American Journal of Medical and Biological Research

Excretory treatment modalities that excrete pathological substances outside human body deserve more research attention as this may potentiate the therapeutic effects of pharmacological treatments. Overcoming language barrier through translating the national medical literature to medical English to be introduced to the international medical literature is vital. Wet cupping therapy (WCT) of prophetic medicine (Al-hijamah) is practiced in the Arabic medical literature where it is reported to treat many diseases differing in etiology and pathogenesis. Al-hijamah may be referred to as bloodletting cupping therapy or blood cupping therapy in medical studies and reports from Arabic countries. Both Chinese dry cupping therapy and WCT are partial steps of Al-hijamah. In this article, we review scientific principles, methodology, indications and therapeutic benefits of Al-hijamah in comparison with acupuncture and other types of cupping therapy. Scientific and medical bases of Al-hijamah were recently reported in the evidence-based Taibah mechanism (Taibah theory) where Al-hijamah is the only excretory treatment that clears blood, lymph and intercellular fluids from causative pathological substances (CPS). Al-hijamah benefits from the histological structure of the skin in performing a percutaneous pressure-dependent and size-dependent non-specific blood filtration and excretion of CPS through the fenestrated skin capillaries upon application of negative pressure suction using sucking cups. Al-hijamah benefits also from the production of endogenous nitric oxide (vasodilator, antineoplastic and antimicrobial agent). Al-hijamah exerts many other health benefits e.g. enhancement of immunity and pharmacological potentiation. Al-hijamah was reported to clear blood significantly from serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, ferritin (circulating iron stores), uric acid, autoantibodies, cytokine receptors and others. Those therapeutic benefits may treat some diseases e.g. hyperlipidemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, gout, musculoskeletal pain conditions, hepatitis and iron overload conditions e.g. thalassemia. Importance of Al-hijamah may increase more in modern societies due to western diets and western life style. Therapeutic benefits of Al-hijamah are mainly related to the amount of excreted CPS not the amount of letted blood. Al-hijamah may carry some advantages better than acupuncture and other types of cupping therapy in treating a large number of diseases differing in etiology and pathogenesis.

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2014, 2(2), 46-71. DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-2-2-3
Pub. Date: May 10, 2014

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Testicular Damage in Telfairia Occidentalis Extract Treated Wista Rats

by Adisa W.A., Okhiai O., Bankole J.K., Iyamu O.A. and Aigbe O.

Original Research

Telfairia occidentalis commonly called Pumpkin or Ugwu in Nigeria is one of such plant with claimed medicinal value. No doubt this acclaimed beneficial value may be popularizing its ingestion amongst male populations on whom paucity of literature is present. Hence this study is aimed at determining the effect of Telfairia occidentalis leave extract on testicular histology archipuncture. The study involves 18 adult male rats of comparable weight. They were grouped into three (A, B, and C) where a served as control and B and C served as the test groups. The test group B and C were administered varying doses of the leave extract of Telfairia occidentallis according to body weight. This experiment lasted for four weeks after acclimatization. At the end of the four weeks of study, blood samples were obtained from the rats for analysis of testosterone value. In addition their testes were obtained and fixed in 10% formalin for histological analysis. The result showed a reducing potential effect on plasma testosterone level in a dose dependent fashion. Statistically the plasma testosterone levels of test group B (1.40±0.45ng/ml) were significant at P < 0.05 compared to that of control (2.70±0.96ng/ml). Furthermore the histological presentation was a dose dependent damage on testicular cells. This damages ranges from basement membrane distortions, cellular degeneration, hemorrhage, interstitial space exudations and cellular necrosis. Conclusively, judging by the result of the study. Telfairia occidentallis leave extract have potential for reducing male sexual function considering the observed effect on plasma testosterone level and may also be testiculotoxic indicated by the histological presentation of the testis.

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2014, 2(2), 37-45. DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-2-2-2
Pub. Date: March 13, 2014

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The Game of Reading: When Saccades and Fixations Play on a Seesaw

by Carlo Aleci

Review Article

Although in experimental psychology the fixation/saccadic sequence is a main topic of debate, so far in the clinical ophthalmological field such an argument has raised relatively few interest. Nevertheless, studying the possible alterations of the saccadic rate and of the positioning of fixations when analyzing a visual scene may illuminate on the source of reading difficulty in a variety of patients, like dyslexic children or those affected by hemianopia as well as central visual field impairment. Recently, new light has been shed on the saccadic/fixation dynamics, both in the temporal and spatial domain. In addition, according to recent findings a visuoperceptive distortion could potentially affect the saccades/fixation sequence, making the matter much more complex than expected. The aim of this article is therefore to describe the saccadic/fixation seesaw under the temporal and spatial perspective and to disclose the possible influence of visuoperceptive impairments.

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2014, 2(2), 31-36. DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-2-2-1
Pub. Date: March 07, 2014

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