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Biomedical subjects

G Laing

Publications and source records attributed to G Laing.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

A study to test the effectiveness of placebo Reiki standardization procedures developed for a planned Reiki efficacy study.

Reiki is one type of alternative therapy that is increasing in popularity. It is advocated by its practitioners as a precise method for connecting universal life energy with the body's innate process of healing through hands-on techniques. The claim of Reiki practitioners is that Reiki reduces a variety of physical problems and improves psychospiritual well-being. There are abundant anecdotal records that support the previous claim, and a few pioneer scientific studies are starting to emerge. Although the Reiki research in totality supports the anecdotal records, the absence of randomized and placebo-controlled trials precludes the interpretation of the outcomes as resulting from specific effects as opposed to placebo effects plus natural history. Authorities in the field indicate that researchers interested in placebo-controlled studies should have the placebo treatment look exactly like the real intervention in every respect. Because no studies could be found in the literature that tested standardization procedures for real and placebo Reiki, the decision was made to conduct one. The purpose of this study was to test the standardization procedures developed by our research team for placebo Reiki, before going ahead and conducting our planned full-scale randomized and placebo-controlled Reiki efficacy study. This study used a 4-round, crossover experimental design in which 20 blinded subjects (12 students, 4 breast cancer survivors, and 4 observers) were exposed to a combination of 2 interventions (Reiki plus Reiki, or placebo plus placebo, or Reiki plus placebo, or placebo plus Reiki); and were then asked to evaluate the interventions using a self-administered questionnaire. The blinded observers were used in round number 4. Two real Reiki practitioners in the Usui system were chosen first, then 2 placebo practitioners who closely resembled them were recruited. The placebo practitioners were trained in Reiki by the study Reiki Master and the principal investigator, but were not initiated. The belief in Reiki is that only practitioners that are initiated could give Reiki, thus making it possible to have a placebo arm in efficacy studies. The findings of the study indicate that the developed standardization procedures were successful because none of the final participants in round 4 (4 breast cancer patients and 4 observers) could differentiate between the identity of placebo and Reiki practitioners. The qualitative comments expressed by the participants further con-firmed the quantitative data. It was concluded based on these findings that it is safe to go ahead and conduct the planned randomized 3-arm Reiki efficacy clinical trial. It is recommended that scholars interested in Reiki research could incorporate our techniques to strengthen their designs by adding a placebo arm.

Acupressure↗
PubMed1994

A new antivenom to treat eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius) envenoming.

An Fab based ovine antivenom has been prepared and compared both in vitro and in vivo with two commercial preparations. The product was found to be at least four times more effective on a weight basis. The increased potency, combined with the low incidence of side-effects associated with ovine Fab, should result in a safer, more effective antivenom.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Research concerns. Aging as perceived by Saudi elders.

1. Theories of aging popularly taught to nurses are based on Western culture, which may not be appropriate for other cultures. 2. The continuity theory of aging was not supported with Saudi patients in a test of hypotheses derived from the theory. 3. Nurses must be aware that Western theories may not be valid in other cultures. Nurses, therefore, must be cautious regarding generalizations concerning aging--individuals, regardless of age, must be treated as unique.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Research considerations: the link between housing and health in the elderly.

1. Elderly tenants of housing projects are "aging in place" and increasingly need more supportive services. 2. The link between housing and health for the elderly is not recognized. 3. Elders differ on how declining health and disability should be managed in housing projects. 4. Fostering participation in decision making is health promoting.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Detection and neutralization of B. jararaca venom in mice.

1. Bothrops jararaca venom was detected by ELISA at different times in the skin, muscle, blood, liver, lung, heart, kidney and spleen of mice injected with venom i.m. or i.d. 2. The results showed that even 10 min after i.m. injection the venom is detected mostly in skin rather than in the muscle of the venom injection site. A small amount of venom was detected in the kidney up to 12 h after im venom injection, and none was detected in tissues of lung, heart, liver or spleen. 3. However, in mice injected i.d., the venom could be detected in the skin up to 24 h after injection. Local necrosis and haemorrhage could be neutralized by antivenom injected by the i.d. or i.v. routes only if the antivenom was given a short time after venom injection, even when antivenom is administered in high concentration. 4. In contrast, experiments performed in mice receiving venom i.d. and treated by i.d. or i.v. routes with antivenom injected at different times after envenoming showed that the effect of venom on blood coagulation could be counteracted by antivenom administered by either route up to 2 h after venom injection. 5. We suggest that a feasible amount of antivenom administered i.d. could be given as a first aid measure after a snake bite accident. However, further experimental studies using the i.d. route for antivenom administration are essential to confirm this possibility.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of the purity and efficacy of affinity purified avian antivenoms with commercial equine crotalid antivenoms.

Antivenoms were raised in laying hens by repeated immunizations with detoxified crotalid snake venoms and purified from egg yolks by affinity chromatography. While the affinity purified avian antivenoms were essentially pure IgG, commercial equine (Wyeth) and W.H.O. international reference antivenoms (Trimeresurus flavoviridis) contained several non-immunoglobulin contaminants. In standard mouse protection assays, the purified avian Crotalus atrox and T. flavoviridis antivenoms were 6.3 and 2.0 times as potent, respectively, as these equine antivenoms in neutralizing venom lethality. The purity, efficacy, and ease of manufacture of avian antivenoms, and their inability to fix mammalian complement, make them an attractive alternative to equine and other mammalian antivenoms.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

An affinity purified ovine antivenom for the treatment of Vipera berus envenoming.

A novel antivenom for treating patients with Vipera berus bite has been developed. Sheep are immunised monthly with relatively small amounts of Vipera berus (common adder) venom and the resultant antisera pooled. The immunoglobulin fraction is precipitated with sodium sulphate then cleaved with papain to produce Fab fragments. Finally, those Fab fragments that are directed specifically against components in the venom are purified by affinity chromatography on columns comprising V. berus venom coupled to cyanogen bromide activated Sepharose 4B. The resultant product is some three times more effective than the non-purified Fab in protecting mice against the lethal venom effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Isolation and comparison of myotoxins isolated from venoms of different species of Bothrops snakes.

Venoms of nine different snake species of the genus Bothrops were fractionated using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Basic proteins with phospholipase A2 and/or myotoxic activities were isolated from venoms of B. jararacussu, B. moojeni, B. neuwiedi and B. pradoi. B. jararaca venom possessed very low concentrations of these proteins, which were undetectable in venoms of B. atrox, B. alternatus, B. cotiara and B. erythromelas. Basic proteins from B. moojeni and B. pradoi venoms were isolated in pure form. All active fractions possessed a common band of 15,000 mol. wt which caused a rise in serum creatine phosphokinase levels and histopathological changes in muscle cells following i.m. injection into mice. Levels of phospholipase A2 activity were variable. The implications of the possession of varying levels of myotoxins and phospholipase A2 in these venoms are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Use of liposomes for protective immunisation against Crotalus durissus (tropical rattlesnake) venom.

Crotalus durissus venom has been described as a weak antigen when injected in combination with Freund's complete adjuvant during the course of traditional methods of equine immunisation. Antibody production is slow and unpredictable, with a wide variation in individual responses. In this experimental study, C. durissus venom was incorporated into stabilised sphingomyelin-cholesterol liposomes both in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide immunostimulant and injected by both i.v. and s.c. routes into mice and rabbits. A rapid, sustained and protective immune response was obtained following a single injection of these preparations in mice. Antibody levels were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the protective effect was evaluated by subsequent challenge with a subcutaneous minimum lethal dose of the venom. Results indicated that the immune response was significantly potentiated by the presence of immunostimulant in the venom liposomes. The use of C. durissus venom liposomes should be a useful tool for the immunisation of animals both in experimental and commercial procedures.

Animals↗