AIM:To observe the defocus state and myopia control in myopic children wearing single-vision, defocus, and orthokeratology lenses using multispectral refraction topography(MRT).METHODS: A total of 279 myopic patients aged 8-14 years old, with a spherical equivalent(SE)from -7.00 to -0.50 D, treated at the Chengdu Aier Eye Hospital from June 2022 to December 2023. Patients who volunteered for the study were assigned to three groups. A total of 94 cases were provided with single-vision spectacle lenses(SVL group), 90 cases received individualized ocular refraction customization(IORC group), and 95 cases received orthokeratology lenses(OK group). Simultaneously, the three groups were further categorized into low(-3.00 to -0.50 D), moderate(-6.00 to -3.25 D), and high myopia(-7.00 to -6.25 D)groups according to different SE. MRT was used to measure and compare the defocus changes of the retina in supperior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants(RDV-S, RDV-I, RDV-N, RDV-T), and three angles of field of view, including 0-15°, 15°-30°, and 30°-45°(RDV-15, RDV-30, RDV-45)in the three groups(the data divide for the connected regions is grouped to the latter group). A one-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparisons. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to analyze the factors related to changes in the axial length(AL)at 1 a after intervention.RESULTS:There were significant differences in 1-year SE and AL growth among patients in the SVL, IORC, and OK groups before and after intervention(P<0.001). The 1-year SE and the difference of AL growth in patients with low myopia was significantly different among SVL, IORC, and OK groups(P<0.001); however, there was no significant difference between the IORC and OK groups(P>0.05); there were significant differences in the SE and AL growth changes between the OK group and the IORC and SVL groups in moderate myopia(P<0.001); and there were significant differences between the OK group and the IORC and SVL groups in SE and AL growth of high myopia group after wearing lenses for 1 a(P<0.001), while there were no significant differences between the IORC and SVL groups(P>0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the relative peripheral refractive errors(RPRE)of 4 quadrants and 3 eccentric regions among the three groups of patients in different degrees of myopia groups(P<0.001). Pair-wise comparison of the growth difference of eccentric D-RDV-15 in low myopia group after wearing lenses for 1 a showed significant differences between the SVL, IORC, and OK groups(P<0.001), but no significant differences between the IORC and OK groups(P>0.05). The angle of field of view D-RDV-30 in moderate myopia subgroups was statistically different between the SVL group and the IORC and OK groups after wearing lenses for 1 a(P<0.001), while the IORC and OK groups showed no significant differences(P>0.05); the angle of field of view D-RDV-15 in high myopia subgroups was statistically different between the OK group and the IORC and SVL groups after wearing lenses for 1 a(P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the IORC and SVL groups(P>0.05). Univariate and multivariate linear regression model analysis showed that the changes in D-TRVD, D-RDV-45, D-RDV-N, and D-RDV-I correlated with the increase in the difference in 1 a AL.CONCLUSION: MRT can be used to guide the clinical control of myopia. Myopia development is related to the peripheral retinal defocus state, and the difference of defocus quantity in the inferior nasal side at 30°-45° eccentricity may be a factor regulating the rapid progression of myopia.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of rhizosphere organic acids secreted by the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza on continuous cropping obstacles. MethodsThe mixed solution of organic acids in the rhizosphere of S. miltiorrhiza in continuous cropping and rotation cropping was added to the hairy roots subcultured for 21 days， and samples were collected on days 0， 2， 4， 6， 8， and 10. The changes of biomass， effective components， primary metabolites， secondary metabolites， antioxidant enzymes， and hormones in hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza were observed and determined. ResultsCompared with the rotation cropping group and the blank control group， the simulation of organic acid secretion from the roots of S. miltiorrhiza had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of hairy roots and decreased the content of effective components as well as total sugar and total protein in primary metabolites. Compared with the blank control group， the rotation cropping group and the continuous cropping group showed total sugar and total protein content decreases of 33.9% and 5.1%， respectively. On the other hand， the secretion of organic acids from S. miltiorrhiza roots significantly promoted the accumulation of total phenolic acids and total tanshinone， which showed increases of 14.6% and 1.6%， respectively， in continuous cropping group and rotation cropping group compared with the blank control group. ConclusionThe organic acid environment under continuous cropping significantly inhibited the growth of hairy roots and the accumulation of primary metabolites， while promoting the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites of S. miltiorrhiza.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the skin surface temperature at the related back-shu points in the patients with the different levels of pulmonary ventilation function in chronic persistent asthma, and to explore the correlation between the skin temperature at the back-shu points and pulmonary ventilation function indexes based on "lung governing the skin and hair". METHODS: Sixty-one patients with chronic persistent asthma, based on the level of pulmonary ventilation function, were assigned into a reduced pulmonary ventilation function group (reduced function group, 32 cases) and a normal pulmonary ventilation function group (normal function group, 29 cases). In the two groups, the skin surface temperature was measured in the sites of bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23); and the pulmonary ventilation function indexes (the percentage of predicted value of forced vital capacity [FVC%pred], the percentage of predicted value of forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1%pred], the percentage of predicted value of FEV1/FVC [FEV1/FVC%pred] and the percentage of predicted value of the peak expiratory flow [PEF%pred]) were recorded. The correlation between the skin surface temperature of acupoints and pulmonary ventilation function was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the normal function group, the surface skin temperature at the bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23) was higher in the reduced function group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the normal function group, FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC%pred and PEF%pred were decreased in the reduced function group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in FVC%pred between the two groups (P>0.05). The skin surface temperature at the bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23) was negatively correlated with FVC%pred, FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC%pred and PEF%pred in 61 patients with chronic persistent asthma (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The skin surface temperature at back-shu points is elevated in line with the the decline of pulmonary ventilation function in the patients with chronic persistent asthma, presenting a negative correlation with pulmonary ventilation function indexes. It is preliminarily verified that back-shu point is characterized by reflecting the visceral disorders.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Asthma/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Skin Temperature ; Lung/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Aged ; Chronic Disease/therapy* ; Young Adult ; Hair

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion for abdominal obesity and its effect on blood lipid, lipid accumulation product (LAP) and cardiometabolic index (CMI). METHODS: A total of 150 patients with abdominal obesity were randomly divided into an observation group (75 cases, 5 cases dropped out) and a control group (75 cases, 6 cases dropped out). The control group received lifestyle guidance. The observation group received "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion at Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4) and bilateral Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36) on the basis of the control group, 20 min each time, once every other day, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, the waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, body mass index (BMI) were observed, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured, and the LAP and CMI were calculated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the waist circumference, weight and BMI were decreased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), the changes of the above indexes in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the hip circumference, TC level, TG level, LAP and CMI in the observation group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), the HDL-C level was increased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05)；the changes of the TC level, TG level, LAP, CMI and HDL-C level in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION "Biaoben acupoint compatibility" moxibustion can reduce the degree of obesity in patients with abdominal obesity, and improve blood lipid and reduce lipid accumulation.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Moxibustion ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal/blood* ; Adult ; Lipids/blood* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Triglycerides/blood* ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in treating patients with central obesity of phlegm-dampness constitution. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with central obesity of phlegm-dampness constitution were randomly assigned to a moxibustion group (n=33, 3 cases dropped out) and a sham moxibustion group (n=33, 4 cases dropped out). The moxibustion group received mild moxibustion combined with lifestyle intervention; the moxibustion was applied at Shenque (CV8) and bilateral Zusanli (ST36), 30 min per session, maintaining a local skin temperature of (43±1) ℃. The sham moxibustion group received simulated moxibustion combined with lifestyle intervention; the simulated moxibustion was applied at the same acupoints, with the same session length, but with a maintained skin temperature of (37±1) ℃. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times per week for 8 consecutive weeks. Obesity-related physical indicators (waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index [BMI]), constitution evaluation indicators (phlegm-dampness constitution conversion score, symptom score), the impact of weight on quality of life-lite (IWQOL-Lite), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and the incidence of adverse events were measured before and after treatment, and after 4 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, both groups showed significant reductions in waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, phlegm-dampness constitution conversion score and symptom score, IWQOL-Lite, and both anxiety and depression subscale scores of HADS after treatment and at follow-up (P<0.001). These improvements were significantly greater in the moxibustion group than those in the sham moxibustion group (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). One patient in the moxibustion group experienced a mild burn that resolved with routine care; the incidence of adverse reactions was 3.0% (1/33) in the moxibustion group and 0% (0/33) in the sham moxibustion group, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of lifestyle intervention, moxibustion effectively improves obesity-related physical indicators, enhances quality of life, alleviates anxiety and depression, and improves the phlegm-dampness constitution in patients with central obesity. These benefits persist for at least 4 weeks after treatment.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Obesity, Abdominal/psychology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult ; Body Mass Index

BACKGROUND: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is indicated as a broad-spectrum medicine for a variety of diseases, including cancer and cardiac disease. While the role of ATO in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ATO on HIRI. METHODS: In the present study, we established a 70% hepatic warm I/R injury and partial hepatectomy (30% resection) animal models in vivo and hepatocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) models in vitro with ATO pretreatment and further assessed liver function by histopathologic changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell counting kit-8, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was transfected to evaluate the role of ERK1/2 pathway during HIRI, followed by ATO pretreatment. The dynamic process of autophagic flux and numbers of autophagosomes were detected by green fluorescent protein-monomeric red fluorescent protein-LC3 (GFP-mRFP-LC3) staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: A low dose of ATO (0.75 μmol/L in vitro and 1 mg/kg in vivo ) significantly reduced tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic I/R. Meanwhile, ATO obviously promoted the ability of cell proliferation and liver regeneration. Mechanistically, in vitro  studies have shown that nontoxic concentrations of ATO can activate both ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathways and further induce autophagy. The hepatoprotective mechanism of ATO, at least in part, relies on the effects of ATO on the activation of autophagy, which is ERK-dependent. CONCLUSION Low, non-toxic doses of ATO can activate ERK/PI3K-AKT pathways and induce ERK-dependent autophagy in hepatocytes, protecting liver against I/R injury and accelerating hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
Animals ; Arsenic Trioxide ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/physiology* ; Arsenicals/therapeutic use* ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

The phase changes and quantity-quality transfer of 17 batches of Ostreae Concha(Ostrea rivularis) during the raw material-calcined decoction pieces-standard decoction process were analyzed. The content of calcium carbonate(CaCO_3), the main component, was determined by chemical titration, and the extract yield and transfer rate were calculated. The CaCO_3 content in the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction was 94.39%-98.80%, 95.03%-99.22%, and 84.58%-90.47%, respectively. The process of raw material to calcined decoction pieces showed the yield range of 96.85% to 98.55% and the CaCO_3 transfer rate range of 96.92% to 99.27%. The process of calcined decoction pieces to standard decoction showed the extract yield range of 2.86% to 5.48% and the CaCO_3 transfer rate range of 2.59% to 5.13%. The results of X-ray fluorescence(XRF) assay showed that the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction mainly contained Ca, Na, Mg, Si, Br, Cl, Al, Fe, Cr, Mn, and K. The chemometric results showed an increase in the relative content of Cr, Fe, and Si from raw material to calcined decoction pieces and an increase in the relative content of Mg, Al, Br, K, Cl, and Na from calcined decoction pieces to standard decoction. X-ray diffraction(XRD) was employed to establish XRD characteristic patterns of the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction. The XRD results showed that the main phase of all three was calcite, and no transformation of crystalline form or generation of new phase was observed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) was employed to establish the FTIR characteristic spectra of the raw material, calcined decoction pieces, and standard decoction. The FTIR results showed that the raw material had internal vibrations of O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O, and CO■ groups. Due to the loss of organic matter components after calcination, no information about the vibrations of C-H, C=O, and C-O groups was observed in the spectra of calcined decoction pieces and standard decoction. In summary, this study elucidated the quantity-quality transfer and phase changes in the raw material-calcined decoction pieces-standard decoction process by determining the CaCO_3 content, calculating the extract yield and transfer rate, and comparing the element changes, FTIR characteristic spectra, and XRD characteristic pattern. The results were reasonable and reliable, laying a foundation for the subsequent process research and quality control of the formula granules of calcined Ostreae Concha(O. rivularis Gould), and providing ideas and methods for the quality control of the whole process of raw material-decoction pieces-standard decoction-formula granules of Ostreae Concha and other testacean traditional Chinese medicine.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Calcium Carbonate/analysis* ; Quality Control

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the pillar for the development of motherland medicine, and animal medicine has a long history of application in China, characterized by wide resources, strong activity, definite efficacy, and great benefits. It has significant potential and important status in the consumption market of raw materials of TCM. In the context of global climate change, farming system alterations, and low renewability, the depletion of wild medicinal animal resources has accelerated. Accordingly, the conservation and sustainable utilization of wild resources of animal medicinal materials has become a problem that garners increasing attention and urgently needs to be solved. This paper summarizes the current situation of domestic and foreign medicinal animal breeding and research progress in industrial application in recent years and points out the issues related to standardized breeding, germplasm selection and breeding, and quality evaluation standards for medicinal animals. Furthermore, this paper discusses standardized breeding, quality standards, resource protection and utilization, and the search for alternative resources for rare and endangered medicinal animals. It proposes that researchers should systematically carry out in-depth basic research on animal medicine, improve the breeding scale and level of medicinal animals, employ modern technology to enhance the quality standards of medicinal materials, and strengthen the research and development of alternative resources. This approach aims to effectively address the relationship between protection and utilization and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of medicinal animal resources and the animal-based Chinese medicinal material industry.
Animals ; Breeding ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Conservation of Natural Resources