Experiences of Patients on Natural Herbal Treatments for Diabetes Mellitus at the Diabetes Clinic in Base Hospital - Matara, Sri Lanka.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has become a global public health issue. Natural herbal treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus have been widely used in traditional societies but has recently become popular among western societies as well. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of type 2 patients with diabetes mellitus who are currently on natural herbal treatment. A qualitative, phenomenological design has been used. Twelve participants from both males and females, aged between 25 and 75 years, who were on medical treatment, were selected for sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted at the diabetes clinic in a selected hospital in southern Sri Lanka. The athematic analysis was conducted, and 6 themes were derived. The majority of participants (75%) were motivated to use natural herbal treatments other than oral glycemic therapy. Experiences have been identified as the most influential factors in the use of natural herbal treatments. The need for educational interventions on natural herbal treatments and to propose the integration of herbal medicine into current medical systems is recommended.

Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in south India--an autopsy study.

This study is aimed at finding the association of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis with hepatitis B surface antigen in a particular geographical area, Andhra Pradesh State in South India. In total, 206 cases of autopsy livers were studied for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen by orcein staining. Of the 114 cases of cirrhosis 67.54% were positive for the antigen. There were 13 cases of macronodular, 55 cases of mixed and 46 cases of micronodular cirrhosis. The antigen positivity was 100%, 98.7% and 21.74% respectively. The difference in positivity between micronodular and the other two types of cirrhosis was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Of the 58 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 50 were associated with cirrhosis. In 80% of these cases, hepatitis B surface antigen was demonstrated, whereas 75% of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma not associated with cirrhosis, were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. The geographical importance of these findings was discussed.