Research advance in the mechanism exploration of traditional Chinese medicine regulating mucus barrier and interfering with ulcerative colitis based on the “thickening intestine”theory / 中国药房

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a clinical chronic intestinal disease， and the damage of the intestinal epithelial mucus barrier is an important pathological mechanism of UC. Mucin 2 （MUC2） is a major component of the intestinal mucus barrier， and goblet cells are the “main force” of MUC2 secretion， maintaining and renewing the intestinal mucus layer to ensure its integrity. Therefore， repairing the intestinal mucus barrier by promoting the synthesis of MUC2 by goblet cells is an important strategy for the treatment of UC. Traditional Chinese medicine scholars believe that there is an inherent layer of “lipid membrane” or “fat paste” in the intestine， and pathological factors such as moisture and heat lead to the thinning of this structure， which is the fundamental pathogenesis of “diarrhea” and “intestinal dysentery”. It coincides with the damage of intestinal mucus barrier leading to UC in modern medicine. Based on this， this paper summarized the mechanism of Chinese herbal compounds or Chinese herbal active components in regulating intestinal mucus barrier to interfere with UC. It was found that Chinese herbal compounds such as Huanglian jiedu decoction， Shaoyao decoction and Compound Kusen decoction， as well as Chinese herbal active ingredients such as volatile oil of Atractylodes lancea， paeoniflorin and papaya triterpenes could promote the synthesis and secretion function of goblet cells， and achieve the purpose of “thickening intestine”， thus relieving UC symptoms.

Root extract of Prunella vulgaris inhibits in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis in MCF-5 human breast carcinoma via suppression of angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and modulation of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

PURPOSE: In this study we examined the anticancer effects of methanolic root extract of Prunella Vulgaris (PVE) against the MCF-5 breast cancer (BC) cell line along with its mode of action. METHODS: The proliferation rate of the MCF-5 cells was assessed by MTT assay. Apoptosis was confirmed by acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) and annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining. DNA damage was checked by comet assay. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. Protein expression was determined by western blotting. In vivo evaluation of the extract was carried out in xenografted tumor mice models. RESULTS: PVE inhibited the growth of the MCF-5 cells and exhibited an IC50 value of 25 µg/ml. The investigation of underlying mechanism revealed that PVE triggered apoptotic cell death of the MCF-5 cells which was also associated with enhancement of the expression of Bax and decrease in the expression of Bcl-2. PVE also caused arrest of the cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and also exerted the anti-angiogenic effects. In vivo evaluation of PVE showed that it could inhibit the tumor weight and volume, suggestive of the anticancer potential of PVE. CONCLUSION: The root extract of Prunella vulgaris in this study was shown to exert potent anticancer effects in MCF-7 human BC cells both in vitro and in vivo, accompanied with apoptosis induction, inhibition of angiogenesis, cell cycle arrest, and modulation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Acupuncture combined with local anesthesia for percutaneous vertebroplasty / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the analgesic and sedative effects of acupuncture combined with local anesthesia for percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients of single segmental osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who were prepared to receive PVP were randomly divided into an observation group, a control 1 group, a control 2 group, 20 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) 20 min before operation; during operation, EA was given combined with regular anesthesia. The patients in the control 1 group were treated with intramuscular injection of parecoxib sodium (40 mg), combined with regular anesthesia. The patients in the control 2 group were treated with intravenous injection of dezocine (5 mg), combined with regular anesthesia. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Ramesy sedation score were compared among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the observation group and control 2 group, the VAS during puncture and bone cement placement was higher than that before acupuncture (all <0.01); the VAS during bone cement placement was higher than that before puncture (<0.05, <0.01); the VAS after operation was lower than that during puncture and bone cement placement (<0.05, <0.01). In the control 1 group, the VAS during puncture and bone cement placement and after operation was higher than that before acupuncture (<0.01, <0.05), the VAS after operation was lower than that during puncture and bone cement placement (<0.05, <0.01). There was no significant difference in VAS and Ramesy score among three groups at all time points (all >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with local anesthesia and analgesics, acupuncture combined with local anesthesia has similar analgesic and sedative effect for PVP, which could be considered a better method for PVP anesthesia.</p>

A sapphire based monolithic integrated optrode.

A novel kind of optrode fabricated on a sapphire substrate is proposed for optogenetic applications in neuroscience. Eight thin-film neural electrodes and a GaN-LED are monolithically integrated on the surface of a sapphire shank. The LED is used for optogenetic stimulation and the multiple electrodes are used for simultaneous recording of neural activities. The output power density of the LED is 1-19 mW/mm2 at 468 nm, driving with a current from 0.7-10 mA. The mean electrochemical impedance of the eight recoding sites on the optrode at 1 kHz is 385 kΩ. The highest temperature-raise at tissue around the LED is almost 1 °C when the output power density is 3 mw/mm2. The monolithic integrated structure will make it a powerful tool for optogenetics.

Effects of Acupuncture Therapy with Finger on Back-shu Point on Acid Reflux and Lower Esophageal Sphincter Pressure of GERD Patients / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture therapy with finger on back-shu point on acid reflux and lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) of the patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods Totally 120 patients of GERD were randomly divided into treatment group and control group through random number table method, 60 cases in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with the acupuncture therapy with finger on back-shu point, and patients in control group were treated with lansoprazole tablets and dispersible mosapride citrate for two weeks. Total percentage of acid reflux time, the long time acid reflux episodes, and the longest acid reflux time of two groups were observed six months after the treatment. At the same time, the LESP variation of two groups was followed up six months after the treatment. Results The total percentage of acid reflux time, the long time acid reflux episodes, and the longest acid reflux time decreased significantly in all patients after treatment (P0.05). After treatment, LESP of two groups was significantly improved (P0.05). Conclusion The acupuncture therapy with finger on back-shu point can reduce acid reflux, and achieve the goal of treatment of GERD by improving the lower esophageal sphincter pressure. The duration of improving LESP is longer.

Clinical Observation of Acupoint Application plus Pricking Sifeng (EX-UE10) for Infantile Chronic Cough / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the treatment difference of using acupiont application alone, pricking Sifeng (EX-UE10) alone, and combination of the two therapies in treating infantile chronic cough. Method Ninety patients were randomized into 3 groups (acupoint application group, pricking Sifeng group, and a combining group), 30 in each group. Same points were selected for the three groups:Feishu (BL13), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), and Sifeng (EX-UE 10). By follow-up research of the symptom scale, the therapeutic efficacies were compared. Result The total effective rate was 83.3%in the acupoint application group, 80.0%in the pricking Sifeng (EX-UE 10) group, and 93.3%in the combining group;meanwhile, the symptom scores were significantly changed after intervention in all three groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Separate use and combining use of acupoint application and pricking Sifeng (EX-UE 10) all can improve the condition of infantile chronic cough, while the combining use can produce a significantly higher therapeutic efficacy, thus it’s a safe, effective, and easy-to-operate external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.

Interference Effect of Acupuncture on Language Function of Children with Autism / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture treatment for infantile autism. Methods: After being treated with the needling technique for enhancing wisdom and opening the orifice, 32 cases of sick children were assessed by Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) depending upon their clinical symptoms. Results: After acupuncture treatments, language communication, interpersonal relationships, movements and behavior, and personal ability had all improved. Among them, the remarkable rate of language communication showed a statistical significance in comparison with the other three items (P<0.05). In the comparison of the ATEC scores before and after the treatments, the language items (P<0.01), social relationships, perception and behavior items, showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of sick children with autism, and the interference effect on language function is especially remarkable.

Treatment of 28 Cases of Tourette's Syndrome by Puncturing Back-Shu Points / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Twenty-eight cases of Infantile Tourette's syndrome were treated by puncturing Back-Shu points. In 28 cases of the patients, the results showed cure in 6 cases, effect in 21 cases and failure in one case, and the total effective rate in 96.4%.

Clinical Study on Improvement of Sleep and Life Quality in Chronic Insomnia Patients with Abdominal Acupuncture / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study the improvement of sleep and life quality in chronic insomina patients with abdominal acupuncture. Methods Ninety patients were randomly divided into study group and control group. The study group were treated with abdominal acupuncture combined with hypnotics, and control group of with pure hypnotics. Ten treatments formed a course. The therapeutical effect was assessed with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Questionnaire SF-36 before and after treatment and 2 weeks after treatment respectively. Results The significant improvement was obtained in aspects of general effective rate right after the treatment, general score of PSQI and score of Questionnaire SF-36, and very significant improvement two weeks after the treatment not only in PSQI scores in sleep quality, sleep efficiency, daytime function and hypnotics but in SF-36 score. Conclusions Abdominal acupuncture can treat chronic insomnia through regulating body environment so as to improve sleep and life quality, and eliminate the hypnotic side effects.