Quantitative multicomponent analysis of a single marker-based simultaneous determination and quality assessment of nucleoside analogs from Qi Zhi capsules.

Qi Zhi capsule (QZC) is approved by the State Drug Administration of China. The QZC consists of nine crude drugs, including astragalus, leeches, ground beetles, curcuma zedoary, hawthorn, semen cassiae, rhizoma sparganii, polygonum multiflorum, and peach kernel, of which leeches and ground beetles are Traditional Chinese Medicine of animal origin. Nucleosides are animal substances with pharmacological effects that are easy to extract and quantify. Different nucleoside analogs in distinct animal-based formulations can be used to characterize animal-based medicines. However, the quality control of a single indicator does not reflect the overall quality of Chinese medicine. Here, we developed a method to simultaneously determine the nucleoside analogs uracil, xanthine, hypoxanthine, uridine, guanine, and uric acid in QZCs using high-performance liquid chromatography. Hypoxanthine was used as an internal reference to determine relative correction factors for the other five components. The six components were determined in ten different batches of QZCs. There was no significant difference between the quantitative multicomponent analysis of a single marker and the external standard method. The relative standard deviation of total nucleosides analogs of 10 batches of samples was 7%. This method can be applied to simultaneously determine multiple active components in QZCs and other nucleoside analog drugs, enabling multi-indicator quality control.

Notas para decolonizar os estudos transpessoais no brasil: contribuições do pluriperspectivismo participativo / Notes for decolonizing transpersonal studies in brazil: contributions of participatory pluriperspectivism / Apuntes para la decolonización de los estudios transpersonales en brasil: aportes del pluriperspectivismo participativo

O campo dos estudos transpessoais tem avançado em diversas áreas no Brasil. Comemorou seus 40 anos com uma inserção ativa nas Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) e uma ampliação de núcleos formativos e apoiadores de ensino, pesquisa e ações sociais, além de diálogos com o Sistema de Conselhos de Psicologia. Desafios são apresentados a partir do levantamento de uma série de questões importantes e ignoradas dentro da Psicologia Transpessoal no Brasil. Apresentamos o pluriperspectivismo participativo como possibilidade de decolonizar as matrizes eurocêntricas e estadunidenses, que dão suporte ao pensamento transpessoal brasileiro, buscando honrar nossas raízes históricas e incluir outras epistemologias e ontologias, que dão continuidade à crítica à lógica cartesiana moderna. Indicamos uma breve agenda de notas temáticas que carecem de um processo decolonizador no campo transpessoal: a) crítica às perspectivas de um pensamento hegemônico, em termos globais por meio da dominação Norte-Sul ou no campo das relações sociais; b) revisão das formas de "centrocentrismo"; c) questionamento da noção de universalismo das ciências e da ética; d) aprofundamento da análise crítica da supremacia restritiva da racionalidade formal técnico-científica em relação às formas de subjetividade, de vivências holísticas e integradoras e de valorização do corpo; e) revisão da noção de sujeito moderno desprovida da cocriação do humano com a comunidade, a história, a natureza e o cosmos.(AU)

The field of transpersonal studies has advanced in several areas in Brazil. It celebrated its 40th anniversary with an active insertion in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and an expansion of training centers and supporters of teaching, research, and social actions, in addition to dialogues with the System of Councils of Psychology. Challenges are presented based on a survey of a series of important and ignored issues within Transpersonal Psychology in Brazil. We present participatory pluriperspectivism as a possibility to decolonize the Eurocentric and North American matrices that support Brazilian transpersonal thought, seeking to honor our historical roots and include other epistemologies and ontologies, which continue the critique of modern Cartesian logic. We indicate a brief agenda of thematic notes that lack a decolonizing process in the transpersonal field: a) criticism of the perspectives of a hegemonic thought, whether in global terms via North-South domination or in the field of social relations; b) review of the forms of "centrocentrism"; c) questioning of the notion of universalism of science and ethics; d) deepening of the critical analysis of the restrictive supremacy of the technical-scientific formal rationality in relation to the forms of subjectivity, of holistic and integrative experiences, and of valuing the body; e) review of the notion of the modern subject devoid of the co-creation of the human with the community, the history, the nature, and the cosmos.(AU)

El campo de los estudios transpersonales ha avanzado en varias áreas de Brasil. Se celebró su 40.º aniversario con una inserción activa en Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) y una ampliación de los centros de formación y promotores de la docencia, la investigación y la acción social, además de diálogos con el Sistema de Consejos de Psicología. Los desafíos se presentan a partir de una encuesta de una serie de temas importantes e ignorados dentro de la Psicología Transpersonal en Brasil. Presentamos el pluriperspectivismo participativo como una posibilidad para decolonizar las matrices eurocéntrica y americana, que sustentan el pensamiento transpersonal brasileño, buscando honrar nuestras raíces históricas e incluir otras epistemologías y ontologías que continúan la crítica de la lógica cartesiana moderna. Indicamos una breve agenda de apuntes temáticos que carecen de un proceso decolonizador en el campo transpersonal: a) crítica de las perspectivas de un pensamiento hegemónico, ya sea en términos globales a través del dominio Norte-Sur o en el campo de las relaciones sociales; b) revisión de las formas de "centrocentrismo"; c) cuestionamiento de la noción de universalismo de la ciencia y la ética; d) profundización del análisis crítico de la supremacía restrictiva de la racionalidad formal técnico-científica en relación a las formas de subjetividad, de experiencias holísticas e integradoras y de valoración del cuerpo; e) revisión de la noción de sujeto moderno desprovisto de la cocreación de lo humano con la comunidad, la historia, la naturaleza y el cosmos.(AU)

[Clinical comprehensive evaluation of Qilong Capsules in treatment of ischemic stroke with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome].

The present study systematically sorted out the existing research on Qilong Capsules in the treatment of ischemic stroke with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome and comprehensively evaluated its clinical evidence and value to highlight the advantages and characteristics of products and provide references for the decision-making of national pharmaceutical management departments. Based on the evidence-based medicine, epidemiology, clinical medicine, evidence-based pharmacy, and pharmacoeconomics, the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of "6+1" dimensions of safety, effectiveness, economy, innovation, suitability, and accessibility, as well as characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) was performed with multi-criteria decision analysis(MCDA) mo-del using the information, such as public data, literature data, pharmaceutical research, and questionnaire survey, and CSC v2.0 was used to calculate the clinical value of Qilong Capsules. The evaluation results were grade A, B, C, or D. Spontaneous reporting system(SRS) monitoring data, literature reports, clinical trials, and other multi-source safety evidence showed that the main adverse reactions of this drug included dry mouth, nausea, and rash, and no severe adverse reactions was found. The evidence was sufficient with small and controllable known risks, and the safety was grade A. Meta-analysis showed that Qilong Capsules combined with conventional western medicine in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke was superior to the control group in improving neurological deficits, clinical total response rate, patients' activities of daily living, and hemorheological indexes. The level of evidence was high with manifest clinical significance, and the effectiveness was grade A. The results of pharmacoeconomic research showed that Qilong Capsules combined with conventional western medicine in the treatment of ischemic stroke were advantageous in cost-effectiveness as compared with conventional western medicine alone, but the incremental effect was not significant. The quality evaluation results of the economic report were comparatively clear, and the economy was grade B. Aiming at major cerebrovascular diseases in the society and giving full play to the advantages of TCM, Qilong Capsules focused on the inheritance of classics and scientific and technological innovation, and innovation was grade B. The results of the questionnaire survey showed that the technical characteristics and drug application could meet the medication needs of clinical doctors and patients, and the suitability was grade B. The price level of this drug was comparatively high and the affordability was good since the treatment cost accounted for a small proportion of disposable income. The drug accessibility was good with a wide range of drug sales, sufficient production capacity, and sustainable medicinal materials resources, and was grade B. This drug was derived from the classic prescription Buyang Huanwu Decoction with rich experience of human application, which could regulate Qi and blood circulation, and the section of TCM characteristics was grade B. Based on the evidence evaluation results of "6+1" dimensions of Qilong Capsules, the comprehensive evaluation of clinical value was class A. It is suggested that it can be transformed into relevant policy results of basic clinical medication management according to procedures.

[Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Qidong Yixin Oral Liquid in treatment of viral myocarditis (Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome) with TreeAge Pro].

To evaluate the pharmacoeconomic value of Qidong Yixin Oral Liquid in the treatment of viral myocarditis(Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome) by supplementing Qi, nourishing the heart, calming the mind, and relieving palpitation, the present study performed the Meta-analysis based on the published papers on Qidong Yixin Oral Liquid by AMSTAR and carried out pharmacoeconomic evaluation using TreeAge Pro by the cost-effectiveness analysis. The results showed that the quality of the included papers was good. After four weeks of treatment, Qidong Yixin Oral Liquid combined with the conventional treatment regimen was superior to the conventional treatment in improving creatine kinase isoenzyme, and the difference was statistically significant. Furthermore, the treatment cost was also higher than that of conventional treatment, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of CNY 95.89, accounting for 0.30% of per capita disposable income. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the research results were robust. Therefore, based on the assumption that the per capita disposable income in 2020 was the threshold of patients' willingness to pay, it is more economical for patients with viral myocarditis to use Qidong Yixin Oral Liquid combined with conventional secondary prevention regimen than conventio-nal secondary prevention regimen alone. The economic evaluation of Qidong Yixin Oral Liquid in the treatment of viral myocarditis will help physicians and patients choose optimal treatment options, improve rational clinical medication, and provide references for the efficient allocation and utilization of medical resources in China.

Inter-Rater Agreement of Biofield Tuning: Testing a Novel Health Assessment Procedure.

Objectives: Practitioners of Biofield Tuning assess health status of their clients by detecting off-the-body biofield perturbations using tuning fork (TF) vibrations. This study tested inter-rater agreement (IRA) on location of these perturbations. Design: Three Biofield Tuning practitioners, in randomized order, identified locations of the 4-5 "strongest" perturbations along each of 4 sites for the same series of 10 research subjects. Setting/Location: An Integrative Health and Medicine Center in La Jolla, CA. Subjects: Adult volunteers with no serious current illness and no prior experience of a Biofield Tuning session. Interventions: Practitioners used an activated 174 Hz unweighted TF to "comb" the same four sites per subject, located on the left and right sides of the base of the spine and the heart. Outcome Measures: Practitioners identified and vocalized the distance from the body of perturbations along each site. Distances were recorded by a research assistant in the clinic room. No health information related to perturbation sites was discussed with the subjects. Results: Practitioners reported 6.3 ± 0.6 (mean ± standard deviation) perturbations per combed site per subject, with no significant difference among the raters. The overall level of IRA was low based initially on a first-pass, nonstatistical, analysis of results, with "agreement" defined within a tolerance of ±2 inches. In this approach agreement was 33%. More rigorous statistical analysis, including a statistical test using a Monte Carlo approach, strongly supported the conclusion of poor IRA. Conclusions: IRA was low despite attempts to balance the real-world practice of Biofield Tuning with the constraints of research. For example, while IRA necessitates multiple assessments of the same subject, no information exists as to whether an initial assessment may affect subsequent assessments. Our study exemplifies the challenges faced when attempting to fit interventions with incompletely understood procedures and mechanisms into conventional research designs.

Establishment of Comprehensive Indicators in TCM Pectoral-qi Case Report Based on Experts Diagnosis and Self-test Technology.

RATIONALE: To establish TCM Pectoral-qi comprehensive indicators and highlight the inner structure among different variables in an objective way, the article uses Partial Least Square Second-order Latent Variable Model (PLS-SLVM) and accomplishes 3 different comprehensive indicators based on both experts diagnosis and self-test data. SLVM includes a measurement model that defines the relationship between observed variables and latent variables and a structure model that imputes relationships between latent variables. The article focuses on PLS as the estimation method. Without normal distribution and independence assumptions, PLS uses objective weighting methods based on the data. Bootstrap method (B = 200) is used to calculate the mean value and standard errors of the PLS estimates. The article chooses the percentile interval to obtain the confidence interval of PLS parameters. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patients were diagnosed by the means of experts diagnosis and self-test technology. On the one hand, the patients want to know the effect of self-test by wearing a kind of instrument. On the other hand, we want to establish TCM Pectoral-qi comprehensive indicators and highlight the inner structure among different variables in an objective way. DIAGNOSES: The group of 59 subjects are the same no matter whether they were diagnosed through TCM Pectoral-qi Assessment Questionnaire of self-test technology. INTERVENTIONS: The same group of 59 subjects keep wearing the instrument for hours and get the self-test data consequently. OUTCOMES: As one of comprehensive indicator establishing methods, PLS-SLVM highlights the structure state among variables and improves the evaluation efficiency. Furthermore, it provides a new tool and method in TCM diseases prevention and health security. LESSONS: As expected, PLS-SLVM is a useful tool due to its nonassumption of normal distribution and independence with consideration of correlation among different variables. Thus PLS-SLVM can be applied in ordinal data from assessment questionnaire and continuous data about physicochemical indexes for the same group of people. It displays that PLS-SLVM builds a connection between TCM experts diagnosis and the self-testing technology.

Improving quality of life using compound mind-body therapies: evaluation of a course intervention with body movement and breath therapy, guided imagery, chakra experiencing and mindfulness meditation.

OBJECTIVE: Assess changes in quality of life and in sense of coherence (SOC), after an intervention involving a self-development course using mind-body medicine (MBM) activities. DESIGN: A questionnaire study using a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument, the SWEDQUAL, with 13 subscales and scores ranging from 0 to 100, combined with the SOC-13 scale, healthcare utilisation, medication and sick listing data. SETTING: A training centre for MBM. Eligible course attendants (study group, SG, n = 83) assessed their HRQOL before and 6 months after a 1-week course. A control group (CG) of individuals who had previously attended the course (n = 69), matched for age, sex and length of course time to the SG, also made assessments. MAIN OUTCOME: Changes in HRQOL and SOC in SG and CG. RESULTS: Of the 13 HRQOL subscales, eight showed clinically significant improvement in the SG (>9%, p < 0.01), namely, General health perceptions (9%), Emotional well-being [negative (45%) and positive (26%)], Cognitive functioning (24%), Sleep (15%), Pain (10%), Role limitation due to emotional health (22%) and Family functioning (16%). Sexual, marital and physical function and role in the SG as well as all CG scores were similar to average population values. The assessed SOC also improved in the SG after intervention (p < 0.01), challenging previous statements of 'the stableness of SOC'. Use of psychotropic medication was slightly reduced in the younger aged SG participants after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This group of men and women (SG), starting from a clinically significant low health assessment, had improved their HRQOL and SOC after the course intervention.

Genomic profiling of neutrophil transcripts in Asian Qigong practitioners: a pilot study in gene regulation by mind-body interaction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The great similarity of the genomes of humans and other species stimulated us to search for genes regulated by elements associated with human uniqueness, such as the mind-body interaction. DNA microarray technology offers the advantage of analyzing thousands of genes simultaneously, with the potential to determine healthy phenotypic changes in gene expression. The aim of this study was to determine the genomic profile and function of neutrophils in Falun Gong (FLG, an ancient Chinese Qigong) practitioners, with healthy subjects as controls. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: Six (6) Asian FLG practitioners and 6 Asian normal healthy controls were recruited for our study. The practitioners have practiced FLG for at least 1 year (range, 1-5 years). The practice includes daily reading of FLG books and daily practice of exercises lasting 1-2 hours. Selected normal healthy controls did not perform Qigong, yoga, t'ai chi, or any other type of mind-body practice, and had not followed any conventional physical exercise program for at least 1 year. Neutrophils were isolated from fresh blood and assayed for gene expression, using microarrays and RNase protection assay (RPA), as well as for function (phagocytosis) and survival (apoptosis). RESULTS: The changes in gene expression of FLG practitioners in contrast to normal healthy controls were characterized by enhanced immunity, downregulation of cellular metabolism, and alteration of apoptotic genes in favor of a rapid resolution of inflammation. The lifespan of normal neutrophils was prolonged, while the inflammatory neutrophils displayed accelerated cell death in FLG practitioners as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlating with enhanced immunity reflected by microarray data, neutrophil phagocytosis was significantly increased in Qigong practitioners. Some of the altered genes observed by microarray were confirmed by RPA. CONCLUSION: Qigong practice may regulate immunity, metabolic rate, and cell death, possibly at the transcriptional level. Our pilot study provides the first evidence that Qigong practice may exert transcriptional regulation at a genomic level. New approaches are needed to study how genes are regulated by elements associated with human uniqueness, such as consciousness, cognition, and spirituality.

Electrodermal measurements for monitoring the effects of a qigong workshop.

OBJECTIVES: Electrodermal measurements with a Ryodoraku instrument were used to monitor the effects of a 2-day qigong workshop on the body energy of participants. METHODS: Measurements were made of the relative electrical conductivity of 24 acupuncture points on the wrists and feet of 29 subjects. Each subject was measured in the morning and afternoon of each day, and the subjects served as their own control. RESULTS: The standard deviation of the mean values of the Ryodoraku responses of individuals and of the group were less in the afternoons than in the mornings with p-values of 0.004 and 0.0001 for the first and second days, respectively. The decreases in the values of the standard deviations indicate that the balance of the body energy of individuals and the group had improved, presumably as a result of the workshop. We also found that all Ryodoraku responses were significantly greater in the afternoons than in the mornings, a result that is attributed to a circadian rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: The improved balance of qi energy in the body of the participants indicates that qigong practice has the potential to improve health. Electrodermal measurements for monitoring Eastern and Western therapies are discussed.