Regarding the Chan Buddhism lamp records from the Song Dynasty and starting from Jing De Zhuan Deng Lu,the category of“enlightened masters in Chan Buddhism”禪門達者was listed separately,meaning a separate category w...Regarding the Chan Buddhism lamp records from the Song Dynasty and starting from Jing De Zhuan Deng Lu,the category of“enlightened masters in Chan Buddhism”禪門達者was listed separately,meaning a separate category was established for eccentric monks who pretended to be crazy,had unknown inheritance and miraculous deeds,and were difficult to classify.The following lamp records named this category of eccentric monks as“sages”散聖,or“saints”應化聖賢,which constructed another historical genealogy for the special Chan Buddhism eccentric monks.Moreover,the early lamp records included mostly idiosyncratic mad monks from previous dynasties.Since the Southern Song Dynasty,Chan Buddhism historical materials included many sages from the current dynasty.Therefore,this study mainly examines how the genealogy of Chan Buddhism eccentric monks was constructed in Song Dynasty Chan Buddhism lamp records,including quotations,and organizes the images of eccentric monks in the Song Dynasty,as written in Chan Buddhism historical materials,in order that the meaning of existence of these enlightened masters,sages,saints,etc.,included in the genealogy of Song Dynasty eccentric monks in the history of Chan Buddhism can be reflected.展开更多
The outcomes of chemotherapy have been unsatisfactory with the palpable side effects. We hypothesized that natural products might help improve chemotherapy with few side effects. Recently, we came across the bioactive...The outcomes of chemotherapy have been unsatisfactory with the palpable side effects. We hypothesized that natural products might help improve chemotherapy with few side effects. Recently, we came across the bioactive extracts of monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenori) with anticancer activity. We then investigated if these extracts might have chemosensitizing effect to improve the efficacy of drugs clinically used today. Four different drugs, cisplatin (CPL), carboplatin (CBL), mitomycin C (MMC), and gemcitabine (GEM), were used in this study. Human bladder cancer T24 cells were treated with each drug itself or drug combined with either LLE or MOG (two types of monk fruit extracts). Cell viability was determined to assess anticancer effect and also explored the anticancer mechanism of such combinations, focusing on the status of glycolysis, cell cycle, and chromatin structure. Cell viability test showed that all drugs had anticancer activity, reducing cell viability, but only CPL showed the enhanced anticancer effect when combined with LLE (not with MOG). The rest of three drugs had no such effects with LLE or MOG. The CPL/LLE combination was found to disrupt glycolysis, by inhibiting hexokinase activity, resulted in the decreased ATP synthesis. This combination also blocked the cell cycle progression, due to a G1 cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the two epigenetic regulators, DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase, were inactivated with the combination, indicating chromatin modifications. Ultimately, these treated cells were found to undergo apoptosis. In conclusion, anticancer activity of CPL can be significantly enhanced with LLE. This chemosensitizing effect is attributed to the glycolysis inhibition, a G1 cell cycle arrest, and chromatin modifications, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Thus, certain natural products such as LLE could be used as an adjuvant agent in current chemotherapy, improving the drug efficacy but minimizing side effects.展开更多
Prostate and bladder cancers are the two prevalent urological cancers, and several therapeutic options are currently available but the outcomes have not been satisfactory. To find the better therapeutic option, we inv...Prostate and bladder cancers are the two prevalent urological cancers, and several therapeutic options are currently available but the outcomes have not been satisfactory. To find the better therapeutic option, we investigated if the bioactive extracts of monk fruit, mogrosides, with potential anticancer activity might have anticancer effect against prostate and bladder cancer cells. Four of commercial products made of mogrosides known as Lakanto<sup>ò</sup> (LKT) products, LK1, LK2, LLE, and MOG, were then tested. A dose-dependent study at given concentrations of four products showed that LK1 and LK2 had little effects, while LLE and MOG showed a significant cell viability reduction in both PC-3 and T24 cells. To explore the anticancer mechanism of such products, cell cycle analysis was first performed. Such analysis revealed that LLE and MOG, not LK1 and LK2, led to a G<sub>1</sub> cell cycle arrest. Potential induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was next examined because it is known to be linked to a cell cycle arrest. The three key regulators involved in ER stress were all up-regulated with LLE or MOG, indicating induction of ER stress. As ER stress is also known to induce apoptosis, this possibility was tested. The two apoptotic regulators were modulated in a specific manner with LLE or MOG, indicating induction of apoptosis. Lastly, to validate anticancer effect of LLE or MOG, anticancer effect of four chemotherapeutic drugs was also assessed in comparison with that of LLE/MOG. None of drugs had any effects but two products showed significant anticancer effect. In conclusion, two monk fruit products, LLE and MOG, demonstrated anticancer activity against PC-3 and T24 cells, significantly reducing cell viability and ultimately inducing apoptosis. Therefore, these two LKT products with few side effects may have clinical implications in the treatment of urological cancers.展开更多
The annual examination for the Geshi Lharamba Degree in Tibetan Buddhism was held on the 17th of March in 2007 at the Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa.Following the degrees granted in 2005 and 2006,another five monk scholar...The annual examination for the Geshi Lharamba Degree in Tibetan Buddhism was held on the 17th of March in 2007 at the Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa.Following the degrees granted in 2005 and 2006,another five monk scholars have passed the examination of sutra debating and are finally conferred with the degree of Geshi Lharamba.展开更多
The monk has auspicious patterns tattooed on his forearms, following a folk belief that the tattoo could chase evil spirits away, and protect him from contracting any incurable disease. The faith is shaky now in the s...The monk has auspicious patterns tattooed on his forearms, following a folk belief that the tattoo could chase evil spirits away, and protect him from contracting any incurable disease. The faith is shaky now in the shadow of HIV/AIDS looming around the Manchunman Temple of 1,400 years old, where the 24-year-old Du Su was ordained 14 years ago. "Your monkery doesn’t necessarily immunize you from it (AIDS). Really, nothing can keep that evil away unless you live a healthy life—no drug abuse, no unsafe sex," says the young monk shyly, glancing at his tattooed right wrist. He became aware of the dreadful disease when it claimed the life of the vounger brother of his master, a senior展开更多
Buddhist monk Lin Daoren(790-850,from Xi'an,Shaanxi Province)was a specialist of traumatology and orthopedics of the Tang Dynasty.Secrets of Treating Wounds and Rejoining Fractures(Li Shang Xu Duan Fang)written by...Buddhist monk Lin Daoren(790-850,from Xi'an,Shaanxi Province)was a specialist of traumatology and orthopedics of the Tang Dynasty.Secrets of Treating Wounds and Rejoining Fractures(Li Shang Xu Duan Fang)written by him is the first extant monography on traumatology and orthopedics in China.According to the preface of the book,he had profound medical knowledge especially about the theory,diagnosis and treatment for wounds and fractures.展开更多
文摘Regarding the Chan Buddhism lamp records from the Song Dynasty and starting from Jing De Zhuan Deng Lu,the category of“enlightened masters in Chan Buddhism”禪門達者was listed separately,meaning a separate category was established for eccentric monks who pretended to be crazy,had unknown inheritance and miraculous deeds,and were difficult to classify.The following lamp records named this category of eccentric monks as“sages”散聖,or“saints”應化聖賢,which constructed another historical genealogy for the special Chan Buddhism eccentric monks.Moreover,the early lamp records included mostly idiosyncratic mad monks from previous dynasties.Since the Southern Song Dynasty,Chan Buddhism historical materials included many sages from the current dynasty.Therefore,this study mainly examines how the genealogy of Chan Buddhism eccentric monks was constructed in Song Dynasty Chan Buddhism lamp records,including quotations,and organizes the images of eccentric monks in the Song Dynasty,as written in Chan Buddhism historical materials,in order that the meaning of existence of these enlightened masters,sages,saints,etc.,included in the genealogy of Song Dynasty eccentric monks in the history of Chan Buddhism can be reflected.
文摘The outcomes of chemotherapy have been unsatisfactory with the palpable side effects. We hypothesized that natural products might help improve chemotherapy with few side effects. Recently, we came across the bioactive extracts of monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenori) with anticancer activity. We then investigated if these extracts might have chemosensitizing effect to improve the efficacy of drugs clinically used today. Four different drugs, cisplatin (CPL), carboplatin (CBL), mitomycin C (MMC), and gemcitabine (GEM), were used in this study. Human bladder cancer T24 cells were treated with each drug itself or drug combined with either LLE or MOG (two types of monk fruit extracts). Cell viability was determined to assess anticancer effect and also explored the anticancer mechanism of such combinations, focusing on the status of glycolysis, cell cycle, and chromatin structure. Cell viability test showed that all drugs had anticancer activity, reducing cell viability, but only CPL showed the enhanced anticancer effect when combined with LLE (not with MOG). The rest of three drugs had no such effects with LLE or MOG. The CPL/LLE combination was found to disrupt glycolysis, by inhibiting hexokinase activity, resulted in the decreased ATP synthesis. This combination also blocked the cell cycle progression, due to a G1 cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the two epigenetic regulators, DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase, were inactivated with the combination, indicating chromatin modifications. Ultimately, these treated cells were found to undergo apoptosis. In conclusion, anticancer activity of CPL can be significantly enhanced with LLE. This chemosensitizing effect is attributed to the glycolysis inhibition, a G1 cell cycle arrest, and chromatin modifications, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Thus, certain natural products such as LLE could be used as an adjuvant agent in current chemotherapy, improving the drug efficacy but minimizing side effects.
文摘Prostate and bladder cancers are the two prevalent urological cancers, and several therapeutic options are currently available but the outcomes have not been satisfactory. To find the better therapeutic option, we investigated if the bioactive extracts of monk fruit, mogrosides, with potential anticancer activity might have anticancer effect against prostate and bladder cancer cells. Four of commercial products made of mogrosides known as Lakanto<sup>ò</sup> (LKT) products, LK1, LK2, LLE, and MOG, were then tested. A dose-dependent study at given concentrations of four products showed that LK1 and LK2 had little effects, while LLE and MOG showed a significant cell viability reduction in both PC-3 and T24 cells. To explore the anticancer mechanism of such products, cell cycle analysis was first performed. Such analysis revealed that LLE and MOG, not LK1 and LK2, led to a G<sub>1</sub> cell cycle arrest. Potential induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was next examined because it is known to be linked to a cell cycle arrest. The three key regulators involved in ER stress were all up-regulated with LLE or MOG, indicating induction of ER stress. As ER stress is also known to induce apoptosis, this possibility was tested. The two apoptotic regulators were modulated in a specific manner with LLE or MOG, indicating induction of apoptosis. Lastly, to validate anticancer effect of LLE or MOG, anticancer effect of four chemotherapeutic drugs was also assessed in comparison with that of LLE/MOG. None of drugs had any effects but two products showed significant anticancer effect. In conclusion, two monk fruit products, LLE and MOG, demonstrated anticancer activity against PC-3 and T24 cells, significantly reducing cell viability and ultimately inducing apoptosis. Therefore, these two LKT products with few side effects may have clinical implications in the treatment of urological cancers.
文摘The annual examination for the Geshi Lharamba Degree in Tibetan Buddhism was held on the 17th of March in 2007 at the Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa.Following the degrees granted in 2005 and 2006,another five monk scholars have passed the examination of sutra debating and are finally conferred with the degree of Geshi Lharamba.
文摘The monk has auspicious patterns tattooed on his forearms, following a folk belief that the tattoo could chase evil spirits away, and protect him from contracting any incurable disease. The faith is shaky now in the shadow of HIV/AIDS looming around the Manchunman Temple of 1,400 years old, where the 24-year-old Du Su was ordained 14 years ago. "Your monkery doesn’t necessarily immunize you from it (AIDS). Really, nothing can keep that evil away unless you live a healthy life—no drug abuse, no unsafe sex," says the young monk shyly, glancing at his tattooed right wrist. He became aware of the dreadful disease when it claimed the life of the vounger brother of his master, a senior
文摘Buddhist monk Lin Daoren(790-850,from Xi'an,Shaanxi Province)was a specialist of traumatology and orthopedics of the Tang Dynasty.Secrets of Treating Wounds and Rejoining Fractures(Li Shang Xu Duan Fang)written by him is the first extant monography on traumatology and orthopedics in China.According to the preface of the book,he had profound medical knowledge especially about the theory,diagnosis and treatment for wounds and fractures.
