In Western countries, more and more people select acupuncture and moxibustion as medical ways, and more and more acupuncture and moxibustion research organizations are set up. Britain TCM foundation is such one center for acupuncture research. This center is aimed at promoting acupuncture research. Since 1991, a series of clinical trials and several big research tasks have been completed. The clinical designs in the center are very careful and scientific, being worth to be learnt. In the paper, clinical studies in the center are introduced for increasing levels of acupuncture and moxibustion research at home.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Biomedical Research ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; United Kingdom

OBJECTIVETo investigate the early clinical effects and radiological outcome of dynamic cervical implant (DCI) internal fixation in treating cervical spondylosis, and evaluate its safety and efficiency.

METHODSFrom June 2009 to December 2011, 19 patients with cervical spondylosis correspond to the indication of DCI internal fixation in the study, including 5 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 14 cases of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. There were 8 males and 11 females, aged from 35 to 54 years with a mean of 43.2 years. Pathological segments included C3,4 in 1 case, C4,5 in 6, C5,6 in 6, C6,7 in 4, C3,4 and C5,6, C6,7 in 2. All patients were treated with anterior discectomy and decompression and DCI internal fixation, meanwhile, 2 cases of them with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion plate fixation. Clinical evaluation included Modified Japanese orthopedics association (mJOA), neck disability index (NDI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score and patient satisfaction index (PSI) at pre-operation and final follow-up. Radiographic evaluation included flexion/extension lateral view at operative level and adjacent segment. The adjacent level degeneration was analyzed according to Miyazaki classification on MRI images.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 42 months with an average of 19.8 months. Preoperative mJOA score was 13.6±1.1 and at final follow-up was 16.3±1.2 with improvement rate of 85.0%. Preoperative VAS,NDI was 6.6± 1.4, 17.1±7.4 and at final follow-up was 1.4±0.8, 6.1±3.9, respectively; there was statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). Preoperative ROM at operation level was (7.6±1.9)° and final follow-up was (7.8+2.1)°; preoperative ROM at C2-C7 was (38.6±7.2)° and final follow-up was (39.9±6.4)°; there was no statistical significance in all above-mentioned results between preoperative and final follow-up (P>0.05). Preoperative DHI at operation level was (6.3±1.1) mm and final follow-up was (7.1±0.8) mm, there was statistical significance in DHI between preoperative and final follow-up (P<0.05). No heterotopic ossification was found. All patients followed up MRI, degeneration of 3 segments aggravated 1 degree in 38 adjacent segments, without clinical symptom.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of cervical spondylosis with dynamic cervical implant can got satisfactory outcome in early follow-up. Activity of operative segment obtain reservation in some degree. The incidence of adjacent segment degeneration is lower and no adjacent segment disease occur. Nevertheless a longer follow-up time should be needed to assess the long term functionality of the DCI and the influence on adjacent levels.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spondylosis ; physiopathology ; surgery

Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Elemene combined with radiotherapy for intervention in brain metastasis from pulmonary neoplasms. Methods Articles of clinical randomized controlled trials about Elemene combined with radiotherapy for intervention in brain metastasis from pulmonary neoplasms from the establishment of the databases to October of 2016 from CNKI, CBM, Chongqing Weipu, Wanfang database, Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase were retrieved by computers. Bias risk assessment tools in Cochrane systematic evaluation handbook 5.1.0 was used to conduct quality evaluation for included articles. RevMan5.3 software was used to carry out Meta-analysis. Results Totally 12 articles and 839 patients were included. Results of Meta-analysis showed that Elemene combined with radiotherapy had more obvious curative effect on narrowing the neoplasm compared with pure radiotherapy [OR=2.73, 95%CI (1.97, 3.77), P<0.000 01], and improve patients' life quality at the same time [OR=3.85, 95%CI (2.23, 6.65), P<0.000 01], and relieve adverse reactions [OR=4.16, 95%CI (2.40, 7.22), P<0.000 01]. Conclusion Elemene combined with radiotherapy for intervention in brain metastasis from pulmonary neoplasms shows confirmed efficacy, and is relatively safe. But whether the program should be widely used in clinic, more large sample, multi-center, and high-quality clinical randomized controlled trials are still needed.

AIMTo exploit the characteristic digital criterion for the potential information characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine chromatographic fingerprints, the 37 parameters such as F and I were firstly proposed to disclose the potential information characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine fingerprints.

METHODSThe HPLC fingerprints of the Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) , Ginkgo leaf extract and diphyridamole injection (GLEDI), Ixeris sonchifolia Hance (ISH) and Ixeris sonchifolia Hance injection (ISHI) were compared each other.

RESULTSAs far as the peak signal intensity, the uniform of peak signal, resolution and the fingerprint information were concerned. The GBE fingerprint was better than the GLEDI's, and the ISH fingerprint was also better than the ISHI's, then GBE fingerprint was close to the ISHI' s.

CONCLUSIONThe 37 parameters such as F and I can be used to objectively, authentically and thoroughly display the potential information characteristics of the traditional Chinese medicine chromatographic fingerprints.

Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

AIMTo study the biochemistry of lanthanides, the cooperative action of inorganic and organic anti-tumor drugs.

METHODSA series of rare earth complexes were synthesized with Ln(NO3) 6H2O, Phen and 5-Fu. Their anti-tumor activity was measured by the improved MTT, SRB methods.

RESULTSThe formula of complex Ln[(Phen)2(5-Fu)3(NO3)](NO3)2(Ln = Y, La, Ce, Sm, Gd, Dy, Er; Phen = 1, 10-phenanthroline; 5-Fu = fluorouracil) was characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, IR, TGA, and 13C NMR spectra. The preliminary biological activity studies indicated that Lanthanide complex has strong anti-tumor activity in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThe complex might have anti-tumor cooperation action.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cerium ; chemistry ; Drug Synergism ; Dysprosium ; chemistry ; Erbium ; chemistry ; Fluorouracil ; chemistry ; Gadolinium ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lanthanoid Series Elements ; chemistry ; Lanthanum ; chemistry ; Phenanthrolines ; chemistry ; Samarium ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Yttrium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness and safety of various types of acupuncture in treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

METHODSSearch Chinese and English databases of the Cochrane Library, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI and reference lists of correlative academic conference proceedings.

RESULTSEight controlled studies involving 807 women (range, 61-225) meeting the enrolled criteria. Among them 7 studies showed that therapeutic effects of acupuncture were superior to other methods (i. e. Western medicine or Chinese herbs).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can effectively treat PMS. However, more randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the effectiveness and adverse-effect of acupuncture for treatment of PMS.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Databases, Factual ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; therapy ; Research Design ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo apply pulse magnetic acupuncture at scalp acupoints to treat acute cerebral infarction and to explore the mechanism.

METHODSA pulse magnetic acupuncture group, a routine acupuncture group and a static magnetic acupuncture group were set up, 30 cases in each group. Their clinical therapeutic effects were observed.

RESULTSThe cured-markedly effective rate was 80.0% in the pulse magnetic acupuncture group and 70.3% in the routine acupuncture group with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05), which were significant difference with 36.6% in the static magnetic acupuncture group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONPulse magnetic acupuncture and routine acupuncture at scalp acupoints have same therapeutic effect on acute cerebral infarction, which is superior to that of static magnetic acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Humans ; Scalp ; Stroke ; therapy

The founding of clinical syndrome differentiation treatment system for acu-moxibustion is an important issue for the development of clinical acupuncture practices, and it has attracted extensive attention in the domestic and overseas circles in acu-moxibustion field. At present, the syndrome differentiation treatment system of internal medicine of TCM is literally carried out in clinical acu-moxibustion practices, syndrome differentiation according to zang-fu is used instead of syndrome differentiation according to meridian, hence, it is difficult to reflect the features and advantages of acupuncture and moxibustion. Although the goals of acu-moxibustion and Chinese herbal medicine treatments are consistent, but the methods and approaches of the treatment are different. Therefore, the syndrome differentiation treatment system are not in concordance. Acu-moxibustion has gradually established unique thinking model of treatment based syndrome differentiation including principle, methods, prescription, points and technique which are different from principle, methods, prescription and drugs of internal medicine of TCM.
Humans ; Internal Medicine ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; methods

BACKGROUNDOverexpression of G-protein coupled receptor 34 (GPR34) affects the progression and prognosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma, however, the role of GPR34 in gastric cancer development and progression has not been well-determined. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of GPR34 knockdown on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of HGC-27 gastric cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe expression of GPR34 in gastric cancer cell line HGC-27 was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. HGC-27 cells were employed to construct the stable GPR34 knockdown cell model in this study. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were applied to validate the effect of short hairpin RNA (ShRNA) on the expression of GPR34 in HGC-27 gastric cells. The proliferation, migration of these cells were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell. We also measured expression profile of PI3K/PDK1/AKT and ERK using Western blotting.

RESULTSThe ShRNA directed against GPR34 effectively inhibited both endogenous mRNA and protein expression levels of GPR34, and significantly down-regulated the expression of PIK3CB (P < 0.01), PIK3CD (P < 0.01), PDK1 (P < 0.01), phosphorylation of PDK1 (P < 0.01), Akt (P < 0.01), and ERK (P < 0.01). Furthermore, GPR34 knockdown resulted in an obvious reduction in HGC-27 cancer cell proliferation and migration activity (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGPR34 knockdown impairs the proliferation and migration of HGC-27 gastric cancer cells in vitro and provides a potential implication for therapy of gastric cancer.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Lysophospholipid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the decoction of Rhizoma Dioscorea septemlobae (RD) on the bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats.

METHODThirty female, 3-month-old Wistar rats without pregnancy and deliver were randomly divided into 6 groups: sham (sham-operation), ovariectomy (OVX), OVX + diethylstilbestrol, OVX + high dose RD (4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), OVX + middle dose RD (2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and OVX + low dose RD (1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) (n = 5 in every group). After 12-week period of continuous treatment, the urinary samples and blood samples were collected for the determination of serum estrodiol (E2), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), bone glaprotein (BGP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urinary calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr), phosphorus/ creatinine (P/Cr) and deoxypyridioline/creatinine (DPD/Cr). The uteri were removed and weighed. The bone mineral density (BMD) and the biomechanical parameters of the femur of the rats in every group were determined, respectively.

RESULTThe coefficient of uteri in every dose group of OVX + RD was significantly higher than that in the OVX group (P < 0.01). The concentration of serum ALP, BGP and urinary DPD/Cr, Ca/Cr in the OVX group was significantly higher than that in the sham group (P < 0.05), respectively, However, that in the every dose of OVX + RD was lower than that in the OVX group, respectively. There was no significan difference in the concentration of serum Ca, P and urinary P/Cr in every group, respectively. The bone mineral density (BMD) in the OVX group was (0.032 +/- 0.007) g x cm(-2) and was significantly lower than that in the sham group (P < 0.01). However, the value in the group of every dose OVX + RD was significantly higher than that in the OVX group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), respectively. The maximum loading, deflection and the maximum strain of the femur in the OVX group were (125.78 +/- 15.48) N, (1.87 +/- 0.22) mm, (9.34 +/- 1.10) % and were significantly lower than those in the sham group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), respectively. The maximum loading and maximum stress were increased in different extent in the every dose group of OVX + RD, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe decoction of RD can inhibit bone absorption, decline bone turnover and improve the loss of bone in ovariectomized rats.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone Remodeling ; drug effects ; Bone Resorption ; blood ; physiopathology ; urine ; Calcium ; urine ; Creatinine ; urine ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; physiopathology ; urine ; Ovariectomy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Weight-Bearing