ABSTRACT
Constipation commonly occurs during childhood, and more than 95% of cases are classified as functional constipation. If not effectively treated, 20% of patients with childhood constipation can continue to exhibit symptoms into adulthood, which seriously affects their mental health and quality of life. The main feature of acupuncture or acupoint stimulation, a special branch of traditional Chinese medicine, is the selection of different acupoints for different diseases, and many worthy guidelines have been established for matching acupoints. The back-shu and front-mu point combination adheres to an important acupoint compatibility law that has been used since its proposal 2,500 years ago but has not yet been verified by the modern evidence-based experiments. This study focused on the back-shu and front-mu point combination using the Dachangshu (BL25) and Tianshu (ST25) points as examples to explore possible research methods for network acupoint-based stimulation based on existing evidence and to elucidate the mechanisms induced by BL25 and ST25 in the treatment of functional constipation in children (FCC). The study found that BL25 and ST25 have 20 common targets, namely, AQP8, DRD2, VIP, TAC1, IL6R, TNF, FOS, KIT, CHAT, HTR3A, GAS8, SOD3, TRPV1, MPO, CALCA, IL1B, P2RX7, NPY2R, IL10RA, and TPH1, and these targets may provide a strategy for the combined usage of BL25 and ST25. In addition, BL25 and ST25 can affect FCC treatment through inflammation-relatedTh17-cell differentiation, the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Adipocytokines or leptin may also comprise the mechanism through which BL25 and ST25 regulate FCC. In addition, BL25 and ST25 regulate FCC through 13 core targets, namely, NFKBIA, RELA, TNF, IKBKB, IRAK1, TLR4, MYD88, TNFRSF1A, IL1R1, TLR2, IL1B, TRAF6, and TNFRSF1B. In short, this study provides new ideas and methods for studying the mechanism of acupuncture points.
ABSTRACT
To analyze and summarize formulae of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the treatment of pediatric pneumonia in CNKI based on the data mining method. CNKI was retrieved for literatures of TCM treatment of pneumonia in children in recent 20 years, which was taken the data source. After screening, a prescription database was established. Frequency analysis, association rules Apriori algorithm and complex system entropy clustering analysis methods integrated in TCMISS(V2.5) were applied in data analysis and mining. Core drugs and their properties and flavors, medication modes and new prescriptions were summarized and studied. A total of 408 prescriptions were screened out, involving 218 drugs, among which Chinese herbal medicines with the highest use frequency included Gancao(Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Xingren(Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Huangqin(Scutellariae Radix), Mahuang(Ephedrae Herba), Jiegeng(Platycodonis Radix), Banxia(Pinelliae Rhizoma), Sangbaipi(Mori Cortex), Chenpi(Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Fuling(Poria), Jinyinhua(Japonicae Lonicerae Flos). Flavors were mainly bitter, sweet and pungent; and the main medicinal property was cold. Most of these drugs entered lung meridian(LU), stomach meridian(ST) and spleen meridian(SP); and the association rules between drugs were established. Totally 6 new prescriptions were obtained through entropy hierarchical cluster analysis. Our results objectively presented, at present, TCM focuses on phlegm and heat in treating children's pneumonia, which targets at lung and also treats spleen and stomach. The main therapies aim to clear heat and resolve phlegm, ventilate lung and relieve cough and dyspnea, release exterior and dissipate cold, and relieve cough and eliminate phlegm. The results of statistical analysis are basically consistent with the consensus of experts, which can provide theoretical basis for clinical medication and drug development.