The paper summarizes the authorized invention patents, device registration and the relevant published articles of acupuncture medical devices of TCM in recent 5 years, and analyzes the current status and challenges in this field. It is discovered that the optimization and substitution in diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture are involved in the development of acupuncture medical devices. The technology application of these devices are composed of traditional and emerging engineering technologies; and the theoretical guidance for their development requires the integration of traditional acupuncture principles with modern medical theories. The development of acupuncture medical devices highlights the characteristics of multidimensional integration, treatment for specific ailments, portability and wearability, painlessness and non-invasion, precision and personalization, as well as intelligent automation. Upon analysis, it is shown that in the development and product transformation of acupuncture medical devices in recent years, the theoretical principles of acupuncture of TCM have not been fully utilized yet, the transformation of patented product is low, the clinical evidence of product is insufficient, and the market competitiveness needs improvement. In the future, The theoretic guidance of acupuncture of TCM should be enhanced in the development of acupuncture medical devices, a production-education- research model with the combination of medicine and engineering be constructed, clinical verification of product be emphasized, and product development paradigms be advanced, so as to meet the demands of the medical market.
Acupuncture Therapy/trends* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/instrumentation* ; Equipment and Supplies

Background and Objectives: Systemic scleroderma (SSc) is a rare and serious connective tissue disease, an autoimmune disease, and a rare refractory disease. In this study, preventive effect of single systemic human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) transfusion on SSc was preliminarily explored. Methods: and Results: SSc mouse model was established by daily intradermal injection of Hypochlorite (HOCl). SSc mice were treated by single transfusion of UC-MSCs at 0.625×10 5 , 2.5×105 and 1×106 respectively. At the 42nd day of intradermal injection of HOCl, the symptoms showed up by skin and alveolar wall thickening, lymphocytic infiltration, increased collagen in skin/lung, and the increased proportion of CD3 ＋ CD4＋ CD25＋ FoxP3＋ cells (a Treg subset) in spleen. After UC-MSCs transfusion, the degree of skin thickening, alveolar wall thickening and lymphocyte infiltration were decreased, the collagen sedimentation in skin/lung was decreased, and the proportion of CD3＋ CD4＋ CD25＋FoxP3＋ cells was decreased. Conclusions UC-MSC can achieve a preventive effect in SSc mice by fibrosis attenuation and immunoregulation.

Background and Objectives: Systemic scleroderma (SSc) is a rare and serious connective tissue disease, an autoimmune disease, and a rare refractory disease. In this study, preventive effect of single systemic human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) transfusion on SSc was preliminarily explored. Methods: and Results: SSc mouse model was established by daily intradermal injection of Hypochlorite (HOCl). SSc mice were treated by single transfusion of UC-MSCs at 0.625×10 5 , 2.5×105 and 1×106 respectively. At the 42nd day of intradermal injection of HOCl, the symptoms showed up by skin and alveolar wall thickening, lymphocytic infiltration, increased collagen in skin/lung, and the increased proportion of CD3 ＋ CD4＋ CD25＋ FoxP3＋ cells (a Treg subset) in spleen. After UC-MSCs transfusion, the degree of skin thickening, alveolar wall thickening and lymphocyte infiltration were decreased, the collagen sedimentation in skin/lung was decreased, and the proportion of CD3＋ CD4＋ CD25＋FoxP3＋ cells was decreased. Conclusions UC-MSC can achieve a preventive effect in SSc mice by fibrosis attenuation and immunoregulation.

Aim To investigate the effects of isoliquiri-tigenin ( ISL) on anti-angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo and its mechanisms. Methods We assessed the antiangiogenic activities of ISL on proliferation viabili-ty, migration and tube formation of human microvascu-lar endothelial cell line-1 (HMEC-1) in vitro. The cell proliferation viability was assessed using the Sulforho-damine B ( SRB ) assay. Modified Boyden Transwell chamber assay was done to study the effect of ISL on HMEC-1 cells migration. 2′, 7′-dichlorofluorescein di-acetate ( DCFH-DA) was used to measure the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) , which was induced by VEGF. Metalloproteinase-2 ( MMP-2 ) and metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9 ) expressions by HMEC-1 cells were assessed through gelatin zymogra-phy assay. HMEC-1 cells cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, we investigated the in vivo anti-angiogenic activity of ISL on chicken embryos nap al-lantoic membrane model ( CAM ) . Results ISL con-centration-dependently inhibited the growth of HMEC-1 cells as well as SW620 and A549 cells. ISL signifi-cantly and concentration-dependently suppressed the migration activity of HMEC-1 cells. Tube sample struc-ture formation further confirmed the effect of ISL on an-ti-angiogenesis. Moreover, ISL also inhibited intracel-lular ROS level, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression by HMEC-1 cells. ISL induced endothelial cell apoptosis at a low concentration ( ISL 12 . 5 μmol · L-1 ) and blocked the cells in S phase of mitosis at higher con-centrations ( ISL 25~100 μmol·L-1 ) . Furthermore, ISL distinctly inhibited the angiogenesis of chick em-bryos in vivo. Conclusions ISL has anti-tumor and angiogenesis effects on HMEC-1 cells. The mechanism may be related to intracellular ROS scavenging and ap-optosis induction of HMEC-1 cells.

Objective To assess whether treatment with compound danshen tablets plus alendronate would be safe and effective in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods 180 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis were randomized to receive combination therapy and independent therapy with compound danshen tablets and alendronate for 6 months. Scores of VRS were assessed,mean serum alkaline phosphatase, serum osteocalcin, urinary creatinine, urinary hydroxyproline, urinary calcium were detected. Bone mineral density of lumbar vertebra 1 ~5 was determined by dual X - ray absorptiometry. Results Mean serum alkaline phosphatase, serum osteocalcin, and urinary creatinine, urinary hydroxyproline, urinary calcium were statistically different between the combination therapy group and the independent therapy group, and bone mineral densities increased in all therapy groups while there was higher elevated level in the combination therapy group. Conclusions The combination therapy of compound danshen tablets with alendronate has a favorable influence on women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.