Objective To observe the effect of cupping plus medication on the quality of life and estrogen level in perimenopausal syndrome patients. Method A total of 40 eligible perimenopausal syndrome patients were randomized into a cupping-medication group and a Chinese medication group, 20 cases in each group. The Chinese medication group was intervened by Er Xian decoction, the cupping-medication group was intervened by moving cupping on the back in addition to the treatment given to the Chinese medication group, once a week. Each item of the Menopause-specific Quality of Life (MENQOL), the levels of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteotropic hormone (LH) in serum were observed before and after the treatment, and the results were analyzed. Result After two treatment courses, the vasomotor symptoms, mental state, physiological state, and sexual life scores in the two groups were significantly improved compared to the scores before the treatment (P<0.05,P<0.01), and there was a significant difference between the two groups in comparing the MENQOL total score (P<0.01). The between-group comparison after the treatment showed that the cupping-medication group was significantly superior to the Chinese medication group (P<0.05). After two treatment courses, the serum E2 levels in the two groups were significantly higher than those before the treatment (P<0.01), and the increase in the cupping-medication group was more significant than that in the Chinese medication group (P<0.05). After the treatment, the serum FSH and LH levels in the two groups were lower compared to those before the treatment, but without statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion Moving cupping on the back plus Er Xian decoction can effectively improve the quality of life of perimenopausal syndrome patients and significantly increase the serum E2 level, superior to using Er Xian decoction alone.

Iron is one of the essential mineral micronutrients for plants. Low concentrations of effective iron in soil can easily increase risk of plant iron deficiency. Several members of bHLH transcription factors family participate in the response to iron deficiency and play an important role in iron regulation of plants. In order to better understand the mechanism of iron deficiency response, an overview of the structure, classification, function and regulatory mechanism of bHLH transcription factors was given in this review as well as signaling pathway triggered by iron deficiency. It will provide theoretical basis and design strategies for cultivating iron deficiency tolerant or iron-rich crops using bHLH transcription factors.
Arabidopsis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Iron ; deficiency ; Signal Transduction ; physiology