Experimental research on characteristics of temperature field distribution of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the temperature field distribution and variation rules during treatment with mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion of TCM.@*METHODS@#Six healthy subjects were selected. Mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion were exerted at Zusanli (ST 36) respectively, for 25 min. Using infrared thermal imaging instrument, the temperature field distribution was measured during moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The simulated thermometer was adopted to measure the temperature field distribution during moxibustion at the imitated cortex. At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the temperature field distribution generated by moxibustion was observed at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36) separately. The temperature values were collected at the sites 0.7, 2.1 and 3.5 cm far from the center of the moxibustion-exerted places successively, and then the characteristics of temperature field distribution and variation rules were compared between different moxibustion methods at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36).@*RESULTS@#At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), the temperature field distribution focused on the center of moxibustion-exerted site and the temperature was reduced to all directions and illustrated as a curved surface graph, whereas, the temperature field distribution at the imitated cortex was consistent with that at Zusanli (ST 36). With mild moxibustion, the temperature field was distributed uniformly along the longitudinal temperature gradient; whereas, with sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the longitudinal temperature of the temperature field was greatly different, in which, the maximum temperature and the average temperature were higher than those with mild moxibustion respectively and the first time up to the peak value of sparrow-pecking moxibustion was shorter than that with mild moxibustion. The thermal transfer was presented at the non-moxibustion exerted areas during the moxibustion experiment at Zusanli (ST 36).@*CONCLUSION@#A distance feature is presented in the temperature field measured by simulated thermometer and generated under suspension moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The warm stimulation effect of sparrow-pecking moxibustion is much more obvious at the moxibustion-exerted center as compared with mild moxibustion and the area of warm stimulation generated by sparrow-pecking moxibustion is more concentrated as compared with mild moxibustion. The radiation energy produced by suspension moxibustion is scattered and attenuated in skin tissue, resulting in a certain temperature gradient in the temperature field. The warm stimulation generated at skin surface by moxibustion has a warming-dredging effect.

Historical evolution of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods / 中国中药杂志

China has a long history of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing with multiple methods available. The pre-sent study collated and summarized the Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods recorded in 23 related herbal medicine books, all editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the 1988 edition of National Regulations for Processing of Chinese Medicine, and 20 current local processing specifications and standards. The results demonstrated various processing methods of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, such as removing residual part of stem, plantlet, or soil, smashing, filing, cutting, decocting, washing with wine, soaking in wine, and stir-frying with wine or blood from pig heart, while raw and wine-processed products are mainly used in modern times. Due to the lack of unified standards, the phenomena of multiple methods adopted in one place and different methods in different places have led to uneven quality of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces, even affecting the safety and effectiveness of its clinical medication. This study is expected to provide a reference for the development of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing and its rational medication.

Effectiveness and Safety of Moxibustion Robots on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To conduct a pilot trial to explore the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion robots in treating primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and evaluate its feasibility in clinic.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 participants with PD were allocated to either moxibustion robot (MR) group (35 cases) or manual moxibustion (MM) group (35 cases) using computer-generated randomization. One acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4) was selected to receive moxa heat stimulation. Two groups of participants were given 3 menstrual cycles of MM and MR treatment respectively (once a day, 5 days a session) and received another 3 menstrual cycles follow-up. The degree of pain was evaluated by short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the symptoms of dysmenorrhea were evaluated by Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS). The safety was measured by the occurrence rate of adverse events (AEs), including burns (blisters, red and swollen), itching, bowel changes, menstrual cycle disorder, menorrhagia and fatigue, etc. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients completed the trial, 32 in MR group and 30 in MM group. Compared with baseline, scores of SF-MPQ and CMSS significantly decreased in both groups (P0.05). The total occurrence rate of AEs in MR group was 2.1%, which was significantly lower than MM group (7.2%, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#MR has the same effect as MM at SF-MPQ and CMSS in patients with PD. However, MR is safer than MM (Trial registration No. ChiCTR1800018236).

Development and application of a moxibustion instrument with multi-jointed manipulator / 中国针灸

In view of the limitations of the existing moxibustion instruments, i.e. possible accidental injury when using moxibustion instruments, the negative effects of products from moxibustion instruments on treatment efficacy and health of medical staff and patients, a moxibustion instrument with multi-jointed manipulator is designed. This moxibustion instrument could accurately control the temperature, maintain a safe moxibustion distance, automatically process the burning ashes of moxa and selectively handle moxa smoke. The experimental results shows that this instrument could maintain the constant temperature of target acupoint, reduce the risk of empyrosis, and reasonably deal with the products of moxibustion. The purification rate of moxa smoke is 44.9%, which not only ensures the therapeutic effect of moxa smoke, but also reduces the negative effects of high-concentration moxa smoke on the health of medical staff and patients.

Research Progress of Metabolomics in Forensic Pathology / 法医学杂志

Metabolomics is an interdisciplinary subject that rose in the post-genomic era, which focuses on quantitative study of the response of living organisms to outside stimulation and pathophysiological changes, as well as multiple dynamic response of the level of in vivo metabolites caused by genetic mutation. It is extensively used in basic research of system biology, materia medica, clinical medicine, etc. In the forensic field, metabolomics mainly focuses on forensic toxicology, but with the generalization of certain techniques, it's foreseeable that metabolomics has a broad research prospect in forensic pathology. This article summarizes the major analysis techniques and methods of metabolomics, describes the research status of metabolomic techniques in the field of forensic pathology application research, including postmortem interval and death cause. Moreover, this article summarizes and discusses the potential applicable areas, in order to provide reference for relative research and application.

Effect on sex hormone functional of extracts of Herba Epimedii/Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in osteoporosis rats / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To explore the effect on sex hormone functional of extracts of Herba Epimedii /Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in osteoporosis rats.Methods:50 cases of 3 months Wistar rats were rando mly divided into normal group ,model group,extract low dose group(extract-L),extract middle dose group(extract-M),extract high dose group(extract-H),10 cases in each group,in addition to the normal group,other 4 groups were bulided OP model by filling and feeding retinoic acid for 15 d,then normal group and model group were filling physiological saline;extract-L,extract-M,extract-H were respectively feeding extracts of Herba Epimedii /Fructus Ligustri Lucidi at 50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg,200 mg/kg,both for 3 weeks.Measured the bone mineral density (BMD),observed the femoral pathology change of left femur with hematoxylin and eosin ( HE ) staining, measured trabecular bone tissue morphology related parameters ,analyzed the hormone receptor protein expression with immunohistochemistry .Results:The BMD of the whole femur ,femur head,and femur neck in normal group were all significantly higher than that of model group ,the BMD of the whole femur ,femur head, and femur neck in extract-M and extract-H group were all significantly higher than that of model group ,the BMD of the whole femur in extract-L group was significantly higher than that of model group ,the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The bone trabecular number had significantly increased ,integrity,continuity improved significantly ,bone histomorphometry such as Tb.Ar, Tb.Th,and Tb.N in model group were decreased ,and Tb.Sp was increased,extract-M and extract-H group had remarkable effect on each index ,while extract-L group only had a remarkable effect on Tb .Ar and Tb.Th ( P<0.05 or P<0.01 ) , compared with model group.The expression of AR , ER in normal groups were significantly higher than that of model group , the expression of AR , ER in extract-H group was significantly higher than that of model group , the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05 or P<0.01 ) . Conclusion:This study demonstrated that the combination with TFE and TIFL had potential protective effects on osteoporosis rats induced by retinoic acid .The combination with TFE and TIFL is able to increase BMD ,reverse pathological changes of bone tissue ,co-ordinate hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis ,and upregulate the expression of sex hormone receptors .

A Study on the Effective Measure Exploration for Higher Learning Institutes to Promote the International Communication of Traditional Chinese Medical Culture / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the gem of Chinese culture,while TCM culture the root and driving force for its development.Higher learning institutes,one of whose main missions is innovating and inheriting culture,are playing the unique roles in promoting world-wide recognition of TCM culture through international cooperation due to the abundant resources in TCM academy,talent,clinical study and international education.Taking Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine as an example,this paper has made constructive exploration and study on how to promote the international communication of TCM culture to allow the international community for better understanding and the application of TCM based on the analysis of current situation and experience summarization with literature investigation and case study.Effective measures that have been put forward include establishing TCM experiencing center,promoting the construction of Confucius Institute,proactively building TCM library,improving the standardization of TCM translation,optimizing approaches of TCM international communication,and speeding up the cultivation of TCM international communication talents.

A short synthesis of (+)-narciclasine via a strategy derived from stereocontrolled epoxide formation and SnCl(4)-catalyzed arene-epoxide coupling.

A facile construction of the typical framework of narcissus alkaloids has been realized by virtue of the development of a practical route involving stereocontrolled epoxide formation and SnCl(4)-catalyzed arene-epoxide coupling. To achieve this goal, it proved to be necessary to devise a strategy that would enable chemical transformations to install an epoxy moiety in a congested environment. The successful preparation of a hindered epoxide from O-isopropylidene-protected 4-aminocyclohexenol required three steps consisting principally of controlled bromohydration and base-promoted closure and N-alkylation. It was found that a catalytic amount of SnCl(4) not only maintained the catalytic cycle but also effected clean arylation to form a fused BC ring system. Several tactics that ultimately proved to be unsatisfactory are also discussed in an effort to set important boundary limits on arene-epoxide coupling. The requisite enantiopure 4-aminocyclohexenol was available via an asymmetric cycloaddition of diene to camphor-based chloronitroso. The total synthesis of (+)-narciclasine was realized in nine steps with an overall yield of 19%.