Clinical research on Tai Chi:a review of health benefits

Tai Chi,a traditional Chinese martial art and health exercise,has gained significant global attention and recognition.The clinical benefits of Tai Chi have been studied extensively in recent decades.We conducted a systematic search of PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE databases,and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure,identifying and reviewing 241 clinical trials on the benefits of Tai Chi from their inception to June 1,2023.Most of these studies have consistently demonstrated the positive impact of Tai Chi on balance,cognitive function,mood regulation,sleep quality,pain relief,cardiorespiratory function,and overall health.In the future,the key to fostering the ongoing development of this field lies in comprehensive research on standardized study designs and reporting,the scope of Tai Chi applications,and the core factors influencing its efficacy.

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury and pretreatment with Lycium barbarum glycopeptide

AIM:To investigate the antioxidant protective effect of Lycium barbarum glycopeptide(LbGP)pretreatment on retinal ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury(RIRI)in rats.METHODS:RIRI was induced in Sprague Dawley rats through anterior chamber perfusion,and pretreatment involved administering LbGP via gavage for 7d.After 24h of reperfusion,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),and creatinine(CREA)levels,retinal structure,expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8,superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,and malondialdehyde(MDA)in the retina were measured.RESULTS:The pretreatment with LbGP effectively protected the retina and retinal tissue from edema and inflammation in the ganglion cell layer(GCL)and nerve fiber layer(NFL)of rats subjected to RIRI,as shown by light microscopy and optical coherence tomography(OCT).Serum AST was higher in the model group than in the blank group(P=0.042),but no difference was found in ALT,AST,and CREA across the LbGP groups and model group.Caspase-3 expression was higher in the model group than in the blank group(P=0.006),but no difference was found among LbGP groups and the model group.Caspase-8 expression was higher in the model group than in the blank group(P=0.000),and lower in the 400 mg/kg LbGP group than in the model group(P=0.016).SOD activity was lower in the model group than in the blank group(P=0.001),and the decrease was slower in the 400 mg/kg LbGP group than in the model group(P=0.003).MDA content was higher in the model group than in the blank group(P=0.001),and lower in the 400 mg/kg LbGP group than in the model group(P=0.016).The pretreatment with LbGP did not result in any observed liver or renal toxicity in the model.CONCLUSION:LbGP pretreatment exhibits dosedependent anti-inflammatory,and antioxidative effects by reducing Caspase-8 expression,preventing declines of SOD activity,and decreasing MDA content in the RIRI rat model.

Rediscovering Mozi ：An Overview of Mozi Editions in the Ming Dynasty

The Dao zang 道藏 edition of Mozi in the Ming Dynasty was a significant step towards its rediscovery.Various editions were published later,showing different interpretations of the Mozi's content.Some editions tried to discover Mozi's moral principles and his views on politics,economy and society.But other editions mostly aimed at making money by providing study materials for people.These early Mozi edtions testify to Mozi's early rediscovery,not only as a master,but also as an economic commodity.

Historical Background of Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》 Compendium of Materia Medica)

The compilation of Compendium of Materia Medica by IA Shizhen is the product of both his great dream of writing and years of diligent work and it was also all round related to the historical times when he lived.At that time,the appreciation from the Emperor,competitive publication of medical works by the state kings and the rapid developments in medicine in the Ming dynasty all contributed to the establishment of a solid foundation for the success of Compendium of Materia Medica.This paper explored the contributing factors of the great work from a perspective of the historical environment.

Possible mechanisms underlying treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine: active components, potential targets and synthetic pathways of Bulao Elixir

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease(AD) with Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), by examining the active components, potential targets and synthetic pathways of Bulao Elixir(BLE).METHODS: The Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion(ADME)/Toxicology(T) calculation was used to screen the active components of Bulao Elixir. Based on the TCM Systems Pharmacology Analysis Platform(TCMSP database) and a text mining tool(GoPubMed database), we predicted and screened the active components of Bulao Elixir and its therapeutic targets for AD. Using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery(DAVID), we obtained the targets for AD. Cytoscape software was used to establish a network map of the active component-target and target-pathway of Bulao Elixir. Gene function, related biological processes and signaling pathways were analyzed using the DAVID database.RESULTS: Twelve active components were selected from 196 components of Bulao Elixir. Among 2209 targets, 102 effective targets were selected, and 30 important targets were identified via matching with the disease targets. After further analysis, 14 core targets were identified. Enrichment analysis revealed that most of these important targets were involved in multiple biological processes, including apoptosis, inflammatory reactions, and cell regulation cycles. The synthetic pathways for AD treatment were identified after analyzing and confirming the relevant pathways, providing potentially useful information for diagnosis and treatment methods for AD.CONCLUSION: The current study elucidated the potential treatment mechanisms of Bulao Elixir in AD using network pharmacology, providing a foundation for further clarification of its treatment targets.

Effect and Safety of CX-DZ-ⅡIntelligent Electroacupuncture Therapeutic Instrument for Neck Pain Caused by Cervical Spondylos:Study Protocol for A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis(CS) is a chronic pain condition, with an increasingly high incidence in the general population. Electroacupuncture is a common analgesic modality that has been widely applied in neck pain treatment. However, current electroacupuncture instruments used in the clinic have low intelligence levels and obscure parameter standards. We here designed this study for assessing the effect and safety of a new, intelligent electroacupuncture instrument, the CX-DZ-Ⅱ, in treating neck pain. Methods: The present study is a prospective, two-center, randomized, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial for CX-DZ-Ⅱ on treating neck pain caused by CS. Totally 160 eligible patients will be included in this trial and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group in a 1:1 ratio. A semi-standard acupoint selection strategy will be employed. In the experimental group, selected acupoints will be stimulated by CX-DZ-Ⅱ. Electroacupuncture treatment will be accomplished by a pre-existing electroacupuncture instrument in the control group. The duration of treatment will be 2 weeks. The primary outcome is the change of Visual Analog Scale(VAS) score after one course of treatment. The secondary outcomes include the VAS scores after each treatment, the responder rate, drug-usage rate of non-steroidal antipyretic analgesics, the rate of adverse events occurrence, and the performance of instrument. Discussion: This study will evaluate the effect and safety of the CX-DZ-Ⅱ intelligent electroacupuncture therapeutic instrument in comparison with a pre-existing non-intelligent instrument in the treatment of neck pain caused by CS. The results will hopefully demonstrate a more optimal electroacupuncture instrument for the treatment of neck pain.(Trial registration No. gov NCT03005301).

Exploring the Non-objectified Character of Daoin the Laozi： A Modern Articulation

This article focuses on the interpretation of heng dao ＇IN~_ （sometimes translated as ＂the constant dao＂） and its fundamental character in the Laozi. It argues against the prevailing interpretation of dao as an unchanging metaphysical substance or reality, and maintains that the fundamental feature of heng dao is both dynamic and eternal. Heng dao is beyond language because of its dynamic character, but the Laozi nevertheless strives to express it in three aspects： 1） its flexibility and adaptability as represented in the metaphor of water; 2） its movement of reversal and return; 3） and in its existential significance as a guide for life. Heng dao can be called the non-objectified dao, which produces law, principle, rule, method, and so on. Looked at in this way, the dynamic character of heng dao can be called non-objective.

A"4D"systemic view on meridian essence:Substantial,functional,chronological and cultural attributes

The term Jingluo,translated as meridian or channel,is a core component of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and has played a fundamental role in guiding the clinical practice of acupuncture for thousands of years.However,the essence of the meridian remains elusive and is a source of both confusion and debate for researchers.In this study,a“4 D”systemic view on the essence of the meridian,namely substantial,functional,chronological,and cultural dimensions,was proposed based on a review of the ancient medical classics,recent research developments,and results from clinical practice.Previous studies have primarily focused on the substantial dimension of the meridian system,with scant interpretation about its functional domain.Neither systemic data nor evaluations have been adequately documented.Additionally,a limited but increasing number of studies have focused on the chronological and cultural dimensions.More investigations that embody the holistic concept of TCM and integrate the systemic modes and advanced techniques with dominant diseases of TCM need to be performed to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the essence of meridians.The goal of this study is to yield useful information in understanding the essence of meridians and provide a reference and perspective for further research.