H*ads dynamics engineering via bimetallic Pd-Cu@MXene catalyst for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination.

Electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination (EHDC) is a promising approach to safely remove halogenated emerging contaminants (HECs) pollutants. However, sluggish production dynamics of adsorbed atomic H (H*ads) limit the applicability of this green process. In this study, bimetallic Pd-Cu@MXene catalysts were synthesized to achieve highly efficient removal of HECs. The alloy electrode (Pd-Cu@MX/CC) exhibited better EHDC performance in comparison to Pd@MX/CC electrode, resulting in diclofenac degradation efficiency of 93.3 ± 0.1%. The characterization analysis revealed that the Pd0/PdII ratio decreased by forming bimetallic Pd-Cu alloy. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrated the electronic configuration modulation of the Pd-Cu@MXene catalysts, optimizing binging energies for H* and thereby facilitating H*ads production and tuning the reduction capability of H*ads. Noteably, the amounts and reduction potential of H*ads for Pd-Cu@MXene catalysts were 1.5 times higher and 0.37 eV lower than those observed for the mono Pd electrode. Hence, the introduction of Cu into the Pd catalyst optimized the dynamics of H*ads production, thereby conferring significant advantages to EHDC reactions. This augmentation was underscored by the successful application of the alloy catalysts supported by MXene in EHDC experiments involving other HECs, which represented a new paradigm for EHDC for efficient recalcitrant pollutant removal by H*ads.

Atomic hydrogen-mediated enhanced electrocatalytic hydrodehalogenation on Pd@MXene electrodes.

In this study, a Pd@MXene catalyst was synthesized to enhance the electrocatalytic hydrodehalogenation (ECH) of emerging halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) by improving the dispersibility, catalytic activity, and stability of palladium (Pd). The average size of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) was reduced to 3.62 ± 0.34 nm with a more intensive peak of Pd (111), which facilitated atomic hydrogen (H*) production. The Pd@MX/CC electrode demonstrated superior ECH activity for diclofenac (DCF) degradation, with a reaction rate constant (kobs) 2.48 times higher than that of Pd/CC (without MXene). The satisfactory ECH performance of Pd@MX/CC remained consistent within a wide range of initial DCF concentrations (5-100 mg/L), and no significant ECH attenuation was observed even after up to 10 batches. Furthermore, the high activity of Pd@MX/CC was also observed in the ECH of other halogenated organic pollutants (levofloxacin, tetrabromobisphenol A, and diatrizoate). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that electronic configuration modulation of the Pd@MXene catalyst optimized binging energies to H* , DCF, and dechlorinated products, thereby enhancing the ECH efficiency of DCF.

Evaluation of the respective contribution of anode and cathode for triclosan degradation in a bioelectrochemical system.

In this work, the bioelectrochemical system (BES) is a feasible alternative for successfully degrading typical refractory emerging contaminant triclosan (TCS). A single-chamber BES reactor with an initial TCS concentration of 1 mg/L, an applied voltage of 0.8 V, and a solution buffered with 50 mM PBS degraded 81.4 ± 0.2% of TCS, exhibiting TCS degradation efficiency improvement to 90.6 ± 0.2% with a biocathode formed from a reversed bioanode. Both bioanode and biocathode were able to degrade TCS with comparable efficiencies of 80.8 ± 4.9% and 87.3 ± 0.4%, respectively. Dechlorination and hydrolysis were proposed as the TCS degradation pathway in the cathode chamber, and another hydroxylation pathway was exclusive in the anode chamber. Microbial community structure analysis indicated Propionibacteriaceae was the predominant member in all electrode biofilms, and the exoelectrogen Geobacter was enriched in anode biofilms. This study comprehensively revealed the feasibility of operating BES technology for TCS degradation.

[The specificity of body surface temperature of relevant back-shu points in patients with chronic persistent asthma based on infrared thermal imaging technology].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the body surface temperature of the relevant back-shu points in patients with chronic persistent asthma by infrared thermal imaging technology, and observe the specific changes of the body surface temperature of the relevant back-shu points under the condition of lung disease. METHODS: Forty-five patients with chronic persistent asthma (observation group) and 45 healthy subjects (control group) were selected. The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) were measured by BK-MT02A medical infrared thermography. RESULTS: The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17) was higher than that of ipsilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in body surface temperature between ipsilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), between ipsilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The pathological increase of body surface temperature of Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in patients with chronic persistent asthma indicates that above acupoints have specificity in reflecting lung diseases. The Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), which have significantly increased body surface temperature, not only provide objective basis for the pathological pathogenesis of "deficiency in origin and excess in symptom" in patients with chronic persistent asthma, but also reflect the different expressions of different acupoints on the same meridian for the lung diseases.

Evaluation of the effect of biofilm formation on the reductive transformation of triclosan in cathode-modified electrolytic systems.

The performance of electrochemical reduction is often enhanced by electrode modification techniques. However, there is a risk of microbial colonization on the electrode surface to form biofilms in the treatment of actual wastewater with modified electrodes. In this work, the effects of biofilm formation on modified electrodes with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), platinum/carbon (Pt/C), and carbon nanotube (CNT) were investigated in triclosan (TCS) degradation. With biofilm formation, the TCS degradation efficiencies of carbon cloth (CC), rGO@CC, Pt/C@CC, and CNT@CC decayed to 54.53 %, 59.77 %, 69.19 %, and 53.97 %, respectively, compared to the raw electrodes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and microbial community analysis revealed that the difference in biofilm thickness and activity were the major influencing factors on the discrepant TCS degradation rather than the microbial community structure. The electrochemical performance tests showed that the biofilm formation increased the ohmic resistance by an order of magnitude in rGO@CC, Pt/C@CC, and CNT@CC, and the charge transfer resistance was increased by 2.45, 3.78, and 7.75 times, respectively. The dechlorination and hydrolysis governed the TCS degradation pathway in all electrolysis systems, and the toxicity of electrochemical reductive products was significantly decreased according to the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool analysis. This study presented a systematic assessment of the biofilm formation on modified electrodes in TCS reduction, and the undisputed experimental outcomes were obtained to enrich the knowledge of implementing modified electrodes for practical applications.

[Effects of thunder-fire moxibustion on the motor function in the patients of osteoporosis with low skeletal muscle mass： a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of thunder-fire moxibustion on the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Young's modulus of multifidus and 6 m walking speed in the patients of osteoporosis with low skeletal muscle mass. METHODS: Sixty patients of osteoporosis with low skeletal muscle mass were randomly divided into a medication group (30 cases) and a medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group (30 cases). In the medication group, caltrate was prescribed for oral administration, 2 tablets/day （600 mg/tablet）, for 4 weeks. In the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group, on the base of oral administration with caltrate, thunder-fire moxibustion was exerted at Mingmen (GV4), Yaoyangguan(GV3), and bilateral Shenshu (BL23), Ganshu (BL18) and Dachangshu (BL25), 30 minutes at GV4, GV3 and BL18, and another 30 minutes at BL23 and BL25, once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Before and after the treatment, VAS score, Young's modulus of the 4th lumbar multifidus and the average speed of 6 m walking were assessed. RESULTS: After the treatment, the VAS score was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the speed of 6 m walking was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in both groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment. Compared with the medication group, VAS score was decreased remarkably (P<0.05) and the speed of 6 m walking remarkably increased (P<0.01) in the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group after the treatment. Self-comparison showed that, compared with the same side before the treatment, the value of Young's modulus after the treatment was decreased on both sides in the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group (P<0.01). After the treatment, compared with the medication group on the same side, the value of Young's modulus was decreased on both sides (P<0.01) in the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group. CONCLUSION: Thunder-fire moxibustion can relieve pain intensity, decrease the tension of the multifidus, and increase the walking speed.

[Effect of moxibustion of "Ganshu"(BL18) and "Shenshu" (BL23) on musculoskeletal interaction in osteoporosis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion of "Ganshu" (BL18)and "Shenshu" (BL23) on bone mineral density (BMD), biomechanics, bone metabolism and musculoskeletal morphology of osteoporosis (OP) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying treatment of OP via bone-muscle interaction. METHODS: Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, OP model, moxibustion and medication (nilestriol) groups, with 8 rats in each group. For rats of the sham operation group, a small amount of fat around the ovaries was removed, and those of the other 3 groups received removal of bila-teral ovaries for establishing OP model. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral BL18 and BL23 for 30 min, once every other day, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Rats of the medication group received gavage of nilestriol (1 mg/kg) once a week for 12 weeks.After the interventions, a dual-energy absorptiometry was used to determine the BMD and bone mineral content of the rats' right femur and the fourth lumbar vertebrae under anesthesia, and three-point bending test used to detect the biomechanical properties (including load, displacement, stiffness) of the right femur. The levels of serum type I collagen C-terminal peptide (CTX-I), acid-resis-tant tartrate phosphatase (TRACP) and estradiol (E2) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and histopathological changes of the left femur and the quadriceps observed after hematoxylin-eosin (H.E.) staining. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the BMD and bone mineral contents of the right femur and the fourth lumbar vertebra, the load and stiffness of the right femur, and concentration of serum E2 were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the displacement of the right femur, and concentrations of serum CTX-Ⅰ and TRACP notably increased in the model group (P<0.01). After the interventions, the decreased levels of BMD and bone mineral contents, the load and stiffness and concentration of serum E2, and the increased levels of the displacement, and concentrations of serum CTX-Ⅰ and TRACP were all reversed by both moxibustion (except the bone mineral content of the fourth lumbar vertebra) and medication (P<0.01,P<0.05). No signi-ficant differences were found between moxibustion and medication in up-regulating the levels of BMD and bone mineral contents, the load and stiffness (except serum E2) and down-regulating the levels of the displacement, and concentrations of serum CTX-Ⅰ and TRACP (P>0.05). H.E. staining revealed that rats in the sham operation group showed mild thinness of the bone cortex, uneven thickness of trabecular bone, with distortion, fracture and osteoporosis of the left femur, and different size of rhabdomyocytes in the right quadriceps femoris muscle, with obvious proliferation of interstitial fibrous tissue and inflammatory cell infiltration, which were relatively and clearly milder in both moxibustion and medication groups. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion of BL18 and BL23 can increase the BMD and bone mineral content, improve biomechanical performance, adjust bone metabolism, and mitigate bone and the attached muscle histopathological changes in OP rats, suggesting that modulating interaction between bones and muscles is probably one of the ideas in the treatment of OP.

Understanding the effects of sludge characteristics on the biosorption of triclosan.

On account of hydrophobic nature, the adsorption process on solids is considered as the major pathway for triclosan (TCS) removal in wastewater treatment plants. In this work, four sludge sources (primary sludge, thickened sludge, dewatered sludge, and anaerobic digested sludge) were collected to evaluate the adsorption performance of TCS. The solid-liquid distribution coefficients of TCS were increased with total solids increasing of primary sludge, thickened sludge, and dewatered sludge, whereas decreased in anaerobic digested sludge. Results further revealed differences in sludge floc sub-structures of TCS adsorption. The residues contained most of adsorbed TCS in all sub-structures, while distinguished in various extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The major contributor of EPS sub-fractions to TCS adsorption was identified as tightly bound EPS in thickened sludge and soluble EPS in anaerobic digested sludge. Based on the excitation-emission matrix spectra and Fourier infrared spectrum results, the protein-like and humic acid-like substances were closely related to the TCS adsorption, and hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interaction, and electrostatic interaction were considered as the dominant mechanisms. This study comprehensively reveals the effects of sludge sources and sub-structures on TCS adsorption, which improves the understanding of interaction and migration processes between TCS and sludge.

[Components of drugs in acupoint sticking therapy and its mechanism of intervention on bronchial asthma based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with network pharmacology and experimental verification].

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with network pharmacology and experimental verification was used to explore the mechanism of acupoint sticking therapy(AST) in the intervention of bronchial asthma(BA). The chemical components of Sinapis Semen, Cory-dalis Rhizoma, Kansui Radix, Asari Radix et Rhizoma, and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens were retrieved from TCMSP as self-built database. The active components in AST drugs were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and the targets were screened out in TCMSP and Swiss-TargetPrediction. Targets of BA were collected from GeneCards, and the intersection of active components and targets was obtained by Venny 2.1.0. The potential targets were imported into STRING and DAVID for PPI, GO, and KEGG analyses. The asthma model induced by house dust mite(HDM) was established in mice. The mechanism of AST on asthmatic mice was explored by pulmonary function, Western blot, and flow cytometry. The results indicated that 54 active components were obtained by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and 162 potential targets were obtained from the intersection. The first 53 targets were selected as key targets. PPI, GO, and KEGG analyses showed that AST presumedly acted on SRC, PIK3 CA, and other targets through active components such as sinoacutine, sinapic acid, dihydrocapsaicin, and 6-gingerol and regulated PI3 K-AKT, ErbB, chemokine, sphingolipid, and other signaling pathways to intervene in the pathological mechanism of BA. AST can improve lung function, down-regulate the expression of PI3 K and p-AKT proteins in lung tissues, enhance the expression of PETN protein, and reduce the level of type Ⅱ innate immune cells(ILC2 s) in lung tissues of asthmatic mice. In conclusion, AST may inhibit ILC2 s by down-regulating the PI3 K-AKT pathway to relieve asthmatic airway inflammation and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness.

[Electroacupuncture on motor function in patients with primary osteoporosis: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on motor function and muscle state in patients with primary osteoporosis (POP). METHODS: A total of 60 female patients with POP were randomized into an observation group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). On the basis of adjusting lifestyle, caltrate was given orally in the control group, 2 pills a day for 4 weeks. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, electroacupuncture was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. in the observation group, with disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/10 Hz in frequency, once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The time of timed up-and-go test (TUGT) and the value of 10 m maximal walking speed (10 m MWS) before and after treatment were compared in the two groups, and the Young's modulus values of bilateral multifidus muscles in prone position and sitting position before and after treatment were compared by real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the TUGT time was decreased compared before treatment in the observation group (P<0.01), and that in the observation group was shorter than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the value of 10 m MWS test was increased compared before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05). After treatment, the Young's modulus values of bilateral multifidus muscles in prone position and sitting position were increased compared before treatment in the observation group (P<0.01); except for the left side in sitting position, the Young's modulus values of multifidus muscles in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of oral caltrate, electroacupuncture can improve the motor function and muscle state in patients with POP.

Alkalinity regulation in a sulfur autotrophic denitrifying filter substantially reduced total dissolved solids and sulfate in effluent.

Sulfur autotrophic denitrification (SAD) filters are considered a promising technology due to their stable and excellent performance in nitrogen removal, affordable costs, and operational advantages. In this work, a novel operational strategy that employed sodium bicarbonate as an alkalinity source in the autotrophic denitrification filter (S-SAD) was established. With the sufficient supply of alkalinity, the S-SAD reached an excellent denitrification performance (98.01%±0.43%) with a nitrate concentration of 10 mg/L in influent and hydraulic retention time of 3 hrs. The total dissolved solids increment and sulfate concentration in effluent were significantly reduced by one-third, compared with that of the traditional SAD process under the same conditions. The analysis of microbial community indicated that Thiobacilhus, typical species with the functions of simultaneous sulfur oxidation and denitrification, was evidently enriched in the S-SAD. Thus, this present work demonstrated a feasible, relatively cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to operate SAD towards further application.

[Anti-asthma components and mechanism of Kechuanting acupoint application therapy: based on serum metabolomics and network pharmacology].

This study aims to explore the anti-asthma components and mechanism of Kechuanting acupoint application therapy(KAAT) based on serum metabolomics and network pharmacology. A total of 60 asthma patients who had used low-dose inhaled corticosteroids-formoterol(ICS-formoterol) for a long time were randomized into the western medicine group(low-dose ICS-formoterol) and western medicine+Kechuanting group(KAAT+low-dose ICS-Formoterol), 30 in either group. In addition, 30 healthy people were included as the control(no intervention). The asthma control test(ACT) score, forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1), and peak expiratory flow(PEF) were measured in the western medicine group and western medicine+Kechuanting group before and after treatment. The potential biomarkers of KAAT in the treatment of asthma were screened by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with multivariate analysis, and the related metabolic pathways were further analyzed. UPLC/LTQ-Orbitrap-MS, together with network pharmacology, was employed to construct the component-target-pathway network. Thereby, the effective components and me-chanism of KAAT in the treatment of asthma were clarified. According to the ACT score, FEV1, and PEF, KAAT was effective in the treatment of asthma. A total of 10 endogenous biomarkers of KAAT in the treatment of asthma were screened by serum metabolomics, and the pathways of the metabolism of glycine, serine and threonine, and the metabolism of glyoxylic acid and dicarboxylic acid were obtained. UPLC/LTQ-Orbitrap-MS identified 51 chemical components of KAAT: 24 flavonoids, 11 alkaloids, 8 phenols, 2 diterpenoids, 2 triterpenoids, 2 glycosides, and 2 aldehydes. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that KAAT mainly acted on serum crea-tinine(SRC), matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9), and other target proteins. The treatment was closely related to metabolic pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B(PI3 K-Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), and calcium signaling pathway. Sinapine thiocyanate, corydaline, dihydroberberine, stylopine, leonticine, N-methyl tetrahydroberberine, kaempferide, erio-dictyol, quercetin, catechin, 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, ingenol, and luteolin may be potential effective compounds of KAAT in the treatment of asthma. This study preliminarily revealed that the effective components and mechanism of KAAT in treatment of asthma based on serum metabolomics and network pharmacology. It lays a theoretical foundation for in-depth study of the mechanism and clinical development and application.

[Acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) as adjuvant treatment for pneumonia of phlegm-heat blocking lung type in children: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) as adjuvant treatment for pneumonia of phlegm-heat blocking lung type in children. METHODS: A total of 80 children with pneumonia of phlegm-heat blocking lung type were randomized into an observation group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (40 cases). In the control group, routine anti-infection and symptomatic and supportive treatment were given. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) in the observation group, once every 2 days, 4 times were required. Before and after treatment, the score of clinical symptoms and signs and level of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were observed in the two groups. The antifebrile time, lung moist rale disappearance time, duration of antibacterial drugs and hospital stays were recorded, and the clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of clinical symptoms and signs and levels of serum hs-CRP were reduced in the two groups (P<0.01), and the changes of scores of fever, cough and lung moist rale, secondary symptom score, total score of clinical symptoms and signs and level of serum hs-CRP in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The antifebrile time, lung moist rale disappearance time, duration of antibacterial drugs and hospital stays in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 87.2% (34/39) in the observation group, which was superior to 65.0% (26/40) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) as adjuvant treatment can relieve clinical symptoms, shorten duration of antibacterial drugs and hospital stays for children with pneumonia of phlegm-heat blocking lung type.

Repeated Herbal Acupoint Sticking Relieved the Recurrence of Allergic Asthma by Regulating the Th1/Th2 Cell Balance in the Peripheral Blood.

Allergic asthma is an inflammatory disease involving the Th1/Th2 cell imbalance in the peripheral blood. Repeated herbal acupoint sticking (RHAS) has been used for hundreds of years in China to relieve the recurrence of allergic asthma, and it is still practiced today. Thus, we explored the effect on allergic asthma relapse and the underlying immunoregulatory mechanism in this study. Here, we enrolled 50 allergic asthma participants, and 38 of them completed the treatment and follow-up (the allergic asthma group). In addition, 13 healthy participants (the control group) were enrolled. The recurrence number of allergic asthma participants and asthma control test (ACT) were used to evaluate the effect of treatment on relieving allergic asthma recurrence. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the levels of Th1 and Th2 cells in the peripheral blood. The serum levels of IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. (1) In the allergic asthma group, compared to before the first treatment, the recurrence number of allergic asthma participants decreased and the ACT score increased at end of the last treatment, 18 and 30 weeks of the trial (P < 0.05). At 18 and 30 weeks of the trial, the recurrence number of allergic asthma participants was less and the ACT score was higher than the ones from the same period last year in the allergic asthma group (P < 0.05). Compared to before the first treatment, the percentage of Th1 cell did not change significantly, the percentage of Th2 cell decreased, and the Th1/Th2 cell ratio increased in the allergic asthma group by the end of the last treatment (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the release of IgE and IL-4 reduced (P < 0.05), and the release of IFN-γ did not significantly change in the allergic asthma group. (2) Compared with the control group, the serum levels of IgE and IL-4 and the percentage of Th2 cell were higher, and the Th1/Th2 cell ratio was lower in the allergic asthma group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between Th1 cell and IFN-γ before the first treatment. (3) Compared with the control group, the IgE levels and the percentage of Th2 cell were higher in the allergic asthma group (P < 0.01). Simultaneously, there was no significant difference between Th1 cell, the Th1/Th2 cell ratio, and the serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 by the end of the last treatment. The data suggested that RHAS reduced the amount of Th2 cell and elevated the Th1/Th2 cell ratio, thereby alleviating the inflammatory responses in the allergic asthma participants.

[Effect of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with vibration training on low back pain of primary osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with vibration training and simple vibration training on low back pain of primary osteoporosis by Young's modulus of ultrasonic wave, and seek an objective evaluating method. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the two groups were treated with vibration training using whole body vibration treatment bed. In the observation group, thunder-fire moxibustion was applied at Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Mingmen (GV 4), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23) and Dachangshu (BL 25). The treatment was given once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The visual analogue score (VAS), real-time shear wave elastography (RTSWE) and medical outcomes study 36-item short-form hearth survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate pain intensity, multifidus muscle tone (Young's modulus) and quality of life before treatment, after 4-week treatment and 1 month after treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the VAS scores, Young's modulus of multifidus muscle and 5 dimensions of SF-36 (physical condition, body pain, general health, social function and mental health) after 4-week treatment and 1 month after treatment were significantly improved in the two groups (all P<0.05), the physiological role in the observation group after 4-week treatment and 1 month after treatment were improved (both P<0.05). In the observation group, the VAS scores, Young's modulus of multifidus muscle and 3 dimensions of SF-36 (physiological role, body pain and general health) after 4-week treatment and 1 month after treatment were superior to the control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with vibration training is superior to simple vibration training in relieving low back pain intensity and multifidus muscle tone, and improving quality of life for primary osteoporosis. RTSWE technique can be an objective examination method to evaluate pain.

Brain connectomic associations with traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic classification of major depressive disorder: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly heterogeneous in pathogenesis and manifestations. Further classification may help characterize its heterogeneity. We previously have shown differential metabolomic profiles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic subtypes of MDD. We further determined brain connectomic associations with TCM subtypes of MDD. METHODS: In this naturalistic study, 44 medication-free patients with a recurrent depressive episode were classified into liver qi stagnation (LQS, n = 26) and Heart and Spleen Deficiency (HSD, n = 18) subtypes according to TCM diagnosis. Healthy subjects (n = 28) were included as controls. Whole-brain white matter connectivity was analyzed on diffusion tensor imaging. RESULTS: The LQS subtype showed significant differences in multiple network metrics of the angular gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, calcarine sulcus, and Heschl's gyrus compared to the other two groups. The HSD subtype had markedly greater regional connectivity of the insula, parahippocampal gyrus, and posterior cingulate gyrus than the other two groups, and microstructural abnormalities of the frontal medial orbital gyrus and middle temporal pole. The insular betweenness centrality was strongly inversely correlated with the severity of depression and dichotomized the two subtypes at the optimal cutoff value with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The LQS subtype is mainly characterized by aberrant connectivity of the audiovisual perception-related temporal-occipital network, whereas the HSD subtype is more closely associated with hyperconnectivity and microstructural abnormalities of the limbic-paralimbic network. Insular connectivity may serve a biomarker for TCM-based classification of depression.Trial registration Registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02346682) on January 27, 2015.

Blood and urinary metabolomic evidence validating traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic classification of major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly heterogeneous disease. Further classification may characterize its heterogeneity. The purpose of this study was to examine whether metabolomic variables could differentiate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic subtypes of MDD. METHODS: Fifty medication-free patients who were experiencing a recurrent depressive episode were classified into Liver Qi Stagnation (LQS, n = 30) and Heart and Spleen Deficiency (HSD, n = 20) subtypes according to TCM diagnosis. Healthy volunteers (n = 28) were included as controls. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to examine serum and urinary metabolomic profiles. RESULTS: Twenty-eight metabolites were identified for good separations between TCM subtypes and healthy controls in serum samples. Both TCM subtypes had similar profiles in proteinogenic branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) and energy metabolism-related metabolites that were differentiated from healthy controls. The LQS subtype additionally differed from healthy controls in multiple amino acid metabolites that are involved in biosynthesis of monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters, including phenylalanine, 3-hydroxybutric acid, o-tyrosine, glycine, l-tryptophan, and N-acetyl-l-aspartic acid. Threonic acid, methionine, stearic acid, and isobutyric acid are differentially associated with the two subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: While both TCM subtypes are associated with aberrant BCAA and energy metabolism, the LQS subtype may represent an MDD subpopulation characterized by abnormalities in the biosynthesis of monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters and closer associations with stress-related pathophysiology. The metabolites differentially associated with the two subtypes are promising biomarkers for predicting TCM subtype-specific antidepressant response [registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02346682) on January 27, 2015].

[Inhibitory Effect of Acupoint Application on Airway Remodeling and Expression of TGF-ß 1/Smad 3 in the Lung Tissue of Chronic Asthma Mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint application on transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß 1/Smad 3 signaling pathway, so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of airway remodeling in chronic asthma mice. METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,sham acupoint application group (sham group),acupoint application group, and dexamethasone group (n=8 in each group). The chronic asthma model was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin sensitization. The acupoint application group was treated with plaster composed with White Mustard Seed, Rhizoma Corydalis, Unprocessed Radix Kansui, and Herba Asari, on bilateral "Feishu" (BL 13), "Xinshu" (BL 15) and "Geshu" (BL 17) points, 6 hours a day for 14 days. The sham group was treated with plaster containing vaseline on bilateral BL 13, BL 15 and BL 17, 6 hours a day for 14 days. The dexamethasone group was treated with dexamethasone 1 mg·kg-1·day-1 intraperi-toneally, once daily for 14 days. At the end of treatment, airway resistance was detected by mouse lung function instrument. Patho-logical changes of airway were observed under light microscope after hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the morphological parameters were measured by image analysis software. Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of TGF-ß 1 and Smad 3 in the lung tissue of mice. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the airway resistance, the total bronchial wall area (WAt)/lumen perimeter (Pi), the smooth muscle wall area (WAm)/Pi, and the expression of TGF-ß 1 and Smad 3 in the lung tissues were significantly higher in the model and sham groups (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the sham group, the airway resistance, WAt/Pi, WAm/Pi, the expression of TGF-ß 1 and Smad 3 in the lung tissues were decreased in the acupoint application group and the dexamethasone group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the acupoint application group and the dexamethasone group in the above mentioned indexes (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupoint application can improve airway remodeling by down-regulating the expression of TGF-ß 1/Smad 3 in the airway of chronic asthmatic mice.

Effect of Gua sha therapy on perimenopausal syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Gua sha therapy on perimenopausal symptoms, quality of life, and serum female hormones in participants with perimenopausal syndrome. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine in China. Eighty women with perimenopausal syndrome were recruited and randomized into an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received 15-minute Gua sha treatment sessions once a week plus conventional treatment for 8 weeks, whereas participants in the control group received conventional treatment alone. The primary outcome was the change in perimenopausal symptoms and quality of life as obtained through the modified Kupperman Index (KI) and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life. The secondary outcome was the change of serum female hormones including estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. RESULTS: Seventy-five out of 80 participants (93.8%) completed the study-38 in the intervention group and 37 in the control group. The baseline levels of demographic and outcome measurements were comparable between the two groups. After eight sessions of intervention, the reduction in the total modified KI score was, however, 16.32 ±â€Š4.38 in the intervention group and 11.46 ±â€Š5.96 in the control group, with a difference of 4.86 ±â€Š6.15 (P < 0.01) between the two groups. Also the reductions of hot flash/sweating, paresthesia, insomnia, nervousness, melancholia, fatigue, and headache were greater in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The reduction in the total Menopause-Specific Quality of Life score was 17.87 ±â€Š3.84 in the intervention group and 13.62 ±â€Š7.40 in the control group, with a difference of 4.46 ±â€Š7.52 (P < 0.01) between the two groups. And the scores for vasomotor, psychosocial, and physical domains in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Gua sha therapy was effective and safe in relieving perimenopausal symptoms and improving the quality of life in participants with perimenopausal syndrome. The therapy may serve as a promising, effective, nondrug treatment for perimenopausal syndrome in clinical work. Additional research is needed to better understand its effectiveness and examine its mechanism for treating perimenopausal syndrome.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation as an adjunct therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is thought to have potential to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding TEAS to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and clomipramine would improve the efficacy of these conventional treatments in OCD. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 360 OCD patients were assigned to receive TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group A, n = 120), TEAS combined with CBT plus placebo (Group B, n = 120), and simulated (placebo) TEAS combined with CBT plus clomipramine (Group C, n = 120) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). RESULTS: OCD symptoms in all patients reduced over time, however Groups A and B had a significantly greater reduction in Y-BOCS total score and the subscale for obsession and compulsion between week 2 and week 12 compared to Group C. Groups A and B had similar scores on these measures. Both groups had significantly higher rates of clinical response than Group C (88.3% and 81.7% vs. 67.5%, respectively, p < 0.001); and higher rates of remission (30.0% and 22.5% vs. 9.2%, respectively, p < 0.001). Group B experienced fewer adverse events than the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: TEAS enhances the efficacy of conventional OCD interventions and avoids the adverse effects associated with conventional pharmacological treatment. It can be considered as an effective adjunct intervention for OCD.