RESUMO
BACKGROUND: This article describes the local concepts indigenous Nahua women hold regarding their reproduction. Specifically it provides a description of two indigenous illnesses--isihuayo and necaxantle, it discusses their etiology, symptoms, and treatments, and it analyzes them within the local ethnomedical framework and sociopolitical context. A perception of female vulnerability is shown to be an underlying shaper of women's experiences of these illnesses. METHODS: This research took place in a small Nahua village in Mexico. Qualitative data on local perceptions of these illnesses were collected by a combination of participant observation and interviews. Ethnobotanical data was obtained through interviews, and medicinal plants were collected in home gardens, fields, stream banks, and forested areas. The total study population consisted of traditional birth attendants (N = 5), clinicians (N = 8), and laywomen (N = 48). RESULTS: Results showed that 20% of the village women had suffered from one or both of these illnesses. The article includes a detailed description of the etiology, symptoms, and treatments of these illnesses. Data shows that they were caused by mechanical, physical, and social factors related to a woman's weakness and/or lack of support. Traditional birth attendants often treated women's illnesses. Five medicinal plants were salient in the treatment of these illnesses: Ocimum basilicum L., Mentzelia aspera L., Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit., and Piper umbellatum L. were used for isihuayo, while Solanum wendlandii Hook f. was used for necaxantle. CONCLUSIONS: The research on these two ethnomedical conditions is a useful case study to understanding how indigenous women experience reproductive health. Reproductive health is not simply about clinically-based medicine but is also about how biomedicine intersects with the local bodily concepts. By describing and analyzing indigenous women's ill health, one can focus upon the combination of causes--which extend beyond the physical body and into the larger structure that the women exist in.
Assuntos
Medicina Tradicional , Fitoterapia , Preparações de Plantas/uso terapêutico , Plantas Medicinais , Saúde Reprodutiva , Saúde da Mulher , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , México , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Tocologia , Gravidez , Complicações na Gravidez/tratamento farmacológico , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Prolapso Uterino/tratamento farmacológico , Prolapso Uterino/etiologia , Síndrome de Emaciação/tratamento farmacológico , Síndrome de Emaciação/etiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
After age 6 mo, the combination of breast-feeding and unfortified plant-based complementary feeding provides inadequate zinc (Zn). Additionally, high phytate intakes compromise the bioavailability of zinc. Our principal objective in this randomized controlled, doubly masked trial was to determine the effect of substituting low-phytate maize, a daily 5-mg zinc supplement, or both, in infants between ages 6-12 mo on impaired linear growth velocity, a common feature of zinc deficiency. In the Western Highlands of Guatemala, 412 infants were randomized to receive low-phytate or control maize. Within each maize group, infants were further randomized to receive a zinc supplement or placebo. Length, weight, and head circumference were measured at 6, 9, and 12 mo of age. There were no significant differences between the 2 maize groups or between the Zn supplement and placebo groups and no treatment interaction was observed for length-for-age (LAZ), weight-for-length (WLZ) or head circumference Z-scores. Overall mean (+/- SD) Z-scores at 6 mo for combined treatment groups were: LAZ, -2.1 +/- 1.1; WLZ, 0.7 +/- 1.0; and head circumference Z-score, -0.7.0 +/- 1.0. At 12 mo, these had declined further to: LAZ, -2.5 +/- 1.1; WLZ, -0.0 +/- 0.9; and head circumference Z-score, -0.9 +/- 1.1; 83.3% were stunted and 2% were wasted. Low linear growth in older Guatemalan infants was not improved with either low-phytate maize or a daily 5-mg zinc supplement. Low contribution of maize to the complementary food of the infants negated any potential advantage of feeding low-phytate maize.
Assuntos
Transtornos do Crescimento/terapia , Preparações de Plantas/uso terapêutico , Oligoelementos/uso terapêutico , Síndrome de Emaciação/tratamento farmacológico , Zea mays , Zinco/uso terapêutico , Tamanho Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Terapia Combinada , Dieta , Suplementos Nutricionais , Método Duplo-Cego , Transtornos do Crescimento/epidemiologia , Guatemala/epidemiologia , Cabeça , Humanos , Lactente , Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição do Lactente , Ácido Fítico/efeitos adversos , Preparações de Plantas/farmacologia , Oligoelementos/deficiência , Oligoelementos/farmacologia , Síndrome de Emaciação/epidemiologia , Zinco/deficiência , Zinco/farmacologiaRESUMO
TNFalpha is an important mediator of catabolism in cachexia. Most of its effects have been characterized in peripheral tissues, such as skeletal muscle and fat. However, by acting directly in the hypothalamus, TNFalpha can activate thermogenesis and modulate food intake. Here we show that high concentration TNFalpha in the hypothalamus leads to increased O(2) consumption/CO(2) production, increased body temperature, and reduced caloric intake, resulting in loss of body mass. Most of the thermogenic response is produced by beta 3-adrenergic signaling to the brown adipose tissue (BAT), leading to increased BAT relative mass, reduction in BAT lipid quantity, and increased BAT mitochondria density. The expression of proteins involved in BAT thermogenesis, such as beta 3-adrenergic receptor, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha, and uncoupling protein-1, are increased. In the hypothalamus, TNFalpha produces reductions in neuropeptide Y, agouti gene-related peptide, proopiomelanocortin, and melanin-concentrating hormone, and increases CRH and TRH. The activity of the AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway is also decreased in the hypothalamus of TNFalpha-treated rats. Upon intracerebroventricular infliximab treatment, tumor-bearing and septic rats present a significantly increased survival. In addition, the systemic inhibition of beta 3-adrenergic signaling results in a reduced body mass loss and increased survival in septic rats. These data suggest hypothalamic TNFalpha action to be important mediator of the wastage syndrome in cachexia.
Assuntos
Regulação da Temperatura Corporal/fisiologia , Caquexia/fisiopatologia , Hipotálamo/fisiologia , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/fisiologia , Síndrome de Emaciação/fisiopatologia , Tecido Adiposo Marrom/inervação , Tecido Adiposo Marrom/fisiologia , Animais , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Peso Corporal , Caquexia/tratamento farmacológico , Calorimetria Indireta , Denervação , Fármacos Gastrointestinais/uso terapêutico , Hipotálamo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipotálamo/fisiopatologia , Infliximab , Masculino , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Pró-Opiomelanocortina/genética , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Síndrome de Emaciação/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies that investigated the role of ghrelin and ghrelin analogs in wasting conditions. RECENT FINDINGS: Numerous studies have demonstrated potential beneficial effects exerted by ghrelin in a number of diseases associated with wasting. Besides ghrelin's orexigenic effect, anabolic as well as anti-inflammatory activity mediated by ghrelin have been investigated in wasting conditions such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, malabsorptive diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anorexia nervosa, renal failure, liver failure, and chronic heart failure. Encouraging results have been obtained from experimental studies and a few clinical trials using subcutaneous administration of ghrelin and ghrelin agonists in cachexia. In-vitro studies have shown ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin biological activities on proliferation of tumor cells and abnormal tissues. SUMMARY: The recent studies support the possible positive effects of ghrelin in therapeutic approaches and adjunct treatment of a number of diseases associated with wasting. Utilization of agonists of the ghrelin receptor growth hormone secretagogue-1a is a promising approach for clinical use. Randomized and placebo-controlled studies, including large number of patients are further required.