Comparative analysis of trace elements in five marine-derived shell TCM using multivariate statistical analysis / 中国中药杂志

A comparable study were carried out by determination of trace elements on five marine-derived shell traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (Ostreae Concha, Haliotidis Concha, Margaritifera Concha, Meretricis Concha, and Arcae Concha), which were recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 version). Seven trace elements in 51 batches of this type of shell TCM were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), combined with principal component analysis (PCA) methods. The content of element Se, which exhibited significant differences among different drugs, could be used as a key element to distinguish this type of drugs. Meanwhile, the contents of elements Co, Cu, Mo, and Ba in Haliotidis Concha, Co and As in Margaritifera Concha, Mo and As in Meretricis Concha, Mo, As, and Ba in Arcae Concha, and Zn in Meretricis Concha were relatively stable. In the PCA plot, Arcae Concha and Meretricis Concha could be efficiently distinguished from Ostreae Concha together with Haliotidis Concha, and Margaritifera Concha. The results also showed a correlation with their medicinal function. In conclusion, trace elements in marine-derived shell TCM could not be neglected for their quality control.

Identification of marine-derived shell TCM by near infrared spectroscopy / 中国中药杂志

The identification of five marine-derived shell traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia were studied. Using near infrared technology (NIR) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) methods, Ostreae Concha, Haliotidis Concha, and Margaritifera Concha could be efficiently distinguished from Meretricis Concha together with Arcae Concha. In the first principal components, Ostreae Concha exhibited obvious differences with high loadings in 4 236, 5 263, 7 142 cm(-1) concerning to the contents of CaCO3 and H2O in the samples. Arcae Concha and Meretricis Concha displayed significant differences with others in the second principal components, which can be illustrated by high loadings in 5 000 -4 430 cm(-1) areas. It is indicated that the second principal components might be related to organics which contained NH and CH groups, for example proteins. Meanwhile, our data showed a correlation between the function of these shell TCM and their distribution in the PCA plot. These results suggested that organic components in marine-derived shell TCM could not be neglected for their quality control.

Clinical observation on acupuncture combined with nerve block for treatment of lumbar disc herniation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with nerve block for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety cases of lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into three groups: acupuncture combined with nerve block group, acupuncture group and nerve block group, 30 cases in each group. The acupuncture combined with nerve block group was treated with acupuncture combined with nerve block therapy, L2-L5 Jiaji (EX-B 2), Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30), Yanglingquan (GB 34) etc. were selected for acupuncture, affected nerve root, sciatic nerve or common peroneal nerve were selected for nerve block with anti-inflammation-analgesic injection; the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture only; the nerve block group was treated with nerve block only. After 4 weeks of treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry lumbar dysfunction index (ODI) and modified MacNab standard were compared to evaluate the therapeutic effects of three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The VAS and ODI in all groups were significantly decreased after one week, two weeks and four weeks of treatment (all P<0.01); after one week of treatment, the scores of VAS and ODI in nerve block group and acupuncture combined with nerve block group were significantly lower than those of acupuncture group (P<0.05); after two weeks and four weeks of treatment, the scores of VAS and ODI in acupuncture combined with nerve block group were significantly lower than those of acupuncture group and nerve block group (P<0.05). The effective rate and excellent and good rate of the acupuncture combined with nerve block group were significantly higher than those of acupuncture group and nerve block group (both P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The nerve block therapy and acupuncture are effective methods for treatment of lumbar disc herniation, while it has a better effect when these two treatments are combined used.</p>