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.

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.

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.

Boosting of the enhanced permeability and retention effect with nanocapsules improves the therapeutic effects of cetuximab

Objective:The introduction of therapeutic antibodies(tAbs)into clinical practice has revolutionized tumor treatment strategies,but their tumor therapy efficiency is still far below expectations because of the rapid degradation and limited tumor accumulation of tAbs.Methods:We developed a nanocapsule-based delivery system to induce the self-augmentation of the enhanced permeability and retention(EPR)effect.This system constantly penetrated across the blood-tumor barrier into the tumor while avoiding the attack of tAbs by the immune system.The biodistribution and therapeutic effect were tested with single dose administration of nanocapsule-tAbs in vivo.Results:The accumulation of Nano(cetuximab)within subcutaneous PC9 tumors was gradually enhanced over 6 days after single dose administration,which was contrary to the biodistribution of native cetuximab.Nano(cetuximab)accumulated in tumor tissues via the EPR effect and released cetuximab.The released cetuximab acted on vascular endothelial cells to destroy the blood-tumor barrier and induce self-augmentation of the EPR effect,which in turn contributed to further tumor accumulation of long-circulating Nano(cetuximab).Compared with single dose administration of native cetuximab,Nano(cetuximab)showed an effective tumor suppressive effect for 3 weeks.Conclusions:The nanocapsule-based delivery system efficiently delivered tAbs to tum or tissues and released them to boost the EPR effect,which facilitated further tumor accumulation of the tAbs.This novel self-augmentation of the EPR effect facilitated by the biological characteristics of tAbs and nanotechnology contributed to the improvement of the therapeutic effect of tAbs,and stimulated new ideas for antibody-based tumor therapy.

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.

Therapeutic Actions of the Chinese Herbal Formulae with Cold and Heat Properties and Their Effects on Ultrastructures of Synoviocytes in Rats of the Collagen-Induced Arthritis

The therapeutic actions of Qing Luo Yin (QLY清络饮) with heat property and Wen Luo Yin (WLY温络饮) with cold property on pain, swelling of the ankle, arthritis index and ultrastructures of synoviocytes were compared in rats of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), with tripterygium glycosidorum (TG) used as control. The results indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce pain, swelling of the ankle and the arthritis index of CIA, and QLY had better effects in reducing the swelling of the ankle and controlling the secondary pathological lesions as compared with WLY. Investigation on the ultrastructures of synoviocytes indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce the number of Golgi apparatus, rough surface endoplasmic reticulum, dense bodies, matrix filaments and vacuoles so as to suppress the excessive secretion of synoviocytes in rats of CIA.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTIN 96 CASES OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

96 cases of trigeminal neuralgia were treated by acupuncture. As a result, 82 cases were cured accounting for 85. 1 %, 12 cases improved accounting for 12. 5 % and 2 cases were ineffective accounting for 2. 08%. The total effective rate was 97. 9%. The method of treatment is effective for trigeminal neuralgia. It is convenient, takes analgesic effect guickly and does not have any side-effect.

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.

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.

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

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 flap operation on treating severe periodontitis and influence of it on inflammatory factors

Objective:To investigate therapeutic effects of Widman flap operation on treating severe chronic periodontitis and influence of it on inflammatory factors.Methods:A total of 129 cases of patients with severe chronic periodontitis treated in the dental department of our hospital from Nov2014 to Mar2016 were selected as investigate subjects. They were randomly divided to be 63 cases of control group and 66 cases of observation group. For control group, basic treatment was provided. For observation group, improved Widman flap operation was provided. Compared with the effects between two groups of patients, and analyzed the variation of each inflammatory factor before and after treatment.Results:Before treatment, no significant difference showed on PLI, SBI, CAL, PD indexes between two groups of patients. 6 weeks after treatment, PLI, SBI, PD in observation group were significantly decreased comparing with prior treatment, and PLI, SBI were significantly lower than control group at the same phase. 12 weeks after treatment, PLI in control group were significantly decreased comparing with prior treatment;PLI, SBI, CAL, PD in observation group were significantly decreased comparing with prior treatment, and were significantly lower than control group at the same phase. Before treatment, no significant difference showed on IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP levels between two groups of patients. After treatment, 4 inflammatory factors in control group showed no significant variation comparing with the same group before treatment, 4 inflammatory factor levels in observation group were significantly lower than which before treatment, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α were significantly lower than control group at the same phase. Conclusion:Improving extent of modified Widman flap operation to periodontal indexes and inflammatory factors in patients with severe periodontitis were better than the basic treatment for control group. It could be a choice for treatment of severe periodontitis.

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.

MDCT angiography to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PTVE for esophageal varices

Abstract AIM:To evaluate the role of multi-detector row computed tomography(MDCT) angiography for assessing the therapeutic effects of percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization(PTVE) for esophageal varices(EVs).METHODS:The subjects of this prospective study were 156 patients who underwent PTVE with cyanoacrylate for EVs.Patients were divided into three groups according to the filling range of cyanoacrylate in EVs and their feeding vessels:(1) group A,complete obliteration,with at least 3 cm of the lower EVs and peri-/EVs,as well as the adventitial plexus of the gastric cardia and fundus filled with cyanoacrylate;(2) group B,partial obliteration of varices surrounding the gastric cardia and fundus,with their feeding vessels being obliterated with cyanoacrylate,but without reaching lower EVs;and(3) group C,trunk obliteration,with the main branch of the left gastric vein being filled with cyanoacrylate,but without reaching varices surrounding the gastric cardia or fundus.We performed chart reviews and a prospective follow-up using MDCT images,angiography,and gastrointestinal endoscopy.RESULTS:The median follow-up period was 34 mo.The rate of eradication of varices for all patients was 56.4%(88/156) and the rate of relapse was 31.3%(41/131).The rates of variceal eradication at 1,3,and 5 years after PTVE were 90.2%,84.1% and 81.7%,respectively,for the complete group;61.2%,49% and 42.9%,respectively,for the partial group;with no varices disappearing in the trunk group.The relapsefree rates at 1,3 and 5 years after PTVE were 91.5%,86.6% and 81.7%,respectively,for the complete group;71.1%,55.6% and 51.1%,respectively,for the partial group;and all EVs recurred in the trunk group.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed P values of 0.000 and 0.000,and odds ratios of 3.824 and 3.603 for the rates of variceal eradication and relapse free rates,respectively.Cyanoacrylate in EVs disappeared with time,but those in the EVs and other feeding vessels remained permanently in the vessels without a decrease with time,which is important for the continued obliteration of the feeding vessels and prevention of EV relapse.CONCLUSION:MDCT provides excellent visualization of cyanoacrylate obliteration in EV and their feeding veins after PTVE.It confirms that PTVE is effective for treating EVs.

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.

Medium-term and Long-term Momentum and Contrarian Effects on China during 1994-2004

We examine momentum and contrarian effects in China＇s stock market during 1994-2004 and find that no medium momentum effects exist. Meanwhile, contrarian strategy works effectively over the horizon of 18-36 months. 1-month gap for avoiding bid-ask bounce and lead-lag effect make no considerable change to our empirical results. Transaction costs seem to have no significant impact on contrarian strategies＇ profit.