
Chowdhury, Nandita (2)
Faus, Vicente (2)
García-Ruiz, Antonio J (2)
Jimoh, Florence O (2)
Jolly, Kate (2)
Masika, Patrick J (2)
Matthiessen, Peter F (2)
Ostermann, Thomas (2)
Akah, Peter A (1)
Aldous, Michael B (1)
Alexander-Lindo, Ruby L (1)
Alves, Rômulo RN (1)
Amaral, Flávia MM (1)
Andrade, Adriana SA (1)
Aragão-Filho, Walmir C (1)
Aranda, José Manuel (1)
Arango, Amparo (1)
Arcury, Thomas A (1)
Asea, Alexzander (1)
Babu, Chidambaram Saravana (1)
Badwall, Parminder (1)
Bandyopadhyay, Sandip K (1)
Banerjee, Debashish (1)
Barboza, Raynner RD (1)
Bardenheier, Barbara H (1)
Barimah, Kofi B (1)
Barón, Mercedes (1)
Basson, Nicolaas J (1)
Beevers, D Gareth (1)
Berman, Brian M (1)
Biswas, Santanu (1)
Borgatti, Monica (1)
Bornhöft, Gudrun (1)
Brown, Todd T (1)
Bruch, David (1)
Bucher, Jaime (1)
Buettner, Catherine (1)
« less
Year of Publication
« less
Document Types
research-article (64)
correction (1)
other (1)
« less
Ginger extract inhibits LPS induced macrophage activation and function
Tripathi, Sudipta
Bruch, David
Kittur, Dilip S
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Macrophages play a dual role in host defence. They act as the first line of defence by mounting an inflammatory response to antigen exposure and also act as antigen presenting cells and initiate the adaptive immune response. They are also the primary infiltrating cells at the site of inflammation. Inhibition of macrophage activation is one of the possible approaches towards modulating inflammation. Both conventional and alternative approaches are being studied in this regard. Ginger, an herbal product with broad anti inflammatory actions, is used as an alternative medicine in a number of inflammatory conditions like rheumatic disorders. In the present study we examined the effect of ginger extract on macrophage activation in the presence of LPS stimulation.
Murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by LPS in presence or absence of ginger extract and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were observed. We also studied the effect of ginger extract on the LPS induced expression of MHC II, B7.1, B7.2 and CD40 molecules. We also studied the antigen presenting function of ginger extract treated macrophages by primary mixed lymphocyte reaction.
We observed that ginger extract inhibited IL-12, TNF-α, IL-1β (pro inflammatory cytokines) and RANTES, MCP-1 (pro inflammatory chemokines) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. Ginger extract also down regulated the expression of B7.1, B7.2 and MHC class II molecules. In addition ginger extract negatively affected the antigen presenting function of macrophages and we observed a significant reduction in T cell proliferation in response to allostimulation, when ginger extract treated macrophages were used as APCs. A significant decrease in IFN-γ and IL-2 production by T cells in response to allostimulation was also observed.
In conclusion ginger extract inhibits macrophage activation and APC function and indirectly inhibits T cell activation.
Related Articles
Use of complementary and alternative medicines for children with chronic health conditions in Lagos, Nigeria
Oshikoya, Kazeem A
Senbanjo, Idowu O
Njokanma, Olisamedua F
Soipe, Ayo
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is on the increase globally with a high prevalence in children and adults with chronic illnesses. Many studies have evaluated the epidemiology of medicine use for children in developing countries but none has evaluated the use of CAM for children with chronic illnesses. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence, pattern of use, parental sources of information, perceived benefits, cost, and adverse effects of CAM in children with epilepsy, sickle cell anaemia and asthma in Lagos, Nigeria.
Parents of children with epilepsy (122), asthma (78) or sickle cell anaemia (118) who presented consecutively to the paediatric neurology, respiratory and haematology clinics of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja were interviewed with a structured open- and close-ended questionnaire. The information obtained comprised the demography of both the patients and their parents; past and present treatments received by the patients; the type of CAM, if any, used by the patients; and the sources, cost, benefits and adverse effects of the CAM used.
A total of 303 CAMs were used by the patients, either alone or in combination witother CAM. CAM was reportedly used by 99 (31%) patients (epilepsy -38%, sickle cell anaemia – 36% and asthma – 25%). The majority (84%) of these patients were currently using CAM. The use of CAM was stopped six months prior to the study by 16 patients (16%). Biological products were the most frequently used CAMs (58%), followed by alternative medical systems (27%) and mind-body interventions (14%). Relations, friends and neighbours had a marked influence on 76% of the parents who used CAM for their children. Eighty-five (86%) parents were willing to discuss the use of CAM with their doctors but were not asked. CAM use was associated with adverse reactions in 7.1% of the patients.
Parental use of CAMs to treat their children with epilepsy, asthma and sickle cell anaemia is common in Nigeria. Efforts should be made by doctors taking care of these patients to identify those CAM therapies that are beneficial, harmless and cheap for possible integration with conventional therapy.
Related Articles
Treatments for irritable bowel syndrome: patients' attitudes and acceptability
Harris, Lynsey R
Roberts, Lesley
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a highly prevalent chronic disorder, places significant burden on the health service and the individual. Symptomatic distress and reduced quality of life are compounded by few efficacious treatments available. As researchers continue to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of alternative therapies, it would be useful to gain a patient-perspective of treatment acceptability and identify patient's attitudes towards those modalities considered not acceptable.
Six hundred and forty-five participants identified from an earlier IBS-prevalence study received a postal questionnaire to evaluate preferences and acceptability of nine forms of treatment. Proportions accepting each form of treatment were calculated and thematic analysis of qualitative data undertaken.
A total of 256 (39.7%) of 645 potential respondents completed the questionnaire (mean age 55.9 years, 73% female). Tablets were most acceptable (84%), followed by lifestyle changes (diet (82%), yoga (77%)). Acupuncture (59%) and suppositories (57%) were less acceptable.
When explaining lack of acceptability, patient views fell into four broad categories: dislike treatment modality, do not perceive benefit, general barriers and insufficient knowledge. Scepticism, lack of scientific rationale and fear of CAM were mentioned, although others expressed a dislike of conventional medical treatments. Past experiences, age and health concerns, and need for proof of efficacy were reported.
Most patients were willing to accept various forms of treatment. However, the reservations expressed by this patient-population must be recognised with particular focus directed towards allaying fears and misconceptions, seeking further evidence base for certain therapies and incorporating physician support and advice.
Related Articles
Antimicrobial activities of pomegranate rind extracts: enhancement by addition of metal salts and vitamin C
McCarrell, Erin M
Gould, Simon WJ
Fielder, Mark D
Kelly, Alison F
El Sankary, Waffa
Naughton, Declan P
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Punica granatum L. or pomegranates, have been reported to have antimicrobial activity against a range of Gram positive and negative bacteria. Pomegranate formulations containing ferrous salts have enhanced although short-term, antibacteriophage activities which are rapidly diminished owing to instability of the ferrous combination. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activities of combinations of pomegranate rind extracts (PRE) with a range of metals salts with the added stabiliser vitamin C.
PRE solutions, prepared by blending rind sections with distilled water prior to sterilisation by autoclaving or filtration, were screened with a disc diffusion assay using penicillin G as a control. Suspension assays were used to determine the antimicrobial activities of PRE alone and in combination with salts of the following metals; Fe (II), Cu (II), Mn (II) or Zn (II), and vitamin C, against a panel of microbes following exposure for 30 mins. The test organisms included Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis.
The screening assay demonstrated that PRE exhibited activity against the Gram positive organisms at 24 h with no observable effect on any of the Gram negative bacteria. However, after 12 h, zones of inhibition were only observed for Ps. aeruginosa. In contrast, using the suspension assay, addition of Cu (II) salts to PRE solutions extended the activities resulting in no detectable growth being observed for the PRE/Cu (II) combination against E. coli, Ps. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis. Minimal antimicrobial activity was observed following incubation with Fe (II), Mn (II) or Zn (II) salts alone or in combination with PRE against any of the organisms in the test panel. The addition of vitamin C markedly enhanced the activities of both PRE/Fe (II) and PRE/Cu (II) combinations against S. aureus.
This is the first report demonstrating the enhanced efficacy of PRE/metal salt combinations in the presence of the stabilising agent vitamin C, to which all isolates were sensitive with the exception of B. subtilis. This study has validated the exploration of PRE along with additives such as metal salts and vitamin C as novel antimicrobial combinations.
Related Articles
Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Spondias pinnata
Hazra, Bibhabasu
Biswas, Santanu
Mandal, Nripendranath
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Many diseases are associated with oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Current research is directed towards finding naturally-occurring antioxidants of plant origin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities of Spondias pinnata stem bark extract.
A 70% methanol extract of Spondias pinnata stem bark was studied in vitro for total antioxidant activity, for scavenging of hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, singlet oxygen and hypochlorous acid, and for iron chelating capacity, reducing power, and phenolic and flavonoid contents.
The extract showed total antioxidant activity with a trolox equivalent antioxidant concentration (TEAC) value of 0.78 ± 0.02. The IC50 values for scavenging of free radicals were 112.18 ± 3.27 μg/ml, 13.46 ± 0.66 μg/ml and 24.48 ± 2.31 μg/ml for hydroxyl, superoxide and nitric oxide, respectively. The IC50 for hydrogen peroxide scavenging was 44.74 ± 25.61 mg/ml. For the peroxynitrite, singlet oxygen and hypochlorous acid scavenging activities the IC50 values were 716.32 ± 32.25 μg/ml, 58.07 ± 5.36 μg/ml and 127.99 ± 6.26 μg/ml, respectively. The extract was found to be a potent iron chelator with IC50 = 66.54 ± 0.84 μg/ml. The reducing power was increased with increasing amounts of extract. The plant extract (100 mg) yielded 91.47 ± 0.004 mg/ml gallic acid-equivalent phenolic content and 350.5 ± 0.004 mg/ml quercetin-equivalent flavonoid content.
The present study provides evidence that a 70% methanol extract of Spondias pinnata stem bark is a potential source of natural antioxidants.
Related Articles
Mosquito larvicidal and antimicrobial activity of protein of Solanum villosum leaves
Chowdhury, Nandita
Laskar, Subrata
Chandra, Goutam
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Mosquitoes are associated with the transmission of malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, filariasis and other viral diseases throughout the globe, apart from being a nuisance pest. Biological control alone or as a part of integrated vector management stands to be a better alternative to the chemical controls aimed against pest mosquitoes. At the same time it is necessary to control bacteria by synthetic or natural means (plant products). Hence the present study was designed to screen the effect of mosquito larvicidal and antimicrobial activitiy of protein isolated from matured leaves of Solanum villosum against mosquito immatures and some pathogenic bacteria.
Aqueous solvent extract of fresh mature leaves of S. villosum was tested against 3rd instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Stegomyia aegypti mosquitoes and against four pathogenic bacteria. The protein fraction was isolated and tested for mosquitocidal and antibacterial activities. Amino acid analysis was performed on isolated protein using PICO.TAG amino acid system. SDS-PAGE was also done to detect the bands of amino acid on the basis of their molecular weights.
Proteins isolated from mature leaves of S. villosum were found to have larvicidal and antimicrobial properties. Analysis of the isolated protein identified fifteen amino acids of which eight were essential amino acids. SDS-PAGE detected seven bands corresponding to different molecular weights in the range of 69–109 KDa.
Proteins of mature leaves of S. villosum exhibited moderate larvicidal and antimicrobial activities. The study provides considerable scope in exploiting local indigenous resources for isolation of antimicrobial and mosquito larvicidal proteins.
Related Articles
The oil-dispersion bath in anthroposophic medicine – an integrative review
Büssing, Arndt
Cysarz, Dirk
Edelhäuser, Friedrich
Bornhöft, Gudrun
Matthiessen, Peter F
Ostermann, Thomas
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Anthroposophic medicine offers a variety of treatments, among others the oil-dispersion bath, developed in the 1930s by Werner Junge. Based on the phenomenon that oil and water do not mix and on recommendations of Rudolf Steiner, Junge developed a vortex mechanism which churns water and essential oils into a fine mist. The oil-covered droplets empty into a tub, where the patient immerses for 15–30 minutes. We review the current literature on oil-dispersion baths.
The following databases were searched: Medline, Pubmed, Embase, AMED and CAMbase. The search terms were 'oil-dispersion bath' and 'oil bath', and their translations in German and French. An Internet search was also performed using Google Scholar, adding the search terms 'study' and 'case report' to the search terms above. Finally, we asked several experts for gray literature not listed in the above-mentioned databases. We included only articles which met the criterion of a clinical study or case report, and excluded theoretical contributions.
Among several articles found in books, journals and other publications, we identified 1 prospective clinical study, 3 experimental studies (enrolling healthy individuals), 5 case reports, and 3 field-reports. In almost all cases, the studies described beneficial effects – although the methodological quality of most studies was weak. Main indications were internal/metabolic diseases and psychiatric/neurological disorders.
Beyond the obvious beneficial effects of warm bathes on the subjective well-being, it remains to be clarified what the unique contribution of the distinct essential oils dispersed in the water can be. There is a lack of clinical studies exploring the efficacy of oil-dispersion baths. Such studies are recommended for the future.
Related Articles
Petiveria alliacea extracts uses multiple mechanisms to inhibit growth of human and mouse tumoral cells
Urueña, Claudia
Cifuentes, Claudia
Castañeda, Diana
Arango, Amparo
Kaur, Punit
Asea, Alexzander
Fiorentino, Susana
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
There is ethnopharmacological evidence that Petiveria alliacea can have antitumor activity; however, the mechanism of its cytotoxic activity is not well understood. We assessed multiple in vitro biological activities of an ethyl acetate soluble plant fraction over several tumor cell lines.
Tumor cell lines were evaluated using the following tests: trypan blue exclusion test, MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide], flow cytometry, cytoskeleton organization analysis, cell cycle, mitochondria membrane depolarization, clonogenicity test, DNA fragmentation test and differential protein expression by HPLC-Chip/MS analysis. F4 fraction characterization was made by HPLC-MS.
Petiveria alliacea fraction characterized by de-replication was found to alter actin cytoskeleton organization, induce G2 cell cycle arrest and cause apoptotic cell death in a mitochondria independent way. In addition, we found down regulation of cytoskeleton, chaperone, signal transduction proteins, and proteins involved in metabolic pathways. Finally up regulation of proteins involved in translation and intracellular degradation was also observed.
The results of this study indicate that Petiveria alliacea exerts multiple biological activities in vitro consistent with cytotoxicity. Further studies in animal models are needed but Petiveria alliacea appears to be a good candidate to be used as an antitumor agent.
Related Articles
Induction of apoptosis of human primary osteoclasts treated with extracts from the medicinal plant Emblica officinalis
Penolazzi, Letizia
Lampronti, Ilaria
Borgatti, Monica
Khan, Mahmud Tareq Hassan
Zennaro, Margherita
Piva, Roberta
Gambari, Roberto
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Osteoclasts (OCs) are involved in rheumatoid arthritis and in several pathologies associated with bone loss. Recent results support the concept that some medicinal plants and derived natural products are of great interest for developing therapeutic strategies against bone disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. In this study we determined whether extracts of Emblica officinalis fruits display activity of possible interest for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis by activating programmed cell death of human primary osteoclasts.
The effects of extracts from Emblica officinalis on differentiation and survival of human primary OCs cultures obtained from peripheral blood were determined by tartrate-acid resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positivity and colorimetric MTT assay. The effects of Emblica officinalis extracts on induction of OCs apoptosis were studied using TUNEL and immunocytochemical analysis of FAS receptor expression. Finally, in vitro effects of Emblica officinalis extracts on NF-kB transcription factor activity were determined by gel shift experiments.
Extracts of Emblica officinalis were able to induce programmed cell death of mature OCs, without altering, at the concentrations employed in our study, the process of osteoclastogenesis. Emblica officinalis increased the expression levels of Fas, a critical member of the apoptotic pathway. Gel shift experiments demonstrated that Emblica officinalis extracts act by interfering with NF-kB activity, a transcription factor involved in osteoclast biology. The data obtained demonstrate that Emblica officinalis extracts selectively compete with the binding of transcription factor NF-kB to its specific target DNA sequences. This effect might explain the observed effects of Emblica officinalis on the expression levels of interleukin-6, a NF-kB specific target gene.
Induction of apoptosis of osteoclasts could be an important strategy both in interfering with rheumatoid arthritis complications of the bone skeleton leading to joint destruction, and preventing and reducing osteoporosis. Accordingly, we suggest the application of Emblica officinalis extracts as an alternative tool for therapy applied to bone diseases.
Related Articles
TCMGeneDIT: a database for associated traditional Chinese medicine, gene and disease information using text mining
Fang, Yu-Ching
Huang, Hsuan-Cheng
Chen, Hsin-Hsi
Juan, Hsueh-Fen
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a complementary and alternative medical system in Western countries, has been used to treat various diseases over thousands of years in East Asian countries. In recent years, many herbal medicines were found to exhibit a variety of effects through regulating a wide range of gene expressions or protein activities. As available TCM data continue to accumulate rapidly, an urgent need for exploring these resources systematically is imperative, so as to effectively utilize the large volume of literature.
TCM, gene, disease, biological pathway and protein-protein interaction information were collected from public databases. For association discovery, the TCM names, gene names, disease names, TCM ingredients and effects were used to annotate the literature corpus obtained from PubMed. The concept to mine entity associations was based on hypothesis testing and collocation analysis. The annotated corpus was processed with natural language processing tools and rule-based approaches were applied to the sentences for extracting the relations between TCM effecters and effects.
We developed a database, TCMGeneDIT, to provide association information about TCMs, genes, diseases, TCM effects and TCM ingredients mined from vast amount of biomedical literature. Integrated protein-protein interaction and biological pathways information are also available for exploring the regulations of genes associated with TCM curative effects. In addition, the transitive relationships among genes, TCMs and diseases could be inferred through the shared intermediates. Furthermore, TCMGeneDIT is useful in understanding the possible therapeutic mechanisms of TCMs via gene regulations and deducing synergistic or antagonistic contributions of the prescription components to the overall therapeutic effects. The database is now available at .
TCMGeneDIT is a unique database that offers diverse association information on TCMs. This database integrates TCMs with biomedical studies that would facilitate clinical research and elucidate the possible therapeutic mechanisms of TCMs and gene regulations.
Related Articles
Syzygium jambolanum treatment improves survival in lethal sepsis induced in mice
Maciel, Márcia CG
Farias, Jardel C
Maluf, Michele J
Gomes, Eliane A
Pereira, Paulo VS
Aragão-Filho, Walmir C
Frazão, Josias B
Costa, Graciomar C
Sousa, Sanara M
Silva, Lucilene A
Amaral, Flávia MM
Russo, Momtchilo
Guerra, Rosane NM
Nascimento, Flávia RF
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The leaves and the fruits from Syzygium jambolanum DC.(Myrtaceae), a plant known in Brazil as sweet olive or 'jambolão', have been used by native people to treat infectious diseases, diabetes, and stomachache. Since the bactericidal activity of S. jambolanum has been confirmed in vitro, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the prophylactic treatment with S. jambolanum on the in vivo polymicrobial infection induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice.
C57Bl/6 mice were treated by the subcutaneous route with a hydroalcoholic extract from fresh leaves of S. jambolanum (HCE). After 6 h, a bacterial infection was induced in the peritoneum using the lethal CLP model. The mice were killed 12 h after the CLP induction to evaluate the cellular influx and local and systemic inflammatory mediators' production. Some animals were maintained alive to evaluate the survival rate.
The prophylactic HCE treatment increased the mice survival, the neutrophil migration to infectious site, the spreading ability and the hydrogen peroxide release, but decreased the serum TNF and nitrite. Despite the increased migration and activation of peritoneal cells the HCE treatment did not decrease the number of CFU. The HCE treatment induced a significant decrease on the bone marrow cells number but did not alter the cell number of the spleen and lymph node.
We conclude that the treatment with S. jambolanum has a potent prophylactic anti-septic effect that is not associated to a direct microbicidal effect but it is associated to a recruitment of activated neutrophils to the infectious site and to a diminished systemic inflammatory response.
Related Articles
Echinacea purpurea and osteopathic manipulative treatment in children with recurrent otitis media: a randomized controlled trial
Wahl, Richard A
Aldous, Michael B
Worden, Katherine A
Grant, Kathryn L
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Recurrent otitis media is a common problem in young children. Echinacea and osteopathic manipulative treatment have been proposed as preventive measures, but have been inadequately studied. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of Echinacea purpurea and/or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for prevention of acute otitis media in otitis-prone children.
A randomized, placebo-controlled, two-by-two factorial trial with 6-month follow-up, conducted 1999 – 2002 in Tucson, Arizona. Patients were aged 12–60 months with recurrent otitis media, defined as three or more separate episodes of acute otitis media within six months, or at least four episodes in one year. Ninety children (44% white non-Hispanic, 39% Hispanic, 57% male) were enrolled, of which 84 had follow-up for at least 3 months. Children were randomly assigned to one of four protocol groups: double placebo, echinacea plus sham OMT, true OMT (including cranial manipulation) plus placebo echinacea, or true echinacea plus OMT. An alcohol extract of Echinacea purpurea roots and seeds (or placebo) was administered for 10 days at the first sign of each common cold. Five OMT visits (or sham treatments) were offered over 3 months.
No interaction was found between echinacea and OMT. Echinacea was associated with a borderline increased risk of having at least one episode of acute otitis media during 6-month follow-up compared to placebo (65% versus 41%; relative risk, 1.59, 95% CI 1.04, 2.42). OMT did not significantly affect risk compared to sham (44% versus 61%; relative risk, 0.72, 95% CI 0.48, 1.10).
In otitis-prone young children, treating colds with this form of echinacea does not decrease the risk of acute otitis media, and may in fact increase risk. A regimen of up to five osteopathic manipulative treatments does not significantly decrease the risk of acute otitis media.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00010465
Related Articles
Neuroprotective efficacy and therapeutic window of curcuma oil: in rat embolic stroke model
Dohare, Preeti
Garg, Puja
sharma, Uma
Jagannathan, NR
Ray, Madhur
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Among the naturally occurring compounds, turmeric from the dried rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa has long been used extensively as a condiment and a household remedy all over Southeast Asia. Turmeric contains essential oil, yellow pigments (curcuminoids), starch and oleoresin. The present study was designed for investigating the neuroprotective efficacy and the time window for effective therapeutic use of Curcuma oil (C. oil).
In the present study, the effect of post ischemic treatment of C.oil after ischemia induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in the rat was observed. C.oil (500 mg/kg body wt) was given 4 hrs post ischemia. The significant effect on lesion size as visualized by using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and neuroscore was still evident when treatment was started 4 hours after insult. Animals were assessed for behavioral deficit scores after 5 and 24 hours of ischemia. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed for evaluation of infarct and edema volumes and other parameters.
C.oil ameliorated the ischemia induced neurological functional deficits and the infarct and edema volumes measured after 5 and 24 hrs of ischemia. After 24 hrs, immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of iNOS, cytochrome c and Bax/Bcl-2 were altered after the insult, and antagonized by treatment with C.oil. C.oil significantly reduced nitrosative stress, tended to correct the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and also affected caspase-3 activation finally apoptosis.
Here we demonstrated that iNOS-derived NO produced during ischemic injury was crucial for the up-regulation of ischemic injury targets. C.oil down-regulates these targets this coincided with an increased survival rate of neurons.
Related Articles
Antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of the methanol extracts of the stems of Acokanthera oppositifolia and Adenia gummifera
Adedapo, Adeolu A
Jimoh, Florence O
Afolayan, Anthony J
Masika, Patrick J
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Acokanthera oppositifolia Lam (family: Apocynaceae) is a shrub or small tree with white latex, and the leaves of this plant are used in the form of a snuff to treat headaches and in infusions for abdominal pains and convulsions and septicaemia. Adenia gummifera Harv of the family Passifloraceae is a distinctive woody climber whose infusions are used as emetics and are said to help with some forms of depression. Lipid peroxidation has gained more importance today because of its involvement in pathogenesis of many diseases. Free radicals are the main agents in lipid peroxidation. Antioxidants thus play an important role of protecting the human body against damage by the free radicals. Plants containing phenolic compounds have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties.
The antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of the methanol extracts of the stems of Acokanthera oppositifolia and Adenia gummifera were evaluated using in vitro standard procedures. Spectrophotometry was the basis for the determinations of total phenol, total flavonoids, flavonols, and proanthocyanidins. Tannins, quercetin and catechin equivalents were used for these parameters. The antioxidant activities of the stem extract of Acokanthera oppositifolia were determined by the 2,2'-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods.
The results from this study showed that the antioxidant activities of the stem extract of Acokanthera oppositifolia as determined by the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods, were higher than that of Adenia gummifera. The levels of total phenols and flavonols for A. oppositifolia were also higher. On the other hand, the stem extract of Adenia gummifera had higher level of total flavonoids and proanthocyanidins than that of Acokanthera oppositifolia. The 2, 2'-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) activities of the 2 plant extracts were similar and comparable to that of BHT.
Thus, the present results indicate clearly that the extracts of Acokanthera oppositifolia and Adenia gummifera possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavengers, acting possibly as primary antioxidants. This study has to some extent validated the medicinal potential of the stems of Acokanthera oppositifolia and Adenia gummifera.
Related Articles
Antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Calpurnia aurea
Adedapo, Adeolu A
Jimoh, Florence O
Koduru, Srinivas
Afolayan, Anthony J
Masika, Patrick J
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In South Africa, Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth is used to destroy lice and to relieve itches, to destroy maggots and to treat allergic rashes, particularly those caused by caterpillars. Antioxidants play an important role protecting against damage by reactive oxygen species. Plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties.
The antibacterial, antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Calpurnia aurea were evaluated using in vitro standard methods. Spectrophotometry was the basis for the determinations of total phenol, total flavonoids, flavonols, and proanthocyanidins. Tannins, quercetin and catechin equivalents were used for these parameters. The antioxidant activities of the stem extract of Calpurnia aurea were determined by ABTS, DPPH, and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods. Laboratory isolates of 10 bacteria species which included five Gram-positive and five Gram-negative strains were used to assay for antibacterial activity of this plant.
The results from this study showed that the antioxidant activities of the stem extract of Calpurnia aurea as determined by the total phenol, flavonoids, and FRAP methods were higher than that of the leaves. On the other hand, the leaf extract of the plant has higher level of total flavonols and proanthocyanidins. The leaf extract also has higher radical scavenging activity as shown in 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2¿-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. The leaf extract showed activity against seven of the bacterial organisms.
The results from this study indicate that the leaves and stem extracts of Calpurnia aurea possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavenger or, acting possibly as primary antioxidants. Although, the antibacterial properties of Calpurnia aurea are not as effective as the standard drugs- Chloramphenicol and Streptomycin, they still possess some activity against bacterial strains used in this study. Calpurnia aurea may therefore be a good candidate for functional foods as well as pharmaceutical plant-based products.
Related Articles
Patient satisfaction and side effects in primary care: An observational study comparing homeopathy and conventional medicine
Marian, Florica
Joost, Kerstin
Saini, Krishan D
von Ammon, Klaus
Thurneysen, André
Busato, André
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
This study is part of a nationwide evaluation of complementary medicine in Switzerland (Programme Evaluation of Complementary Medicine PEK) and was funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. The main objective of this study is to investigate patient satisfaction and perception of side effects in homeopathy compared with conventional care in a primary care setting.
We examined data from two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2002–2003. The first study was a physician questionnaire assessing structural characteristics of practices. The second study was conducted on four given days during a 12-month period in 2002/2003 using a physician and patient questionnaire at consultation and a patient questionnaire mailed to the patient one month later (including Europep questionnaire).
The participating physicians were all trained and licensed in conventional medicine. An additional qualification was required for medical doctors providing homeopathy (membership in the Swiss association of homeopathic physicians SVHA).
A total of 6778 adult patients received the questionnaire and 3126 responded (46.1%). Statistically significant differences were found with respect to health status (higher percentage of chronic and severe conditions in the homeopathic group), perception of side effects (higher percentage of reported side effects in the conventional group) and patient satisfaction (higher percentage of satisfied patients in the homeopathic group).
Overall patient satisfaction was significantly higher in homeopathic than in conventional care. Homeopathic treatments were perceived as a low-risk therapy with two to three times fewer side effects than conventional care
Related Articles
In vivo effects of Pain Relieving Plaster on closed soft tissue injury in rabbit ears
Wang, Yong-Zhi
Guo, Chun-Yu
Zhong, Hong-Gang
Zhang, Wan-Nian
Wang, De-Long
Wang, Xuan
Dong, Fu-Hui
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Soft tissue injury imposes major public health burdens worldwide. The positive effect of China's Tibetan medicine and the Lamiophlomis rotata-based herbal Pain Relieving Plaster (PRP) on healing closed soft tissue injury (CSTI) has been reported. The herbs contained in Plaster are also referred as 'blood-activating and stasis-dispelling' in herbal medicine. The formula of the plaster contains four China's Tibetan medical herbs, including Lamiophlomis rotata, Oxytropis falcate Bunge, Curcuma longa Linn, and Myricaria bracteata. Two of these herbs (Lamiophlomis rotate; Curcuma longa Linn) are commonly used in different formulae of Chinese medicine. The objective of this study is to use an interdisciplinary approach to test the hypothesis that the formula and its components influence the process of CSTI.
In vivo models have been established in 30 rabbit ear pinnae and studied for: (1) blood flow velocity (BFV) which was affected by pressure of 21.2 kg/cm2 for 30 second over the local rabbit ear tissue; (2) edema formation of the closed soft tissue injury; (3) in vivo local temperature change.
The results of in vivo studies indicated that CSTI significantly increased the velocity of blood flow and increased edema formation within the control group. The PRP extracts for 5 hours significantly slowed down the BFV of CSTI in rabbit ears, markedly decreased the elevated edema level from the 3rd to the 5th day.
The ingredients contained in the formula have positive effects in healing CSTI and further study is worth exploring.
Related Articles
Pharmacokinetic and metabolic effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in healthy volunteers receiving the HIV protease inhibitor indinavir
Andrade, Adriana SA
Hendrix, Craig
Parsons, Teresa L
Caballero, Benjamin
Yuan, Chun-Su
Flexner, Charles W
Dobs, Adrian S
Brown, Todd T
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among HIV-infected patients to reduce the toxicity of antiretroviral therapy. Ginseng has been used for treatment of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, a common side effect of some HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PI). However, it is unknown whether American ginseng (AG) can reverse insulin resistance induced by the PI indinavir (IDV), and whether these two agents interact pharmacologically. We evaluated potential pharmacokinetic interactions between IDV and AG, and assessed whether AG improves IDV-induced insulin resistance.
After baseline assessment of insulin sensitivity using the insulin clamp technique, healthy volunteers received IDV 800 mg q8 h for 3 days and then IDV and AG 1g q8h for 14 days. IDV pharmacokinetics and insulin sensitivity were assessed before and after AG co-administration.
There was no difference in the area-under the plasma-concentration-time curve after the co-administration of AG, compared to IDV alone (n = 13). Although insulin-stimulated glucose disposal per unit of insulin (M/I) decreased by an average of 14.8 ± 5.9% after 3 days of IDV (from 0.113 ± 0.012 to 0.096 ± 0.014 mg/kgFFM/min per μU/ml of insulin, p = 0.03, n = 11), M/I remained unchanged after co-administration of IDV and AG.
IDV decreases insulin sensitivity, which is unaltered by AG co-administration. AG does not significantly affect IDV pharmacokinetics.
Related Articles
Kihi-to, a herbal traditional medicine, improves Abeta(25–35)-induced memory impairment and losses of neurites and synapses
Tohda, Chihiro
Naito, Rie
Joyashiki, Eri
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
We previously hypothesized that achievement of recovery of brain function after the injury requires the reconstruction of neuronal networks, including neurite regeneration and synapse reformation. Kihi-to is composed of twelve crude drugs, some of which have already been shown to possess neurite extension properties in our previous studies. The effect of Kihi-to on memory deficit has not been examined. Thus, the goal of the present study is to determine the in vivo and in vitro effects of Kihi-to on memory, neurite growth and synapse reconstruction.
Effects of Kihi-to, a traditional Japanese-Chinese traditional medicine, on memory deficits and losses of neurites and synapses were examined using Alzheimer's disease model mice. Improvements of Aβ(25–35)-induced neuritic atrophy by Kihi-to and the mechanism were investigated in cultured cortical neurons.
Administration of Kihi-to for consecutive 3 days resulted in marked improvements of Aβ(25–35)-induced impairments in memory acquisition, memory retention, and object recognition memory in mice. Immunohistochemical comparisons suggested that Kihi-to attenuated neuritic, synaptic and myelin losses in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum. Kihi-to also attenuated the calpain increase in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. When Kihi-to was added to cells 4 days after Aβ(25–35) treatment, axonal and dendritic outgrowths in cultured cortical neurons were restored as demonstrated by extended lengths of phosphorylated neurofilament-H (P-NF-H) and microtubule-associated protein (MAP)2-positive neurites. Aβ(25–35)-induced cell death in cortical culture was also markedly inhibited by Kihi-to. Since NF-H, MAP2 and myelin basic protein (MBP) are substrates of calpain, and calpain is known to be involved in Aβ-induced axonal atrophy, expression levels of calpain and calpastatin were measured. Treatment with Kihi-to inhibited the Aβ(25–35)-evoked increase in the calpain level and decrease in the calpastatin level. In addition, Kihi-to inhibited Aβ(25–35)-induced calcium entry.
In conclusion Kihi-to clearly improved the memory impairment and losses of neurites and synapses.
Related Articles
Mapping patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use in cancer: An explorative cross-sectional study of individuals with reported positive "exceptional" experiences
Hök, Johanna
Tishelman, Carol
Ploner, Alexander
Forss, Anette
Falkenberg, Torkel
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
While the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is common and widespread, levels of commitment to CAM vary. "Committed" CAM use is important to investigate, as it may be associated with elevated risks and benefits, and may affect use of biomedically-oriented health care (BHC). Multiple methodological approaches were used to explore and map patterns of CAM use among individuals postulated to be committed users, voluntarily reporting exceptional experiences associated with CAM use after cancer diagnosis.
The verbatim transcripts of thirty-eight unstructured interviews were analyzed in two steps. First, manifest content analysis was used to elucidate and map participants' use of CAM, based on the National Center for Complementary Medicine (NCCAM)'s classification system. Second, patterns of CAM use were explored statistically using principal component analysis.
The 38 participants reported using a total of 274 specific CAM (median = 4) consisting of 148 different therapeutic modalities. Most reported therapies could be categorized using the NCCAM taxonomy (n = 224). However, a significant number of CAM therapies were not consistent with this categorization (n = 50); consequently, we introduced two additional categories: Spiritual/health literature and Treatment centers. The two factors explaining the largest proportion of variation in CAM usage patterns were a) number of CAM modalities used and b) a category preference for Energy therapies over the categories Alternative Medical Systems and Treatment centers or vice versa.
We found considerable heterogeneity in patterns of CAM use. By analyzing users' own descriptions of CAM in relation to the most commonly used predefined professional taxonomy, this study highlights discrepancies between user and professional conceptualizations of CAM not previously addressed. Beyond variations in users' reports of CAM, our findings indicate some patterns in CAM usage related to number of therapies used and preference for different CAM categories.
Related Articles
Use of complementary and alternative medicine and self-tests by coronary heart disease patients
Greenfield, Sheila
Pattison, Helen
Jolly, Kate
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Coronary heart disease patients have to learn to manage their condition to maximise quality of life and prevent recurrence or deterioration. They may develop their own informal methods of self-management in addition to the advice they receive as part of formal cardiac rehabilitation programmes. This study aimed to explore the use of complementary and alternative medicines and therapies (CAM), self-test kits and attitudes towards health of UK patients one year after referral to cardiac rehabilitation.
Questionnaire given to 463 patients attending an assessment clinic for 12 month follow up in four West Midlands hospitals.
91.1% completed a questionnaire. 29.1% of patients used CAM and/or self-test kits for self-management but few (8.9%) used both methods. CAM was more often used for treating other illnesses than for CHD management. Self-test kit use (77.2%,) was more common than CAM (31.7%,) with BP monitors being the most prevalent (80.0%). Patients obtained self-test kits from a wide range of sources, for the most part (89.5%) purchased entirely on their own initiative. Predictors of self-management were post revascularisation status and higher scores on 'holism', 'rejection of authority' and 'individual responsibility'. Predictors of self-test kit use were higher 'holism' and 'individual responsibility' scores.
Patients are independently using new technologies to monitor their cardiovascular health, a role formerly carried out only by healthcare practitioners. Post-rehabilitation patients reported using CAM for self-management less frequently than they reported using self-test kits. Reports of CAM use were less frequent than in previous surveys of similar patient groups. Automatic assumptions cannot be made by clinicians about which CHD patients are most likely to self-manage. In order to increase trust and compliance it is important for doctors to encourage all CHD patients to disclose their self-management practices and to continue to address this in follow up consultations.
Related Articles
Complementary and alternative medicine use and cost in functional bowel disorders: A six month prospective study in a large HMO
van Tilburg, Miranda AL
Palsson, Olafur S
Levy, Rona L
Feld, Andrew D
Turner, Marsha J
Drossman, Douglas A
Whitehead, William E
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Functional Bowel Disorders (FBD) are chronic disorders that are difficult to treat and manage. Many patients and doctors are dissatisfied with the level of improvement in symptoms that can be achieved with standard medical care which may lead them to seek alternatives for care. There are currently no data on the types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) used for FBDs other than Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or on the economic costs of CAM treatments. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence, types and costs of CAM in IBS, functional diarrhea, functional constipation, and functional abdominal pain.
1012 Patients with FBD were recruited through a health care maintenance organization and followed for 6 months. Questionnaires were used to ascertain: Utilization and expenditures on CAM, symptom severity (IBS-SS), quality of life (IBS-QoL), psychological distress (BSI) and perceived treatment effectiveness. Costs for conventional medical care were extracted from administrative claims.
CAM was used by 35% of patients, at a median yearly cost of $200. The most common CAM types were ginger, massage therapy and yoga. CAM use was associated with female gender, higher education, and anxiety. Satisfaction with physician care and perceived effectiveness of prescription medication were not associated with CAM use. Physician referral to a CAM provider was uncommon but the majority of patients receiving this recommendation followed their physician's advice.
CAM is used by one-third of FBD patients. CAM use does not seem to be driven by dissatisfaction with conventional care. Physicians should discuss CAM use and effectiveness with their patients and refer patients if appropriate.
Related Articles
Knowledge and beliefs concerning evidence-based practice amongst complementary and alternative medicine health care practitioners and allied health care professionals: A questionnaire survey
Hadley, Julie
Hassan, Ismail
Khan, Khalid S
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has become an important competency in many allied and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) health care practitioners' professional standards of proficiency.
To compliment an EBP course for allied health care professionals and CAM practitioners, we undertook a questionnaire survey to assess learning needs. We developed a questionnaire to measure allied health care professionals and CAM practitioners' basic knowledge, skills and beliefs concerning the main principles of EBP. The questionnaires were administered to all attendees of one-day EBP workshops.
During 2004–5 we surveyed 193 allied health care professionals and CAM practitioners who attended one-day EBP courses prior to commencement of teaching. Of the respondents 121 (62.7%) were allied health care professionals and 65 (33.7%) practitioners stated that they work in the CAM field Our survey found that the majority of the respondents had not previously attended a literature appraisal skills workshop (87.3%) or received formal training in research methods (69.9%), epidemiology (91.2%) or statistics (80.8%). Furthermore, 67.1% of practitioners specified that they felt that they had not had adequate training in EBM and they identified that they needed more training and education in the principles of EBM (86.7%). Differences in knowledge and beliefs concerning EBP amongst allied and CAM practitioners were found and length of time since qualification was also found to be an important factor in practitioner's beliefs. More CAM practitioners compared to allied health professionals accessed educational literature via the Internet (95.3% v 68.1%, p = 0.008). Whilst, practitioners with more than 11 years experience felt that original research papers were far more confusing (p = 0.02) than their less experienced colleagues.
The results demonstrate that practitioner's learning needs do vary according to the type of profession, time since graduation and prior research experience. Our survey findings are exploratory and will benefit from further replication, however, we do believe that they warrant consideration by allied health care and CAM tutors and trainers when planning EBP teaching curricula as it is important to tailor teaching to meet the needs of specific subgroups of trainees to ensure that specific learning needs are met.
Related Articles
Animal-based remedies as complementary medicines in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Brazil
Alves, Rômulo RN
Lima, Helenice N
Tavares, Marília C
Souto, Wedson MS
Barboza, Raynner RD
Vasconcellos, Alexandre
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The use of animal products in healing is an ancient and widespread cross-cultural practice. In northeastern Brazil, especially in the semi-arid region, animals and plants are widely used in traditional medicine and play significant roles in healing practices. Zootherapies form an integral part of these cultures, and information about animals is passed from generation to generation through oral folklore. Nevertheless, studies on medicinal animals are still scarce in northeastern Brazil, especially when compared to those focusing on medicinal plants. This paper examines the use and commercialization of animals for medicinal purposes in Brazil's semi-arid caatinga region.
Data was obtained through field surveys conducted in the public markets in the city of Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Pernambuco State, Brazil. We interviewed 16 merchants (9 men and 7 women) who provided information regarding folk remedies based on animal products.
A total of 37 animal species (29 families), distributed among 7 taxonomic categories were found to be used to treat 51 different ailments. The most frequently cited treatments focused on the respiratory system, and were mainly related to problems with asthma. Zootherapeutic products are prescribed as single drugs or are mixed with other ingredients. Mixtures may include several to many more valuable medicinal animals added to other larger doses of more common medicinal animals and plants. The uses of certain medicinal animals are associated with popular local beliefs known as 'simpatias'. We identified 2 medicinal species (Struthio camelus and Nasutitermes macrocephalus) not previously documented for Brazil. The use of animals as remedies in the area surveyed is associated with socio economic and cultural factors. Some of the medicinal animal species encountered in this study are included in lists of endangered species.
Our results demonstrate that a large variety of animals are used in traditional medicinal practices in Brazil's semi-arid northeastern region. In addition to the need for pharmacological investigations in order to confirm the efficiency of these folk medicines, the present study emphasizes the importance of establishing conservation priorities and sustainable production of the various medicinal animals used. The local fauna, folk culture, and monetary value of these activities are key factors influencing the use and commercialization of animal species for therapeutic purposes.
Related Articles
A scoping review of research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the mass media: Looking back, moving forward
Weeks, Laura C
Strudsholm, Tina
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become more common in Western developed countries in recent years, as has media reporting on CAM and related issues. Correspondingly, media reports are a primary information source regarding decisions to use CAM. Research on CAM related media reports is becoming increasingly relevant and important; however, identifying key concepts to guide future research is problematic due to the dispersed nature of completed research in this field. A scoping review was conducted to: 1) determine the amount, focus and nature of research on CAM and the mass media; and 2) summarize and disseminate related research results.
The main phases were: 1) searching for relevant studies; 2) selecting studies based on pre-defined inclusion criteria; 3) extracting data; and 4) collating, summarizing and reporting the results.
Of 4,454 studies identified through various search strategies, 16 were relevant to our objectives and included in a final sample. CAM and media research has focused primarily on print media coverage of a range of CAM therapies, although only a few studies articulated differences within the range of therapies surveyed. Research has been developed through a variety of disciplinary perspectives, with a focus on representation research. The research reviewed suggests that journalists draw on a range of sources to prepare media reports, although most commonly they cite conventional (versus CAM) sources and personal anecdotes. The tone of media reports appears generally positive, which may be related to a lack of reporting on issues related to risk and safety. Finally, a variety of discourses within media representations of CAM are apparent that each appeal to a specific audience through resonance with their specific concerns.
Research on CAM and the mass media spans multiple disciplines and strategies of inquiry; however, despite the diversity in approach, it is clear that issues related to production and reception of media content are in need of research attention. To address the varied issues in a comprehensive manner, future research needs to be collaborative, involving researchers across disciplines, journalists and CAM users.
Related Articles
Results 1-25 (66)
« Previous
Go to page number:
Next »
Remove citation from clipboard
Add citation to clipboard
This will clear all selections from your clipboard. Do you wish proceed?
Clipboard is full! Please remove an item and try again.
Contact Us
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
(CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's
national science library
in cooperation with the
National Center for Biotechnology Information
at the
U.S. National Library of Medicine
(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the
PubMed Central International archive
by participating publishers.


text:
Skip navigation
Oracle Community Directory
Oracle Community FAQ
Log in
My Oracle Support Community (MOSC)
Go Directly To
Oracle Technology Network Community
My Oracle Support Community
OPN Cloud Connection
Oracle Employee Community
Oracle User Group Community
Topliners Community
OTN Speaker Bureau
Java Community
Please enter a title.
You can not post a blank message. Please type your message and try again.
More discussions
WebLogic Server - General
All Places
Fusion Middleware
WebLogic Server - General
This discussion is archived
1 Reply
Latest reply
on Nov 16, 2012 12:05 AM by idm731
WebLogic - problem with loading images on ssl
Nov 15, 2012 7:45 PM
Hi All
I have created a webpage (.jsp) with some images & text and deployed it on WebLogic 10.3.5 application server. I have also configured an OHS 11g web-server in reverse proxy configuration and linked it to the WebLogic server. The Apache ssl/non-ssl ports are are configured with non-ssl port of WebLogic.
My setup works perfectly fine while accessing the page on non-ssl protocol but when I try to access the webpage on SSL protocol, I get the following IE browser warning - 'Do you want to view only the webpage content that was delivered securely? If I select yes, then the images do not load.
I used HTTPFox in Mozilla to understand the page load sequence and hound out that the URL of the image starts with HTTP instead of HTTPS. I am using relative URLs for the images in my web-page.
I have verified that the image URL is accessible on ssl/non-ssl ports i.e. both of the following URLs are accessible:
1. http://www.domain.com:80/images/image1.jpg
2. https://www.domain.com:443/images/image1.jpg
Please let me know how I can load my images on HTTPS rather than on HTTP.
I have the same question
Show 0 Likes
This content has been marked as final.
Show 1 reply
Re: WebLogic - problem with loading images on ssl
Nov 16, 2012 12:05 AM
in response to
Try the following:
1. Enable WebLogic plugin in weblogic console
2. Update frontend host and port for your weblogic managed server instance
3. Add OHS proxy parameters in virtualhost settings -
- WLProxySSL ON
- WLProxySSLPassThrough ON
4. Restart the servers and try again.
Let me know if you face any issues.


text: Diddy's 35 Best Rides Photos on Instagram By Tony Markovich Assistant Editor. Mizzou Journalism. Indiana. Hip-Hop. Ice cream. Cars. Bulls/Packers/Hawks/Cubs. Follow Tony on Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ Share Tweet 0 Cassie Jeep Caption: #repost #rockabyebaby Watch Now Tags: Lists, Celebrity Cars, Diddy, Maybach, Rides Like Follow Chat SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER Enter Show Comments