Informing regional taphonomy research using retrospective forensic anthropology cases in the Western Cape,South Africa

The post-mortem interval (PMI) is important in death investigations as it can assist in reconstructing the context of the case and the identification of the unknown individual. However, in some instances the PMI is challenging to estimate due to the absence of regional taphonomy standards. To conduct accurate and locally relevant forensic taphonomy research, investigators require insight into the regional hotspot recovery areas. Thus, forensic cases examined by the Forensic Anthropology Cape Town (FACT) in the Western Cape (WC) province of South Africa between 2006 and 2018 (n = 172 cases; n = 174 individuals) were retrospectively reviewed. In our study, a considerable number of individuals did not have the PMI estimations (31 %; 54/174) and the ability to estimate a PMI was significantly associated with skeletal completeness, unburnt remains, absence of clothing and the absence of entomological evidence (p < 0.05 for each). Significantly fewer cases had the PMI estimated after FACT was formalised in 2014 (p < 0.0001). One third of cases with PMI estimations were made with large open-ended ranges, making them less informative. Factors significantly associated with these broad PMI ranges were fragmented remains, absence of clothing and absence of entomological evidence (p < 0.05 for each). Most decedents (51 %; 87/174) were discovered in police precincts from high crime areas, yet a considerable number (47 %; 81/174) were also found in low crime and sparsely populated areas regularly used for recreational activities. Common sites of body discovery were vegetated areas (23 %; 40/174), followed by the roadside (15 %; 29/174), aquatic environments (11 %; 20/174) and farms (11 %; 19/174). Decedents were discovered exposed (35 %; 62/174), covered with items such as bedding or shrubs (14 %; 25/174) or buried (10 %; 17/174). Our data highlight gaps in forensic taphonomy studies and clearly informs what regional research is needed. Overall, our study demonstrates how forensic case information can inform regional forensic taphonomy studies to locate common areas and contexts for the discovery of decomposed bodies and encourages similar studies in other areas of the world.     

生脉注射液配合治疗充血性心力衰竭35例

观察生脉注射液对充血性心力衰竭的疗效。方法：治疗组（３５例）在常规西药疗法基础上加用生脉注射液治疗，对照组（３５例）采用单纯常规西药疗法。结果：组与对照组显效率分别为４８．６％和２５．７％，两者比较有显著差异。结论：生脉注射液有明显的改善心功能作用与单纯西药疗法比较，能提高显效率，加快心功能恢复。     

复方真武冲剂治疗慢性心力衰竭20例临床观察

目的观察复方真武冲剂对慢性心力衰竭（chronic heart failure，CHF）患者症状体征和生活质量的影响。方法将40例CHF患者（NYHAⅡ～Ⅳ级）随机分为两组：对照组采用常规西药治疗；研究组所用药物成分同对照组，药物剂量为对照组剂量的1／2～2／3，并加服复方真武冲剂。两组疗程均为2周。治疗前后分别观察两组的中医症状体征和生活质量。结果两组治疗后中医症状体征积分和生活质量积分显著降低（P〈0．01），且研究组显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论复方真武冲剂对CHF患者中医证候和生活质量有一定的改善作用。     

镇眩汤对梅尼埃病大鼠血管加压素的影响

目的 探讨中药复方镇眩汤治疗梅尼埃病的机制。方法 采用阻塞前庭导水管的方法复制梅尼埃病模型，观察大鼠用药前后听觉诱发电位听阈的变化及大鼠血浆中血管加压素的含量。结果 与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠听觉诱发电位听阈和血浆血管加压素水平显著升高；与模型组比较，镇眩汤高、中剂量组大鼠听阈和血管加压管水平显著降低（P＜0.05）。结论 镇眩汤治疗梅尼埃病的机制与其调节血浆血管加压素有关。     

灯盏花素注射液治疗冠心病不稳定型心绞痛疗效观察

目的观察灯盏花素注射液治疗冠心病不稳定型心绞痛的疗效及对凝血指标、高敏C反应蛋白(highsensitive C-reactive protein,hs-CRP)、血脂、血糖的影响。方法选择40例冠心病不稳定型心绞痛患者,随机分为治疗组和对照组各20例,治疗组给予灯盏花素注射液加西药常规治疗,对照组仅予西药常规治疗,观察治疗前后心绞痛、心电图、中医证候疗效及凝血酶原时间(prothrombin ti me,PT)、活化部分凝血活酶时间(activated partial thromboplastin ti me,APTT)、血浆纤维蛋白原(plasma fibrinogen,FG)、hs-CRP及血脂、血糖等指标变化。结果治疗组在缓解心绞痛症状和改善心电图疗效方面与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),在改善中医证候疗效方面显著优于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗组在升高PT、APTT,降低FG和hs-CRP方面显著优于对照组(P<0.05,或P<0.01),治疗组总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low density lipoprotein-cholestero...     

背俞穴拔罐对慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期患者免疫功能的影响

目的 观察背俞穴拔罐对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD)稳定期患者细胞免疫、体液免疫功能的影响. 方法 将80例慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期患者随机分为治疗组、对照组各40例.对照组采用解痉平喘、止咳祛痰等常规治疗,治疗组在常规治疗的基础上加用背俞穴拔罐治疗.观察两组患者治疗前后免疫球蛋白和T淋巴细胞亚群的变化. 结果 与治疗前比较,治疗后治疗组IgG、IgA、IgM和CD3+、CD4+、CD4 +/CD8+均显著升高(P<0.01),且显著高于对照组(P<0.01). 结论 背俞穴拔罐可明显改善COPD稳定期患者的免疫功能,起到了治疗作用.     

从中医体质角度认知酒精性肝病

酒精性肝病的形成与湿热体质相关,湿热内蕴贯穿于酒精性肝病进展过程,在此基础上,不同的病程阶段有不同的特征表现.调节"湿热内蕴"体质是酒精性肝病中西医结合防治的重要策略.     

针刺合独参注射液对实验性家兔急性心衰竭心肌力学参数影响

目的 :探讨针药结合治疗急性心衰竭的疗效。方法 :4 8只日本大耳白兔 ,随机分为 4组 ,分别为正常组、模型组、治疗组和对照组。静脉注射戊巴比妥钠复制急性心衰竭模型。观察针刺配合中药治疗后其心肌力学参数的变化。结果 :治疗组有明显改善急性心衰竭的作用 ,与对照组比较无差异显著 (P >0 .0 5) ;但治疗组药效维持时间长 ,与对照组有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5)。结论 :针药结合治疗心衰竭值得临床推广应用。