Application Research of PETD Combined with MRI Nerve Root Water Imaging in the Minimally Invasive Treatment of LDH

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PETD combined with nerve root water imaging of MRI for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 62 patients with lumbar disc herniation from March 2019 to March 2021. The study included an experimental group of 30 patients and a control group of 32 patients. The experimental group underwent PETD combined with nerve root water imaging of MRI, while the control group received traditional PETD treatment. The visual analogue scoring method (VAS score), and JOA lumbar spine function score before and after surgery were compared between the two groups, and efficacy was assessed and compared using the MacNab score. Results: The mean operation time was significantly reduced in the experimental group (56.43 ±10.40 minutes) compared to the control group (65.69 ±14.12 minutes). The VAS score was compared between the two groups with preoperative (p = 0.624), one month after surgery (p = 0.325), three months after surgery (p = 0.676), one year after surgery (p = 0.341);The JOA score was compared between the two groups with preoperative (p = 0.961), one month after the surgery (p = 0.266), three months after surgery (p = 0.185), one year after surgery (p = 0.870), they were no significant statistical difference;The efficacy evaluation of the last follow-up Macnab showed that all the 30 patients in the experimental group were excellent, 31 of 32 patients in the control group were excellent, 1 case was good;There was no statistical difference in the comparison between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study concludes that the combined approach of PETD with nerve root water imaging of MRI is a safe, effective, and more efficient alternative to conventional PETD for treating lumbar disc herniation.

Machine learning identifies the risk of complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy is widely used,and perioperative complications have become a highly concerned issue.AIM To develop a predictive model for complications in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer to better predict the likelihood of complications in gastric cancer patients within 30 days after surgery,guide perioperative treatment strategies for gastric cancer patients,and prevent serious complications.METHODS In total,998 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 16 Chinese medical centers were included in the training group for the complication model,and 398 patients were included in the validation group.The clinicopathological data and 30-d postoperative complications of gastric cancer patients were collected.Three machine learning methods,lasso regression,random forest,and artificial neural networks,were used to construct postoperative complication prediction models for laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopic total gastrectomy,and their prediction efficacy and accuracy were evaluated.RESULTS The constructed complication model,particularly the random forest model,could better predict serious complications in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.It exhibited stable performance in external validation and is worthy of further promotion in more centers.CONCLUSION Using the risk factors identified in multicenter datasets,highly sensitive risk prediction models for complications following laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were established.We hope to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of preoperative and postoperative decision-making by using these models.

Clinical Application of Lobaplatin Combined with Docetaxel in Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Elderly Patients

To investigate the adverse reactions and efficacy of docetaxel combined with lobaplatin in adjuvant chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer in elderly patients.A total of 96 elderly triple-negative breast cancer patients admitted to our hospital from January 2008 to December 2011 were randomly divided into two groups.A group of 56 patients received docetaxel 75 mg·m^(-2),intravenous drip,d1;lobaplatin 30 mg·m^(-2),intravenous drip,d1;21 days repeat,a total of 6 cycles.A group of 40 patients received chemotherapy for 6 cycles with an anthracycline-containing(TEC)regimen.Comparison of adverse reactions and 5-year diseasefree survival in both groups.The incidence of thrombocytopenia was significantly higher in 56 patients with TL regimen than those with TCE-containing anthracyclines(P=0.005).But the incidence of cardiotoxicity was 32.5%in the TEC group.And the difference was statistically significant(P=0.008).The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 73.2%in the TL group and 67.5%in the TEC group.There was no statistical difference.Docetaxel combined with lobaplatin in the treatment of elderly triple-negative breast cancer has no significant difference in efficacy compared with traditional anthracycline-containing drugs,but it can avoid the cardiotoxicity caused by anthracyclines.It’s a new option for elderly TNBC adjuvant chemotherapy,suggesting to expand the sample content for further research.

Effects of San Qi on Gastric Secretion and Protective Factors of Gastric Mucosa in the Rat with Precancerous Lesion of Stomach

In the model rat with precancerous lesion of stomach induced by the combined method of insertion of a spring into the pylorus and high salt hot paste,effects of San Qi (三七 Radix Notoginseng) on gastric secretion and protective factors of stomach were investigated.The results indicated that gastric secretion,gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) and aminohexose content lowered significantly,and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly (P<0.01) in the model group as compared with the normal group;after treatment with San Qi Powder for 12 weeks,both gastric secresion and GMBF increased,and MDA content decreased as compared with the negative control group (P<0.01),with no significant increase of aminohexose content.It is suggested that San Qi (三七 Radix Notoginseng) may improve gastric secretion,and that increase of GMBF and antagonism against the lesion of oxygen free radicals are possibly one of its mechanisms.

Identification of potential anti-pneumonia pharmacological components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma after the treatment with Gan An He Ji oral liquid

Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,a traditional Chinese medicine also known as Gan Cao(GC),is frequently included in clinical prescriptions for the treatment of pneumonia.However,the pharmacological components of GC for pneumonia treatment are rarely explored.Gan An He Ji oral liquid(GAHJ)has a simple composition and contains GC liquid extracts and paregoric,and has been used clinically for many years.Therefore,GAHJ was selected as a compound preparation for the study of GC in the treatment of pneumonia.We conducted an in vivo study of patients with pneumonia undergoing GAHJ treatments for three days.Using the intelligent mass spectrometry data-processing technologies to analyze the metabolism of GC in vivo,we obtained 168 related components of GC in humans,consisting of 24 prototype components and 144 metabolites,with 135 compounds screened in plasma and 82 in urine.After analysis of the metabolic transformation relationship and relative exposure,six components(liquiritin,liquiritigenin,glycyrrhizin,glycyrrhetinic acid,daidzin,and formononetin)were selected as potential effective components.The experimental results based on two animal pneumonia models and the inflammatory cell model showed that the mixture of these six components was effective in the treatment of pneumonia and lung injury and could effectively downregulate the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS).Interestingly,glycyrrhetinic acid exhibited the strongest inhibition on iNOS and the highest exposure in vivo.The following molecular dynamic simulations indicated a strong bond between glycyrrhetinic acid and iNOS.Thus,the current study provides a pharmaceutical basis for GC and reveals the possible corresponding mechanisms in pneumonia treatment.

Effect of light-emitting diodes with different color rendering indexes on the ocular tissues of rat

AIM:To compare the damage of light-emitting diodes(LEDs)with different color rendering indexes(CRIs)to the ocular surface and retina of rats.METHODS:Totally 20 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into four groups:the first group was normal control group without any intervention,other three groups were exposed by LEDs with low(LED-L),medium(LED-M),and high(LED-H)CRI respectively for 12 h a day,continuously for 4 wk.The changes in tear secretion(Schirmer I test,SIt),tear film break-up time(BUT),and corneal fluorescein sodium staining(CFS)scores were compared at different times(1 d before experiment,2 and 4 wk after the experiment).The histopathological changes of rat lacrimal gland and retina were observed at 4 wk,and the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in lacrimal gland were detected by immunofluorescence method.RESULTS:With the increase of light exposed time,the CFS value of each light exposed group continued to increase,and the BUT and SIt scores continued to decrease,which were different from the control group,and the differences between the light exposed groups were statistically significant.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)results showed that the lacrimal glands of each exposed group were seen varying degrees of acinar atrophy,vacuoledistribution,increasing of eosinophil granules,etc.;the retina showed obvious reduction of photoreceptor cell layer and changes in retinal thickness;LED-L group has the most significant change in all tests.Immunofluorescence suggested that the positive expressions of TNF-αand IL-6 in the lacrimal glands of each exposed group were higher than those of the control group.CONCLUSION:LED exposure for 4 wk can cause the pathological changes of lacrimal gland and retina of rats,and increase the expression of TNF-αand IL-6 in lacrimal gland,the degree of damage is negatively correlated with the CRI.

Ultrasound features of primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the palatine tonsil:A case report

BACKGROUND Lymphomas are the second most common malignancy of the head and neck.In this region,the vast majority of extranodal lymphomas are located in the palatine tonsil,accounting for about 51%.Tonsillar lymphomas are aggressive tumors with intermediate-or high-grade histology.We here report a case of primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the palatine tonsil and analyze its ultrasound features.CASE SUMMARY A 40-year-old man presented with right palatine tonsil swelling for 2 mo after a cold,accompanied by dysphagia,snoring,and suffocation.He had no sore throat,fever,or history of upper respiratory tract infection or tuberculosis.The patient was generally in good health and denied other diseases.He was diagnosed with acute tonsillitis initially and treated with antibiotics for 7 d.However,there was no improvement with the treatment.Tonsil biopsy and ultrasound-guided biopsy of the biggest lymph node of the right neck showed the typical pathology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.CONCLUSION Primary lymphoma of the tonsils is rare,and its diagnosis is challenging.Ul-trasound is a useful modality in diagnosing oropharyngeal diseases,and can clearly show the features of this tumor,but the final diagnosis should be estab-lished by histology.

Video-assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves the quality of chest compressions during simulated cardiac arrests: A systemic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND It remains unclear whether video aids can improve the quality of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR).AIM To summarize simulation-based studies aiming at improving bystander CPR associated with the quality of chest compression and time-related quality parameters.METHODS The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.All relevant studies were searched through PubMed,EMBASE,Medline and Cochrane Library databases.The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane collaboration tool.RESULTS A total of 259 studies were eligible for inclusion,and 6 randomised controlled trial studies were ultimately included.The results of meta-analysis indicated that video-assisted CPR(V-CPR)was significantly associated with the improved mean chest compression rate[OR=0.66(0.49-0.82),P<0.001],and the proportion of chest compression with correct hand positioning[OR=1.63(0.71-2.55),P<0.001].However,the difference in mean chest compression depth was not statistically significant[OR=0.18(-0.07-0.42),P=0.15],and V-CPR was not associated with the time to first chest compression compared to telecommunicator CPR[OR=-0.12(-0.88-0.63),P=0.75].CONCLUSION Video real-time guidance by the dispatcher can improve the quality of bystander CPR to a certain extent.However,the quality is still not ideal,and there is a lack of guidance caused by poor video signal or inadequate interaction.

Potential active compounds and mechanisms of Shen-Qi-Yi-Chang granule for the treatment of colorectal cancer:an analysis of network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:In recent years,herbal formulations have assumed an influential part in preventing and treating tumors.Shenqi Yichang granules(SQYCG)have proven effective in the adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),but their mechanism has not been elucidated.This study aimed to explore the potential active compounds and mechanisms of SQYCG in the treatment of CRC using network pharmacology and molecular docking.Methods:The active compounds and targets of SQYCG and the CRC genes were found using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology,DrugBank,and DisGeNET databases.The intersected targets of disease genes and drug targets were depicted using a Venn diagram.The protein-protein interaction(PPI)network of these targets was obtained by String platform and visualized using Cytoscape.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were carried using the DAVID database to obtain the core molecular mechanism of SQYCG in CRC treatment.Molecular docking techniques were used to validate the results.Results:A total of 63 compounds and 245 targets were obtained from the herbal prescription after the screening,of which 122 targets crossed with CRC genes.PPI showed that the core regulatory targets include MAPK1,TNF,TP53,JUN,RELA,MAPK14,and MAPK 8.The GO analysis indicated regulation of drug response,apoptotic process,response to hypoxia,angiogenesis,and response to lipopolysaccharide.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis mainly involves TNF,T cell receptor,Toll-like receptor,PI3K-Akt,and MAPK signal pathway.Conclusion:Through network pharmacology,we havedemonstrated that SQYCG has multiple targets,components,and pathways in treating CRC,with anti inflammation and inhibition of cell proliferation being critical components of its mechanism.

Research Progress on Molecular Mechanism of Moxibustion in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing technology, moxibustion plays a unique role in improving the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The research on the mechanism of moxibustion intervention in AS mainly focuses on anti-inflammatory effects, immune regulation, bone metabolism regulation, intestinal flora regulation, and so on. Molecular medicine is of great significance to further clarify the mechanism of moxibustion intervention in AS. However, there are still some problems in the research on the molecular mechanism of moxibustion intervention in AS: the existing biomedical research methods only explore from a specific field and lack the exploration of moxibustion-targeted molecules based on biomedical network. In the future, the molecular network effect of moxibustion on AS can be discussed comprehensively and systematically with the help of omics technology and the construction of biological information interaction network between omics. The effect of moxibustion on upstream osteogenic transcription factors and related signaling pathways such as WNT, β-catenin, and BMP/Smads is not yet clear. Future research can focus on the relevant signal targets of bone reconstruction and clarify the mechanism of moxibustion against the new bone formation. In addition, there is a lack of research on the molecular mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of AS from the perspective of metabolites. It is necessary to further explore the mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of AS with the help of metabonomics technology.

Diagnosis based on electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopyguided biopsied peripheral lung lesions in a 10-year-old girl:A case report

BACKGROUND Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy(ENB)is an emerging diagnostic tool that enables practitioners to biopsy peripheral lung tissues that were previously only accessible under computed tomography(CT)guidance.However,few studies have investigated ENB use in children.Here,we report a case of a 10-yearold girl with peripheral lung lesions who complained of a 7-d persistent fever.She was diagnosed with Streptococcus parasanguinis infection based on findings obtained using ENB-guided transbronchial lung biopsy(TBLB).CASE SUMMARY A 10-year-old girl presented with constitutional symptoms of cough and fever of 7 days’duration.Chest CT scans detected peripheral lung lesions and no endobronchial lesions.TBLB performed under the guidance of an ENB Lungpro navigation system was safe,well-tolerated,and effective for biopsying peripheral lung lesions.Examination of biopsied samples indicated the patient had a pulmonary Streptococcus parasanguinis infection,which was treated with antibiotics instead of more invasive treatment interventions.The patient’s symptoms resolved after she received a 3-wk course of oral linezolid.Comparisons of pretreatment and post-treatment CT scans revealed absorption of some lung lesions within 7 mo of hospital discharge.CONCLUSION ENB-guided TBLB biopsying of peripheral lung lesions in this child is a safe,well-tolerated,and effective alternative to conventional interventions.

B-cell lymphoma-2 phosphorylation at Ser70 site-related autophagy mediates puerarin-inhibited the apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells during osteoblastogenesis

OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis regulated by puerarin during osteoblastogenesis.METHODS:In this study,the effects of puerarin on the autophagic activity and apoptosis level of osteoblast precursors(MC3T3-E1 cells)was observed.Subsequently,the roles of puerarin on B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)phosphorylation at different sites in osteoblast precursors were observed.The effect of puerarin on the interaction between Bcl-2 and autophagy regulatory molecule or pro-apoptotic molecule was also investigated using Co-immunoprecipitation assays.In addition,the effect of puerarin on mitochondrial membrane potential of osteoblast precursors was also identified by mitochondrial membrane potential fluorescence probe assays.RESULTS:Our results showed that puerarin can promote the autophagic activity and apoptosis level of MC3T3-E1cells.In addition,puerarin promoted Bcl-2phosphorylation at Ser70 site,and the dissociation of Bcl-2-Beclin1 complex.Moreover,puerarin could enhance the binding of Bcl-2-Bcl-2-Associated X(Bax)complex in MC3T3-E1 cells.Furthermore,puerarin increased the mitochondrial membrane potential of MC3T3-E1 cells.CONCLUSIONS:Therefore,puerarin promotes Beclin1into autophagy flux through Bcl-2 phosphorylation at Ser70,thereby enhancing autophagy of osteoblast precursors,which mediates its anti-apoptotic role during osteoblastogenesis.Furthermore,the dissociation of Bcl-2-Beclin1 complex is conducive to the binding of Bcl-2-Bax complex,which resists the apoptosis of osteoblast precursors via the increased mitochondrial membrane potential.

Rupi Sanjie Xiaotong Plaster in Treating Breast Hyperplasia of Liver Stagnation and Phlegm Coagulation Pattern

Objective:To observe the clinical efcacy and safety of external application of Rupi Sanjie Xiaotong Plaster(乳癖散结消痛膏,RPSJXTP)in treating breast hyperplasia of liver stagnation and phlegm coagulation pattern.Methods:Totally 72 female patients with breast hyperplasia of liver stagnation and phlegm coagulation pattern admitted to the First Hospital Affiliated to Henan University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled by ran-domized,single-blind,placebo-controlled research method,and were divided into the treatment group(36 ca-ses)and the control group(36 cases)according to computer random number method.The treatment group were given RPSJXTP,while the control group were gi ven placebo plaster.The course of treatment in both groups was 8 weeks.The breast pain score,breast color ultrasound score,lump score,depression score,and Chinese medicine syndrome score were compared between the two groups at different times.The levels of estra-diol(E_(2)),progesterone(P)and pituitary prolactin(PRL)were detected and the adverse reactions of two groups were observed during the treatment of both groups.Results:Before treatment,there was no significant difference in total breast pain score,breast color ultrasound score,lump score,depression score and levels of serum P,E_(2)and PRL between the two groups(P>0.05);compared with previous treatment,the total breast pain score,breast color ultrasound score,lump score,and depression score significantly decreased in the treat-ment group(P<0.05),and the total breast pain score and depression score of the control group significantly declined(P<0.05);compared with control group,the total breast pain score,breast color ultrasound score,lump score,and depression score significantly decreased after treatment in the treatment group(P<0.05).The improvement rate of Chinese medicine syndromes and the clinical efective rate in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).There were no serious systemie adverse reactions during the treatment in both groups.Local pruritus occurred in 3 cases in the treatment group and 1 case in the control group.Conclusion:RPSJXTP is effective in treating breast hyperplasia of liver stagnation and phlegm coagula-tion pattern.It can effectively relieve the breast pain which will not recur after stopping of drug use,which can reduce the color ultrasound score,lump score,and depression score of the patients and improve Chinese medi-cine syndromes without serious adverse reactions.

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels for bone tissue engineering

The treatment of bone defects remains a great clinical challenge.With the development of science and technology,bone tissue engineering technology has emerged,which can mimic the structure and function of natural bone tissues and create solutions for repairing or replacing human bone tissues based on biocompatible materials,cells and bioactive factors.Hydrogels are favoured by researchers due to their high water content,degradability and good biocompatibility.This paper describes the hydrogel sources,roles and applications.According to the different types of stimuli,hydrogels are classified into three categories:physical,chemical and biochemical responses,and the applications of different stimuli-responsive hydrogels in bone tissue engineering are summarised.Stimuli-responsive hydrogels can form a semi-solid with good adhesion based on different physiological environments,which can carry a variety of bone-enhancing bioactive factors,drugs and cells,and have a long retention time in the local area,which is conducive to a long period of controlled release;they can also form a scaffold for constructing tissue repair,which can jointly promote the repair of bone injury sites.However,it also has many defects,such as poor biocompatibility,immunogenicity and mechanical stability.Further studies are still needed in the future to facilitate its clinical translation.

Effects of electroacupuncture at 2 and 100 Hz on rat type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia-related protein expression in the dorsal root ganglion

Objective： To investigate the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture （EA） at 2 and 100 Hz on type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain （DNP） and on the expressions of the P2X3 receptor and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） in the dorsal root ganglion （DRG）. Methods： Rat type 2 DNP was induced by a high calorie and high sugar diet fed for 7 weeks, plus a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin （STZ） after 5 weeks. EA at 2 and 100 Hz was carried out once every day after 7 weeks for 7 consecutive days. Body weight, serum fasting insulin （FINS）, fasting blood glucose （FBG）, insulin sensitivity index （ISI）, and paw withdrawal latency （PWL） were measured. The expressions of L4-L6 DRG P2X3 receptors and CGRP were assessed by immunofluorescence. Results： Type 2 DNP was successfully induced as shown by the increased body weight, FINS, and FBG, as well as the reduced ISI and PWL. Expressions of P2X3 receptors and CGRP in L4-L6 DRGs increased. EA at both 2 and 100 Hz relieved type 2 DNP, but the analgesic effect of EA was stronger at 2 Hz. P2X3 receptor expression decreased in L4-L6 DRGs following EA at 2 Hz and in L5 and L6 DRGs following EA at 100 Hz. EA at both 2 and 100 Hz down-regulated CGRP overexpression in L4-L6 DRGs. Conclusions： These findings indicate that EA at 2 Hz is a good option for the management of type 2 DNP. The EA effect may be related to its down-regulation of the overexpressions of the DRG P2X3 receptors and CGRP in this condition.

Effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion on pain and quality of life in women with endometriosis: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM) on pain and quality of life in women with endometriosis.METHODS: Thirty-six patients will be randomly assigned to a treatment group or a wait-list control group. The treatment group will receive 12 sessions of HPM in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region for 3 months. Wait-list participants will not receive any specific treatments until the trial is completed.RESULTS: The primary outcome measure is pain intensity assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale at baseline, months 1, 2, and 3 in the treatment period,and months 4, 5, and 6 in the follow-up period. Secondary outcome measures include quality of life assessed by the Short Form 36 Health Survey, change in CA125, change in cyst diameter(assessed by ultrasound examination), and rescue medication dosage.CONCLUSION: This study will provide evidence to confirm if HPM may be used as a therapeutic option for treating endometriosis.

Comparison of the neurovascular microstructure in local skin tissues at “PC3”“PC7” and “PC9” regions in the rat

Objective:The aim of this study was to compare the microstructure of blood vessels and nerve fibers between different acupoints in the rat skin from the perspective of histology.Methods:The skin tissue at"Quze"(曲泽PC3)""Daling(大陵PC7)"and"Zhongchong(中冲PC9)"regions was taken from the rat forelimb along the pericardium meridian,and cut sagittally with a freezing microtome.After that,the skin sections were stained by fluorescent histochemistry and immunohistochemistry with phalloidin and calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)to reveal the microstructure of blood vessels and nerve fibers respectively,and then examined under a laser scanning confocal microscope.Results:The microstructure of blood vessels and nerve fibers was clearly labeled with phalloidin and CGRP,respectively.The blood vessels and nerve fibers were observed in the dermis of"PC3""PC7"and"PC9"regions,where the bundle of nerve fibers distribute in parallel to the blood vessels,and sent out thin branches to surround the wall of the blood vessels.In contrast,the density of blood vessels and nerve fibers in"PC3""PC7"and"PC9"were presented orderly in an increased tendency.Conclusion:The results of present study demonstrate the differences of the neurovascular microstructure among"PC3""PC7"and"PC9"in the rat,providing a histological view to insight into the specificity of different acupoints.

The Influence of Age on Blood Flow and Temperature of Acupuncture Points: A Study based on Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Infrared Thermography

Background:To date,there has been a great lack of investigation on the influence of age on blood flow and temperature of acupoints in specific regions.Objective:This study aimed to determine the association between different age categories and acupoint blood flow/temperature on the forearm.Methods:Acupoint blood flow and temperature were measured in healthy adults of different age categories using laser doppler flowmetry(LDF)and infrared thermography(IRT),respectively.A total of 60 eligible healthy volunteers were divided into the young group,mid age group and old age group.All groups received LDF and IRT examination.Shenmen(HT7),Shaohai(HT3),Taiyuan(LU9)and Chize(LU5)of the Heart and Lung meridians on the forearm were selected as 4 test acupoints.Results:Regarding blood flow of the 4 test acupoints,the PU of Taiyuan(LU9)in the old age group was sig-nificantly different compared with that of the young age group(P<0.05)and the mid age group(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in PU of the other acupoints between 3 groups(all P>0.05).Simi-larly,regarding acupoint temperature of the 4 test sites,the temperature of Shaohai(HT3)in the old age group was significantly different compared with that of the mid age group(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in the temperature of the other 3 acupoints between 3 age groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion:Age category tends to have notable influence on the blood flow and temperature in specific acupoints in the forearm.Therefore,particular concerns should be taken into consideration regarding the effect of age differences for future studies in this field.Nevertheless,further studies with a large sample size and more test acupoints are needed to further verify current findings.

Analysis on herbal medicines utilized for treatment of COVID-19

As coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic poses a substantial global public health threat,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)was used in 91.50%of the COVID-19 cases in China,showing encouraging results in improving symptom management and reducing the deterioration,mortality,and recurrence rates.A total of 166 modified herbal formulae consisting of 179 single herbal medicines were collected for treating COVID-19 in China.Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome,Scutellariae Radix,and Armeniacae Semen Amarum are the most frequently utilized in clinics,most of which are antipyretic(47,26.26%),expectorant and cough-suppressing(22,12.29%),and dampness-resolving(21,11.73%)from traditional descriptions.A total of 1212 chemical components containingβ-sitosterol,stigmasterol,and quercetin were primarily selected.Additionally,using complex system entropy and unsupervised hierarchical clustering,8 core herbal combinations and 10 new formulae emerged as potentially useful candidates for COVID-19.Finally,following scaffold analysis,self-organizing mapping(SOM)and cluster analysis,12 clusters of molecules yielded 8 pharmacophore families of structures that were further screened as pharmacological targets in human metabolic pathways for inhibiting coronavirus.This article aims to make more easily accessible and share historical herbal knowledge used in contemporary treatments in a modern manner to assist researchers contain the global spread of COVID-19.