The efficacy and safety of cupping as complementary and alternative therapy for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of cupping therapy in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: This systematic review focused on patients with MetS and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effects of cupping therapy with control groups. A total of 12 electronic databases were searched from inception until February 03, 2023. The main outcome after the meta-analysis was waist circumference; the others included anthropometric variables, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose level, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level. The incidence of adverse events and the follow-up courses were also evaluated. Risk of bias (ROB) was evaluated using ROB 2.0 from the Cochrane Handbook. RESULTS: This systematic review included five studies involving 489 patients. Some risks of bias were also identified. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significance in waist circumference (MD = -6.07, 95% CI: -8.44 to -3.71, P < .001, I2 = 61%, τ2 = 3.4), body weight (MD = -2.46, 95% CI: -4.25 to -0.68, P = .007, I2 = 0%, τ2 = 0) and body mass index (MD = -1.26, 95% CI: -2.11 to -0.40, P = .004, I2 = 0%, τ2 = 0) between the cupping therapy and control groups. However, there were no significant results in total fat percentage and blood pressure values. Regarding biochemical markers, cupping significantly lowered the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = -3.98, 95% CI: -6.99 to -0.96, P = .010, I2 = 0%, τ2 = 0) but had no significant effect on total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. 3 RCTs reported no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some ROB and low to substantial heterogeneity of the included studies, cupping therapy can be considered a safe and effective complementary intervention for reducing waist circumference, body weight, body mass index, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with MetS. In the future, well-designed, high-quality, rigorous methodology, and long-term RCTs in this population are required to assess the efficacy and safety of cupping therapy.

Application of acupuncture in the emergency department for patients with ileus: A pilot prospective cohort clinical study.

Acupuncture can be conveniently used for pain control in patients with a variety of conditions, and it has obvious effects on various acute pains. In 2018, we implemented a program for emergency treatment with Chinese medicine to promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine at the Emergency Department (ED). Ileus is a common cause of abdominal pain among patients in the ED, and it is an indication for emergency treatment with Chinese medicine. This study investigated the efficacy of acupuncture as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based treatment method for the treatment of patients with ileus in the ED. We analyzed data of patients with ileus, who visited ED between January and December 2019, and compared the length of ED stay between the Western medicine group and the Western medicine plus acupuncture group. Furthermore, pain intensity was measured by a visual analogue scale before and after acupuncture. We found that the length of ED stay was 10.8 hours lesser in the Western medicine plus acupuncture group than in the Western medicine group (P = .04), and the visual analogue scale score decreased by 2.0 on average from before to after acupuncture treatment (P = .02). Acupuncture treatment was effective and rapid in relieving the symptoms and discomfort in patients with ileus and in reducing their length of stay in the ED.

The flavonoid corylin exhibits lifespan extension properties in mouse.

In the long history of traditional Chinese medicine, single herbs and complex formulas have been suggested to increase lifespan. However, the identification of single molecules responsible for lifespan extension has been challenging. Here, we collected a list of traditional Chinese medicines with potential longevity properties from pharmacopeias. By utilizing the mother enrichment program, we systematically screened these traditional Chinese medicines and identified a single herb, Psoralea corylifolia, that increases lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Next, twenty-two pure compounds were isolated from Psoralea corylifolia. One of the compounds, corylin, was found to extend the replicative lifespan in yeast by targeting the Gtr1 protein. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, RNA sequencing data showed that corylin ameliorates cellular senescence. We also examined an in vivo mammalian model, and found that corylin extends lifespan in mice fed a high-fat diet. Taken together, these findings suggest that corylin may promote longevity.

Why does sulfate inhibit selenate reduction: Molybdenum deprivation from Mo-dependent selenate reductase.

Selenium pollution has become an increasingly serious global concern. Methane-fed selenate reduction has proven to be of great interest for the bioremediation of selenate-contaminated waters even with the coexistence of nitrate and dissolved oxygen. However, it is unclear if the common concurrent sulfate anion affects selenate removal. To address this question, we first introduced selenate (SeO42-) as the sole influent electron acceptor in a CH4-fed membrane biofilm reactor (CH4-MBfR); then we added different concentrations of sulfate (SO42-). The initial selenate removal efficiency (∼90%) was decreased by 50% in the presence of 15.6 µM of sulfate and completely inhibited after loading with 171.9 µM of sulfate. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the selenate-reducing bacteria decreased after the addition of sulfate. Metagenomic sequencing showed that the abundance of genes encoding molybdenum (Mo)-dependent selenate reductase reduced by >50% when exposed to high concentrations of sulfate. Furthermore, the decrease in the total genes encoding all Mo-oxidoreductases was much greater than that of the genes encoding molybdate transporters, suggesting that the inhibition of selenate reduction by sulfate was most likely via the direct competition with molybdate for the transport system, leading to a lack of available Mo for Mo-dependent selenate reductases and thus reducing their activities. This result was confirmed by a batch test wherein the supplementation of molybdate mitigated the sulfate effect. Overall, this study shed light on the underlying mechanism of sulfate inhibition on selenate reduction and laid the foundation for applying the technology to practical wastewaters.