[Snakes as a source of drugs from the Han to the Song Dynasties].

This paper examined the history of snakes as a source of drugs from the Han to the Song Dynasties. Snake products, for medicinal purposes, were not widely used in the Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties out of worship and fear of snakes.The source of snake products taken for medical purposes might be partly because local people ate snakes in the South area. Palace snakes and pit viper products were taken as drugs in the Tang Dynasty for the treatment of leprosy and ulcers of the female external genitals. Zaocysdhumnades were seldom used as medicine because they were not recorded in medical documents in the Tang Dynasty, but only seen in some notes. They were widely used in medical practice in the late Tang and the early Song Dynasties and were formally recorded in medical documents for the diseases caused by Wind. Their effectiveness, rarity, high value and toxicity contraindication were repeatedly stressed while palace snakes and pit vipers were seldom mentioned and used.

A randomized controlled trial on the effect of focal thermal therapy at acupressure points treating osteoarthritis of the knee.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common degenerative joint disorder in our ageing population. A combination of thermal therapy with a self-management exercise have shown a positive effect in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of topical heat pack versus focal application of heat therapy at the acupressure points in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 76 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, diagnosed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon. Following inclusion and exclusion selection, patients were randomly allocated to group 1 (Heat pack) or group 2 (Thermal gun). All patients received 30 min of treatment in each session, twice a week for 4 weeks. They also received an education program and taught home knee exercises. Outcome measurements were the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain intensity, muscle power, knee ROM, WOMAC and SF-12v2. RESULTS: In the Thermal gun group, function and total scores (WOMAC) and Physical Composite Scale (SF-12v2) were significantly improved after 8 sessions. Quadriceps strength was significantly improved after 8 weeks (from 4.42 to 4.63; p = 0.02). In the Heat pack group, flexion was significantly improved after 8 sessions (p = 0.02). Mean VAS scores after Heat pack treatment was consistently better (lower) than mean VAS scores after Thermal gun treatment. CONCLUSION: The combination of focal thermal therapy at acupressure points is a viable conservative treatment in osteoarthritis of the knee. The pressure at the acupressure points has a synergistic benefit than topical thermal therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04735029 Date of registration: February 2, 2021 (Retrospectively registered).

Health information needs of 1000 midlife Singaporean women.

OBJECTIVES: Due to demographic changes, aging is a health priority. We aimed to identify midlife women's perceived health information needs and the preferred method(s) of information delivery. METHODS: A questionnaire was offered to women, aged 45-69 years, attending gynecological clinics during April/May 2016, collecting age and ethnicity data. Participants were asked to indicate important midlife health topics out of 26 topics, including 'other'. For each topic, six delivery options were offered. Age was stratified by 5-year intervals. Associations with age and ethnicity were examined using Pearson's chi-square tests (p < 0.05); analyses were performed with SPSS version 22.0. RESULTS: The top health topics chosen were gynecological cancer (66.0%), joint/muscle aches and pain (64.4%), bone health (63.2%), breast screening (55.9%), and heart health (55.3%). Adjusted results from the logistic regression model found that the odds of choosing the topics gynecological cancer, cervical screening, and complementary and alternative medicine for menopausal symptoms were significantly lower in age groups 55-59, 60-64 and 65-69 years compared to age group 45-49 years. Both Malay and Indian women were less likely to report bone health as important (odds ratio = 0.59, 95% confidence interval = 0.41-0.86) and (odds ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval = 0.42-0.98), respectively. Written leaflets were chosen by the majority (84.7%). CONCLUSION: This study of over 1000 midlife Asian women found that holistic health information is desired and requires tailoring by age, not ethnicity. Written information was preferred over support groups. These findings will guide clinical health services in delivering patient-centered information resources for midlife women.

Chinese herbal medicine combined with tadalafil for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a tough problem in medicine. This article aims to provide the latest evidence for the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with tadalafil in treatment of erectile dysfunction. METHODS: All randomized controlled trials that Chinese herbal medicine combined with tadalafil for erectile dysfunction were included in databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Weip Database, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. The quality of the included articles was evaluated using Cochrane Reviewer's Handbook 5.3, and meta-analysis was performed using Stata 13.1. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies including 451 cases in the treatment group and 452 cases in the control group were obtained. Compared with tadalafil alone, meta-analysis suggests there were statistically significant differences in International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), effective rate, Sexual Encounter Profile questions 2 and 3 (SEP-Q2, SEP-Q3) between traditional Chinese medicine combined with tadalafil, and no statistically significant differences in side effects between the two groups. All included studies were tested for publication bias, and the results indicated that there was no significant bias. Two of the articles mentioned the scheme that traditional Chinese medicine combined with low-dose tadalafil for erectile dysfunction by down stairs. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese medicine combined with tadalafil has significant efficacy in the treatment of ED with no increase in side effects. The specific implementing regulations and effect of de-escalation therapy still need more long-term, multicenter, randomized, and double-blind clinical trials.

High tetramethylpyrazine production by the endophytic bacterial Bacillus subtilis isolated from the traditional medicinal plant Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) with significant protective effects on cardiovascular is the active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine Rhizoma Chuanxiong (RC). However, many studies have reported the low content of TMP in RC. The endophytes of medicinal plants have the biosynthetic potential to produce the same or similar active metabolites as the host, while few reports were conducted to explore the endophytic bacteria of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. and its productive capacity for the important ingredient TMP. The present paper focuses on the isolation and identification of TMP producing endophytic bacteria from RC. In this study, the endophytic bacteria were isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae). Yeast extract peptone glucose medium (YP) was used for fermentation medium (37 °C, 220 rpm agitation, 144 h). GC and GC/MS were performed to determine and verify the product, the fermentation characteristics were investigated. Morphological observation, physiological and biochemical indexes combining with 16S rRNA sequence analysis were carried out to identify the endophytic bacteria. As a result, five strains of endophytic Bacillus subtilis were firstly isolated and identified from RC, named as LB3, LB3-2-1, LB6-2, LB4, LB5 respectively. All five strains of endophytic B. subtilis produced TMP, while LB5 had the highest production of 10.69 g/L at the 144 h fermentation. This work demonstrates the fact that the endophytic B. subtilis of RC can produce a high level of TMP, indicating the endophytic B. subtilis might play a role in the accumulation of TMP during the growth period of RC.

Dietary exposure assessment of cyadox based on tissue depletion of cyadox and its major metabolites in pigs, chickens, and carp.

The tissue kinetics of cyadox, an antibacterial agent used in food animals, and its major metabolites in pigs, chickens, and carp were investigated followed by a complete dietary exposure assessment to evaluate the food safety of cyadox. Cyadox and its major metabolites, bisdeoxycyadox (Cy1), 4-desoxycyadox (Cy2), N-(quinoxaline-2-methyl)-cyanide acetyl hydrazine (Cy4), quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (Cy6), and 2-hydromethyl-3-hydroxy-quinoxaline (Cy12), were simultaneously quantitated with a high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method. Pigs, chickens, and carp were fed with 150 mg/kg cyadox in feed for consecutive 60, 40, and 30 days, respectively. The residue amount of cyadox and its major metabolites in liver, kidney, muscle, and fat (skin) tissues was determined. Cy2 was below the limit of quantitation even at the withdrawal time of 6 hr, cyadox, Cy4, Cy6, and Cy12 could be detected at 6-24 hr with low level less than 50 µg/kg. By contrast, Cy1 persisted for 3 days in the kidney of pigs and chickens, and in the liver of carp. Based on these residue depletion data and previous toxicology results, the global estimated chronic dietary exposure assessment of cyadox for general population was conducted, indicating a zero withdrawal time (WDT) may be appropriate for cyadox in food animals when used in feed for prolonged administration. These results provide analytical techniques and safety standards suitable for residue monitoring of cyadox in food animals.

[Textual criticism and discrimination on the naming of"Five-abstention Soup of Medical Professional"from the Han-tomb of the Marquis of Haihun].

A lacquer vessel with the inscription of Yi gong wu jin tang (Five-abstention Soup of Medical Profession) has been unearthed from the Han-tomb of Marquis of Haihun, in which"Five abstentions"is related to the incantations and abstention therapies prevalent in the Qin and Han Dynasties. The"Five-abstention Law"is the five rituals and methods during the process of practicing incantations and abstentions therapies including"keeping one's thinking (cun si)","holding the breath(bi qi)","twirling eyes (nian mu)","stepping after Yu's sample (yu bu)"and"incanting and blessing (zhou zhu)". The"Five-abstention Law"uses the medium"soup"to achieve the purpose of treatment."Soup"refers either to"decoction"or to"magic water". The lacquer vessel with the inscription"Five-abstention Soup of Medical professional"could be an instrument for implementing the process of practising the"Five-abstention Law", reflecting the historical facts that Liu He, the Marquis Haihun did accept the incantations and abstention therapies.

[A brief introduction to the disease-syndrome names in bamboo slips of Qin Dynasty].

There are plenty of names of disease-syndrome from the four kinds of unearthed Qin bamboo slips, namely Fangmatan, Shuihudi, Zhoujiatai, and Liye. Altogether, these names number to 85. According to statistics, nomenclature of 34 disease-syndromes are derived from the location of the lesion, 8 from symptoms, 1 from etiology, 12 from location of lesion plus symptom, 3 from location plus etiology, and 25 are for special diseases. Through comparison of these names, with those from oracle bones and Han bamboo slips, Prescriptions for Hundred Kinds of Disease, it is summarized that, as time passes, nomenclature simply named by the location of the lesion was gradually reduced, and named by etiology and special diseases gradually increased. To some extent, it reflects the historical process of knowledge of the disease gradually deepened in ancient times.

[On Annotation on the Names and Syndromes of Ancient Diseases, with textual research on"dian (depressive psychosis)","kuang (manic psychosis)", and"xian (epilepsy)"].

The book Gu dai ji bing ming hou shu yi (Annotation on the Names and Syndromes of Ancient Diseases) written by Yu Yunxiu holds that dian can be divided into two conditions, namely, epilepsy and manic psychosis. By analysis on related materials in ancient lexicographical works, ancient medical books and other ancient books, it reveals that dian and kuang are two very different diseases, but dian and xian refer to the same conditions. Dian was the special name of a disease, while xian was a stage of syndrome of that disease with typical symptoms. Dian and xian might also refer to two different types of that disease. Dian always refers to epilepsy from its very beginning besides cephalopathy, including both mental symptom and physical symptom.

Phosphorus removal in a membrane-assisted BNR process with focus on evolutions of PAOs and DPAOs.

A bench-scale UCT (University of Cape Town)-type membrane bioreactor (UCT-MBR) fed with low-strength synthetic wastewater was operated to investigate phosphorus removal with reference to poly-phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and denitrifying poly-phosphate accumulating organisms (DPAOs). A series of kinetic assays of PAOs and DPAOs were also conducted to analyze the metabolic activities of PAOs and DPAOs. Results showed that 93% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 77% of total nitrogen could be removed at 0.08 kgCOD kg(-1) MLSS d(-1) and 0.015 kgN kg(-1) MLSS d(-1) loading (MLSS: mixed liquor suspended solids). Removal efficiencies of total phosphorus increased during the experimental phase, with an ultimate removal efficiency of 96.1%. Kano and Kaer increased from 1.95 and 6.29 mgPO4(3-)-P g(-1) MLSS h(-1) to 5.47 and 11.13 mgPO4(3-)-P g(-1) MLSS h(-1) for DPAOs and PAOs respectively, with the increased ratio of DPAOs to PAOs from 31 to 49% implying DPAO metabolic activity increased faster than that of PAOs during the DPAO accumulation phase. Pano-uptake increased by 6.6 mg L(-1) and the ratio of PTano-uptake to PTupt increased from 58.97 to 91.62%. The ratio of DPAOs to PAOs tended to stabilize at around 50% over time.

Clinical observation of Danhong Injection (herbal TCM product from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae and Flos Carthami tinctorii) in the treatment of traumatic intracranial hematoma.

Danhong Injection (DHI), a Chinese Materia Medica standardized product extracted from Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae and Flos Carthami tinctorii, has the actions of promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis to promote regeneration. The clinical therapeutic effects of DHI on traumatic intracranial hematoma (TICH) were observed. Eighty patients with TICH were randomly assigned to trial group and a control group (40 patients per group), and all were administered with routine medication. Additionally, DIH was administered intravenously to patients in the trial group. Pre and post-treatment GCS was observed in the two groups, along with GOS after therapy. The intracranial hematoma absorption, hemorheological changes, and changes in coagulation indexes pre- and post-treatment were evaluated. The results indicated that GCS and GOS after therapy for the trial group were superior to those for the control group (p<0.05). There was a significant post-treatment difference in the intracranial hematoma absorption between the two groups (p<0.01). Each hemorheological index in the trial group improved significantly as compared with that of the control group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The plasma levels of fibrinogen and D-dimer in the trial group were significantly decreased after therapy (p<0.01). These results suggest that DHI is conducive to the recovery of patients with TICH.

[Determination of cinnamic acid in Cinnamomum cassia presl after compatibility in Coptis chinensis Franch].

OBJECTIVE: Studying changes of chemical constituents of Cinnamomum cassia after compatibility in Coptis chinensis; determining the amount of cinnamic acid in the decoction. METHOD: An YWG C18 column was used with a mobile phase of CH3CN-0.01% H3PO4(27:73), the flow rate was 1.0 ml.min-1 and the detection wavelength was 280 nm. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The calibration curve of cinnamic acid had good linear relationship in the range of 0.112-4.48 micrograms. The average recovery was 100.0%, the relative standard deviation was 0.66%. The amount of cinnamic acid was decreased in the decoction, and the decreased degree was related with the ratio of C. chinensis to C. cassia.

[Determination of evodiamine and rutaecarpine in Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth after compatibility with Coptis chinensis Franch].

OBJECTIVE: To studying changes of evodiamine and rutaecarpine in E. rutaecarpa after compatibility with C. chinensis. METHOD: An YWG C18 column was used with a mobile phase of CH3CN-H2O(40:60), the flow rate was 1.0 ml.min-1 and the detection wavelength was 290 nm. RESULT: The average recovery was 97.82% and 97.00%, the relative standard deviation was 0.81% and 1.10% for evodiamine and rutaecarpine respectively. CONCLUSION: The amounts of evodiamine and rutaecarpine were decreased after compatibility with C. chinensis.

13C CPMAS studies of plant cell wall materials and model systems using proton relaxation-induced spectral editing techniques.

The solid state 13C CPMAS NMR spectra of plant cell walls are often complex owing to superposition of resonances from different polysaccharides and the heterogeneity of the cell wall assembly. In this paper, we describe the application of a set of proton relaxation-induced spectral editing (PRISE) experiments which combine 1H relaxation properties (T1, T1rho, T2) with 13C high resolution spectroscopy (CPMAS) to relate the dynamics of the plant cell walls and model systems to their domain structural details. With PRISE it has been found that in plant cell wall materials, cellulose is always associated with the long components of spin-lattice relaxation in both the laboratory and rotating frames whereas non-cellulose polysaccharides (pectin and hemicellulose) are associated with the short ones. For the proton T2 relaxation, cellulose is only associated with the short component (below 20 micros), pectin contributes to both the short component and the long one.

The effect of electroacupuncture on shoulder subluxation for stroke patients.

In this study, we evaluated the effect of electroacupuncture on shoulder subluxation for stroke patients. Twenty hemiplegic patients with shoulder subluxation were randomly and equally divided into two groups. The subjects in the control group received conventional therapy, and the subjects in the study group were treated with electroacupuncture and conventional therapy for four weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS) for shoulder pain, motor function status, anthropometry, and X-ray assessment were used to evaluate the status of shoulder subluxation before and after treatment. The results indicated that the pain scores decreased in the study groups significantly more than those in the control group. The degrees of shoulder reduction, including the measurement of anthropometry and X-ray assessment in the study group, were more than those of the control group. However, the motor function status showed no significant difference between two groups. It is concluded that electroacupuncture can be an effective adjuvant management in the treatment of shoulder subluxation for stroke patients.

The effects of weight reduction on the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of weight reduction on the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity. METHODS: A total of 126 patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and obesity were classified into 3 groups by their stages of osteoarthritis. Each group was divided into subgroups a, b, and c. The subjects in subgroup a received weight reduction treatment, those in subgroup b received weight reduction and electrotherapy modalities, and those in subgroup c received electrotherapy modalities to relieve pain. RESULTS: Pain reduction, weight reduction, ambulation speed, and changes of Lequesne's index were greater in patients in subgroups a and b than in subgroup c after treatment. Although the last pain scores in subgroup b were less than those in subgroup a, as measured by a visual analog scale (VAS), there was no significant difference between their functional status. Significant pain relief (VAS < 2) and an acceptable functional status (Lequesne's index < 7) were indicated when weight reduction was more than 15% and 12%, respectively, of the initial body weight of the individual. CONCLUSION: Weight reduction was found to be a practical adjuvant treatment in the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

[Peroxidase isoenzymes analysis on some plants under simulated microgravity].

The detection technology of peroxidase isoenzyme pattern were adopted in the study of the effect of simulated microgravity on some plants. Biochemical analysis indicated that the microgravity samples displayed an increased activity of peroxidase.

[A study on the ultrastructure of plant cell under simulated microgravity].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of microgravity on plant cell ultrastructure. METHOD: Analyzing the biological and physiological differences between the plants grown in the simulated microgravity conditions and their correspondent ground controls. RESULT: Various variances in cell walls, chloroplasts and mitochondria were observed with electron microscope. Those ultrastructure changes included plasmolysis, twist, contraction and deformation of cell walls, curvature and loose arrangement of chloroplast lamellae, breach of mitochondria, overflow of inclusions, disappearance of cristae, and significant increase in number of starch grains per cell. CONCLUSION: Simulated microgravity conditions exert some coerce influence on the plant growth and the changes above-mentioned were the responses in cell level.

[Effect of electroacupuncturing heart meridian on arterial blood pressure with myocardial ischemia in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between Heart Meridian (HM) and cardiac function. METHODS: Forty-eight rabbits with acute myocardial ischemia resulting from intravenous pituitrin injection was conducted. Electroacupunture(EA) on the HM and the Lung meridian, 3 points for each, was applied and their change of arterial pressure was observed. RESULTS: The distinct difference existed in the improvement of arterial pressure on the HM and Lung Meridian with EA. The regulatory action of EA in HM on the cardiac function was significantly better than that of EA in Lung Meridian. CONCLUSION: HM was closely related to the cardiac function.