Near-infrared responsive sulfur vacancy-rich CuS nanosheets for efficient antibacterial activity via synergistic photothermal and photodynamic pathways.

Defect engineering has been proven to be an effective approach for electronic structure modulation and plays an important role in the photocatalytic performance of nanomaterials. In this study, a series of CuS nanosheet sulfur vacancies (VS) are constructed by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method. The CuS with the highest VS concentration exhibits strong antibacterial performance, achieving bactericidal rates of 99.9% against the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria under 808 nm laser irradiation. Under illumination, the temperature of the catalyst increases from 23.5 °C to 53.3 °C, and with a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 41.8%. For E. coli and B. subtilis, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that is induced by the CuS group is 8.6 and 9.6 times greater, respectively, than that of the control group. The presence of VS facilitates the enhancement of the light absorption capacity and the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs, thereby resulting in improved photocatalytic performance. The synergistic effect of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) is aimed at causing oxidative damage and leading to bacterial death. Our findings provide an effective antibacterial strategy and offer new horizons for the application of CuS catalysts with VS in the NIR region.

MoS2-based nanocomposites for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Molybdenum is a trace dietary element necessary for the survival of humans. Some molybdenum-bearing enzymes are involved in key metabolic activities in the human body (such as xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase and sulfite oxidase). Many molybdenum-based compounds have been widely used in biomedical research. Especially, MoS2-nanomaterials have attracted more attention in cancer diagnosis and treatment recently because of their unique physical and chemical properties. MoS2 can adsorb various biomolecules and drug molecules via covalent or non-covalent interactions because it is easy to modify and possess a high specific surface area, improving its tumor targeting and colloidal stability, as well as accuracy and sensitivity for detecting specific biomarkers. At the same time, in the near-infrared (NIR) window, MoS2 has excellent optical absorption and prominent photothermal conversion efficiency, which can achieve NIR-based phototherapy and NIR-responsive controlled drug-release. Significantly, the modified MoS2-nanocomposite can specifically respond to the tumor microenvironment, leading to drug accumulation in the tumor site increased, reducing its side effects on non-cancerous tissues, and improved therapeutic effect. In this review, we introduced the latest developments of MoS2-nanocomposites in cancer diagnosis and therapy, mainly focusing on biosensors, bioimaging, chemotherapy, phototherapy, microwave hyperthermia, and combination therapy. Furthermore, we also discuss the current challenges and prospects of MoS2-nanocomposites in cancer treatment.

[Features of clinical application of eye acupuncture therapy revealed by data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the features, dominant indications and application regularities of eye acupuncture therapy in clinical practice. METHODS: We first collected original articles, academic dissertations, conference articles, and case reports from databases of CNKI, Wanfang, and Chinese biomedical literature (CBM) from Jan. 1 of 1980 to Dec. 31 of 2017, and medical records from medical books of Zhonghua Yan Zhen (Chinese Eye Acupuncture Therapy), Yanzhen Shijian Lu (Records of Application of Eye Acupuncture Therapy), and Peng Jing-shan's Yanzhen Liaofa Yanjiu (Peng Jing-shan's Eye Acupuncture Therapy) by using keyword of "eye acupuncture". Then, we established an "Eye-acupuncture Database" after sorting, screening, typing-in, checking, and extraction of the collected data by SQL server 2005 and 2005 Analysis Services (SASS), followed by analysis of the dominant indications, needling methods, needle manipulations, principles for acupoint selection, and clinical effect. RESULTS: Among the 850 articles retrieved, 178 were eligible to be subjected to analysis, including 42 disorders/diseases in 7 categories. The eye acupuncture therapy has the highest application frequency for 19 types of disorders/diseases of the internal medicine, such as sequela of apoplexy, hiccup, insomnia, vertigo, hypertension, etc., followed by head and body pain (7 types: headache, lumbago, sciatica, shoulder pain, etc.), disorders of the ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology (deafness, squinting eyes, dry eye syndrome, amblyopia, etc.), traumatic injury, gynecopathy, acute pain (biliary colic, renal colic). The effect rate was 95.87% for disorders of the gynecopathy, 95.54% for head and body pain, 94.53% for traumatic skin injury, 92.16% for emergency, 91.98% for disorders of the five sense organs, 91.43% for problems of the internal medicine, etc. Regarding the principle of acupoint selection, acupoints were chosen mainly according to the meridian running (146 articles), local region of the eye (14 articles) and diseased location (153 articles). A total of 157 articles have a marked description about the needling methods, including horizontal needling (81 articles), intra-orbital straight needling (22 articles), extra-orbital oblique needling (13 articles), etc. The duration of needle retaining was mostly from 15 to 30 minutes, and the handle-scraping was frequently adopted (34 articles), and the overall treatment frequency ranged from 11 to 20 times. In regard to the medical records, a total of 53 types of disorders were involved, including 37 types of the internal medicine such as stroke sequelae (34 articles), facial paralysis (11 articles), etc. The acupoints were selected according to the local region of eye (129 articles), the needle insertion involved horizontal needling (102 articles), and cured rate reported was higher than 90%. CONCLUSION: Eye acupuncture therapy is widely used for a variety of disorders and has a positive effect, particularly for stroke sequelae and various acute and chronic pain problems.

[Exploration of dominant diseases and clinical application characteristics of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy based on data mining technology].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the literature regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy by data mining technology, and the dominant diseases of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy were summarized to provide reference for evaluation of specificity effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy. METHODS: The journal articles regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy from the CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP since January 1, 1975 to December 31, 2017, and the medical cases regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy in Practical Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture Therapy and Microacupuncture System Diagnosis and Treatment were retrieved. Based on the disease types of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy in the journal articles and medical cases, the association rules method of data mining technology was applied to calculate frequent itemsets. The self-developed database platform for wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy was used to extract and summarize the information to explore the rules of clinical application. RESULTS: The scope of disease involved a total of 7 disease entities in the literature regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy. In the journal articles, there were 83 disease types and the most common surgical diseases were soft tissue injury and periarthritis of shoulder, the frequency were 34 and 24 times respectively. The total effective rates of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy were 92.74% in internal medicine, 91.39% in surgery, 91.51% in gynecology, 90.88% in dermatology, 96.20% in pediatric, 89.05% in ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology and 88.78% in psychiatry. In the medical cases of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy, there were 118 disease types and the most common diseases were pain and Bi syndrome, herpes zoster was also a common disease. Psychiatric diseases used more wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy, and the common diseases were anxiety and mania. CONCLUSION: Wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy is widely used in treatment of clinical diseases and has significant therapeutic effects. It is mostly used in the treatment of surgery, internal medicine (neurology particularly), dermatology (herpes zoster particularly). Besides, the wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy is also applicable in the treatment of diseases of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, gynecology, pediatric and psychiatry.

[Regularities of clinical application of hand acupuncture therapy to treatment of various diseases based on data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities of clinical application of hand acupuncture therapy to the treatment of diseases of different departments by using data mining technique, so as to provide a reference for clinical practice. METHODS: We searched papers, academic dissertations and case reports (published in journals from Jan 1, 1953 to December 31, 2017) from databases of China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), VIP, and Wanfang, and also searched papers from medical books about hand acupuncture treatment of different diseases/illness by using keywords of "hand acupuncture" and "hand acupoints"， followed by constructing a database after sorting, screening, recording, extracting, and statistical analysis by using a computer. Then, the data mining was conducted for summarizing the characteristics and rules of the hand acupuncture therapy in clinical application. RESULTS: The hand acupuncture therapy in Chinese medical journals was found to be applied to various clinical departments, with the frequency from high to low successively being 16 types of diseases (37.21%) in the surgery, 15 diseases (34.88%) in the internal medicine, 2 diseases (4.65%) in the pediatrics, 8 diseases (18.60%) in the ophthalmology-otorhinolaryngology, 1 disease (2.33%) in the genecology and 1 disease (2.33%) in the dermatology. In the treatment of diseases, the cure plus markedly effective rate of hand acupuncture was found to be highest for diseases of the pediatrics (90.65%), and was 88.45% surgery, 78.06% internal medicine, 89.96% ophthalmology-otorhinolaryngology, 60.61% gynecology, and 67.73% dermatology, respectively. When hand acupuncture used, the acupoints of the hand region on both sides, healthy side and affected side were often selected, and movement exercise was often used in combination, particularly for problems of the surgery. In the collected medical records and 6 acupuncture books, the hand acupuncture was employed for treatment of 34 and 123 kinds of diseases or problems, respectively, with the tissue injury, lumbocrural pain being most frequently seen in the records, and abdominal pain, lumbocrural, chest obstruction, etc. most frequently seen in the acupuncture books. CONCLUSION: Hand acupuncture therapy is widely used in the treatment of many clinical problems of different departments, such as tissue injury, leg pain, etc. of the surgery; abdominal pain, asthma, etc. of the internal medicine; infantile enuresis, diarrhea, etc. of the pediatrics. Acupoints of the hand on the unilateral side are frequently employed and may have a better therapeutic effect.

Contribution of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 activation and apoptosis in trichloroethene-mediated autoimmunity.

Trichloroethene (TCE), a common environmental toxicant and widely used industrial solvent, has been implicated in the development of various autoimmune diseases (ADs). Although oxidative stress has been involved in TCE-mediated autoimmunity, the molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. These studies were, therefore, aimed to further explore the contribution of oxidative stress to TCE-mediated autoimmune response by specifically assessing the role of oxidative DNA damage, its repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and apoptosis. To achieve this, groups of female MRL +/+ mice were treated with TCE, TCE plus N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or NAC alone (TCE, 10 mmol/kg, i.p., every 4th day; NAC, 250 mg/kg/day in drinking water) for 6 weeks. TCE treatment led to significantly higher levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the livers compared to controls, suggesting increased oxidative DNA damage. TCE-induced DNA damage was associated with significant activation of PARP-1 and increases in caspase-3, cleaved caspase-8 and -9, and alterations in Bcl-2 and Bax in the livers. Moreover, the TCE-mediated alterations corresponded with remarkable increases in the serum anti-ssDNA antibodies. Interestingly, NAC supplementation not only attenuated elevated 8-OHdG, PARP-1, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, and Bax, but also the TCE-mediated autoimmune response supported by significantly reduced serum anti-ssDNA antibodies. These results suggest that TCE-induced activation of PARP-1 followed by increased apoptosis presents a novel mechanism in TCE-associated autoimmune response and could potentially lead to development of targeted preventive and/or therapeutic strategies.

[Data Mining-revealed Characteristics of Clinical Application of Scalp Acupuncture].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularity and characteristics of clinical application of scalp acupuncture therapy for different types of clinical conditions so as to provide a reference for clinical practice. METHODS: In the present study, "head acupuncture" and"scalp acupuncture" were used as the keywords to search papers and academic dissertations having definite standards for diagnosis and therapeutic effect assessment and published in journals and academic conferences collected in database China National Knowledge Internet(CNKI) from January 1 of 1959 to December 31 of 2016, followed by constructing a database after sorting, screening, recording, extracting, and statistical analysis by using a computer. Then, the data mining was conducted for summarizing the indications of disease categories, involved medical departments, needle-insertion methods, needle manipulation techniques, academic schools, and clinical efficacy of scalp acupuncture therapy. RESULTS: As a result, a total of 587 papers met our including criteria were analyzed. The scalp acupuncture therapy was widely employed in the treatment of various clinical conditions of different departments, with the application frequency being the internal medicine (438 times), surgery (75 times), pediatrics (44 times), etc. Of the indicated 102 types of clinical problems, 55 belong to the internal medicine, constituting of 53.92%, particularly the cerebral apoplexy and its sequelae with the top application frequency being 102 and 115 times, respectively. In terms of needle inserting methods mentioned in partial papers (most papers do not mention), fingernail-pressing-aided needle insertion, needle-twirling insertion, fingers-squeezed-needle insertion, particularly the swiftly rotating needle insertion and rapid needle-propelling insertion were most commonly used.Regarding the needle manipulation method, rapid needle twirling technique was frequently employed, usually at a frequency of approximately 200 times per min. In regard to the academic schools, JIAO Shun-fa's scalp acupuncture system was most frequently used, followed by the international standardized scalp acupuncture. The therapeutic effect of scalp acupuncture is effective in the treatment of different conditions of various departments, especially those of the dermatology and gynecology. CONCLUSION: Scalp acupuncture has superiority in the treatment disorders of the internal medicine and has been demonstrated to have positive effects for many types of problems, particularly for apoplexy and its sequelae. Rapid needle-propelling insertion and rapid needle-twirling technique are often employed.

[Rule of Clinical Application of Auricular Acupuncture Based on Data Mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the rule of clinical application of auricular acupuncture therapy by data mining in order to guide clinical practice. METHODS: The data base about single auricular acupuncture therapy for different clinical diseases was established by collection, sorting, screening, recording, collation, data extraction, statistic analysis on data samples from journals, academic theses dissertations published in near 60 years. The application rules of auricular therapy including its predominant diseases, stimulus modality, therapeutic effect, and angle of needling were summarized by data mining technique. RESULTS: Auricular acupuncture therapy has been widely and mostly used in the internal medicine department, accounting for 48.56%. Of stimulus modalities, auricular point paste and pressure is applied with the highest frequency, accounting for 64%. The highest effective rate is found in the surgery department diseases(81.41%). Pressure is the most effective stimulus in the internal medi-cine department, and bloodletting combined with paste and pressure in the surgery department, auricular point injection in the gynecology and pediatrics departments, bloodletting in the ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology department, and auricular point incision in the dermatology department. Auricular point injection has remarkable effect. Bloodletting combined with paste and pressure has nearly the same effect as bloodletting in the same medical department except dematology department. Otherwise, angle of needling is rarely studied. CONCLUSIONS: Auricular therapy is widely used and has remarkable effect in treating diseases by using different stimulus modalities. Whereas the angle of needling is rarely studied and future investigation is needed.

[Research of Characteristics of Stimulation Methods and Application of Acupoint in Auricular Needle Therapy Based on Data Mining].

In the present paper, using data mining technology,the authors downloaded information from databases on auricular needle therapy, and obtained data samples from journals and academic dissertations involving the application of auricular needle therapy to treat diseases, and then screened, audited, and extracted the data and performed a statistical analysis. The authors extracted data on the application of auricular needle therapy in the stimulation methods of medicine (needling instrument), selection of the side of ear to treat disease and the number of times the ear was pressed per day and the compression time. In the stimulation methods, the needling instrument varied, the seeds of cowherb Semen Vaccariae were applied in 60.89% of the total stimulation methods. The number of times the ear was pressed per day and the compression time in the clinic were optional. The main points in auricular needle therapy were the contralateral side; there was no significant difference in the effect of a single side or both sides of the ear to treat disease.

[Basic Regularities and Characteristics of Compound Reinforcing--reducing Manipulation of Acu- puncture Revealed by Data Mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities and features of compound reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture filiform needles in the treatment of clinical conditions or diseases by using data mining technique, so as to guide clinical practice. METHODS: At first, the data base about the reinforcing-reducing manipulation (CRRM) of filiform needles for different clinical problems was established by collection, sorting, screening, recording, collation, data extraction of the related original papers published in journals and conferences and related academic dissertations from Jan. 1 of 1950 to Jan. 31 of 2015 by using key words of "acupuncture" "moxibustion" "needling" "filiform needle", and according to the included and excluded standards. RESULTS: A total of 130 835 papers met the included standards were collected. Outcomes of data mining in the present study showed that (1) the ORRM is most frequently applied in the internal medicine, followed by surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, and pediatrics, successively, mostly for lumbago and leg pain; (2) the heat-producing needling manipulation is the most frequently applied technique, followed by cool-producing needling, dragon-tiger warring, yang occluding in yin, yin occluding in yang techniques; (3) the highest effective rate of CRRM is for problems of the pediatrics, followed by those of the internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, and gynecology; (4) the most fre- quently used acupoints are Zusanli (ST 36), then Sanyinjiao (SP 6), stimulated by heat-producing needling, and Zusanli (ST 36), then Quchi (LI 11), stimulated by cool-producing needling, and Huantiao (GB 30), stimulated by dragon-tiger warring needling. CONCLUSION: The compound reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture is most frequently applied to problems in the inter- nal medicine, predominately for lumbago and leg pain, and the best effectiveness is for pediatric conditions. The heat-producing needling and cool-producing needling are most frequently applied at Zusanli (ST 36) and the dragon-tiger warring manipulation is most frequently applied at Huantiao (GB 30).

[Study of clinical application of manipulations of filiform needles to promote qi by data mining technique].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the diseases and effects of the manipulations to promote qi by filiform needles, with the help of data mining technique. METHODS: Literature about different manipulations to promote qi by filiform needles in recent 60 years was collected in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). Then databases were established to mine the relativities among the diseases, subjects, acupoints selection law,routes and directions of meridian qi and effects. RESULTS: ①Total 489 articles were included. The basic manipulations with the frequency of 630 were on the top. The auxiliary and four methods of Feijingzouqi respectively appeared 70 times. The diseases in the internal medicine were treated with the basic and auxiliary methods of the higher frequencies, 311 and 44 times separately. While the four methods of Feijingzouqi were mostly used in the surgical area, 37 timestotally. ②The diseases treated from high to low by lifting, thrusting and twirling represented retention of urine, sequelae of stroke, pain in waist and lower limbs, of which the effect for retention of urine was better than those of the other two, and the lifting and thrusting method was superior to twirling. ③As for the auxiliary methods, 25 times were found about vibration needling; 18 times, twisting. The highest frequency of 6 times for the vibration needling was on the sequelae of stroke; while 4 times for the twisting, stranguria. ④As to the four methods of Feijingzouqi, Cangguitanxue was most frequently applied, and its highest frequency of 18 was on bi syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Manipulations to promote qi by filiform needles are crucial to achieving the effects of acupuncture. The basic methods are widely used in clinic and have been seen good efficacy. While the auxiliary means assist to promote qi to stimulate the body,among which the four methods of Feijingzouqi are mainly to smooth the meridians and drive qi of patients with surgical diseases and take meridian blocking the priority.

[Analysis of Therapeutic Regularities and Characteristics of Blood-letting Therapy for Acne Patients Based on Data Mining].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the therapeutic regularities and characteristics of blood-letting therapy for acne in the past clinical practice by using data mining. METHODS: Original papers about acne treated by pricking blood therapy were searched and screened from common databases as Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), WanFang Data, SinoMed, Ovid, ScienceDirect, Socolar, SciFinder, Foreign Medical Journal Full-Text Service (FMJS) and PubMed using keywords of acne+bleeding therapy, acne+blood-letting, acne+ pricking blood, followed by establishing a data plateform to conduct a data mining using Online Analytical Processing (OLAP). RESULTS: A total of 230 original journal articles about acne treated by pricking blood therapy were collected. The included acne cases with wind-heat pattern were predoment, being 56 in frequency-times and acounting for 24. 78 %. In the treatment of acne, the therapeutic tool, three-edged needle was often used, being 168 in frequency and acounting for 71.79%. The frequently employed acupoints were those of the Governor Vessel and Bladder Meridian, such as Dazhui (GV 14) and back-shu points. When auricular points used for blood-letting, Erjian (EX-HN 6) and the Vena of the auricular back were most frequently selected. In addition to blood-letting, other therapies such as Chinese herbal medicines, filiform needles, and otopoint-pellet pressure were also used in combination, being 166 in items and constituting 72. 17%. Generally, blood-letting treatment was conducted once every three days (twice a week) or once every two days (three times a week) for about 20 sessions for each acne patient. CONCLUSION: Blood-letting therapy is effective in the treatment of acne. But if used in combination with other therapies, the therapeutic effect would be better.

[Basic Characteristics of Simplex Reinforcing and Reducing Manipulations of Filiform Acupuncture Needle in Clinical Practice Based upon Data Mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities and features of clinical application of simplex reinforcing or reducing manipulation of filiform acupuncture needles by data mining in order to guide clinical decision in a better way. METHODS: A database about simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations of filiform acupuncture needle was established first after collection, sorting, screening, type-in, and collation of the related papers, academic dissertations and theses of academic conferences published from January 1st of 1950 to January 31 of 2015 by using key word "acupuncture" "acupuncture and moxibustion" "needle manipulation" and "filiform needle" from database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, a full-text database of Chinese journals), followed by data extraction and statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1 304 articles were found to meet the standards formulated in the present study. Among them, 800 papers belong to the internal medicine covering apoplectic sequelae (153 papers), apoplexy (52), headache (63) and insomnia (60), 271 to surgery involving soft tissue injury (63) and backleg pain (46); 93 to five-sense-organs involving nasosinusitis (14), 64 gynecology involving dysmenorrhea (13), 41 to dematology involving struma (20), and 35 to pediatrics covering five kinds of tardy growth and five flaccid syndromes(8). These 1 304 papers contain 2 542 of simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations, including 895 of twirling-thrusting reducing, 611 of twirling-rotating reinforcing, 571 of lifting-thrusting reducing, 303 of lifting-thrusting reinforcing, 32 of reinforcing and 32 of reducing in cooperation wihpatients' respiration, 23 open-close reducing, 12 open-close reinforcing, 21 reducing and 16 of reinforcing achieved by inserting the needle along or against the meridian, 14 rapid-slow reinforcing, and 12 rapid-slow reducing. Regarding the acupoint selection, distal and local acupoints are most frequently used, followed by symptoms-determined and syndrome-determined, respectively. The acupuncture needle retained time was from 0 min to 45 mn, and the therapeutic effect was relatively better for post-stroke. The totally therapeutic effects of the simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations were 96.07% for problems of demotology, 94.19% for gynecology, 96. 58% for surgery, 92.85% for pediatrics, 91.78% for five-sense organs and 93. 70% for internal medicine, respectively. CONCLUSION: Simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations of acupuncture has a definite effect in the treatment of different problems particularly in the internal medicine and surgery. Often, the twirling-rotating and lifting-thrusting reinforcing and reducing manipulations of acupuncture are employed in clinical practice.

[Comparison of different moxibustion techniques in clinical treatment of diseases based on data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the specific efficacy of different moxibustion techniques in treatment of common diseases and clinical indications, and compare the specificity in clinical indications and efficacy among different moxibustion techniques so as to guide clinical practice better. METHODS: The modern computerization and data mining technology were adopted to set up moxibustion literature database. The relevant literature of moxibustion techniques in recent 60 years were collected, screened, examined, extracted and analyzed statistically so as to explore the advantages of different moxibustion techniques in clinical treatment. RESULTS: (1) Of 2,516 literature, moxa stick, moxe cone and moxa device were used in the highest frequency in internal medicine department, for 730 times, 278 times and 102 times respectively. The warm needling technique was used in the highest frequency, for 70 times in the surgical department. (2) In the dermatology department, the curative rate with moxa cone was the highest, 75%. In the ear-nose-throat department, the warm needing technique and moxa device achieved the highest curative rate, 49% for both of them. In the internal medicine department and surgical department, the curative rate of warm needling technique was 53% and 58% respectively. In the gynecology department, the curative rate of moxa device was the highest, 59%. In the pediatrics department, the curative rate of moxa cone was the highest, 80%. (3) The numbers of priority disorders, frequency ≥20 times: 24 kinds of disease for moxa stick, five kinds of disease for moxa cone, 2 kinds of disease for warm needling technqiue and one disorder for moxa device. Facial paralysis, diarrhea, lumbar and leg pain and elbow and knee swelling pain were of the highest priority, treated with these 4 moxibustion techniques, with a certain of literature research values. (4) The warm needling technique achieved the better efficacy on elbow and knee swelling pain, lumbar and leg pain and diarrhea compared with the other three techniques and the curative rate was higher. The moxa device tecnique achieved the higher curative rate for facial paralysis compared with the other three techniques. CONCLUSION: Through the comparison of application frequency, curative rate, clinical application frequency in disorders and the efficacy of priority disorders in the treatment with different moxibustion techniques, it is found that moxa stick, moxa cone and moxa device are simple in manipulation, safe and effective. Hence, they can be extensively used in the treatment of common disorders in every department in clinic. The warm needling technique acts on the body by the co-work of needling and warming stimulation of mugwort. It achieves the particular effect on the disorders with complicated etiologies compared with the other three techniques. It can be chosen in priority for the disorders caused by blockage in meridian and collateral and stagnation of qi and blood.

[A meta-analysis on pricking blood therapy for migraine].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of pricking blood therapy for migraine. METHODS: We searched all the original papers about pricking blood therapy for migraine in common databases as the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Library (CBM), Ovid, Science Direct, Socolar, and Sci Finder (1949 -2012), Wanfang Data (1998-2012) and Foreign Medical Journal Service (FMJS, 1990-2012). The original articles were searched in accordance with a pre-defined standards (simple pricking blood treatment, or the pricking blood therapy was the principal approach), while those about other diseases (such as cerebrovascular disease, cervical spondylosis, etc.) evoked migraine, pricking blood used as a complementary therapy, case report, specialists' experience summary, reviews, surveys, news articles, animal studies were excluded. Then, a Meta-analysis was made by software Review Manager 5.1. RESULTS: A total of 11 clinical trial papers involving 826 cases of migraine were included in the present paper. Three of them were high-quality researches, and the other eight were low quality researches. Results of Meta-analysis indicated that the therapeutic effect of the pricking blood therapy was significantly superior to that of non-bleeding therapies in relieving migraine [OR = 6.23, 95% CI: (4.03, 9.63), Z = 8.24, P < 0.00 001]. However, the poor symmetry of funnel plot suggested a risk of bias. CONCLUSION: The pricking blood therapy is effective for relieving migraine, but larger sample clinical trials, particularly randomized controlled trials are definitely needed for confirming the conclusion.

Nitrosative stress and nitrated proteins in trichloroethene-mediated autoimmunity.

Exposure to trichloroethene (TCE), a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, has been linked to a variety of autoimmune diseases (ADs) including SLE, scleroderma and hepatitis. Mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of ADs are largely unknown. Earlier studies from our laboratory in MRL+/+ mice suggested the contribution of oxidative/nitrosative stress in TCE-induced autoimmunity, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation provided protection by attenuating oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to further evaluate the contribution of nitrosative stress in TCE-mediated autoimmunity and to identify proteins susceptible to nitrosative stress. Groups of female MRL +/+ mice were given TCE, NAC or TCE + NAC for 6 weeks (TCE, 10 mmol/kg, i.p., every 4th day; NAC, ∼ 250 mg/kg/day via drinking water). TCE exposure led to significant increases in serum anti-nuclear and anti-histone antibodies together with significant induction of iNOS and increased formation of nitrotyrosine (NT) in sera and livers. Proteomic analysis identified 14 additional nitrated proteins in the livers of TCE-treated mice. Furthermore, TCE exposure led to decreased GSH levels and increased activation of NF-κB. Remarkably, NAC supplementation not only ameliorated TCE-induced nitrosative stress as evident from decreased iNOS, NT, nitrated proteins, NF-κB p65 activation and increased GSH levels, but also the markers of autoimmunity, as evident from decreased levels of autoantibodies in the sera. These findings provide support to the role of nitrosative stress in TCE-mediated autoimmune response and identify specific nitrated proteins which could have autoimmune potential. Attenuation of TCE-induced autoimmunity in mice by NAC provides an approach for designing therapeutic strategies.

[Research of bleeding volume and method in blood-letting acupuncture therapy based on data mining].

Through computer-based technology and data mining method, with treatment in cases of bloodletting acupuncture therapy in collected literature as sample data, the association rule in data mining was applied. According to self-built database platform, the data was input, arranged and summarized, and eventually required data was acquired to perform the data mining of bleeding volume and method in blood-letting acupuncture therapy, which summarized its application rules and clinical values to provide better guide for clinical practice. There were 9 kinds of blood-letting tools in the literature, in which the frequency of three-edge needle was the highest, accounting for 84.4% (1239/1468). The bleeding volume was classified into six levels, in which less volume (less than 0.1 mL) had the highest frequency (401 times). According to the results of the data mining, blood-letting acupuncture therapy was widely applied in clinical practice of acupuncture, in which use of three-edge needle and less volume (less than 0.1 mL) of blood were the most common, however, there was no central tendency in general.

Determination of pK(a) values of a triptolide derivative and its impurities by pressure-assisted capillary electrophoresis.

A pressure-assisted capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed to determine the pKa values of a triptolide derivative (LLDT-246) and its impurities. The method was performed in an uncoated fused-silica capillary under the electric voltage of 18kV and 50mbar of external pressure applied simultaneously. A series of running electrolyte buffers were used with pH ranging between 2.2 and 10.0 with the constant ionic strength of 0.05M. The values of pKa of LLDT-246 and two impurities were calculated based on the pH dependence of effective mobilities (µeff). The pKa value of LLDT-246 was in good agreement with that of determined by potentiometric titration method.

[Diseases treated by moxibustion and fire needling in clinical practice based on data mining: a comparison study].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the specificity of diseases treated by moxibustion and fire needling in clinical practice, so as to provide references for clinical treatment. METHODS: With data mining of modern computer technique, journal and literature databases regarding moxibustion and fire needling were established, respectively. Literature regarding moxibustion and fire needling for the past 60 years has been collected, screened, included, reviewed and abstracted. The utility rate of moxibustion and fire needling in each department was calculated, frequency of diseases in clinical practice was summarized, and diseases which had differences in clinical practice in each department were screened; also the advantages of disease categories and clinical practice between two kinds of therapies in each department were compared. RESULTS: (1) The utility rate of moxibustion was highest in department of internal medicine and surgery, which were 43.6% and 28.1%, respectively; the utility rate of fire needling was highest in surgery and dermatological department, which were 53.7% and 23.8%, respectively. (2) According to the comparison and analysis on diseases treated by two therapies in clinic, among 26 kinds of gynecology diseases that were treated by moxibustion, 20 kinds were not involved with fire needling; among 22 kinds of pediatrics diseases that were treated by moxibustion, 20 kinds were not involved with fire needling. It was certain that the difference of the two therapies in clinical application was more significant in gynecology and pediatrics than that in the rest four departments. (3) Among the diseases which had differences in clinical practice in each department, the ones involved with moxibustion alone were insomnia, distention and fullness, consumptive fatigue in the department of internal medicine, blood-vessel Bi, stiff neck and hernia in surgery department, urticarial, skin Bi and skin cancer in dermatological department, malposition, infertility and amenorrhea in gynecology department, diarrhea, indigestion and stomachache in pediatrics department, blepharoptosis, blurred vision and dryness syndrome in ENT department; the ones involved with fire needling alone were numbness, coldness syndrome and acute renal colic in the department of internal medicine, lipoma, soft tissue injury and papilloma in surgery department, bromhidrosis, freckle and erysipelas in dermatological department, uterine fibroid in gynecology department, umbilical polyp in pediatrics department, auricle pseudocyst, starred nebula and phlegmatic mass in ENT department. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion is frequently applied in department of internal medicine and surgery, while fire needling is frequently used in surgery and dermatological department; the application of moxibustion is broader than that of fire needling in gynecology and pediatrics department. Among the diseases which have differences in clinical practice in each department, moxibustion is commonly seen for clinical symptoms featured with deficiency syndrome, while fire needling is commonly applied for the diseases that have obvious local symptoms.

[Data mining-based research on regularities and characteristics of application of moxibustion therapy for different clinical disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities and characteristics of application of moxibustion therapy for different clinical problems or diseases by using data mining technique. METHODS: A database on moxibustion therapy was established first by collection, sorting, screening, recording, collation, data extraction of the related literatures published in recent 60 years. By analyzing the appearance-frequency of clinical disorders treated by moxibustion and their effective rates, the regularities and characteristics were summed up. RESULTS: Moxibustion therapy has been used to treat 193 types of clinical disorders or diseases up to now, mostly in internal medicine for 72 types (accounting for 37%). Of the collected 2 516 articles about moxibustion therapy, 1 107 are for problems of the internal medicine, accounting for 44% ; those of facial paralysis and uroschesis are 139 and 108 respectively. The second and third mostly seen articles are surgery and gynecology respectively. Analysis on the therapeutic effect showed that moxibustion therapy is effective for relieving many types of clinical conditions or diseases, particularly those of pediatrics, surgery and dermatology. By taking both the appearing frequency and efficacy into account, analysis on the therapeutic effect shows that a total of 29 types of clinical disorders are preferably treated by moxibustion, including 12 types (41. 4%) attributed to the department of internal medicine, 10 types (34. 5%) to the department of surgery, 2 types to the department of dermatology, 3 types to the department of gynecology, one to the pediatrics and one to the department of five-organs. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion therapy is effective for many clinical disorders, particularly for those of the department of internal medicine and surgery.