[An auxiliary device for double-blind placebo acupuncture research].

This device is an auxiliary device with reasonable design for placebo acupuncture research, so as to make double-blind placebo acupuncture control possible. This new auxiliary acupuncture device includes an acupuncture device and a placebo acupuncture device with exactly the same appearance. Both of them are composed of a hemispherical base and a telescopic tube. Through the rotation of the telescopic tube in the notch of the base, the insertion angle of needles can be adjusted from 15 degrees to 165 degrees. The operation of twisting and lifting and inserting can be carried out through the horizontal rotation and vertical sliding of the telescopic tube. A silicone needle pad is arranged in the base, which can simulate the blocking feeling of skin and muscle during needle insertion. The bottom of the base is attached with hydrogel, which has good fixity. The auxiliary device is applicable to multiple parts of the human body and can effectively reduce the risk of unblinding.

An auxiliary device for double-blind placebo acupuncture research / 中国针灸

This device is an auxiliary device with reasonable design for placebo acupuncture research, so as to make double-blind placebo acupuncture control possible. This new auxiliary acupuncture device includes an acupuncture device and a placebo acupuncture device with exactly the same appearance. Both of them are composed of a hemispherical base and a telescopic tube. Through the rotation of the telescopic tube in the notch of the base, the insertion angle of needles can be adjusted from 15 degrees to 165 degrees. The operation of twisting and lifting and inserting can be carried out through the horizontal rotation and vertical sliding of the telescopic tube. A silicone needle pad is arranged in the base, which can simulate the blocking feeling of skin and muscle during needle insertion. The bottom of the base is attached with hydrogel, which has good fixity. The auxiliary device is applicable to multiple parts of the human body and can effectively reduce the risk of unblinding.

Moving beyond inclusion: Methodological considerations for the menstrual cycle and menopause in research evaluating effects of dietary nitrate on vascular function.

Recent reports have acknowledged the underrepresentation of women in the field of dietary nitrate (NO3-) research. Undoubtedly, greater participation from women is warranted to clarify potential sex differences in the responses to dietary NO3- interventions. However, careful consideration for the effects of sex hormones - principally 17ß-estradiol - on endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and dietary NO3- reductase capacity is necessary for improved interpretation and reproducibility of such investigations. From available literature, we present a narrative review describing how hormonal variations across the menstrual cycle, as well as with menopause, may impact NO biosynthesis catalyzed by NO synthase enzymes and NO3- reduction via the enterosalivary pathway. In doing so, we address methodological considerations related to the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use relevant for the inclusion of premenopausal women along with factors to consider when testing postmenopausal women. Adherence to such methodological practices may explicate the utility of dietary NO3- supplementation as a means to improve vascular function among women across the lifespan.

Biomedical Applications of Scutellaria edelbergii Rech. f.: In Vitro and In Vivo Approach.

In the current study, in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Scutellaria edelbergii Rech. f. (crude extract and subfractions, i.e., n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), chloroform, n-butanol (n-BuOH) and aqueous) were explored. Initially, extraction and fractionation of the selected medicinal plant were carried out, followed by phytochemical qualitative tests, which were mostly positive for all the extracts. EtOAc fraction possessed a significant amount of phenolic (79.2 ± 0.30 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (84.0 ± 0.39 mg QE/g) content. The EtOAc fraction of S. edelbergii exhibited appreciable antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) strains and significant zones of inhibition were observed against Gram-positive bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus). However, it was found inactive against Candida Albicans and Fusarium oxysporum fungal strains. The chloroform fraction was the most effective with an IC50 value of 172 and 74 µg/mL against DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) and ABTS assays, in comparison with standard ascorbic acid 59 and 63 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the EtOAc fraction displayed significant in vivo anti-inflammatory activity (54%) using carrageenan-induced assay and significant (55%) in vivo analgesic activity using acetic acid-induced writing assay. In addition, nine known compounds, ursolic acid (UA), ovaul (OV), oleanolic acid (OA), ß-sitosterol (BS), micromeric acid (MA), taraxasterol acetate (TA), 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxy flavone (FL-1), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6,3'-dimiethoxyflavone (FL-2) and 7-methoxy catechin (FL-3), were isolated from methanolic extract of S. edelbergii. These constituents have never been obtained from this source. The structures of all the isolated constituents were elucidated by spectroscopic means. In conclusion, the EtOAc fraction and all other fractions of S. edelbergii, in general, displayed a significant role as antibacterial, free radical scavenger, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents which may be due to the presence of these constituents and other flavonoids.

Implementation Science Methodologies for Complementary and Integrative Health Research.

Published results of efficacy and effectiveness studies on complementary health approaches should lead to widespread uptake of evidence-based practices, but too often, the scientific pathway ends prematurely, before the best ways to improve adoption, implementation, and sustainability can be determined. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) supports the full continuum of the biomedical research pipeline, whereby a complementary health intervention moves from basic and mechanistic research through efficacy trials and through dissemination and implementation. Implementation science has traditionally been thought of as something that only happens after efficacy and effectiveness have been demonstrated, but it can be prudent to evaluate implementation measures earlier in the process. Implementation science assesses more than just barriers and facilitators; it evaluates specific implementation strategies and characterizes the extent that the intervention is modified within the context of the implementation strategy and health care delivery setting. The best choices for implementation science in complementary health interventions depend on the research questions. Implementation science that tests strategies to address implementation at multiple ecologic levels is a high priority to NCCIH.

In-Plate Cryopreservation of 2D and 3D Cell Models: Innovative Tools for Biomedical Research and Preclinical Drug Discovery.

Cell-based assays performed in multiwell plates are utilized in basic and translational research in a variety of cell models. The assembly of these multiwell platforms and their use is often laboratory specific, preventing the standardization of methods and the comparison of outputs across different analytical sites. Moreover, when cell models are based on primary cells with specialized culture requirements, including three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, their complexity and the need for manipulation by experienced operators can add significant cost and introduce long lead times to analysis, both of which are undesirable in any preclinical situation. To address this issue, we explored adaptations of cryopreservation technology that allow cells to be cryopreserved in-plate, ready for use in analysis, and have developed a method applicable to cells from different origins and different culture formats. Here we describe the application of this technology to conventional two-dimensional (2D) monolayers of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and human macrophages derived from primary monocytes, and to 3D cultures of hepatic organoids, colon organoids, and colon tumor organoids, each presented for cryopreservation in their obligate extracellular matrix. We demonstrated that cell viability, cell physiology, and cytotoxic sensitivity were maintained after cryopreservation, such that the models offer the means to uncouple model assembly from analytical use and to standardize cell models in product form for distribution to end users.

Meeting Proceedings for SCI 2020: Launching a Decade of Disruption in Spinal Cord Injury Research.

The spinal cord injury (SCI) research community has experienced great advances in discovery research, technology development, and promising clinical interventions in the past decade. To build upon these advances and maximize the benefit to persons with SCI, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) hosted a conference February 12-13, 2019 titled "SCI 2020: Launching a Decade of Disruption in Spinal Cord Injury Research." The purpose of the conference was to bring together a broad range of stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians and healthcare professionals, persons with SCI, industry partners, regulators, and funding agency representatives to break down existing communication silos. Invited speakers were asked to summarize the state of the science, assess areas of technological and community readiness, and build collaborations that could change the trajectory of research and clinical options for people with SCI. In this report, we summarize the state of the science in each of five key domains and identify the gaps in the scientific literature that need to be addressed to move the field forward.

Cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy: Current evidence and perspectives for further research.

The therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) in seizure disorders has been known for many years, but it is only in the last decade that major progress has been made in characterizing its preclinical and clinical properties as an antiseizure medication. The mechanisms responsible for protection against seizures are not fully understood, but they are likely to be multifactorial and to include, among others, antagonism of G protein-coupled receptor, desensitization of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 channels, potentiation of adenosine-mediated signaling, and enhancement of GABAergic transmission. CBD has a low and highly variable oral bioavailability, and can be a victim and perpetrator of many drug-drug interactions. A pharmaceutical-grade formulation of purified CBD derived from Cannabis sativa has been evaluated in several randomized placebo-controlled adjunctive-therapy trials, which resulted in its regulatory approval for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. Interpretation of results of these trials, however, has been complicated by the occurrence of an interaction with clobazam, which leads to a prominent increase in the plasma concentration of the active metabolite N-desmethylclobazam in CBD-treated patients. Despite impressive advances, significant gaps in knowledge still remain. Areas that require further investigation include the mechanisms underlying the antiseizure activity of CBD in different syndromes, its pharmacokinetic profile in infants and children, potential relationships between plasma drug concentration and clinical response, interactions with other co-administered medications, potential efficacy in other epilepsy syndromes, and magnitude of antiseizure effects independent from interactions with clobazam. This article is part of the special issue on 'Cannabinoids'.

Auditory Mapping With MEG: An Update on the Current State of Clinical Research and Practice With Considerations for Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Auditory evoked fields (AEFs) are well suited for studies of auditory processing in patients. Their sources have been localized to Heschl's gyri and to the supratemporal auditory cortices. Auditory evoked fields are known to be modulated by peripheral and central lesions of auditory pathways and to reflect group-level pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. They are useful in lateralization of language processes for planning neurosurgery and for localization of language-related cortex. The recently developed artifact rejection and movement compensation methods will enhance and extend the use of AEFs in studies of clinical patients and pediatric groups. New pediatric magnetoencephalography systems will facilitate clinical AEF studies of developmental disorders. In addition to their established use in planning neurosurgery, AEF findings in several new clinical patient groups suffering, e.g., from developmental, neurodegenerative, or psychiatric disorders have been reported. Several recent investigations report the correlations with clinical symptoms and sensitivity and specificity profiles of AEFs in studies of these disorders; this development is mandatory in gaining wider clinical approval for the use of AEFs in clinical practice dealing with individual patients. Most promising future research lines of clinical applicability of AEFs focus on developmental and psychiatric disorders.

Historical and modern research on propolis and its application in wound healing and other fields of medicine and contributions by Polish studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The history of medical application of propolis (also known as bee glue) dates back to the times of ancient Greeks, Romans, Persians and Egyptians. Honey and other bee products, including propolis, occupy an important place in Polish folk medicine. Scientific research on propolis in Poland began in the early 1960s in Zabrze and continues until now. AIM OF THE REVIEW: The aim of this review is to provide an overview of information on Polish research on propolis and its medical application with particular emphasis on studies concerning wound healing. Consequently, our goal is also to shed a new light on therapeutic potential of Polish propolis in order to support future research in the field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of scientific literature on propolis and its medical application was performed by using the literature databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar). We paid special attention to papers describing the effect of propolis on skin wound healing as well as to Polish contribution to research on propolis. RESULTS: Professor Stan Scheller was the first Polish scientist dealing with propolis and its medical potential. His legacy was continued by several research teams that studied the topic in various aspects. They analyzed propolis composition, its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiapoptotic and anticancer properties as well as its application in dentistry and wound treatment. Burn wound healing physiology after propolis administration was thoroughly studied on pig model, whereas research on patients proved the efficacy of propolis in chronic venous leg ulcer treatment. CONCLUSION: Polish scientists have made a significant contribution to the research on propolis, its biological properties and influence on wound healing. Propolis ointments can effectively accelerate the healing process and improve healing physiology, so they can be recommended as a promising topical medication for wound treatment in the future clinical and preclinical trials.

Systems Biology Approaches in Autophagy Research.

As a classical form of programmed cell death, autophagy is widely involved in cellular metabolism and vital for the maintenance of homeostasis in physiological and pathological states. With multiple levels of regulation and signaling integrated in, autography presents complicated relevance with various diseases, such as cancer and neurological diseases. The emerging subject, systems biology, along with multi-omics approaches, offers a new strategy to investigate these interactive processes from a holistic perspective. In this chapter, we focus on the systems biology method for autophagy research and introduce essential research skills and procedures. The critical step of systematic study is to explore interplay between biological molecules based on massive biological data, which requires construction of networks in different biological levels, modification, and identification of key pathways and targets via optimized algorithm and experimental verification. Guided by systems biology research, drug design can thus be strengthened by efficient screening and accurate evaluation. Overall, systems biology promises to act as a powerful tool which both helps to clarify the profound mechanism and to develop efficacious medicine.

POSCAbilities: The Application of the Prion Organotypic Slice Culture Assay to Neurodegenerative Disease Research.

Prion diseases are fatal, transmissible neurodegenerative disorders whose pathogenesis is driven by the misfolding, self-templating and cell-to-cell spread of the prion protein. Other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington's disease, share some of these prion-like features, with different aggregation-prone proteins. Consequently, researchers have begun to apply prion-specific techniques, like the prion organotypic slice culture assay (POSCA), to these disorders. In this review we explore the ways in which the prion phenomenon has been used in organotypic cultures to study neurodegenerative diseases from the perspective of protein aggregation and spreading, strain propagation, the role of glia in pathogenesis, and efficacy of drug treatments. We also present an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of this culture system compared to in vivo and in vitro models and provide suggestions for new directions.

Building towards common psychosocial measures in U.S. cohort studies: principal investigators' views regarding the role of religiosity and spirituality in human health.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to understand prospective cohort study Principal Investigators' (PIs') attitudes regarding the importance of religion and spirituality (R/S) on disease etiology in order to identify barriers and opportunities for greater inclusion of these domains in high-quality epidemiological research. METHODS: One-hour, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 PIs, who represent 24 different National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded prospective cohort studies in the U.S. Collectively, these PIs collect detailed health data on approximately 1.25 of every 100 adult Americans. Sample size was calculated to achieve thematic saturation. RESULTS: The majority of PIs we interviewed viewed R/S as potentially important factors influencing disease etiology, particularly among minority communities that report higher levels of religiosity. Yet nearly all PIs interviewed felt there was not yet a compelling body of evidence elucidating R/S influences on health, and the potential mechanisms through which R/S may be operating to affect health outcomes. PIs identified 5 key areas that would need to be addressed before they would be persuaded to collect more R/S measures in their cohorts: (1) high-quality, prospective studies that include all appropriate covariates for the outcome under study; (2) studies that posit a plausible biological mechanism of effect; (3) well-validated R/S measures, collected in common across multiple cohorts; (4) the need to address bias against R/S research among investigators; and (5) NIH funding for R/S research. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study provide a roadmap for future R/S research investigating the impact of R/S influences on disease etiology within the context of U.S. prospective cohort studies. Identifying significant R/S influences on health could inform novel interventions to improve population health. Given the higher levels of religiosity/spirituality among minority communities, R/S research may also provide new leverage points for reducing health disparities.

The urgent need for integrated science to fight COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become the leading societal concern. The pandemic has shown that the public health concern is not only a medical problem, but also affects society as a whole; so, it has also become the leading scientific concern. We discuss in this treatise the importance of bringing the world's scientists together to find effective solutions for controlling the pandemic. By applying novel research frameworks, interdisciplinary collaboration promises to manage the pandemic's consequences and prevent recurrences of similar pandemics.