Numerical Modeling and Simulation of Non-Invasive Acupuncture Therapy Utilizing Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode.

Acupuncture is one of the most extensively used complementary and alternative medicine therapies worldwide. In this study, we explore the use of near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide acupuncture-like physical stimulus to the skin tissue, but in a completely non-invasive way. A computational modeling framework has been developed to investigate the light-tissue interaction within a three-dimensional multi-layer model of skin tissue. Finite element-based analysis has been conducted, to obtain the spatiotemporal temperature distribution within the skin tissue, by solving Pennes' bioheat transfer equation, coupled with the Beer-Lambert law. The irradiation profile of the LED has been experimentally characterized and imposed in the numerical model. The experimental validation of the developed model has been conducted through comparing the numerical model predictions with those obtained experimentally on the agar phantom. The effects of the LED power, treatment duration, LED distance from the skin surface, and usage of multiple LEDs on the temperature distribution attained within the skin tissue have been systematically investigated, highlighting the safe operating power of the selected LEDs. The presented information about the spatiotemporal temperature distribution, and critical factors affecting it, would assist in better optimizing the desired thermal dosage, thereby enabling a safe and effective LED-based photothermal therapy.

[Role of TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease and research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention].

Diabetic kidney disease is an important microvascular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Its pathological characteristics mainly include epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT) in glomerulus, podocyte apoptosis and autophagy, and damage of glomerular filtration barrier. Transforming growth factor-ß(TGF-ß)/Smad signaling pathway is specifically regulated by a variety of mechanisms, and is a classic pathway involved in physiological activities such as apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. At present, many studies have found that TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease. Traditional Chinese medicine has significant advantages in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease for its multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics, and some traditional Chinese medicine extracts, traditional Chinese medicines and traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription improve the renal injury of diabetic kidney disease by regulating TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway. This study clarified the mechanism of TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease by expounding the relationship between the key targets of the pathway and diabetic kidney disease, and summarized the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease by interfering with TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway in recent years, to provide reference for drug research and clinical treatment of diabetic kidney disease in the future.

[Research Progress of the Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Adverse Maternal-neonatal Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Patients].

Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)can cause blood glucose disorders in pregnant women and result in adverse maternal-neonatal outcomes.Vitamin D(VD)can improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity,and thus theoretically,VD supplementation during pregnancy could improve glycemic control as well as maternal-neonatal outcomes in GDM patients.Although studies have shown that VD deficiency is associated with poor maternal-neonatal outcomes in GDM patients,no solid conclusion has been drawn with regard to the effects of VD supplementation on these patients.Therefore,here we summarized the research progress of the effects of VD supplementation on glycemic control and adverse maternal-neonatal outcomes in GDM patients,in an effort to guide the clinical VD supplementation during pregnancy.

[Effects of root extract of host plants on seed germination and haustorium formation of Cistanche deserticola]. / å¯„ä¸»æ¤ç‰©æ ¹æµ¸ææ¶²å¯¹è‚‰è‹è“‰ç§å­èŒå‘åŠå¸å™¨å½¢æˆçš„å½±å“.

We examined the effects of root extracts of Haloxylon ammodendron and Beta vulgaris in Chenopodiaceae extracted by water and ethanol on seed germination and haustorium formation of Cistanche deserticola by filter paper culture dish method. The results showed that only adding root extract had no effect on seed germination and haustorium formation of C. deserticola. The germination rate of C. deserticola seeds treated by adding 10 mg·kg-1 gibberellin to the root extracted by ethanol was not significantly different from that of the control (GA3), whereas those treated by adding gibberellin to the ethanol extract of two kinds of host root was increased by more than 10 times. The germination rate of C. deserticola seeds in the treatment with adding 1 mg·kg-1 fluridone (FL) to root extract was not significantly different from that in the control with only fluridone, while those in the treatment with B. vulgaris root water extraction was the highest (39.4%). Compared to the treatment of adding gibberellin to the root extract, the germination rate of C. deserticola seeds was only increased. When FL was added to the host root extract, the haustorium was formed on the germination tube, with the formation rate of the ethanol extraction group being the highest (16.2%). Seed germination rate of C. deserticola increased to 52.3% when GA3 and FL were added to the ethanol extract of H. ammodendron, but the formation rate of haustorium was not different from that of FL treatment. Only 6.7% of the seed formation haustorium in the control was significantly lower than that in FL treatment. There were differences in the position and shape of the haustorium of C. deserticola seeds under different treatments. The haustorium produced by adding the extract of the host root mostly appeared at the top of the bud tube, and many papillae raised into claws. The haustorium of FL treatment without adding the extract of the host root mostly appeared at the bottom or the top of the bud tube splitting. The results indicated that ethanol extraction and water extraction could extract the substances that could promote the formation of C. deserticola seeds haustorium from the host root, but did not affect seed germination. GA3 and FL could significantly improve the germination rate of C. deserticola seeds, but the formation of the haustorium was affected by some substances in the host root extract.

[Metabolomics analysis of Lycium barbarum leaves after Aceria pallida infestation].

Aceria pallida is one of the most common pests in the main production areas of Lycium barbarum in China. The mite mainly feeds on foliage, leading to local tissue deformation and formation of massive galls, which seriously affects the growth and yield of L. barbarum. However, little is known about the influence of galling organisms on plant primary and secondary metabolism. In order to compare the metabolites differences between healthy and the mite infested leaves of wolfberry, and provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of the galled leaves, L. barbarum seedlings were infested with A. pallida artificially in the laboratory, the metabolites of L. barbarum leaves were determined by LC-MS/MS. Our results showed that the leaves were rich in amino acids and flavonoid compounds. A total of 204 compounds from 16 classes were detected in L. barbarum leaves based on LC-MS/MS. The primary metabolites are mainly amino acids, and the secondary metabolites are mainly organic acids and flavonoids. The content of the metabolite in the leaves of L. barbarum was significantly affected by the mite, 30 metabolites such as flavonoids and phenylpropanoids were significantly changed, 21 metabolites were up-regulated and 9 metabolites were down-regulated significantly. There were 8 compounds which has pharmacological and biological activity, such as eriodictyol, isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside and scopoletin up-regulated significantly. Based on the above findings, we suggest that the galled leaves of L.barbarum have a potential to be developed in the future.

[Overwintering status and species identification of gall mite in major wolfberry production areas].

To identify the wolfberry gall mite species and their overwintering situation in different wolfberry production areas and to provide a scientific basis for their prevention and control. We investigate the phoresy overwintering situation of gall mite, and identify the species of gall mite. Our results showed that the phoretic gall mite was Aceria pallida in all the production areas. The phoresy of gall mite was a common occurrence in different production areas, and the phoresy probability was above 75%. The phoretic behavior of wolfberry gall mite occurred commonly in the other production areas. The control of this mite in different production areas should pay attention to their phoretic behavior.

[Ultrastructure observations on antennal sensilla of Heortia vitessoides the most serious pest of Aquilaria sinensis].

Heortia vitessoides is the most serious pest of Aquilaria sinensis,which is an economically important evergreen tree native to China and is the principal source of Chinese agarwood. In severe infestations,the insects completely eat up the leaves of A. sinensis,causing severe economic losses. In a more recent study,we found that the antennal sensilla of adult play important roles in the host location,mating and oviposition of H. vitessoides. Here,the external morphology of the antennal sensilla of H. vitessoides were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The result showed that the antennae of both sexes of H. vitessoides were filiform in shape,which consist of the scape,pedicel and about 64 segments of flagellomeres. Eight morphological sensilla types were recorded in both sexes,including sensilla trichodea,sensilla chaetica,sensilla basiconica,sensilla coeloconica,sensilla styloconica,sensilla auricillica,sensilla squamiformia and böhm bristle. Major differences were recorded in the distribution and quantity of different sensilla types in each segment of antenna. The sensillas are almost confined to the ventral and lateral surfaces rather than the back side of antennae. Antennal flagella contained the most sensilla while the scape and pedicel segments only contained böhm bristles and sensilla squamiformias. Sensilla trichodea Ⅲ were only found on male antennae. These results are discussed in relation to the possible roles of the sensilla types in the host location,mating and oviposition selection behavior of H. vitessoides.

[Variance analysis on polysaccharide,total flavonoids and total phenols of Lycium barbarum leaves from different production areas].

To compare the polysaccharides( LBLP),total flavonoids( LBLTF) and total phenols( LBLTP) of Lycium barbarum leaves from 14 production areas from Ningxia,Qinghai and Gansu at different harvesting time. Our results showed that there were significant difference of LBLP,LBLTF and LBLTP among different production areas. The LBLP collected from Xiangride township production area,Dulan,Qinghai was as high as 15. 02%. The LBLTF collected from Dagele township production area,Geermu,Qinghai was as high as28. 63%. The LBLTP collected from Keluke township production area,Delingha,Qinghai was as high as 16. 7%. There were also significant difference of these 3 components between different harvest periods. The average LBLP in May( 10. 20%) was significantly higher than that in June( 8. 49%). However,the average LBLTF( 17. 71%) and LBLTP( 12. 77%) in June was significantly higher than that in May( 14. 15%,11. 19%). The LBLTF and LBLTP have a positive correlation with the altitude of production areas,but there was no significant association between LBLP and altitude. The LBLP,LBLTF and LBLTP in different production areas and harvesting time was significant difference,the results provide some references for furthermore development and utilization of L. barbarum leaves.

[Threshold temperature and effective accumulative temperature of Periplaneta Americana].

Periplaneta americana is an important medicinal insect. A series of new drugs developed from it have remarkable clinical effects and are in great demand in the market. Because of unclear biology, the quality and yield of P. americana are affected. Understanding the developmental threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature of P. americana can provide theoretical basis for standardized culture of P.americana. Under climate chamber, the threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature for egg development of P. americana to were determined through effective accumulated temperature law. The threshold temperature was （15.8±0.71）°C, the effective accumulated temperature was 415.8±38.05 degree days. A model of the relationship between temperature and developmental rates was established.

[Study on membrane type leaf water evaporation inhibitors for improving effect of preventing diseases and pest controlling of Lycium barbarum].

Through indoor and field comparative experiments, the properties of membrane type leaf evaporation inhibitors and its effects on photosynthesis of Lycium barbarum and compatibility and synergistic of pesticide were studied. The evaporation inhibitors and L. barbarum were chosen to investigate the suppression of water evaporation and the compatibility with pesticides. The effect of evaporation inhibitors on photosynthesis of L. barbarum leaves was determined by the chlorophyll fluorescence imaging system. The results showed that water evaporation of L. barbarum leaves of different leaf age were evidently suppressed after treated with evaporation inhibitor. The inhibitor was well compatible with pesticide and effectively improved the pesticide efficacy，and had no significant effect on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. It is concluded that the evaporation inhibitor has good compatibility with the pesticide, and has remarkable effect of restraining moisture evaporation, which make it can be used for reducing the dosage and improving the efficacy of the pesticide in the field of L. barbarum.

[Residue degradation dynamics of spinetoram in wolfberry].

The safety interval period and residue dynamics of two main components (XDE-175-J and XDE-175-L) of spinetoram in wolfberry were measured. Field experiment design and sampling method were carried out according to the "Guideline on pesticide residue trials". The wolfberry samples were extracted with acetonitrile by ultrasonic, and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. The wolfberry was sprayed with 6% spinetoram suspension concentrate (SC) at recommended dosage (1 500 times) and doubling dosage (750 times) (one time) at fructescence of wolfberry. The half-lives of spinetoram residue under recommended dosage treatment was 3.65-4.25 d, and all the fresh and dried fruits conform to first order kinetics equation. The dissipation rate was over 95% in fresh and dried fruits at 14 d after application. In conclusion, spinetoram belongs to the easily degradable pesticide type.

[Dissipation dynamics of spirodiclofen in wolfberry fruit].

The dissipation of spirodiclofen in fresh fruit and dry fruit of wolfberry was detected in this study to provide a reference for its safe application.According to Pesticide Residue Test Criteria of China, the open-field experiment was conducted in Zhongning courty of Ningxia province, and the dissipation of spirodiclofen was studied by acetonitrile extraction and HPLC-MS/MS detection. The results showed that the half-lives of spirodiclofen in fresh wolfberry fruit and dry wolfberry fruit were 6.9-11.2 days and 8.5-10.4 days, respectively. Spirodiclofen belongs to the easily degradable pesticide type. According to the maximum residue limits (0.5 mg•kg⁻¹) of spirodiclofen of EU for wolfberry, after recommended dosage being sprayed for once, fresh wolfberry fruit was safe to eat after 5 days, and dry wolfberry fruit was safe to eat after 21 days.

[Evaluation of efficiency of traps baited with frequency trembler grid lamps and trap plants for control Heortia vitessoides infectwed in Aquilaria sinensis].

Heortia vitessoides has been a serious defoliating pest of Aquilaria sinensis forests in recent years.The adults displayed strong tropism to the frequency trembler grid lamps and the nectar source plants.The favorite nectar source plants of H.vitessoides adults as the trap plants and the frequency trembler grid lamps in the integrated management of H.vitessoides were studied in the adult eclosion period through both the laboratory and field.The results showed that Kuhnia rosmarnifolia and Santalum album plants showed strong attraction to the H.vitessoides adults, with significant differences among the different nectar source plants.K.rosmarnifolia and S.album as trap plants with board type of planting area to total planting area of 5%-10%, and the frequency trembler grid lamps trapped significantly more adults of H.vitessoides. These results suggested that the frequency trembler grid lamps and trap plants could play an important role in the integrated management of the pest H.vitessoides of A.sinensis.

[Preliminary studies on critical control point of traceability system in wolfberry].

As a traditional Chinese medicine, wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) has a long cultivation history and a good industrial development foundation. With the development of wolfberry production, the expansion of cultivation area and the increased attention of governments and consumers on food safety, the quality and safety requirement of wolfberry is higher demanded. The quality tracing and traceability system of production entire processes is the important technology tools to protect the wolfberry safety, and to maintain sustained and healthy development of the wolfberry industry. Thus, this article analyzed the wolfberry quality management from the actual situation, the safety hazard sources were discussed according to the HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control point) and GAP (good agricultural practice for Chinese crude drugs), and to provide a reference for the traceability system of wolfberry.

[Investigation of production status in major wolfberry producing areas of China and some suggestions].

To investigate the production status and the safety influence factors of wolfberry in China. We investigated the detailed factors which affect the quality safe of wolfberry in the periods of July-August 2013 and July-September 2009. The factors include fertilizing patterns, the used pesticide and preliminary process wolfberry. The factors were discussed according to the results of investigation, and suggestions were proposed for the management and production departments of wolfberry.

[Effects of bionic glue on experimental population dynamics of Paratrioza sinica and its natural enemies].

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether and how the newly invented technique-bionic glue affects the main pest of wolf berry-Paratrioza sinica and its natural enemies Tamarixia lyciumi and Chrysopa septempunctata. METHOD: Spraying bionic glue in field when wolf berry just geminated, investigated the adults and nymphs of P. sinica and it's natural enemies: adults of T. lyciumi and eggs of C. septempunctata. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Bionic glue can significantly reduce the population number of P. sinica, but with little impacts on its natural enemies of T. lyciumi and C. septempunctata, and more experiments are need for further research.

[Screening for virulence strains of Metarhizium against Dorysthenes hydropicus pascoes].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to screen the Metarhizium strains with high virulence against the larvae of Dorysthenes hydropicus, a serious pest of Citrus grandis. METHOD: Thirty six strains of Metarhiziums were isolated from the soil of C. grandis GAP base and collected from other institutions, and the pathogenicity of these strains against 1st instar larvae of D. hydropicus was detected at concentration of 1 x 10(8) conidia/g. The high violence strains against D. hydropicus were cultivated in sabouraud dextrose yeast medium at first, then transfer to rice grain. And the sporulations of these violent strains against D. hydropicus were detected. RESULT: Twenty-eight strains showed virulence against D. hydropicus by preliminary study, and 7 strains of them were collected for further study, 6 of the 7 showed high virulence, the highest cadaver rate was higher than 74%. The conidia production of strain 1 and strain 4 were 2.35 +/- 0. 25 (1 x 10(9) conidia/g), 2.21 +/- 0.27 (1 x 10(9) conidia/g), respectively, showed significantly higher than other strains. CONCLUSION: Strain 1 and strain 4 of the 36 Metarhiziums strains showed high virulence against D. hydropicus, and the highest sporulation ability, so they have a best application prospect.

Antiarrhythmic effects and ionic mechanisms of oxymatrine from Sophora flavescens.

Accumulating evidence indicates that oxymatrine may exert protective effects on the cardiovascular system. This study was designed to evaluate the antiarrhythmic effects as well as the electrophysiological properties of oxymatrine. The antiarrhythmic activity of oxymatrine was observed in a rat model of arrhythmia induced by coronary ligation. Action potential duration (APD), L-type calcium current (I(Ca-L) ), transient outward potassium current (I(to) ) and inward rectifier potassium current (I(K1)) in rat ventricular myocytes were recorded by utilizing the whole cell patch-clamp technique. The results showed that administration of oxymatrine significantly delayed the onset of ventricular arrhythmia, decreased the duration of ventricular arrhythmia and reduced the arrhythmia score of arrhythmic rats. The beneficial effects of oxymatrine may be related to the shortening of APD through reduction of I(Ca-L) , enhancement of I(to) and inhibition of I(K1).

Scutellarin exerts its anti-hypertrophic effects via suppressing the Ca2+-mediated calcineurin and CaMKII signaling pathways.

Scutellarin is a flavonoid extracted from a traditional Chinese herb, Erigeron breviscapus Hand Mazz, which has been broadly used in treating various cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated its effect on cardiac hypertrophy and the underlying mechanism. Both in vitro and in vivo cardiac hypertrophy models were employed to explore the anti-hypertrophic action of scutellarin. We found that scutellarin significantly suppressed the hypertrophic growth of neonatal cardiac myocytes exposed to phenylephrine (PE) and mouse heart subjected to pressure overload induced by aortic banding, accompanied with the decreased expression of hypertrophic markers beta-myosin heavy chain and atrial natriuretic peptide. We then measured the change of free intracellular calcium using laser scanning confocal microscope. We found that scutellarin alleviated the increment of free intracellular calcium during cardiac hypertrophy either induced by PE or aortic banding. The expression of calcium downstream effectors calcineurin and phosphorylated calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) were significantly suppressed by scutellarin. Our study indicated that scutellarin exerts its anti-hypertrophic activity via suppressing the Ca(2+)-mediated calcineurin and CaMKII pathways, which supports the observation that clinical application of scutellarin is beneficial for cardiovascular disease patients.

[Effects of icariin on inflammation model stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in vitro and in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of icariin, from aspects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules. METHODS: Mouse inflammation model in vitro was established by stimulating macrophage cell line RAW264. 7 with lipopolysaccharide (LPS); and the inflammation model in vivo was established by stimulating C57BL/6J mouse with LPS. Taking dexamethasone as the positive control, both models were treated with icariin, and the cell viability in model mice was detected with CCK-8 kit; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cell culture medium and serum were detected by ELISA; nitric oxide (NO) in cell culture medium by Griess Reagent method; CD11b expression on the surface of neutrophil in mice by flow cytometry, and pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration in mice by pathological section as well. RESULTS: in vitro studies showed that icariin at the doses of 1 microg/mL, 10 microg/mL and 100 microg/mL, all displayed no cytotoxicity (P < 0.01); 10 microg/mL and 100 microg/mL icariin effectively lowered the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 (P < 0.01) in medium; and 100 microg/mL icariin significantly reduced level of NO (P < 0.01) in medium. in vivo studies showed that icariin at the dose of 20 mg/kg significantly lowered serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels (P < 0.01), reduced the average fluorescence intensity of adhesion molecules CD11b (P < 0.01), and alleviated pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration. CONCLUSION: Icariin is a safe and effective natural anti-inflammatory drug, its partial mechanism is possible the multiple links intervention on pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6), inflammatory mediators (NO) and adhesion molecules (CD11b).