ABSTRACT
This study explores the parallel use of "folk healers" and modern medicine among foreign born, Mexican-American women attending migrant health clinics in rural, eastern Washington state. Face-to-face interviews (n = 434) revealed that 21.4% of the women had sought care from curanderos within the past five years. Statistically significant predictors of utilization included Spanish as the language of preference (odds ratio = 2.58), having resided in the U.S. from one to five years (odds ratio = 2.82), and having received medicine or medical care from Mexico within the prior five years (odds ratio = 9.22). Implications for providers working in cross-cultural settings are discussed.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Traditional , Mexican Americans , Rural Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Transients and Migrants , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , WashingtonABSTRACT
Several lines of evidence have shown that sodium valproate (VPA) mechanism of action in the therapy of epilepsy is based on the phenomena of its interaction with neurotransmitters (GABA), receptor sites and ion channels (1). However, there is no conclusive evidence to show the extent of VPA interactions with other neurotransmitters in the brain. Based on this fact, taurine (an amino acid 'neurotransmitter') found distributed in the brain the visual system may probably be involved in the drug action mechanism of VPA. The application of taurine in experimental and human epilepsy started over thirty years ago (2,3) and it has been known to possess some mild anticonvulsant activity in both humans and experimental animal models (4). This review, therefore, will attempt to draw together all the available information on the involvement of taurine in epilepsy and its possible association with the action mechanism of VPA in suppressing epileptic seizures. Structural and physiological distribution of taurine in the brain will be discussed. Its association with the phenomena of VPA action in epilepsy will be cited. Its neurotransmitter candidacy, involvement in ocular pathology, receptor sites and modulatory activity will be dealt with in relation to valproate action in the therapy of epilepsy.
Subject(s)
Brain/metabolism , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Taurine/pharmacology , Valproic Acid/pharmacology , Humans , Taurine/metabolism , Valproic Acid/metabolism , Valproic Acid/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Existen evidencias qye han mostrado que en el mecanismo de acción del valproato de sodio (VPA) utilizado en la terapêutica de la epilepsia, el mismo interacciona con receptores gabaérgicos y canales iónicos. Sin embargo, no hay evidencias concluyentes de que el valproato de sodio interaccione con otros receptores cerebrales. Basados en este hecho, la taurina (aminoácido neurotransmisor) que se distribuye en el cerebro y en el sistema visual, podría estar involucrada en el mecanismo de acción del valproato de sodio. Este trabajo además, trata de informar que la taurina, posiblemente asociada con la acción del valproato de sodio, sea también beneficiosa para suprimir una crisis epiléptica. También se discute su distribución cerebral, su sitio receptivo y su probable actividad modulatoria en relación al valproato de sodio en la terapia de la epilepsia
Subject(s)
Humans , Valproic Acid/pharmacology , Cerebrum/metabolism , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Taurine/pharmacology , Valproic Acid/metabolism , Valproic Acid/therapeutic use , Taurine/metabolismABSTRACT
Several lines of evidence have shown that sodium valproate (VPA) mechanism of action in the therapy of epilepsy is based on the phenomena of its interaction with neurotransmitters (GABA), receptor sites and ion channels (1). However, there is no conclusive evidence to show the extent of VPA interactions with other neurotransmitters in the brain. Based on this fact, taurine (an amino acid neurotransmitter) found distributed in the brain the visual system may probably be involved in the drug action mechanism of VPA. The application of taurine in experimental and human epilepsy started over thirty years ago (2,3) and it has been known to possess some mild anticonvulsant activity in both humans and experimental animal models (4). This review, therefore, will attempt to draw together all the available information on the involvement of taurine in epilepsy and its possible association with the action mechanism of VPA in suppressing epileptic seizures. Structural and physiological distribution of taurine in the brain will be discussed. Its association with the phenomena of VPA action in epilepsy will be cited. Its neurotransmitter candidacy, involvement in ocular pathology, receptor sites and modulatory activity will be dealt with in relation to valproate action in the therapy of epilepsy.
ABSTRACT
Existen evidencias qye han mostrado que en el mecanismo de acción del valproato de sodio (VPA) utilizado en la terapÛutica de la epilepsia, el mismo interacciona con receptores gabaérgicos y canales iónicos. Sin embargo, no hay evidencias concluyentes de que el valproato de sodio interaccione con otros receptores cerebrales. Basados en este hecho, la taurina (aminoácido neurotransmisor) que se distribuye en el cerebro y en el sistema visual, podría estar involucrada en el mecanismo de acción del valproato de sodio. Este trabajo además, trata de informar que la taurina, posiblemente asociada con la acción del valproato de sodio, sea también beneficiosa para suprimir una crisis epiléptica. También se discute su distribución cerebral, su sitio receptivo y su probable actividad modulatoria en relación al valproato de sodio en la terapia de la epilepsia (AU)