Association of Scapular Dyskinesis with Neck and Shoulder Function and Training Period in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu Athletes.

Background and Objectives: Neck and shoulder injuries are common in Brazilian ju-jitsu (BJJ) athletes, and scapular dyskinesis (SD) is associated with these injuries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of SD in BJJ athletes, their neck and shoulder function and strength, and the BJJ training period. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight BJJ athletes participated in the study. Years of experience with BJJ, belt, shoulder internal and external rotation strength, neck strength, neck disability index (NDI), and SD were measured. Results: Approximately 31 BJJ athletes (64.6%) showed SD, and the nondominant arm showed a more obvious SD (n = 22, 45.8%) than the dominant arm (n = 18, 37.5%). Those with over five years of BJJ training experience showed a significantly higher rate of SD (p = 0.006) than those with less than five years of experience. Shoulder isometric internal rotation strength was significantly weaker in the obvious SD group than in the normal SD group (p = 0.014). Neck isometric strength and NDI did not differ significantly between individuals with or without SD. Conclusions: SD was common among BJJ athletes, and more experienced BJJ athletes exhibited higher rates of SD. Shoulder rotational strength was weaker with SD. Further studies are necessary on the neck and shoulders of BJJ athletes with SD.

Then Tell Me What You Think About Morality: A Freedom of Expression Perspective on the CJEU's Decision in FACK JU GÖHTE (C-240/18 P).

This case note on the CJEU's decision in Fack Ju Göhte focuses on morality bars and freedom of expression in EU trade mark law. Based on the presumption that a refusal to register a trade mark for being contrary to accepted principles of morality interferes with freedom of expression, an empirical concept of morality appears incompatible with freedom of expression. However, the test for morality developed by the CJEU seems to employ such an empirical concept at least partially. In addition, the test seems to lack legal certainty. In light of freedom of expression, both represent a potential shortcoming of the decision.

Quality Control and Variability Assessment of an Eight-Herb Formulation for Hypertension Using Method Validation and Statistical Analysis.

Background-The quality control (QC) for commercial herbal formulations is sparse due to a lack of well-developed HPLC-ESI-MS/MS methods. Objective-This study reports the quantification of nine selected analytes for a commercial eight-herb formulation known as Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (QJDHW) used to relieve hypertension. Methods-An HPLC-ESI/MS method for the quantitation of analytes selected using the Herbal Chemical Marker Ranking System (Herb MaRS) was developed. The Herb MaRS ranking system which takes into account bioavailability, bioactivity, and physiological action related to its intended use and the commercial availability of the standard. After a method optimization, seven analytes were found to be ideal for quantitation. Results-The target analytes were identified using an electrospray ionization-tandem MS molecular breakdown comparison between the herbal peak and the commercial standard. The quantitative aspect of analyte variability of eleven samples was studied using fold variation. The fold variation of selected analytes among eleven samples ranged from 1.5 to 28.9. The qualitative aspect of variability was studied using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Conclusions-There is a great degree of chemical variability in herbal formulations which are due to raw material harvesting times, storage techniques, and plant subspecies variability. Highlights-Commercial QJDHW formulations need to be standardised using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS to ensure better product quality control (QC) and product efficacy for the consumer.

[Enzymatic characteristics of peroxidase from Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Bo-ju].

The enzymatic browning is one of the main reasons for affecting the quality of medicinal flowers. In the process of chrysanthemum harvesting and processing, improper treatment will lead to the browning and severely impact the appearance and quality of chrysanthemum. Peroxidase enzyme is one of the oxidoreductases that cause enzymatic browning of fresh chrysanthemum. The enzymatic characteristics of peroxidase (POD) in chrysanthemum were studied in this paper. In this experiment, the effects of different reaction substrates and their concentrations, PH value of buffer and reaction temperatures on the activity of POD enzyme were investigated. The results showed that the optimal substrate of POD was guaiacol, and the optimal concentration of POD was 50 mmol·L⁻¹. The optimal pH value and reaction temperature were 4.4 and 30-35 °C, respectively. Michaelis-Menten equation was obtained to express the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reaction of POD, Km=0.193 mol·L⁻¹, Vmax=0.329 D·min⁻¹. In addition, the results of POD enzyme thermal stability test showed that the POD enzyme activity was inhibited when being treated at 80 °C for 4 min or at 100 °C for 2 min. The above results were of practical significance to reveal the enzymatic browning mechanism, control the enzymatic browning and improve the quality of chrysanthemum, and can also provide the basis for the harvesting and processing of medicinal materials containing polyphenols.

Strategic interactions: Games of the Ju|'hoan.

Three strategic games played by the Ju|'hoan-a board, a card, and a gesture game-complicate the rhetorics that suggest an evolutionary or psychological significance of play. They are mostly played by adults, although every individual adult does not necessarily engage in each game. The Ju|'hoan card and board game practices were transmitted through contact across large parts of Botswana and Namibia, while the gesture game n!àì has been known in other San communities. It suggests that the significance of strategic games is more likely found in its potential for social interaction (i.e., allowing to overcome cultural divides) than in evolution and psychology. Within the anthropological literature, strategy games were thought to be absent in egalitarian societies, such as that of the Ju|'hoan. Here, the roles of power, competition, and winning were thought to be disruptive and unwanted. A closer examination of the details behind the Ju|'hoan games shows that not only were strategy games adopted and adapted from neighboring societies but that the game of n!àì was developed by the Ju|'hoan into a competitive one. The evolutionary or psychological significance of play is informed by studies on individual play, children's play, and games with informal rules. When considering strategic games throughout history, it is their role of facilitator rather than the playing practice itself that makes games relevant across languages, cultural divides, and sociopolitical boundaries.

A Study of the Discussions on Psychiatry of Korea in the 1960s and 1970s* - From Mental Hygiene to Modern Psychiatry.

This study is to review the emergence of new psychiatrists, scientific rationalization, and popular internalization to reorganize the formation process of modern psychological medicine system. Unlike eugenic psychiatry from the Japanese Colonial Era, the social conditions and contexts forming autonomous system of psychiatry of Korea in the 1960s and 1970s have been concentrated. The discussion approach has been tried to secure two perspectives-treatment and criticism-at the same time and to expand the time and scope of study through the extensive texts such as newspapers, magazines, books, advertisements, and others in the 1960s and 1970s. Through formation of subject, rationalization, and popularization, this study has surveyed the characteristics of psychiatry in the 1960s and 1970s to accentuate complicated conditions and kinetic steps to systemize psychiatry as scientific field to promote treatment of patients by deviating from mental hygiene approaching national mental health from cleanliness and removal. The characteristics are summarized as follows. First, as the ethical models of good doctors, medical paternalistic doctors, and non-authoritarian symmetric doctors have been proposed as good psychiatrists by new medical specialists with experience of globality, a new subject emerges. However, there has been illegalization process of unlicensed medical practitioner excluded by the regulatory authority called "clearness." Second, the rationalization of psychiatry has been accelerated through the dispute of enactment of Mental Hygiene Law, segmentalization of concept of mental illness, and scientific characteristics. Especially, the disputes over enactment of Mental Hygiene Law focused on criminalization of mental patients brought a result to regulate the patients as the target of humanistic treatment and potential criminals at the same time. Third, popularization of psychiatry has embraced invisible mental illness into popular daily life through visual measure called medicine advertisement, and through the discussion about social neurosis, a new paradigm for diagnosis of Korean society has been proposed. Moreover, by focusing on autobiographical works with voices of patients, this article reveals a new doctor-patient relationship.

Furostanol and Spirostanol Saponins from Tribulus terrestris.

Twelve new steroidal saponins, including eleven furostanol saponins, terrestrinin J-T (1-11), and one spirostanol saponin, terrestrinin U (12), together with seven known steroidal saponins 13-19 were isolated from T. terrestris. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS, and comparisons with published data.

Changes in weight status among "Ju/'hoansi" San hunter-gatherers between 1968/69 and 1987-The effects of nutritional transition, sex and age.

BACKGROUND: Changes in lifestyle and dietary habits that hunter-gatherer populations have undergone in recent decades have often led to rising obesity rates with disastrous consequences for their health. OBJECTIVES: The associations between dietary habits and weight status were studied in 238 "Ju/'hoansi" San (93 women and 145 men) aged between 18 and 65 years in northern Namibia in 1987. Weight status was estimated based on the World Health Organization body mass index (BMI) categories, and dietary habits were recorded using food recall methods. Anthropometrics and weight status were compared with those of a sex- and age-matched sample of "Ju/'hoansi" San people collected by Nancy Howell in 1968/69. RESULTS: Body weight had increased significantly among "Ju/'hoansi" San people from 1968/69 to 1987. The number of underweight people decreased from 1968/69 to 1987. In 1987, most participants (60.9%) were of normal weight. Overweight was found in 1.3% of the women, but not among men. No participants were obese. Less than 4% of the women and less than 2% of the men consumed exclusively traditional hunter-gatherer food. Westernized food products were significantly (p < 0.001) more common among men and younger people. Dietary patterns were significantly associated with weight status. The less traditional the diet, the higher the BMI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The transition to domestic agricultural and westernized foods was positively associated with increasing BMI. Overweight, however, was still an extremely rare condition in this population in 1987.

Qi-Ju-Di-Huang-Pill delays the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Qi-Ju-Di-Huang-Pill (QJDH pill) is a Chinese decoction. Although it is commonly used to treat eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), its exact mechanism of action is unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the specific mechanism by which QJDH pill slows the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) based on animal and cellular experiments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The major components of QJDH pill were characterized by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLCMS/MS). C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups as follows: normal group (control group), model group (STZ group), low-dosage QJDH pill group (QJDH-L group), medium-dosage QJDH pill group (QJDH-M group) and high-dosage QJDH pill group (QJDH-H group). Changes in water intake, urination, food intake, and body mass were monitored weekly, while changes in blood glucose were monitored monthly. Fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were utilized to analyze the changes in fundus imaging indications. Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to examine histopathologic and ultrastructural changes in retina. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood were detected using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mouse retina apoptotic cells were labeled with green fluorescence via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (Tunel). The protein levels of Bcl-2-Associated X (Bax), B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Caspase-3, PI3K, phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT) and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) were quantified by Western blot (WB). The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells were cultured and classified into five groups as follows: normal glucose group (NG group), high glucose group (HG group), high glucose + QJDH pill group (HG + QJDH group), high glucose + inhibitor group (HG + LY294002 group), and high glucose + inhibitor + QJDH pill group (HG + LY294002 + QJDH group). Cell viability and apoptosis were detected via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and then analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In vivo experiments revealed that the QJDH pill effectively reduced blood glucose, symptoms of increased water intake, elevated urination, increased food intake and decreased body mass in DR mice. QJDH pill also slowed the development of a series of fundus imaging signs, such as retinal microangiomas, tortuous dilatation of blood vessels, decreased vascular density, and thinning of retinal thickness, downregulated IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, and VEGF levels in peripheral blood, and inhibited retinal cell apoptosis by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that high glucose environment inhibited RPE cell viability and activated RPE cell apoptosis pathway. In contrast, lyophilized powder of QJDH pill increased RPE cell viability, protected RPE cells from high glucose-induced damage, and decreased apoptosis of RPE cells by activating the pi3k pathway. CONCLUSION: QJDH pill induces hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-VEGF and anti-retinal cell apoptosis by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and thus can protect the retina and slow the DR progression.

Multiomic Insights into Human Health: Gut Microbiomes of Hunter-Gatherer, Agropastoral, and Western Urban Populations.

Societies with exposure to preindustrial diets exhibit improved markers of health. Our study used a comprehensive multi-omic approach to reveal that the gut microbiome of the Ju/'hoansi hunter-gatherers, one of the most remote KhoeSan groups, exhibit a higher diversity and richness, with an abundance of microbial species lost in the western population. The Ju/'hoansi microbiome showed enhanced global transcription and enrichment of complex carbohydrate metabolic and energy generation pathways. The Ju/'hoansi also show high abundance of short-chain fatty acids that are associated with health and optimal immune function. In contrast, these pathways and their respective species were found in low abundance or completely absent in Western populations. Amino acid and fatty acid metabolism pathways were observed prevalent in the Western population, associated with biomarkers of chronic inflammation. Our study provides the first in-depth multi-omic characterization of the Ju/'hoansi microbiome, revealing uncharacterized species and functional pathways that are associated with health.

Antimutagenic and antioxidant properties of plumbagin and other naphthoquinones.

The structure-function relationships of the naphthoquinone phytochemicals, plumbagin, juglone, and menadione, have been studied with regard to antimutagenic and antioxidant activities. Antimutagenicity of these compounds was assessed by the Ames test and RNA polymerase B (rpoB)-based rifampicin resistance assay. Antioxidant potential was evaluated by radical scavenging assays and reducing power measurement. Protection of cells and DNA against gamma radiation-induced oxidative damage was assayed by survival analysis and gel electrophoresis profiling, respectively. On the 1,4-naphthoquinone nucleus, plumbagin possesses 5-hydroxyl and 2-methyl functional groups, whereas juglone has only the 5-hydroxyl and menadione only the 2-methyl group. Plumbagin showed strong antimutagenic (against ultraviolet and ethyl methanesulfonate) and antioxidant activities, whereas juglone displayed only strong antimutagenic, and menadione only strong antioxidant activities. Thus, these two functional groups (5-OH/2-CH3) play important roles in the differential bioactivity of naphthoquinones. Escherichia coli, microarray analysis showed upregulation of the genes rep (replication/repair), ybaK (tRNA editing), speE (spermidine synthesis), and yjfC (glutathionyl spermidine synthesis) by plumbagin or juglone, and sodC (superoxide dismutase), xthA (oxidative repair), hycB (electron carrier between hydrogenase 3 and fumarate dehydrogenase), and ligA (formation of phosphodiester bond in DNA) by plumbagin or menadione. Studies with E. coli single-gene knockouts showed that ybaK and speE, reported to prevent mistranslation, are likely to be involved in the antimutagenicity displayed by juglone, and sodC to be involved in the antioxidant activity of menadione.

Development of adiposity among Ju/'Hoansi Hunter-Gatherers.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the development of childhood adiposity among the Ju'/Hoansi, a well-known hunter-gather group, to compare our results to U.S. references and to recently published results from Savanna Pume' foragers of Venezuela, with the goal of expanding our understanding of adipose development among human hunter-gatherers. METHODS: Triceps, subscapular, and abdominal skinfolds, along with height and weight from ~120 Ju'/Hoansi girls and ~103 boys, ages 0 to 24 years, collected in 1967-1969 were analyzed using best-fit polynomial models and penalized spines to characterize age-specific patterns of adiposity and their relationship to changes in height and weight. RESULTS: Overall, Ju/'Hoansi boys and girls exhibit small skinfolds with a decline in adiposity from 3 to 10 years, with no consistent differences among the three skinfolds. Increases in adiposity during adolescence precede peak height and weight velocities. Adiposity declines during young adulthood for girls and remains largely constant for boys. DISCUSSION: Compared to U.S. standards, the Ju/'Hoansi show a strikingly different pattern of adipose development, including the lack of an adiposity rebound at the onset of middle childhood, and clear increases in adiposity only at adolescence. These findings are consistent with published results from the Savanna Pumé hunter-gatherers of Venezuela, a group with a very different selective history, suggesting that the adiposity rebound does not characterize hunter-gathering populations more generally. Similar analyses in other subsistence populations are called for to confirm our results, and help distinguish the impact of specific environmental and dietary factors on adipose development.

[WANG Ju-yi's meridian diagnosis method combined with Bobath rehabilitation training for post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome typeâ ].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy differences between WANG Ju-yi 's meridian diagnosis method combined with Bobath rehabilitation training and Bobath rehabilitation training alone for post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) typeⅠ. METHODS: A total of 106 patients with post-stroke SHS typeⅠwere randomly divided into an observation group (53 cases, 2 cases dropped off ) and a control group (53 cases, 3 cases dropped off ). The patients in the both groups were treated with medications for basic diseases and conventional acupuncture at Waiguan (TE 5), Shousanli (LI 10) and Jianyu (LI 15) on the affected side. In addition, the patients in the control group were treated with Bobath rehabilitation training, 20 minutes each time; on the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with WANG Ju-yi's meridian diagnosis method to adjust the abnormal parts in meridians of the hand taiyin and hand yangming on the affected side, 20 minutes each time. Both groups were treated once a day, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. The scores of visual analogue scale (VAS), upper-limb Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) were recorded before and after treatment as well as 6 weeks after treatment (follow-up), and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the VAS scores were reduced and the scores of upper-limb FMA and BI were increased in the two groups after treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.05). The VAS score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the scores of upper-limb FMA and BI in the observation group were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 82.4% (42/51), which was higher than 62.0% (31/50) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: WANG Ju-yi 's meridian diagnosis method combined with Bobath rehabilitation training could effectively treat post-stroke SHS typeⅠ, reduce pain symptoms and improve joint motor dysfunction, and improve the quality of life. Its curative effect is better than Bobath rehabilitation training alone.

Histochemical and Microscopic Studies Predict that Grapevine Genotype "Ju mei gui" is Highly Resistant against Botrytis cinerea.

The necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea causes devastating pre- and post-harvest yield losses in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). Although B. cinerea has been well-studied in different plant species, there is limited information related to the resistance and susceptibility mechanisms of Vitis genotypes against B. cinerea infection. In the present study, leaves and berries of twenty four grape genotypes were evaluated against B. cinerea infection. According to the results, one genotype (Ju mei gui) was highly resistant (HR), one genotype (Kyoho) was resistant (R), eight genotypes were susceptible (S), and fourteen genotypes were highly susceptible (HS) against infection of B. cinerea in leaves. Whereas in the case of B. cinerea infection in grape berry, three genotypes were found to be highly resistant, three resistant, eleven genotypes susceptible, and seven were highly susceptible. To further explore the mechanism of disease resistance in grapevine, we evaluated "Ju mei gui" and "Summer black" in terms of B. cinerea progression, reactive oxygen species reactions, jasmonic acid contents, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaf and fruit. We surmise that the resistance of "Ju mei gui" is due to seized fungal growth, minor reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, elevated antioxidant enzyme activity, and more jasmonic acid (JA) contents. This study provides insights into the resistance and susceptibility mechanism of Vitis genotypes against B. cinerea. This will help for the selection of appropriate germplasm to explore the molecular basis of disease resistance mechanisms in grapevine.

Dry Eye: The Effect of Chi-Ju-Di-Huang-Wan Plus Si Wu Tang and the Underlying Mechanism.

Objectives: In this pilot study, the effect of 970 mg Chi-Ju-Di-Huang-Wan (CJDHW) plus 30 mg four-substance decoction (Si Wu Tang; CJDHWSWT) was evaluated, in terms of its ability to alleviate dry eye symptoms and its therapeutic mechanism. Methods: This double-masked prospective investigation has recruited dry eye patients who have been randomly selected into two groups, namely treatment (n = 15) versus nontreatment (n = 15). In the treatment group, a daily oral intake of CJDHWSWT plus eye drops systane ultra was given for 90 consecutive days. In the nontreatment group, only defined eye drops were prescribed. The examinations included Schirmer's test, fluorescein-stained superficial punctate keratitis (SPK), artificial tear consumption, tear vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) level, and ocular surface disease index. The drug safety tests included liver and kidney functions, and complete blood counts. The candidates were observed during the screening visit and the following three monthly follow-ups. The data were analyzed by unpaired Student's t-test. Results: Compared to no significance in the nontreatment group, CJDHWSWT significantly (p = 0.03) increased the tear secretion after 3 months of intake. Furthermore, in contrast to no significance in the treatment group, there were significant alterations, including (i) increased fluorescein-stained SPK areas (p = 0.03); (ii) increased artificial tear instillation amount (p = 0.03); (iii) elevated tear VEGF protein levels (p = 0.03) in the nontreatment group; and (iv) significant improvement in clinically relevant phenomenon (e.g., reading limit and uncomfortable feeling in windy conditions), after treatment of artificial tear plus oral intake of CJDHWSWT. As shown by the post-treatment normal defined laboratory data, there were no adverse drug effects. Conclusions: This study has supported that CJDHWSWT is safe and effective in relieving dry eye's clinically relevant symptoms/phenomena. CJDHWSWT avoided the tear VEGF upregulation probably induced by dry eye-associated hypoxia/ischemia.

Developing a Sustainable and Circular Bio-Based Economy in EU: By Partnering Across Sectors, Upscaling and Using New Knowledge Faster, and For the Benefit of Climate, Environment & Biodiversity, and People & Business.

This paper gives an overview of development of the EU-bioeconomy, 2014-2020. The Vision of the new Circular Bio-based Economy, CBE is presented: Unlocking the full potential of all types of sustainably sourced biomass, crop residues, industrial side-streams, and wastes by transforming it into value-added products. The resulting product portfolio consists of a wide spectrum of value-added products, addressing societal and consumer needs. Food and feed, bio-based chemicals, materials, health-promoting products; and bio-based fuels. The pillars of CBE are described, including biotechnology, microbial production, enzyme technology, green chemistry, integrated physical/chemical processing, policies, conducive framework conditions and public private partnerships. Drivers of CBE are analyzed: Biomass supply, biorefineries, value chain clusters, rural development, farmers, foresters and mariners; urgent need for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and stopping biodiversity loss. Improved framework conditions can be drivers but also obstacles if not updated to the era of circularity. Key figures, across the entire BBI-JU project portfolio (2014-2020) are provided, including expansion into biomass feedstocks, terrestrial and aquatic, and an impressive broadening of bio-based product portfolio, including higher-value, health-promoting products for man, animal, plants and soil. Parallel to this, diversification of industrial segments and types of funding instruments developed, reflecting industrial needs and academic research involvement. Impact assessment is highlighted. A number of specific recommendations are given; e.g., including international win/win CBE-collaborations, as e.g., expanding African EU collaboration into CBE. In contrast to fossil resources biological resources are found worldwide. In its outset, circular bio-based economy, can be implemented all over, in a just manner, not the least stimulating rural development.

[Clinical experience of professor WANG Ju-yi in channel palpation treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica].

Professor WANG Ju-yi has gradually improved the clinical application of channel palpation treatment based on his more than 50 years clinical practice, and has accumulated rich experience in acupuncture treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica. He believes that "wind, cold and dampness" are the external causes of the disease, physical factors, uncomfortable mood and uncontrolled diet are the internal causes. The meridian-collateral theory is utilized in the diagnosis and detection of the disorders of taiyin, taiyang and jueyin meridians, internal and external causes are solved by expelling the wind, warming the channel to eliminate the coldness, transforming the dampness to relieve pain and regulating the qi activity. Three cases of clinical application on polymyalgia rheumatica were included in this paper.

Basic Demography of Caenorhabditis remanei Cultured under Standard Laboratory Conditions.

Species of the Caenorhabditis genus have been used as model systems in genetics and molecular research for more than 30 years. Despite this, basic information about their demography, in the wild and in the lab, has remained unknown until very recently. Here, we provide for the first time a closely quantified life-cycle of the gonochoristic nematode C. remanei. Using C. elegans protocols, modified for an outcrossing nematode, we estimated the basic demography for individuals of two strains (JU724 and MY12-G) which were recently isolated from the wild. We used a half-sib breeding design to estimate the phenotypic variance of traits of related (within line) and unrelated individuals (between lines) of the two strains cultured in a common environment in the lab. Comparisons between these strains showed that JU724 was characterized by significantly lower overall lifetime fecundity and by differences in age-specific fecundity relative to MY12-G, but there were no differences in their life expectancy and reproductive lifespan. We found high phenotypic variance among all traits. The variance within lines was relatively high compared to the low variation between lines. We suggest this could be the result of high gene flow in these wild-type strains. Finally, comparisons between species suggest that, despite the differences in reproductive strategies (i.e., sex ratios, lifetime fecundity), C. remanei has developmental time similar to the hermaphroditic N2 strain of C. elegans.

Withanolides from the leaves of Datura metel L.

Twelve previously undescribed withanolides, including three uncommon chemotypes of aglycones, daturafolisides (J-L), and six common structures, daturafolisides (M-U), as well as one known withanolide were isolated from the leaves of Datura metel L. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR and CD), HRESIMS experiments and comparison with published data for similar compounds. These isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on nitric oxide production. The IC50 values of daturafoliside L, daturafoliside M, and daturafoliside T were between 9.37 and 18.64 µM, while daturafoliside K, daturafoliside R, and daturametelin A had IC50 values of 22.83-33.36 µM. Herein, three proposed biosynthetic pathways for uncommon structures daturafolisides J-L were discussed. These constituents found in the leaves of Datura metel L. may be a good source of bioactive substances, making contributions to the sustainable utilization of this plant resources.

[Study on the first translated obstetrics book Tai chan ju yao (Essentials in Obstetrics)].

In 1893, Wan Tsun-mo translated and published Tai chan ju yao (Essentials in Obstetrics), the first monograph of western obstetrics in modern China, symbolizing the independence of obstetrics from such maternal and child books as Fu ying xin shuo and Fu ke jing yun tu shuo, which occupies an important position in the history of the development of modern Chinese obstetrics. The book introduced anatomy, physiology, pathology, embryology, diagnostics, surgery, pharmacology and other knowledge of obstetrics in a catechismal form, and had a detailed discussion of such advanced obstetrical technologies as antiseptic, anesthesia, forceps and cesarean section for the first time.Judging from the content and translation of Tai chan ju yao, this book has already possessed the basic knowledge system of modern obstetrics, though the translation appeared to be somewhat jerky and not elegant and the terminology needing to be further improved, it was not only used as an important medium for the introduction of obstetrical knowledge, but also of great clinical value.However, its influence was so weak that later researchers seldom mentioned this book.