Rikkunshito increases peripheral incretin-hormone levels in humans and rats

BACKGROUND It was reported that rikkunshito(TJ-43)improved the cisplatin-induced decreases in the active form of ghrelin in plasma;however,other effects on gastrointestinal hormones have not been investigated.AIM To investigate the effects of TJ-43 on peripheral levels of incretin hormones,including gastric inhibitory polypeptide(GIP)and glucagon-like polypeptide-1(GLP-1),in humans and rats.METHODS Patients were divided into two groups,namely patients who received TJ-43 immediately following surgery[TJ-43(+)group]and those who received TJ-43 on postoperative day 21[TJ-43(-)group],and the plasma levels of active GIP and active GLP-1 were assessed.In animal experiments,rats were treated with TJ-43[rat(r)TJ-43(+)group]or without[rTJ-43(−)group]by gavage for 4 wk,and the plasma active GIP and active GLP-1 levels were measured.The expression of incretin hormones in the gastrointestinal tract and insulin in the pancreas were investigated by immunohistochemistry.Furthermore,the cyclic adenosine monophosphate activities were assessed in pancreatic tissues from rats treated with or without TJ-43 in vivo,and the blood glucose levels and plasma insulin levels were measured in rats treated with or without TJ-43 in oral glucose tolerance tests.RESULTS In humans,the active incretin hormone levels increased,and values were significantly greater in the TJ-43(+)group compared those in the TJ-43(-)group.In rats,the plasma active incretin levels significantly increased in the rTJ-43(+)group compared with those in the rTJ-43(-)group.GIP and GLP-1 expressions were enhanced by TJ-43 treatment.Moreover,plasma insulin levels increased and blood glucose levels were blunted in the rTJ-43(+)group.CONCLUSION The results show that TJ-43 may be beneficial for patients who undergo pancreatic surgery.

Joinery and Structure:Cultural and Technical Comparison between Traditional Wooden Framing Systems in East Asia and Western Europe

Traditional wooden joinery is the craft of connecting wood pieces for buildings or producing utensils by utilizing only the geometry of the components and material properties of the wood,without other materials such as glue or metal connectors.In its thousands of years of tradition,this construction technique has achieved high accomplishment in both East Asian and European architectural civilizations.Although sharing the same basic principles,joinery techniques vary between regions and cultures,rooted in the geographical environment,available wood species and their material properties,characteristics of craftsmanship,tools,and structural systems.Wood framing systems from China,Japan,and Western Europe are selected for comparison to assess the relationship between wood joinery and other aspects of building technology.The main conclusions include:in East Asia,the building tradition pays great attention to the design and execution of joinery(sunmao榫卯),making it responsible for multiple functions including architectural mechanics and the stability of the entire frame,which leads to a broader role meant by the term“joint”itself,while in Europe joinery is treated as the“node”or literally“joint”of the structure.Although in both East Asia and Europe wooden joinery serves as an aesthetic factor of the structure,its expression in East Asia is subtle,veiled,and restrained,while in Europe it is explicit and direct.The most important lesson we learn from the study of traditional joinery technology is that it should be seen in the context of the building process as a whole,taking into account geographical environment,material resources,craftsmanship,tools,construction methods,structural form,and the structural system.

Rikkunshito increases appetite by enhancing gastrointestinal and incretin hormone levels in patients who underwent pyloruspreserving pancreaticoduodenectomy: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Rikkunshito(TJ-43)relieves gastrointestinal disturbance by increases in the levels of acylated ghrelin.AIM To investigate the effects of TJ-43 in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery.METHODS Forty-one patients undergoing pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy(PpPD)were divided into two groups;patients took daily doses of TJ-43 after surgery or after postoperative day(POD)21.The plasma levels of acylated and desacylated ghrelin,cholecystokinin(CCK),peptide YY(PYY),gastric inhibitory peptide(GIP),and active glucagon-like peptide(GLP)-1 were evaluated.Oral calorie intake was assessed at POD 21 in both groups.The primary endpoint of this study was the total food intake after PpPD.RESULTS The levels of acylated ghrelin were significantly greater in patients treated with TJ-43 than those in patients without TJ-43 administration at POD 21,and oral intake was significantly increased in patients treated with TJ-43.The CCK and PYY levels were significantly greater in patients treated with TJ-43 than those in patients without TJ-43 treatment.Furthermore,the GIP and active GLP-1 levels increased and values at POD 21 were significantly greater in patients treated with TJ-43 than those in patients without TJ-43 administration.Insulin secretion tended to increase in patients treated with TJ-43.CONCLUSION TJ-43 may have advantages for oral food intake in patients in the early phase after pancreatic surgery.Further investigation is needed to clarify the effects of TJ-43 on incretin hormones.

Brief introduction on the characteristics of bloodletting therapy in Japan

The article approached the distinguishing features of bloodletting therapy in Japan from the angles of its evolution history and technical characteristics. Focus has been put on different targets and diverse amount of bleeding of 3 Japanese bloodletting therapies, namely bloodletting puncture on Jing （Well）-Points, bloodletting puncture on collaterals and bloodletting puncture on skin. Meanwhile, a general comparison was made between the bloodletting therapy in Japan and the pricking blood therapy in China, which is expected to assist the progress of bloodletting therapy.

Pictorial Versions of the Mulian Story in East Asia （Tenth--Seventeenth Centuries）： On the Connections of Religious Painting and Storytelling

In this paper, I analyze pictorial representations of the Buddhist story of Mulian rescuing his mother in China, Japan, and Korea in the pre-modern and early modern periods. I have collected several pictorial versions of the Mulian story in these countries, and comparison shows close proximity of several such works. All of them are related to the narrative texts that represent elaboration of the originally scriptural story （it originated in the apocryphal Buddhist scripture that circulated in China） in vernacular languages. Images of the Mulian story in the countries of East Asia had diverse nature： they could appear as separate scenes in devotional religious paintings, multi-scene handscrolls, and illustrations in the manuscripts and editions. I argue that the subject of Mulian rescuing his mother was of primary importance in the popularization of Buddhist ideas among different layers of society. The related images were used for both storytelling and reading practices and helped different audiences to comprehend the Mulian story.