OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at "four pharyngeal points" on simple vocal tics with liver hyperactivity disturbed wind in children. METHODS: Sixty children with simple vocal tics of liver hyperactivity disturbed wind were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a control group (30 cases). The control group was given Changma Xifeng tablets orally, 3 times a day, while the observation group was treated with acupuncture at "four pharyngeal points" on the basis of the treatment in the control group, 15-20 min a time, once daily for 7 days, with a 3-day break. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The TCM syndrome score and Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS) score of the two groups were observed before treatment and after 1, 2, 3 months of treatment, the disappearance time of simple vocal tics was recorded, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: After 1, 2, 3 months of treatment, the TCM syndrome scores and YGTSS scores of the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the scores of the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The disappearance time of simple vocal tics in the observation group was earlier than that in the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate of the observation group was 93.1% (27/29), which was higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture at "four pharyngeal points" could improve symptoms in children with simple vocal tics of liver hyperactivity disturbed wind, and shorten the disappearance time of simple vocal tics.
Humans ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Female ; Child ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Child, Preschool ; Liver/drug effects* ; Tics/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Eclipta prostrata L.has been used in traditional medicine and known for its liver-protective properties for centuries.Wedelolactone(WEL)and demethylwedelolactone(DWEL)are the major coumarins found in E.prostrata L.However,the comprehensive characterization of these two compounds on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)still remains to be explored.Utilizing a well-established zebrafish model of thioacetamide(TAA)-induced liver injury,the present study sought to investigate the impacts and mechanisms of WEL and DWEL on NAFLD through integrative spatial metabolomics with liver-specific transcriptomics analysis.Our results showed that WEL and DWEL significantly improved liver function and reduced the accumulation of fat in the liver.The biodistributions and metabolism of these two compounds in whole-body zebrafish were successfully mapped,and the discriminatory endogenous metabolites reversely regulated by WEL and DWEL treatments were also characterized.Based on spatial metabolomics and transcriptomics,we identified that steroid biosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism are mainly involved in the hepatoprotective effects of WEL instead of DWEL.Our study unveils the distinct mechanism of WEL and DWEL in ameliorating NAFLD,and presents a"multi-omics"platform of spatial metabolomics and liver-specific transcriptomics to develop highly effective compounds for further improved therapy.

Objective To study the effect of Eclipta alba on learning and memory ability and brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats.Methods Healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,low dosage group and high dosage group.There were 10 rats in each group.The model of Alzheimer's disease was established with subcutaneous injection of D-galactose and microinjection Aβ25-35 on bilateral hippocampus.All rats were treated with saline solution or different dosage of Eclipta alba respectively lasting 8 weeks.Then the ability of learning and memory of AD rats was evaluated by the Morris water maze test.The levels of expression of BDNF in brain were determined by immunohistochemical staining method and Western Blot method.Results The Morris water maze test:the average escape latent period prolonged besides the percentage of the swimming time in the target quadrant from the total swimming time and the times across the platform((34.14± 1.43) s,(33.71±3.82) ％,(3.40±0.70) times) decreased significantly in model group compared with control group((18.83±0.62) s,(41.98±3.96) ％,(5.40± 1.17) times,P＜0.01).The average escape latent period shortened besides the percentage of the swimming time in the target quadrant from the total swimming time and the times across the platform increased significantly in high dosage group compared with the model group (P＜0.01).Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot:the level of expression of BDNF in brain in model group was prominently less than control group (P＜ 0.01).The BDNF level in drug treated groups was prominently higher than model group(P＜0.01).The expression of BDNF increased with the drug dosage increasing.Conclusion Eclipta alba can improve the learning and memory function of AD rats by enhance the expression of BDNF.