Discovery of sesquiterpene from Youngia japonica with antitumor effect.

Fourteen sesquiterpenes, including one undescribed sesquiterpene lactone, were isolated from Youngia japonica, and their structures were identified by NMR, HRESIMS, ECD and calculated ECD. Cytotoxic activities of all isolates against A549, HeLa, and 4 T1 cell lines were detected by CCK8 assay. Among them, 2 showed obvious cytotoxic activity against A549 cells. Subsequently, the production of ROS, and apoptosis of A549 cells treated with 2 were evaluated. The result showed that 2 distinctly increased the ROS level, and induced the apoptosis of A549 cells. Further anticancer mechanism studies showed that 2 increased the expression of cleaved caspase 3. Taken together, our results demonstrated that 2 might become potential leading compounds for the treatment of lung cancer.

Effect of transvaginal Lactobacillus supplementation on reversing lower genital tract dysbiosis and improving perinatal outcomes in PCOS patients after IVF-FET: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Significant lower genital tract (LGT) dysbiosis and an associated lower rate of clinical pregnancy after in vitro fertilization-frozen embryo transfer (IVF-FET) among polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients have been previously reported by our group. We aimed to assess whether transvaginal Lactobacillus supplementation can reverse LGT dysbiosis and further improve perinatal outcomes in PCOS patients after IVF-FET. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a protocol for a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial in China. Women diagnosed with PCOS who are undergoing IVF-FET treatment will be recruited. Allocation to the intervention/control arms at a ratio of 1:1 will be executed by an electronic randomization system. Participants in the intervention arm will receive the live Lactobacillus capsule vaginally for 10 consecutive days before embryo transfer, while those in the control arm will receive standard individualized care. The primary outcomes will be the clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and live birth rate. 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry will be conducted to evaluate the LGT microbiome and systemic metabonomics before and after the intervention. A sample of 260 participants will provide 95% power to detect a 20% increase in the rate of clinical pregnancy (α = 0.025, one-tailed test, 15% dropout rate). A total of 300 participants will be recruited. DISCUSSION: This is the first large and multicenter randomized controlled trial aimed at assessing the efficacy of transvaginal Lactobacillus supplementation on restoring the LGT microbiome and improving perinatal outcomes in PCOS patients after IVF-FET. This pragmatic trial is promising for increasing the rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth in PCOS patients after IVF-FET. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical review approval was obtained from the Medical Research Ethics Committees of the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (15 October 2020, GKLW 2020-29). To maximize dissemination, these findings will be reported in open access publications in journals with high impact, and oral and poster conference presentations will be performed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR ChiCTR2000036460. Registered on 13 September 2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=59549 .

Acupuncture at sphenopalatine ganglion combined with conventional acupuncture for episodic cluster headache: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture at sphenopalatine ganglion combined with conventional acupuncture for episodic cluster headache (CH).@*METHODS@#One hundred and eighty patients with episodic CH were randomly divided into a combined group (60 cases, 3 cases dropped off)，an acupuncture group (60 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a sphenopalatine ganglion group (60 cases, 2 cases dropped off and 1 case was removed). The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with conventional acupuncture at Touwei (ST 8), Yintang (GV 24+), Yangbai (GB 14), Hegu (LI 4), etc., once a day, 6 times a week. The patients in the sphenopalatine ganglion group were treated with acupuncture at sphenopalatine ganglion, once every other day, 3 times a week. On the basis of the conventional acupuncture, the combined group was treated with acupuncture at sphenopalatine ganglion once every other day. Two weeks were taken as a course of treatment, and 3 courses of treatment were required in the 3 groups. The score of visual analogue scale (VAS), the number of headache attacks per week, the duration of each headache attack and the score of migraine-specific quality of life questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ) were observed before and after treatment and in follow-up of 3 months after treatment. The clinical efficacy of each group was compared.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, the VAS score of headache, the number of headache attacks per week, the duration of each headache attack, and each various scores and the total score of MSQ of each group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01). Except that the number of headache attacks per week in the combined group was lower than the sphenopalatine ganglion group (P<0.01), other indexes in the combined group were lower than the other two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The total effective rate in the combined group was 93.0% (53/57), which was higher than 75.9% (44/58) in the acupuncture group and 73.7% (42/57) in the sphenopalatine ganglion group（P<0.05, P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture at sphenopalatine ganglion combined with conventional acupuncture could reduce the degree of pain in patients with episodic CH, reduce the number and duration of headache attacks, and improve the quality of life of patients. It is more effective than simple conventional acupuncture or acupuncture at sphenopalatine ganglion alone.

Revealing characteristics and rules of acupoint sensitization phenomena: based on knee osteoarthritis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the characteristics and rules of acupoint sensitization phenomena based on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), one of the clinical dominant diseases of acupuncture-moxibustion.@*METHODS@#In combination with literature and expert experiences, the acupoints with the highest use frequency in treatment of KOA were screened, e.g. Heding (EX-LE 2), Liangqiu (ST 34), Mingmen (GV 4), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Ququan (LR 8) and Dubi (ST 35). In 814 patients with KOA and 217 healthy subjects, the acupoint temperature, mechanic pain threshold and pressure pain threshold were detected separately. Using machine learning method, the sensitization was judged at each acupoint.@*RESULTS@#Compared with healthy subjects, the acupoint temperature was increased and the mechanic pain threshold and pressure pain threshold were reduced in KOA patients (P<0.05). Besides, the cut-off value was presented to distinguish whether the acupoint was sensitized or not. The results of machine learning showed that the highest prediction accuracy of acupoint sensitization was 86.7% (Shenshu [BL 23]) and the lowest one was 73.9% (Heding [EX LE 2]). The prediction accuracy at the third clinical stage trial was higher, the highest was 93.3% (Ququan [LR 8]) in KOA patients.@*CONCLUSION@#It is confirmed that the acupoint sensitization reflects the characteristics of disease and is correlative with the conditions of illness, which may provide the reference for the auxiliary diagnosis and condition assessment of KOA.

Macroporous ion-imprinted chitosan foams for the selective biosorption of U(VI) from aqueous solution.

The radiological toxicity of uranium in nuclear industrial wastewater poses a long-term threat to environment, thus the effective separation of radionuclide from wastewater is very important for environmental safety. Herein, the macroporous ion-imprinted chitosan foams (ICFs) were synthesized by the combination of the facile freezing-drying and ion-imprinting techniques. Compared with non-imprinted chitosan foam, the ICFs showed much higher adsorption capacities (qm = 248.9-253.6 mg/g) and better adsorption selectivity for U(VI) owing to their smart recognition of the target ions for matching the cavities formed during U(VI)-imprinting process. The adsorption kinetics could be fitted by pseudo-second-order model; whereas the adsorption isotherms could be described by Langmuir model, indicating chemisorption or complexation mechanism. The FT-IR and XPS analysis further confirms that the coordination between U(VI) and the active sites (amine and hydroxyl groups) is the main adsorption mechanism. The thermodynamic parameters suggest that the adsorption of U(VI) is endothermic and spontaneous. This work provides new insights for the design of novel macroporous biosorbents with both high adsorption capacity and excellent adsorption selectivity for U(VI) biosorption from wastewater.

Clinical observation on distribution characteristics and rules of pain sensitivity points on body surface in patients with knee osteoarthritis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the distribution characteristics and rules of pain sensitivity points on body surface in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).@*METHODS@#A total of 916 patients with KOA were selected in this study, the pain sensitivity points of local site of knee joint were probed by thumb palpation. Tape was used to measure the distance between the pain sensitivity points and the most nearby acupoints. The Wagner tenderness measuring instrument was used to measure the tenderness threshold of pain sensitivity points.@*RESULTS@#A total of 3618 pain sensitivity points were probed, among them, 3338 pain sensitivity points were sensitized. The minimum sensitization degree was 1.00, the maximum sensitization degree was 3.39, while the average sensitization degree was (2.16±0.60). Pain sensitivity points were distributed 0.37-1.73 @*CONCLUSION@#The pain sensitivity points of patients with KOA may be the expansion effect of acupoint areas in the disease states, pain sensitivity points are more likely to appear on the medial side of knee joint.

Experience in the treatment of difficult diseases by technical combination of acupuncture / 中国针灸

The technical combination of acupuncture is a combination therapy based on the purpose of improving clinical efficacy. After years of clinical practice, the author has gradually summarized the dominant disease spectrum of combination therapy, especially for the treatment of difficult diseases such as male and dermatological. In the treatment of chronic prostatitis, the combination of acupuncture at "Zhibian (BL 54) through Shuidao (ST 28) therapy" is adopted. When urticaria is treated, the embedding, fire needle, needle knife and filiform needle can be combined to ensure better effect. Regarding the evidence-based acupuncture treatment research of chronic prostatitis and urticaria, it is believed that acupuncture treatment has been recommended as grade Ⅱ and Ⅰ, and there is no reliable treatment method in modern medicine. The author enumerates two cases of related diseases and explains the advantages of combination therapy.

Exploration of the Essence of "Endogenous Turbidity" in Chinese Medicine / 中国中西医结合杂志

The essence of endogenous turbidity in Chinese medicine (CM) is different from cream, fat, phlegm, retention, damp, toxicity, and stasis. Along with the development of modern scientific technologies and biology, researches on the essence of endogenous turbidity should keep pace with the time. Its material bases should be defined and new connotation endowed at the microscopic level. The essence of turbidity lies in abnormal functions of zang-fu organs. Sugar, fat, protein, and other nutrient substances cannot be properly decomposed, but into semi-finished products or intermediate metabolites. They are inactive and cannot participate in normal material syntheses and decomposition. They cannot be transformed to energy metabolism, but also cannot be synthesized as executive functioning of active proteins. If they cannot be degraded by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome into glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and other basic nutrients to be used again, they will accumulate inside the human body and become endogenous turbidity. Therefore, endogenous turbidity is different from final metabolites such as urea, carbon dioxide, etc., which can transform vital qi. How to improve the function of zang-fu organs, enhance its degradation by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome is of great significance in normal operating of zang-fu organs and preventing the emergence and progress of related diseases.

Regulation effects of electroacupuncture with different acupoint combinations on blood lipid in rats with hyperlipemia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the regulatory effects of electroacupuncture with different acupoints combinations on blood lipid and atherosclerosis index (AI) in rats with hyperlipemia, so as to make a preliminary screening for the optimal acupoints combination for hyperlipemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and five clean-grade SD male rats were randomly divided into 9 groups, including a normal group, a model group, a Quchi group, a Zhongwan group, a Fenglong group, a Quchi+Zhongwan group, a Quchi+Fenglong group, a Zhongwan+Fenglong group and a Quchi+Zhongwan+Fenglong group (three acupoints group), 17 rats in the normal group and 11 rats in the rest groups. The normal group was fed with normal diet, while the rest groups were fed with high-fat diet for 3 weeks to prepare the hyperlipemia model. All the rats were given unlimited water. After the establishment of model, the normal group was fed freely without any treatment; the model group was bundled and immobilized everyday; the rest groups were bundled, immobilized and treated with electroacupuncture at corresponding acupoints with disperse-dense wave, 20 min per time, once a day. After 4 weeks, the blood examples were collected from abdominal aorta to measure the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and analyzed the AI in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the treatment, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and AI in each acupuncture group were all lower than those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with single acupoint group and the Quchi+Zhongwan group, the content of TC in the three acupoints group was lower (P<0.01). The differences of content of TG among each acupuncture group were not significant (all P>0.05). Compared with the rest 6 acupuncture groups, the content of HDL-C and AI in the three acupoints group were significantly different (all P<0.05). The content of LDL-C in the three acupoints group was decreased as compared with the Quchi group and the Zhong-wan group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The electroacupuncture at "Quchi" (LI 11), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) has more advantages on regulating the content of HDL-C and LDL-C as well as improving AI in hyperlipemia rats, and it has superior effects on blood lipid metabolism.</p>

Academic origin of round magnetic needle and standardization operation / 中国针灸

The origin and development of round magnetic needle was explored, and the structure of round magnetic needle was introduced in detail, including the handle, the body and the tip of the needle. The clinical opera tion of round magnetic needle were standardized from the aspects of the methods of holding needle, manipulation skill, tapping position, strength of manipulation, application scope and matters needing attention, which laid foundation for the popularization and application of round magnetic needle.

Therapy of hook needle and manipulations / 中国针灸

With the unique structure and manipulation techniques of blood-letting and cutting, hook needle serves as a role in dredging meridians, removing blood stasis, purging heat for resuscitation and relaxing synechial tissues. There are three needling techniques of hook needle: swift pricking, bleeding and pricking. Six manipulations are commonly used as lifting-thrusting, plucking, pulling, pushing-scraping, vibration and massage. The mechanism and manipulations of hook needling are summarized systematically in the present paper. In this way, its manipulations, indications and contraindications are expounded in detail.

Biography of the outstanding acupuncturist Xie Xi-Liang / 中国针灸

Xie Xi-Liang is an outstanding acupuncturist and doctor of TCM in Shanxi province. He is an immediate disciple of the prominent acupuncturist Cheng Dan-An. Furthermore, he is an important representative of Cheng-jiang school. He promotes and improves the technique of direct moxibustion; he has served the public by offering simple and effective acupuncture treatment for many years. His way of training is unique which emphasizes the importance of medical ethics and basic skill in acupuncture. He organizes multiple acupuncture training classes that have trained a great number of acupuncturists. He has great learing and rich practical experiences; he contributes tremendously in promoting moxibustion and the basic skill in acupuncture.

The history and development of new nine-needle / 中国针灸

This paper introduces the old nine-needle including its name, shape, function, manipulation and origination, as well as systematically introduces the new nine-needle as a new product which has been developed under the guidance of modern science and technology based on the old nine-needle since 1949. As a new tool, the new nine-needle provide much more choice for acupuncture treatment and obtained satisfied clinical effect. During the development of research and clinical practice on the new nine-needle, its theory has been consummated successively. Combining various kinds of needles for treatment is not only paying attention to the specificity of one kind of needles, but also emphasizing the whole function of all kinds of needles, which makes the new nine-needle formed the characteristic and distinct theory of its own.

Standardized manipulations of sharp hooked needling for treating migraine and investigation on its mechanisms / 中国针灸

A comparison of recognition to migraine and treatment methods for it was made between traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in this paper. Emphasis was made on standardized manipulation processes and techniques of sharp hooked needling for treating the disease, based on both the organic conception of the human body, the theory held by TCM, and on the principle of treatment according to pathogenesis obtained through differentiation of symptoms and signs. The necessary preparation before operations, methods for its application and announcements in the standardized manipulations of sharp hooked needling were all explained in detail. Based on its needling, pricking, dissecting and relaxing effects, the mechanisms of sharp hooked needling in treating the disease were investigated. It is concluded that sharp hooked needling is very effective in treating migraine.

Effects of electroacupuncture at points "Weibingfang" on EGF and EGFR mRNA expressions in rats with lesion of gastric mucosa / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe the mechanism of electroacupuncture at points "Weibingfang" in treatment of acute gastric mucosal lesion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Wistar rats of sanitary degree were randomly divided into 4 groups, normal group, model group, sham-model group and Weibingfang group, 10 rats in each group. The acute gastric mucosal lesion model was made by intragastric perfusion of anhydrous alcohol. The Weibingfang group were treated by electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) with sparse-dense wave, frequency of 10-30 Hz, current intensity of 2 mA, for 20 min. One hour after the treatment, the blood from the abdominal aorta and the gastric mucosa tissue were taken, and serum epidermal growth factor (EGF) level and epidermic growth factor receptor mRNA (EGFR mRNA) expression in the gastric mucosa were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in blood EGF level (41.62 +/- 12.58) ng/L and EGFR mRNA expression (0.78 +/- 0.03) in the model group were significantly different from [(60.37 +/- 12.01) ng/L and 0.55 +/- 0.04] in the normal group and [(61.21 +/- 13.46) ng/L and 0.53 +/- 0.05] in the sham-model group (P < 0.05); after electroacupuncture, blood EGF level (70.59 +/- 10.14) ng/L increased and the EGFR mRNA expression (1.18 +/- 0.02) in the gastric mucosa was up-regulated with a significant differences as compared with those in the model group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Point "Weibingfang" can promote proliferation, differentiation and migration of the gastric mucosal epidermic cells to repair the gastric mucosal lesion.</p>

Survey of studies on mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion in decreasing blood pressure / 中国针灸

Mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of hypertension have been studied extensively from poly-aspects, poly-levels and poly-links. The present paper reviews the studies on nervous regulation, humoral regulation and regulation of peripheral vessel resistance and other pathways and their relationships in recent ten years, and indicates further perfecting these studies from the following aspects: studies on the mechanism of section and combination of blood pressure-decreasing points, relationship of time-effect and dose-effect of acupuncture and moxibustion, and studies on mechanisms of functions of nerve-endocrine-immune system.