Verification of the Physiological Therapeutic Effects of Harvesting Activities in a Patient with Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease with Long-Term Agricultural Experience

Background: Harvesting activities have proven effective in reducing stress in patients with dementia. At a psychiatric hospital, occupational therapists (OT) made patients with dementia perform vegetable harvesting activities as a part of their treatment. The patients became calmer and began to smile not only after but also before and during harvesting activity. Therefore, this study aimed to measure autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses over time in a female patient in her 80s with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who had experience in farming when performing harvesting activities. Additionally, this study aimed to consider factors associated with changes in ANS responses over time and to verify the physiological therapeutic effects of harvesting activities. Methods: An OT with more than 10 years of experience and a good relationship with the patient conducted one-on-one sessions with the patient. Harvesting activity was performed in a courtyard with trees. The patient harvested lettuce (three lettuce plants) grown in a planter while sitting on a chair. Additionally, the planter was set up on a desk. ANS responses were measured over time from before to after the activity for different events at six time periods. Changes in the patient’s ANS responses were assessed during each period. Results: With the involvement of environmental factors and OT during harvesting activities, parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity significantly increased. This may lead to improved mental stability. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that implementing harvesting activities may have a positive effect on the PNS in patients with AD with long-term agricultural experience. However, further studies with a larger sample size and multidimensional evaluations are needed.

A Medicinal and Edible Plant Crocus sativus L.and Its Therapeutic Effects on Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

This paper introduces the biological characteristics,medicinal value,chemical component,and pharmacological effects of Crocus sativus L.,and explores its therapeutic effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as angina pectoris and coronary heart disease.

Bioactive compounds of sea cucumbers and their therapeutic effects

Abstract Sea cucumbers belong to the Class Holothuroidea of marine invertebrates. They are commercially valuable and prized as a food and folk medicine in Asia. Nutritionally, sea cucumbers have an impressive profile of valuable nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids. A number of unique biological and pharmacological activities/properties, including anticancer, anticoagulant/antithrombotic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antihypertension and radioprotective, have been ascribed to various compounds isolated from sea cucumbers. The therapeutic properties and medicinal benefits of sea cucumbers can be linked to the presence of a wide array ofbioactives, especially triterpene glycosides, acid mucopolysaccharide, sphingoid bases, glycolipids, fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, polysaccharides, phospholipids, cerebrosides, phosphatidylcholines, and other extracts and hydrolysates. This review highlights the valuable bioactive components as well as the multiple therapeutic properties of sea cucumbers with a view to exploring their potential uses as functional foods and a natural source of new multifunctional drugs.

Multidisciplinary strategies to enhance therapeutic effects of flavonoids from Epimedii Folium:Integration of herbal medicine,enzyme engineering,and nanotechnology

Flavonoids such as baohuoside I and icaritin are the major active compounds in Epimedii Folium(EF)and possess excellent therapeutic effects on various diseases.Encouragingly,in 2022,icaritin soft capsules were approved to reach the market for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)by National Medical Products Administration(NMPA)of China.Moreover,recent studies demonstrate that icaritin can serve as immune-modulating agent to exert anti-tumor effects.Nonetheless,both production efficiency and clinical applications of epimedium flavonoids have been restrained because of their low content,poor bioavailability,and unfavorable in vivo delivery efficiency.Recently,various strategies,including enzyme engineering and nanotechnology,have been developed to increase productivity and activity,improve delivery efficiency,and enhance therapeutic effects of epimedium flavonoids.In this review,the structure-activity relationship of epimedium flavonoids is described.Then,enzymatic engineering strategies for increasing the productivity of highly active baohuoside I and icaritin are discussed.The nanomedicines for overcoming in vivo delivery barriers and improving therapeutic effects of various diseases are summarized.Finally,the challenges and an outlook on clinical translation of epimedium flavonoids are proposed.

Observation on the Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for 60 Cases of Simple Obesity

Simple obesity refers to a disease characterized by body overweight due to excessive calorie intake and over accumulation of adipose tissue in the body. With the improvement of life conditions, obesity has become a factor that impairs the health of the people. From 1997 to 1998, the author had treated 60 cases of simple obesity with acupuncture and obtained satisfactory results. The results of treatment are reported as follows.

Potential therapeutic effects of thymoquinone on treatment of amphetamine abuse

Dear Editor,The prevalence of drug abuse has diverted from traditional drugs such as opioid and cannabis to modern,synthetic and psychoactive drugs such as amphetamine groups,the amphetamine(AT)and methamphetamine[1].Amphetamine is used medically to treat several disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,narcolepsy,depression and minor obesity[2].However,AT has also gained

Therapeutic Effects of Tongxinluo Capsule(通心络胶囊) on Patients with Acute Small Oerebral Infarction and Its Influence on SPECT Brain Periusion Image

Objective: To investigate the influence of Tongxinluo capsule (TXL,通心络胶囊) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with 99mTc-ECD single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain perfusion imaging, and to observe the therapeutic effects of TXL on acute small cerebral infarction (ASCI). Methods: Thirty-four patients with ASCI were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n = 17) was treated with the conventional treatment, i.e. 1. Og of Citicoline added into 300 ml normal saline for intravenous dripping daily for 2 weeks and 0. 8 g of Piracetam taken three times a day orally for 4 weeks, and the treatment group (n = 17) was treated additionally with 4 TXL capsules three times a day for 4 weeks besides the conventional treatment. The 99mTc-ECD SPECT brain perfusion imaging was performed before and after treatment to observe the change of rCBF, and the neurological deficit was evaluated by Edinburgh-Scandinavia stroke scale (SSS) scores and Barthel index (Bl) at the same time. Results: After treatment, the rCBF in the treatment group was significantly improved (P<0. 01), while that in the control group remained unchanged, with the comparison of the rCBF in the two groups after treatment showing significant difference (P<0.01). In addition, the SSS score was significantly lower and Bl significantly higher in the treatment group than those in the control group respectively after treatment. Conclusion: TXL could effectively improve rCBF and lessen the neurological deficit symptoms in patients with ASCI.

Therapeutic effects of the Galium verum

Medicinal plants apply become a popular cure between patients with various diseases world.Aim of this review study of investigating of therapeutic effects of Galium verum.In the current review study,PubMed,Scopus,and Google Scholar were searched to provide information have shown the therapeutic effects of G.verum.This plant,is famous,as yellow Bedstraw.G.verum plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family.Analysis of G.verum plant represents that the plant included,chemical therapeutic compounds.Many compounds have been isolated from the Galium species plant so far.G.verum.Plants have been traditionally applied for the cure of many maladies.The former pharmacological researches represented that the G.verum plant possessed antioxidant effect,effects on the central nervous system,antimicrobial effects,endocrine effect,antihaemolytic activity,cytotoxic effects,etc.

Evaluation of therapeutic effects of radiosurgery using ^(99)Tc^m-MIBI brain SPECT in patients with brain tumor

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of radiosurgery on brain tumor using 99Tcm-MIBI brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Methods: Fifteen normal volunteers and 49 patients with brain tumor underwent 99Tcm-MIBI brain SPECT, and the tumor to non-tumor ratio (T/N) was calculated and compared before and after radiosurgery. The patients were regrouped according to different schedules for postoperative reexamination, and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT evaluated against that of conventional CT and magnetic resonance imaging. Results: After radiosurgery, the lesions were reduced or even disappeared in 22 cases, and tumor remnants or recurrence were found in 27 cases. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 'Tc''-MIBI brain SPECT were 85. 2%, 68. 2% and 77. 6% , respectively. The sensitivity of postoperative 99Tcm-MIBI brain SPECT at 5. 8 months was 92% , significantly higher than that at 3. 1 months (89% , u = 2. 2545, P<0. 05) , and its accuracy was also higher than those at 3. 1 months (a = 2. 5927, P<0. 05) and at 9. 4 months (u = 2. 1760, P<0. 05). The preoperative T/N ratio averaged 9. 5?. 6, significantly lowered to 2. 9?. 1 postoperatively (t = 4. 4373, P<0. 001). T/N ratio of recurrence group was remarkably higher than those of tumor remnants group (t = 2. 1496, P<0. 05), edema group (t=9. 2186, P<0. 001) and cicatrization group (t = 6. 3906, P<0. 001). Conclusion; 99Tcm-MIBI brain SPECT is more accurate than CT in distinguishing tumor residuals from benign lesions such as edema and cicatrization. At about 6 months after radiosurgery, 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT can obtain optimal diagnostic effects.

Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of New Fungicides on Rice Blast

[Objectives]The paper was to identify the characteristics and the potency of new fungicides to rice blast disease,and study their preventive and therapeutic effects on the disease.[Methods]Six new and conventional fungicides with different mechanisms of action were selected to compare their preventive and therapeutic effects on rice seedling blast in greenhouse.[Results]The agents which showed to be highly efficacious in blast prevention(greater than 90%)were 25%pyraclostrobin EC,20%fenoxanil SC,75%tricyclazole WP and 50%prochloraz-manganese WP sprayed at the dosages of 112.5-150,180-360,270-450 and 450-600 g/ha,respectively.The therapeutic effect of new fungicides 25%pyraclostrobin EC and 50%prochloraz-manganese WP on rice blast were above 90%when the dosages were 90-150 and 360-600 g/ha,respectively.The therapeutic effect of the conventional fungicide 40%isoprothiolane EC on rice blast was 69.04%when the dosage was 480 g/ha,while those of other fungicides were worse.[Conclusions]Both 25%pyraclostrobin EC and 50%prochloraz-manganese WP have good preventive and therapeutic effects on rice blast,which will provide a reference for the use of these fungicides in the field.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF PHOTOSENSITIZERS IN COMBINATION WITH LASER AND ACNU ON AN IN VIVO OR IN VITROMODEL OF CEREBRAL GLIOMA

This study investigated the independent and combined effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT), laser photodynamic hyperthermia (LPDH) and 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) methy1-3-(2-chloroethyl) -3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) in a rat 9L induced gliosarcoma model. The mortality rate (MR60), mean survival time (MST60), and increasing life span (ILS60) within 60 days were determined to evaluate the therapeutic effect in vivo. The MR60 and MST60 of the gliosarcoma tumor control were 100% and 16.2 days. The ILS60s of PDT and ACNU were 72.84% and 49.81%, respectively, but MR60 of both were 86.72%. All combined treatments produced significantly prolonged survival (P<0.01). The combined effects of LPDH and ACNU, MR60, MST60, and ILS60 were 60%, 43 days, and 165.4%, respectively. The ILS60 of PDT+ACNU (96.48%) and PDT+LPDH (98.58%) also indicated a synergistic or additive effect. The survival fraction and synthetic rate of DNA, RNA, and protein of glioma 9L tumor cells in vitro after single treatment of PDT or combined with antitumor drugs and laser showed that the cytotoxicity of PDT to 9L tumor cell was obvious by using Rh123, HPD, and Pf-Ⅱ as photosensitizers. Combined treatments of PDT, antitumor drugs, and laser suppressed the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein more significantly than single treatment with PDT.

Observation of therapeutic effect of lamp irradiation combined with purple gromwell oil gauze on alleviating intestinal colic in patients

BACKGROUND Intestinal colic is a common complication in patients who have undergone radical surgery for colorectal cancer.Traditional Chinese medicine has advantages,including safety and stability,for the treatment of intestinal colic.Lamp irra-diation for abdominal ironing has been applied in the treatment of many gas-trointestinal diseases.Purple gromwell oil has the effects of clearing heat,cooling blood,reducing swelling,and relieving pain.RESULTS The general effective rate in the observation group was 95.00%,which was significantly higher than that in the control group(86.67%,P<0.05).Before treatment,there was no significant difference in the duration of symptoms between the groups(P>0.05).After 1,2,3,and 4 d of treatment,the duration of symptoms in both groups were decreased,and the duration in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(96.54±9.57 vs 110.45±11.23,87.26±12.07 vs 104.44±11.68,80.45±16.21 vs 99.44±14.95,73.18±15.58 vs 92.17±14.20;P<0.05).After 1,3,5,and 7 d of treatment,the NRS scores in both groups were decreased,and the NRS scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(3.56±0.41 vs 4.04±0.58,3.07±0.67 vs 3.74±1.02,2.52±0.76 vs 3.43±0.85,2.03±0.58 vs 3.03±0.82;P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the rate of adverse reaction occurrence between the groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The use of lamp irradiation combined with purple gromwell oil gauze in patients with intestinal colic after radical surgery for colorectal cancer can reduce symptom duration,alleviate intestinal colic,and improve treatment efficacy,and this approach is safe.It is worth promoting the use of this treatment in clinical practice.

Utilizing engineered extracellular vesicles as delivery vectors in the management of ischemic stroke:a special outlook on mitochondrial delivery

Ischemic stroke is a secondary cause of mortality worldwide,imposing considerable medical and economic burdens on society.Extracellular vesicles,serving as natural nanocarriers for drug delivery,exhibit excellent biocompatibility in vivo and have significant advantages in the management of ischemic stroke.However,the uncertain distribution and rapid clearance of extracellular vesicles impede their delivery efficiency.By utilizing membrane decoration or by encapsulating therapeutic cargo within extracellular vesicles,their delivery efficacy may be greatly improved.Furthermore,previous studies have indicated that microvesicles,a subset of large-sized extracellular vesicles,can transport mitochondria to neighboring cells,thereby aiding in the restoration of mitochondrial function post-ischemic stroke.Small extracellular vesicles have also demonstrated the capability to transfer mitochondrial components,such as proteins or deoxyribonucleic acid,or their sub-components,for extracellular vesicle-based ischemic stroke therapy.In this review,we undertake a comparative analysis of the isolation techniques employed for extracellular vesicles and present an overview of the current dominant extracellular vesicle modification methodologies.Given the complex facets of treating ischemic stroke,we also delineate various extracellular vesicle modification approaches which are suited to different facets of the treatment process.Moreover,given the burgeoning interest in mitochondrial delivery,we delved into the feasibility and existing research findings on the transportation of mitochondrial fractions or intact mitochondria through small extracellular vesicles and microvesicles to offer a fresh perspective on ischemic stroke therapy.

Evaluating therapeutic outcome in epileptic patients using the changes of interval and duration

BACKGROUND： Seizure frequency is in abnormal distribution, and it is not enough to express the trend of concentration using means, and its median loses a lot of information, thus it lacks of a standard for evaluating the therapeutic effects based on seizure frequency. OBJECTIVE： To establish a method for evaluating the therapeutic effects on anti-epileptic drugs using changes of interval and duration of seizure. DESIGN： A prospective cohort study. SETTING： Zhumadian Psychiatric Hospital. PARTICIPANTS： Outpatients and inpatients suffering from epilepsy attending firstly visited Zhumadian Psychiatric Hospital from June 2001 to June 2002 were enrolled. They were diagnosed as epileptic according to the International Classification of Epileptic Seizure by International League Against Epilepsy （1981） based on the clinical history, physical examination, and investigations. The interval time was no more than 6 months. Informed consent was obtained from all the subjects, and the study was approved by the hospital ethical committee. METHODS： ① For the first visit and each follow-up, the following data were recorded, including general demographic information, seizure type, the date and time of ictus, the duration of ictus, and inducement or situation related, according to which the following indexes could be calculated, including seizure styles, interval, duration, cluster frequency and cluster duration. The information from the first review was noted as annals A. The second interview was taken at the end of the evaluating period; the information from the second review was noted as annals B. The third interview was taken within two weeks after the second one; the information from the third review was noted as annals C. The annals B or the annals C were respectively compared with the annals A in the light of the same types or the same styles of the same patient. Summation of the scores of interval change and duration change of the same type or the same style and 5 of basic score was the score of a corresponding seizure type or a corresponding style of one patient. In order to test its reliability and validity, the score of change of frequency or duration plus 5 scores respectively was the score of frequency or duration. ② Reliability and validity were tested by calculating corresponding correlation coefficient with SPSS 11.0. ROC curve was used for developing diagnostic criterion of predicting therapeutic effects with SPSS 11.0. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： ① Reliability and validity; ② Diagnostic criterion for predicting therapeutic effects one year later. RESULTS： Totally 28 patients were involved in the final analysis of results. ① Reliability and validity were high：rinter-rater=0.98, rtest-retest=0.99, rconstruct validity=0.83. ② A total score 〉 6 was the optimal diagnostic criteria for predicting therapeutic effects one year later, in other words, a patient who scored more than 6 at the evaluating period may be seizure-free one year later. CONCLUSION： It is a potential tool for evaluating epileptic therapeutic outcome, and it can be diffusely used in interrelated fields after being further validated.

Kaempferol and its derivatives:Biological activities and therapeutic potential

Kaempferol,a natural plant-origin flavonoid,exhibits therapeutic anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,anticancer,antidiabetic,and neuroprotective properties.Kaempferol acts within several distinct mechanisms like apoptotic induction in cancer cells,enzymatic inhibition,signalling pathway inhibition,and downregulation in cell viability during the G2/M phase of cell division.This review summarizes the therapeutic effects of kaempferol against several health ailments.The recent progress on kaempferol obtained from fruits and vegetables as an antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anticancer,antidiabetic,and neuroprotective agent and its mechanisms of action are also discussed.In addition,kaempferol has been reported to be present in wastes and byproducts from post-fruit and vegetable processing.Thus,a paradigm shift towards valorizing fruits and vegetable industrial wastes/byproducts to obtain bioactive kaempferol can support the circular economy pillar for generating wealth from waste and for finding a sustainable alternative source.

Effects of Pak Ning Powder and Oral Liquid Treating Chicken Infectious Laryngotracheitis

[ Objective] To investigate the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicine compound preparation ＂Pak Ning＂ on chicken infectious la- ryngotracheitis. E Methodl ＂Pak Ning＂ with different dosage forms and dosage time were used to carry out clinical observation of artificial infectious and natural infectious ILT of chickens. [ Result] The therapeutic efficacy of ＂Pak Ning＂ oral liquid water was better than powder with high cure rate, the difference was significant （P〈0.05）. compared with Ribavirin, the difference was significant （P 〈0.01 ）, and the preventive effects of feeding in advance were very well. I Conctusionl ＂Pak Ning＂ plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of ILl- with strong infectiosity and high mortality.

Rho/ROCK pathway and neural regeneration: a potential therapeutic target for central nervous system and optic nerve damage

Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) is a serine/threonine kinase and one of the major downstream effectors of the small GTPase RhoA. The Rho/ROCK pathway is closely related to the pathogenesis of several central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and involved in many aspects of neuronal functions including neurite outgrowth and retraction. In the adult CNS, the damaged neuron regeneration is very difficult due to the presence of myelin-associated axon growth inhibitors such as Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (Omgp), etc. The effects of these axon growth inhibitors are reversed by blocking the Rho/ROCK pathway 47 vitro, and the inhibition of Rho/ROCK pathway can promote axon regeneration and functional recovery in the injured CNS in viva In addition, the therapeutic effects of the Rho/ROCK inhibitors have also been demonstrated in some animal models and the Rho/ROCK pathway becomes an attractive target for the development of drugs for treating CNS disorders. In this review, we summarized on the effect of the Rho and the downstream factor ROCK in neural regeneration, and the potential therapeutic effect of Rho/ROCK inhibitors in the survival and axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cell was also discussed.

Therapeutic effect of curcumin on experimental colitis mediated by inhibiting CD8^+ CD11c^+ cells

AIM To verify whether curcumin (Cur) can treat inflammatory bowel disease by regulating CD8(+)CD11c(+) cells. METHODS We evaluated the suppressive effect of Cur on CD8(+)CD11c(+) cells in spleen and Peyer's patches (PPs) in colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Mice with colitis were treated by 200 mg/kg Cur for 7 d. On day 8, the therapeutic effect of Cur was evaluated by visual assessment and histological examination, while co-stimulatory molecules of CD8(+)CD11c(+) cells in the spleen and PPs were measured by flow cytometry. The levels of interleukin (IL)-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 in spleen and colonic mucosa were determined by ELISA. RESULTS The disease activity index, colon weight, weight index of colon and histological score of experimental colitis were obviously decreased after Cur treatment, while the body weight and colon length recovered. After treatment with Cur, CD8(+)CD11c(+) cells were decreased in the spleen and PPs, and the expression of major histocompatibility complex., CD205, CD40, CD40L and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was inhibited. IL-10, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta 1 levels were increased compared with those in mice with untreated colitis. CONCLUSION Cur can effectively treat experimental colitis, which is realized by inhibiting CD8(+)CD11c(+) cells.

OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF 123 CASES OF SCAPULOHUMERAL PERIARTHRITIS

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Qinglong Bai Wei Zhen Fa (Green Dragon Shaking Tail Needling) in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Methods: A total of 231 cases of scapulohumeral periarthritis patients were randomized into treatment group (n=123) and control group (n=108). In treatment and control groups, Jianyu (LI 15), Jianqian and Jianhou were used as the main acupoints and stimulated with Green Dragon Shaking Tail Needling and conventional needling separately. Additionally, in control group, Waiguan (TE 5) and Binao (LI 14) were supplemented. The treatment was given once daily, with 10 days being a therapeutic course, 2 courses altogether. Results: After the first course of treatment, in treatment and control groups, the cured, the markedly improved, the effective and ineffective cases were 49 and 12, 61 and 33, 11 and 40, 2 and 23, with the total effective rates being 98.4% and 78.7% respectively. There was a marked difference between two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0.05). Following 2 courses of treatment, the cured, the markedly improved, the effective and ineffective cases were 66 and 21, 47 and 41, 10 and 39, 0 and 7, with the total effective rates being 100% and 93.5% separately. No significant difference between two groups in the total effective rates, but the cure rate of treatment group was strikingly higher than that of control group. Conclusion: Green Dragon Shaking Tail Needling is significantly superior to that of conventional needling in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis.