A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Brief-CBT for Patients with Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Following a Motor Vehicle Crash

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Comparison of chemical profiles and effectiveness between Erxian decoction and mixtures of its individual herbs decoction: A novel approach for identification of the standard chemicals

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Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and its associated morbidity in adults with asthma: A multicentre study

Objectives To assess the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in adult patients with asthma in Hong Kong, and to compare the morbidity endured by asthma patients with and without allergic rhinitis. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Respiratory clinics of four major public hospitals in Hong Kong. Patients A total of 600 adults with asthma were recruited from March to May 2007. Main outcome measures Doctors and patients completed separate questionnaires evaluating symptoms, treatment, and health care utilisation. Spirometry data were obtained for a subgroup of patients at the time of survey completion. Results The patients consisted of 267 males and 333 females, with 251 having spirometry data. The mean pre-bronchodilator 1-second forced expiratory volume predicted among those who had spirometry performed was 88% (standard deviation, 28%). In all, 50% of the patients had intermittent and 50% had persistent asthma. Over three quarters (463/600; 77%) of patients had experienced allergic rhinitis symptoms in the past 12 months, of whom 96% had a previous diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Asthmatics without allergic rhinitis symptoms had higher rates of visits to doctors, pharmacy visits, emergency department attendances, and hospitalisations for asthma than those with both conditions. Among subjects with asthma and allergic rhinitis, those taking nasal steroid (226/463; 49%) had lower rates of emergency department visits (13 vs 25%, P=0.002) and hospitalisations (7 vs 13%, P=0.045) for asthma than those who were not. Conclusion Allergic rhinitis is a common co-morbid condition of asthma in this hospital clinic cohort. Treatment of allergic rhinitis with intra-nasal steroid was associated with less health care utilisation for asthma.published_or_final_versio

Combined oestrogen and progesterone for preventing miscarriage

© 2013 The Cochrane Collaboration. Background: Historically, oestrogen and progesterone were each commonly used to save threatened pregnancies. In the 1940s it was postulated that their combined use would be synergistic and thereby led to the rationale of combined therapy for women who risked miscarriage. Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of combined oestrogen and progesterone therapy to prevent miscarriage. Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (23 June 2013) CENTRAL (OVID) (The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 6 of 12), MEDLINE (OVID) (1946 to June Week 2 2013), OLDMEDLINE (1946 to 1965), Embase (1974 to Week 25 2013), Embase Classic (1947 to 1973), CINAHL (1994 to 23 June 2013) and reference lists of retrieved studies. Selection criteria: We included randomised controlled trials that assessed the effectiveness of combined oestrogen and progesterone for preventing miscarriage. We included one stratified randomised trial and one quasi-randomised trials. Cluster-randomised trials were eligible for inclusion but none were identified. We excluded studies published only as abstracts. We included studies that compared oestrogen and progesterone versus placebo or no intervention. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and assessed trial quality. Two review authors extracted data. Data were checked for accuracy. Main results: Two trials (281 pregnancies and 282 fetuses) met our inclusion criteria. However, the two trials had significant clinical and methodological heterogeneity such that a meta-analysis combining trial data was considered inappropriate. One trial (involving 161 pregnancies) was based on women with a history of diabetes. It showed no statistically significant difference between using combined oestrogen and progestogen and using placebo for all our proposed primary outcomes, namely, miscarriage (risk ratio (RR) 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32 to 2.80), perinatal death (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.69) and preterm birth (less than 34 weeks of gestation) (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.04). In terms of this review's secondary outcomes, use of combined oestrogen and progestogen was associated with an increased risk of maternal cancer in the reproductive system (RR 6.65, 95% CI 1.56 to 28.29). However, for the outcome of cancer other than that of the reproductive system in mothers, there was no difference between groups. Similarly, there were no differences between the combined oestrogen and progestogen group versus placebo for other secondary outcomes reported: low birthweight of less than 2500 g, genital abnormalities in the offspring, abnormalities other than genital tract in the offspring, cancer in the reproductive system in the offspring, or cancer other than of the reproductive system in the offspring. The second study was based on pregnant women who had undergone in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). This study showed no difference in the rate of miscarriage between the combined oestrogen and progesterone group and the no treatment group (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.85). The study did not report on this review's other primary outcomes (perinatal death or rates of preterm birth), nor on any of our proposed secondary outcomes. Authors' conclusions: There is an insufficient evidence from randomised controlled trials to assess the use of combined oestrogen and progesterone for preventing miscarriages. We strongly recommend further research in this area

The role of family physicians in suicide prevention

Suicide is a public health problem of varying scales in different countries and cities. Over the past few years, the suicide rate in Hong Kong has been steadily rising. This paper explores the unique strategic role of family physicians in suicide prevention, with special reference to the scenario in Hong Kong. Models of conceptualizing and assessing suicide risks were examined. Suggestions on how to actually conduct the assessment interview are presented for discussion.published_or_final_versio

The hidden face of Erbil: change and persistence in the urban core

This research study on the origin and evolution of the built environment of Erbil city, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan concentrates particularly on the duality of change and persistence in the urban core throughout the centuries. Erbil is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, its ancient citadel was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014. Its historic urban core - civic, religious and commercial heart of Erbil - standing at the bottom of the citadel's hill from its south part - has experienced many changes over the centuries, and is currently part of a protective buffer zone for the conservation of the citadel. The long history of the urban core is not immediately apparent due to successive periods of construction and demolition, which have left few traces of the past, hence many ambiguities surround both the urban core and parts of the lower city leading to difficulties in understanding its origin and character. The few previous architectural studies that have focused on parts of the urban core have concentrated mainly on specific areas or on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, leaving the earlier periods under-investigated. This research, therefore, set out to reveal the hidden face of Erbil, specifically its urban core, via a qualitative interdisciplinary study, with multi method that involves history, archaeology, architecture and socio-culture. A triangulation approach was applied that incorporated four chronological periods – the Assyrian, the Attabeg, the Early Modern, and the Modern periods. The impact of the various agents on the tangible urban elements, such as the nodes, paths and edges, as well as on the intangible elements, such as rituals, events, and activities that characterised these elements has also been included. The results of the study show that the urban core was traced back to the Attabeg period and a public square (maidan), and the citadel gate possibly date to the Assyrian period (1000 to 612 BCE). The main agents of change have been beliefs, decisions of the rulers and economic forces. The persistent urban elements – the maidan, the historic paths of the bazar area and the citadel gate – were integral to events, rituals and other activities, some of which disappeared altogether, some were assimilated for other purposes while others persisted. For instance, during the Attabeg period the establishment of the maidan reflected the power of the rulers, religious beliefs and commercial activities, while, under the Ottomans (16th century CE) when there was a shift from single rulers to groups of civic-minded citizens, to meet new civic, commercial and religious needs, construction projects were undertaken and a network of pathways was developed. Likewise, late in the modern period, after the city had benefited from further economic and political changes, the need for a public square was revived. By exploring Erbil's urban core, this thesis has identified its origins and has revealed the persistent elements, the evolutionary dynamics that have affected its tangible and intangible aspects, and the main agents that have contributed to these phenomena

Community Structure of Cucumber (Holothuroidea) in Kakara Island Village Beach Subdistrict Tobelo

Sea cucumbers are marine resources that have economically important value and one potential sufficient resources to serve nutritious meals so that the exploitation of this resource will continue to increase for food need. This can lead to changes in community structure. Sampling was done at night while the lowest ebb on August 20, 2013. The objective of this research work was to identity the species, the species to determine composition, and the population density and to know the species dominance, species diversity, and determine the form of interspecific association. Based on the results of research conducted in the District Tobelo Beach Island District Kakara Tobelo sea cucumber species found were 8 species, Holothuria atra, Actinopygia lecanora, Stichopus horrens, Bohadschia argus, Holothuria hilla, Actinopygia achinites, Holothuria pardalis, and Bohadschia marmorata. The diversity index H '= 1.9463, equity index or harmony e = 0.9359, and dominance index C = 0.1592. In addition, among 8 species associations if formed 9 pairs of positive associations and 19 pairs of negative associations.   Keywords : Structure communities, Holothuroidea, Tobel

Phytoplankton Density and Diversity in the Waters around the Reclamation Area in Manado Beach

ABSTRACT Phytoplankton is one of the most important aquatic organisms and has a major role in the cycle of life in the waters. Phytoplankton is able to do the process of photosynthesis to produce the organic matter utilized by other organisms living in aquatic environments. Phytoplankton can also be used as one of the ecological parameters that can describe the ecological conditions of the body of water and can be used as bio-indicators of pollution in the water. The purpose of this study is to obtain the types of phytoplankton in the waters around the reclamation area in Manado Beach, to know the diversity and density of phytoplankton species, and to determine the types of phytoplankton which are dominant according to the water depth. The phytoplankton found in the research site belonged to 27 genera. Station 1, 27 species were found in 5m depth, 19 species in 15m depth and 12 species in 30m depth. Station 2, 24 species were found in 5m depth, 20 species in 15m depth and 13 species in 30m depth. For index density, station 1 and 2 at a depth of 5 m has the highest density of 11 individuals/l and 12.333 Individuals/l. Diversity indices for stations 1 and 2 showed at a depth of 5 m, 2.954 and 2.891, respectively. The dominance indices at station 1 and station 2 showed that were no species dominance. Keywords : phytoplankton, density, diversity, reclamation area   ABSTRAK Fitoplankton  merupakan salah satu organisme perairan yang sangat penting dan mempunyai peran utama dalam siklus kehidupan di  perairan. Fitoplankton mampu melakukan proses fotosintesis untuk menghasilkan senyawa organik yang merupakan sumber energi yang dimanfaatkan oleh organisme lain yang hidup di lingkungan perairan. Fitoplankton juga dapat digunakan sebagai salah satu parameter ekologi yang dapat menggambarkan bagaimana kondisi ekologi suatu perairan dan dapat digunakan sebagai bio-indikator pencemaran dalam suatu perairan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan data jenis-jenis fitoplankton yang ada di perairan sekitar kawasan reklamasi Pantai Manado, mengetahui keanekaragaman dan kepadatan spesies fitoplankton dan mengetahui jenis-jenis fitoplankton yang dominan menurut kedalaman air. Jenis fitoplankton yang ditemukan di lokasi penelitian totalnya berjumlah 27 genus.   Stasiun 1, ditemukan 27 spesies di kedalaman 5m, 19 spesies di kedalaman 15m dan 12 spesies di kedalaman 30m. Stasiun 2, ditemukan 24 spesies di kedalaman 5m, 20 spesies di kedalaman 15m dan 13 spesies di kedalaman 30m.Untuk indeks kepadatan, stasiun 1 dan 2 di kedalaman 5 m memiliki kepadatan tertinggi yaitu 11 Ind/l dan 12,333 Ind/l. Indeks keanekaragaman untuk stasiun 1 dan 2 di kedalaman 5m yaitu 2,954 dan 2,891, indeks dominasi di stasiun 1 dan stasiun 2 menunjukkan tidak adanya dominasi spesies. Kata kunci : fitoplankton, kepadatan, keanekaragaman, kawasan reklamasi 1Bagian dari skripsi 2Mahasiswa Program Studi Manajemen Sumberdaya Perairan FPIK-UNSRAT 3Staf pengajar Fakultas Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan Universitas Sam Ratulang

Elevated plasma adiponectin levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory adipokine that may play a role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between adiponectin, interleukin (IL) 6, IL-8 and C-reactive protein (CRP) and COPD by evaluating these biomarkers in ever-smokers with or without the disease. METHOD: Plasma levels of adiponectin, IL-6, IL-8 and CRP were measured using commercially available kits in COPD patients (n = 71), healthy ever-smokers (n = 62) and non-smokers (n = 51). RESULTS: There were significant increases in plasma adiponectin, IL-6 and CRP in COPD patients (median [IQR] 4.39 μg/ml [2.68-6.98], 4.19 pg/ml [<2.40-6.40], 8.75 mg/l [4.26-40.63], respectively) compared to healthy ever-smokers (1.90 μg/ml [0.86-2.86], <2.40 pg/ml [<2.40-2.77], 3.71 mg/l [1.97-10.37 mg/l], respectively, P < 0.001) and non-smokers (1.76 μg/ml [1.34-2.52], <2.40 pg/ml [<2.40-2.78], 3.12 mg/l [2.11-5.71], respectively, P < 0.001). COPD patients had lower plasma IL-8 levels than healthy ever-smokers. Among ever-smokers with or without COPD, plasma adiponectin, IL-6 and CRP levels were inversely correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (% predicted) after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking status and pack-years. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that in COPD patients, adiponectin might be associated with COPD pathogenesis. © 2010 The Union.postprin

Community Structure of Pomacentridae fish in Coastal Waters on Malalayang Dua Village of Manado Gulf

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the species composition and commu-nity structure of Pomacentridae (relative density, diversity, dominance and even-ness of species). This research was conducted in waters of the Manado Bay, at Kelurahan Malalayang Dua shore, on August 14th, 2012. The studies was conduc-ted on 2 sites, one has 3 meters depth (01o27'40.5" NL 124o47'32.5" EL) and ano-ther at 10 meters depth (01o27'43.6" NL 124o47'27.8" EL). The results and analysis of data, the total number of species found at a depth of 2 points is 15 species, in which was found at a depth of 3 meters at a depth of 10 species and 15 species discovered 10 meters. The species most commonly found is Pomacentrus brachial and Dascyllus reticulatus. The highest relative density values at a depth of 3 meters is Dascyllus reticulatus (22%) and at depth10 meters is Pomacentrus brachialis (18%). Diversity index at 3 meters depth is 1.941 while at 10 meters is 2.326. The result showed that diversity of Pomacentridae is low at 3 meters depth and average at 10 meters depth which means moderate community hability. At both depths, there was no species dominance and the avenness was stable.   Keywords : Community Structure, Pomacentridae, Manado Gulf   ABSTRAK Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui komposisi spesies dan struktur komunitas ikan Pomacentridae (kepadatan relatif, keanekaragaman, dominasi dan kemerataan spesies). Lokasi penelitian di Teluk Manado, tepatnya di perairan depan Kelurahan Malalayang Dua. Penelitian dilakukan pada 2 titik kedalaman yaitu kedalaman 3 meter (01o27’40.5” LU 124 o47’32.5” BT) dan kedalaman 10 meter pada koordinat (01o27’43.6” LU 124 o47’27.8” BT). Metode yang digunakan adalah metode sensus visual, dengan penentuan jalur mengunakan penanda me-teran sepanjang 50 meter yang diletakkan di daerah terumbu karang yang sejajar garis pantai. Hasil penelitian dan analisis data, jumlah total spesies yang ditemu-kan pada 2 titik kedalaman adalah 15 spesies, di mana pada kedalaman 3 meter ditemukan 10 spesies dan pada kedalaman 10 meter ditemukan 15 spesies. Spe-sies yang paling banyak ditemukan adalah Pomacentrus brachialis dan Dascyllus reticulatus. Nilai kepadatan relatif tertinggi pada kedalaman 3 meter ada-lah spe-sies Dascyllus reticulatus 22% dan pada kedalaman 10 meter adalah Pomacentrus brachialis 18%. Indeks keanekaragaman pada kedalaman 3 meter adalah 1,941 sedangkan pada kedalaman 10  meter  dengan  nilai 2,326. Hal  ini  menunjukkanbahwa keanekaragaman ikan Pomacentridae pada kedalaman 3 meter adalah rendah dan pada kedalaman 10 meter keanekaragamannya adalah sedang dengan kestabilan komunitas sedang. Pada ke dua kedalaman ini tidak ada spesies dominasi dan kemerataannya adalah stabil. Kata kunci : struktur komunitas, Pomacentridae, Teluk Manado 1Bagian dari skripsi 2Mahasiswa Program Studi Manajemen Sumberdaya Perairan FPIK-UNSRA