A Review of the Methodology, Taxonomy, and Definitions in Recent fMRI Research on Meditation

Objectives As meditation is increasingly employed for the promotion of good health, there is a growing interest in using neuroimaging methods to investigate the neural mechanisms by which meditation acts. In the wake of this rising interest, criticism regarding the lack of clarity concerning theory, definitions, and taxonomy, as well as deficient or poorly reported methodology, has arisen. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in current neuroimaging research on meditation and to provide guidelines for future studies. Methods We made a literature search for articles published during 2016–2019 using the search phrases “meditation” and “functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI”. Inclusion criteria were limited to meditation studies using resting-state fMRI or such task-based fMRI examinations that were specifically targeting meditative states in healthy participants. Text analysis was performed using Nvivo 12 Mac (QSR International). Results Twenty-eight articles were included from which we identified four different intention-based dimensions of meditation practice: The present moment, Wholesome qualities to cultivate, Unwholesome qualities to avoid, and Attitudes. Half of the studies do not make assessments of subjective experience. The results were related to networks and brain regions describing cognitive, affective, somatic, and self domains of brain function. Most studies describe meditation-related brain function in terms of “processes”. Conclusions We defined five areas of potential improvement regarding research methodology: (1) Provide clear and unambiguous definitions of constructs and practices, (2) Include measures of subjective experience, (3) Perform correct assessment of processes, (4) Combine methodologies for more substantiated conclusions, (5) Avoid the risk of overinterpretation.

EFFECTS OF TAKRADHARA ON PSYCHO-SOMATIC DISORDERS: A REVIEW

In modern era, Ayurveda is a ‘science of life’ which deals with the maintenance, preservation and promotion of good health and cures the diseases in healthy life that established in various Ayurvedic classics. In Ayurveda system of medicine, Panchakarma has a very effective role for detoxification to the body in healthy life process. It includes with five major procedures which prevents various diseased conditions. Takradhara is one among the Panchakarma procedure included under the Murdhani taila (a process of anointing the head with oil) in ancient Ayurvedic science. It is a unique Panchakarma measure in which medicated milk poured over the forehead in a specific manner. Takradhara is very much effective in such cases of various psycho-somatic conditions which occur due to vitiation of Manasvaha srotas like as lack of sleep, migraine, anxiety, stress, headache etc that are scientifically proved based on many research works.

Food safety knowledge and hygiene practices among the staff of school feeding scheme in the basic schools of Sewoto, South Africa

The study was to evaluate the food safety knowledge and hygiene practices of the staff of the school feeding scheme in Soweto. A total of 42 food handlers in 13 basic schools under the School Feeding Scheme, Soweto, South Africa were recruited for the study using purposive and convenience sampling methods for the respondents and institutions respectively. A piloted self-administered questionnaire was used. All the respondents were female (100%) with majority being between the ages of 31 and 40 (40%) and had secondary education (63%). About 38 (90.5%) of the respondents indicated that food safety is important, hence, identified “promotion of good health 41 (97.6%), avoidance of bacterial infection 39 (92.9%) and prevention of food poisoning 39 (92.9)” as the major importance. Frequent hand washing 40 (95.2%); cleaning and sanitizing knives/cutting boards 40 (95.3%); checking best before date 39 (92.8); keeping kitchen surfaces clean (80.9%) and checking freshness/appearance of the food upon delivery (88.1%) were indicated as very important food safety and hygiene practices. However, they failed to agree that frozen foods, particularly meat are to be thawed using room temperature (4.8%) and also in the lower shelf in the refrigerators (26.2%) as the best practices. Spearman’s correlation coefficient revealed that no correlation exists between food safety knowledge and hygiene practices. However, there was strong positive correlations among educational level, knowledge and practices (P>0.05). Eventhough they have good knowledge and understanding of food safety issues, they still need training and workshops particularly in HACCP to cover-up the lapses.

ActEarly: a City Collaboratory approach to early promotion of good health and wellbeing

Economic, physical, built, cultural, learning, social and service environments have a profound effect on lifelong health. However, policy thinking about health research is dominated by the ‘biomedical model’ which promotes medicalisation and an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment at the expense of prevention. Prevention research has tended to focus on ‘downstream’ interventions that rely on individual behaviour change, frequently increasing inequalities. Preventive strategies often focus on isolated leverage points and are scattered across different settings. This paper describes a major new prevention research programme that aims to create City Collaboratory testbeds to support the identification, implementation and evaluation of upstream interventions within a whole system city setting. Prevention of physical and mental ill-health will come from the cumulative effect of multiple system-wide interventions. Rather than scatter these interventions across many settings and evaluate single outcomes, we will test their collective impact across multiple outcomes with the goal of achieving a tipping point for better health. Our focus is on early life (ActEarly) in recognition of childhood and adolescence being such critical periods for influencing lifelong health and wellbeing.

Western Medicine in a Community in Ghana: A Social Change Review

This study focuses on Western medical practices in the Atiwa District of Ghana. The people of Atiwa District accessed Western medicinal practice to prevent and cure diseases. Before the advent of Western medical practice in the Atiwa District, people were unable to access Western medicine due to the challenges with travelling or trekking from rural communities to the towns where they would find limited Western oriented health centres/hospitals. Although there were challenges, the local population continued to highly embrace practitioners and also accessed the basic Western oriented medical facilities. Western medical strategies were used to combat skin diseases, stomach aches, and malaria that was prevalent in the Atiwa District. The other diseases which afflicted the people and which required urgent attention included cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS among others. Findings from the study revealed that the introduction and success of western medical practice in the Atiwa District could not have been possible without a positive reception from the indigenous people. Importantly, this study has projected the relevance of public health in the history of the people of Atiwa and the significant roles played by governments to ensure the promotion of good health at the District.

Computational Fluid Flow Study on the Pressure Fluctuation Caused by the Vortex Flow Arising from Underwater Exercises of Arthritis Patients

Underwater exercise programs are among the nursing programs for which positive effects have been reported with regard to the promotion of good health in diverse subjects, such as patients suffering arthritis, as well as elderly people and middle-aged women. Through many previously conducted studies, subjects participating in underwater exercises have been reported to continuously experience reduced pain, and improvement in muscle strength, flexibility, sense of balance, and muscular endurance. However, few studies have delved into the fundamental phenomena of positive effects of underwater exercises on the human body. In this study, a model of the upper limbs of the human body was used in a simulation of underwater exercises to analyse the resulting pressure fluctuation on the skin of the hands and arms of the model through the methods of computational fluid dynamics. During the simulation of underwater exercises, pressure fluctuation of diverse frequencies, arising from the vortex flow around the articulations of the fingers and hands of the model, were identified and were seen to create varied cutaneous stimulations and massage effects. Such cutaneous stimulations seem to continuously excite capillary vessels situated between hands and finger joints, creating positive effects in blood circulation around pain sites of patients suffering from arthritis.

Psychosocial Wellbeing of Genocide Widows in Rwanda through Their Associations: A Case Study of Avega in Rwimbogo Sector

<p>The research conducted on the role of associations of genocide widows was undertaken with the purpose of determining the contribution of Association of Widows of Genocide in Rwanda (AVEGA) in addressing the problems of widows of genocide in Rwanda and improving their wellbeing. The results of investigation carried out on 72 genocide widows through a questionnaire revealed that AVEGA improves the wellbeing of widows with the promotion of good health by providing medical services to them, the economic development by introducing activities which generate income in order to eradicate poverty, establishment of good relationship by encouraging the national policy of unity and reconciliation among Rwandans and supporting children in their studies.</p>

Interactions of the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway with other lipid pathways

Micro-organisms have recently received broad attention as sources of novel lipids. An increased understanding of the effects of fats and oils and their composition on the metabolism and on health has shifted the focus towards the use of lipids for disease treatment and prevention and for the promotion of good health. A large range of lipidic products produced by yeast is known today. Ergosterol and its metabolic precursors are major lipidic components of industrial and commercial interest. Having in mind the aim to increase the productivity of ergosterol and its precursor metabolites, both the knowledge of regulatory mechanisms of the biosynthetic pathway and its interactions with other lipid pathways like those of sphingolipids, phospholipids and fatty acids are crucial.