Abstract:With reference to international guidelines for the development of tools—Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system approach and reasoning, this practice guideline has been drafted reflecting the characteristics of acupuncture to improve effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis. This guideline includes outlining the acupuncture diagnosis and treatment principles for allergic rhinitis, suggesting recommendations and related evidence for the acupuncture treatment of allergic rhinitis, and defining operating methods and precautions for the acupuncture treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Abstract:Objective:To investigate the effects of different acupuncture manipulations on Deqi sensations and surface myoelectricity, and explore the correlation between Deqi sensations and needling manipulations.Methods: Forty-five healthy participants accepted twirling, lifting-thrusting, and twirling plus lifting-thrusting manipulanions at right Zusanli (ST 36), respectively. The acupuncturist's and participants' Deqi sensations were collected by MGH Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS). The intensity and occurrence rate of soreness, dull pain, pressure, heaviness, fullness, numbness, sharp pain, warmth, coolness, and throbbing feelings of participants, and tightness, smooth, and tangle feelings of acupuncturist were measured. The correlation between the acupuncturist's and participant's Deqi sensations was analyzed. Surface electromyogram (EMG) was recorded before, during and after needling in 30 participants. The integrated EMG (iEMG), mean power frequency (MPF) and media frequency (MF) were analyzed.Result:Both fullness and soreness of participants and tightness of acupuncturist were the most frequently occurred ones. A positive correlation between participants' fullness and acupuncturist's tightness was observed during the three aforementioned needling manipulations (P<0.05, OR>1). Almost all the needling sensations measured in the present study could be induced by the three needling manipulations. However, strength of Deqi sensations was exhibited as lifting-thrusting > twirling plus lifting-thrusting > twirling according to MASS index. The iEMG values were increased and MPF, MF values were decreased during needling compaired to those before needling, especially during lifting-thrusting (P<0.01).Conclusions:The intensity and occurrence rate of the different Deqi sensations induced by different needling manipulations were basically similar. The fullness and soreness were both the most frequently induced Deqi sensations. The strongest Deqi sensation could be induced by lifting-thrusting manipulation. There is a positive correlation between participants' fullness and acupuncturist's tightness during the three needling manipulations. The myoelectricity around the acupoint is related to Deqi responses. (Registration No. AMCTR-IOR-20000314)
Keywords:needling manipulation;Deqi;needling sensation;surface myoelectricity;Chinese medicine
Abstract:Objective:To investigate the action mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) on postoperative immunosuppression.Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice (5–7 weeks old) were randomly divided into: the sham injury group, the surgical trauma stressed group, the EA group [surgery + 2/100 Hz EA at Neiguan (PC 6)], and the EA+ Nal (surgery + EA + intraperitoneal injection of naloxone). Abdominal surgical trauma stress mice model was established. EA was performed on bilateral PC 6 acupoints by an EA apparatus (2/100 Hz) for 20 min once a day for 3 days. The mRNA expressions of MOR, DOR, and KOR in thymus and L3–L5 dorsal root ganglions (DRG) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the protein expressions of MOR, DOR, and KOR in thymus were measured by Western blot. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect the levels of T lymphocyte subtypes in the peripheral blood.Results:Surgical trauma induced decreased the mRNA expression level of MOR in both thymus (P<0.01) and L3–L5 DRGs (P<0.05). Moreover, EA treatment not only significantly attenuated the MOR protein and mRNA expression in the thymus (both P<0.05), but also markedly increased expression of DOR and KOR opioid receptor in thymus (P<0.01). However, the mRNA expressions of opioid receptors were not regulated by EA in the DRG (all P>0.05). Furthermore, T lymphocyte population of CD3+ and CD4+ was decreased in the peripheral blood after surgical trauma (both P<0.01). EA treatment can significantly elevate the population of CD3+ (P<0.01), CD4+ (P<0.05) and CD8+ T cells (P<0.01). Intraperitoneal injection of the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone blocked the up-regulation of T lymphocytes by EA.Conclusion:EA may improve postoperative immunosuppression through the peripheral opioid system.
Abstract:Objective:To study the pharmacological mechanism of Guanxin Ⅱ formula (冠心Ⅱ号方, GX Ⅱ) for treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods: A network pharmacology-based method was utilized. First candidate compounds, targets of GX Ⅱ were collected using PharmMapper, BATMAN-TCM, DrugBank and SwissTargetPrediction, and targets on CHD were mined from GeneCards, DisGenet, DrugBank and GEO. Afterwards, the big hub compounds and targets were chosen in the candidate compounds-direct therapeutic targets on the CHD (C-T) network and the direct therapeutic targets on the CHD (T-D) network. Furthermore, the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis were performed to identify the enriched terms. Finally, a molecular docking simulation strategy was adopted to verify the binding capacity between the big hub compounds and big hub targets on CHD.Results:First, 114 candidate compounds were selected with the following criteria: OB 30%, DL 0.18, and HL 4 h. Then, 1,035 targets of GX Ⅱ were gathered, while 928 targets on CHD were collected. Afterwards, 196 common targets of compound targets and therapeutic targets on CHD were defined as direct therapeutic targets acting on CHD. In addition, the contribution index (CI) in the C-T network was calculated, and 4 centrality properties, including degree, betweenness, closeness and coreness, in the T-D network, 4 big hub compounds, and 6 big hub targets were eventually chosen. Furthermore, the GO and KEGG analysis indicated that GX Ⅱ acted on CHD by regulating the reactive oxygen species metabolism, steroid metabolism, lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The docking results manifested excellent binding capacity between the 4 big hub compounds and 6 big hub targets on CHD.Conclusion:This network pharmacology-based exploration revealed that GX Ⅱ might prevent and inhibit the primary pathological processes of CHD.
Abstract:Objective:To evaluate the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of Chinese herbal medicine Fructus broussonetiae (FB) in both mouse and cell models of Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods: APP/PS1 mice treated with FB for 2 months and vehicle-treated controls were run through the Morris water maze and object recognition test to evaluate learning and memory capacity. RNA-Seq, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were also conducted to evaluate the effects of FB treatment on various signaling pathways altered in APP/PS1 mice. To further explore the mechanisms underlying FB's protective effect, PC-12 cells were treated with Aβ25–35 in order to establish an in vitro model of AD.Results:FB-treated mice showed improved learning and memory capacity on both the Morris water maze and object recognition tests. RNA-seq of hippocampal tissue from APP/PS1 mice showed that FB had effects on multiple signaling pathways, specifically decreasing cell apoptotic signaling and increasing AKT and β-catenin signaling. Similarly, FB up-regulated both AKT and β-catenin signaling in PC-12 cells pre-treated with Aβ25–35, in which AKT positively regulated β-catenin signaling. Further study showed that AKT promoted β-catenin signaling via enhancing β-catenin (Ser552) phosphorylation. Moreover, AKT and β-catenin signaling inhibition both resulted in the attenuated survival of FB-treated cells, indicating the AKT/β-catenin signaling is a crucial mediator in FB promoted cell survival.Conclusions:FB exerted neuroprotective effects on hippocampal cells of APP/PS1 mice, as well as improved cell viability in an in vitro model of AD. The protective actions of FB occurred via the upregulation of AKT/β-catenin signaling.
Abstract:Objective:To investigate the antibacterial activity of patchouli alcohol (PA) against 127 bacteria strains, including the common bacteria and drug-resistant bacteria strains both in the in vitro and in vivo tests.Methods: For the in vitro trial, the antibacterial property of PA against 107 Gram-positive and 20 Gram-negative bacteria strains was screened by agar double dilution method. For the in vivo trial, specific pathogen free Kunming strain of both male and female white mice, were used to test the protective ability of PA after being injected with the median lethal dose of the tested strains.Results:PA possessed antibacterial activity against all the tested 127 strains. In the in vitro test, PA could inhibit both Gram-negative bacteria (25–768 μg/mL) and Gram-positive bacteria (1.5–200 μg/mL). Particularly, PA was active against some drug-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). PA also exhibited in vivo anti-MRSA activity in mice via intraperitoneal injection. PA could protect mice entirely infected with MRSA at 100 and 200 mg/kg, while 80% mice injected with MRSA could be protected at a low dose of 50 mg/kg.Conclusion:PA might be a potential antibacterial drug from natural sources and might be worthy to explore its mechanism and application in further study.
Abstract:Objective:To explore the clinical effect and adverse reactions of Strychnos nux-vomica in bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods: A total of 19 MM patients with BIPN were enrolled and Nux Vomica Capsule (NVC, 0.4 g, thrice daily) were orally administrated for 30 days. Comparative analysis on parameters between pre- and post-therapy, including peripheral neuropathy (PN) grade, neurotoxicity score, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome score, total neuropathy score (TNS), coagulation function, and serum nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were conducted. The adverse events were monitored.Results:In BIPN of MM patients who received NVC, PN grade was lowered, neurotoxicity score was obviously decreased (P≤0.01), and both CM syndrome score and TNS were remarkably decreased (P<0.01). After the therapy, activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged (P<0.01) and fibrinogen was declined (P<0.05), showing improvement in the hypercoagulable state of patients. No significant difference of NGF recovery degrees was detected between pre- and post-therapy (P>0.05). No evident adverse reactions were observed during the course of treatment.Conclusion:Strychnos nux-vomica L. has significantly effect with a good safety in treatment of BIPN in MM patients.
Abstract:Due to its own internal laws of development, Chinese medicine (CM) seems more inclined to empirical medicine in a relatively long historical period. It is considered to be lacking objective and unified clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), and the difficulties in diagnosis and therapeutic effect evaluation comes with it, have restricted its further inheritance, development and international communication. Over the years, our research group has been committed to improving the standardization theory and methodology of CM, also perfecting relative techniques for further application, which are all based on the stratified evidence scoring method. We have already applied this method to 45 issued guidelines, including 5 national guidelines, 3 industrial guidelines, and 37 formulation/revision social organization guidelines. The stratified evidence scoring method has been recognized and used widely. It helps scholars and applicators to study, formulate, publish and popularize the acupuncture therapy clinical practice guidelines better, thus further promotes the development of acupuncture therapy.
Keywords:Chinese medicine;stratified evidence scoring method;acupuncture clinical practice guideline;evidence;ancient literature;modern literature;medical experience of modern famous physicians
Abstract:Objective:To illustrate the academic influence of Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western medicine, and provide suggestions for further development of the Journal.Methods: Taking the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database as main source and the Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD) as reference, the researchers retrieved the related data of the Journal such as its publication quantity, citations, fund projects, authors, institutions and regions from 1981 to 2018, analyzed these data by means of bibliometrics and information visualization with EXCEL, SPSS, VISIO, MATLAB and other softwares.Results:Through the analysis of the main indicators, the relevant indicators of the Journal's academic influence revealed the developing trend of the Journal. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, endocrine, digestive system, pharmacological research of Chinese medicine and gynecology, as the hot topics in the discipline and academic, were clarified.Conclusions:All indicators show that the Journal is a high-quality journal reflecting the excellent achievements in the field of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in China. Through further analysis of relevant indicators, the authors put forward some specific suggestions on how to run the Journal well.
Keywords:Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine;academic influence;impact factor;highly cited author;highly cited literature
Abstract:Salidroside is a phenolic secondary metabolite present in plants of the genus Rhodiola, and studies investigating its extensive pharmacological activities and mechanisms have recently attracted increasing attention. This review summarizes the progress of recent research on the antiproliferative activities of salidroside and its effects on breast, ovarian, cervical, colorectal, lung, liver, gastric, bladder, renal, and skin cancer as well as gliomas and fibrosarcomas. Thus, it provides a reference for the further development and utilization of salidroside.