• Ali McBride posted an update 1 week, 2 days ago

    Background Clinical and experimental data suggest that ultrasound stimulation (US) at acupoints can produce similar effective treatment compared to manual acupuncture (MA). Although the brain activation to MA at acupoints is investigated by numerous studies, the brain activation to US at acupoints remains unclear. Methods In the present work, we employed task state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the human brain’s activation to US and MA at ST 36 (Zusanli) which is one of the most commonly used acupoints in acupuncture-related studies. 16 healthy subjects underwent US and MA procedures in an interval of more than one week. On-off block design stimulation was used for the recording of fMRI-related brain patterns. Results Both US and MA at ST 36 produced activations in somatosensory and limbic/paralimbic regions (postcentral gyrus, insula, middle prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex). Only US at ST 36 produced a significant signal increase in the inferior parietal lobule and decrease in the posterior cingulate cortex, whereas MA at ST 36 produced a significant signal increase in the lentiform nucleus and cerebellum. Conclusions Our results indicate that US may be a possible noninvasive alternative method to MA due to its similar activation patterns. Copyright © 2020 Yarui Wei et al.In recent years, natural products, which originate from plants, animals, and fungi, together with their bioactive compounds have been intensively explored and studied for their therapeutic potentials for various diseases such as cardiovascular, diabetes, hypertension, reproductive, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are characterized by the progressive dysfunction and loss of neuronal structure and function that resulted in the neuronal cell death. Since the multifactorial pathological mechanisms are associated with neurodegeneration, targeting multiple mechanisms of actions and neuroprotection approach, which involves preventing cell death and restoring the function to damaged neurons, could be promising strategies for the prevention and therapeutic of neurodegenerative diseases. Natural products have emerged as potential neuroprotective agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. This review focused on the therapeutic potential of natural products and their bioactive compounds to exert a neuroprotective effect on the pathologies of neurodegenerative diseases. Copyright © 2020 Nur Shafika Mohd Sairazi and K. N. S. Sirajudeen.Background For centuries, medicinal plants have been extensively used in wound healing of burn injuries. The aim of this study is to analyze comparatively the effects of curcumin and Hypericum perforatum (HP) on second-degree burn wounds in rats. Materials and Methods. This experimental study was conducted on 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats with second-degree burns. The animals were randomly divided into three groups. The burns were treated with curcumin (Group B) and Hypericum perforatum (HP) on second-degree burn wounds in rats. Results All histological parameters of the control group showed statistically significant difference than the other groups (p less then 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between Groups B and C in terms of reepithelization and inflammation (p less then 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between Groups B and C in terms of reepithelization and inflammation (p less then 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between Groups B and C in terms of reepithelization and inflammation (p less then 0.05). PR-171 There was no statistically significant difference between Groups B and C in terms of reepithelization and inflammation (. Conclusion Both curcumin and Hypericum perforatum oil are effective in burn wound healing. Our findings showed a better quality of healing in curcumin-treated rats.Hypericum perforatum (HP) on second-degree burn wounds in rats. Copyright © 2020 Nevra Seyhan.Background Cervical spondylosis (CS) refers to the degenerative changes in the cervical spinal column, which affect the majority of middle-aged and elderly people. Thunder-fire moxibustion originated from thunder-fire miraculous needle, which has been applied widely for treating pain syndromes for thousands of years. The aim of our research is to provide evidence to assess the efficacy and safety of thunder-fire moxibustion in treating CS. Methods and analysis. Retrieved literature databases included Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EBSCO, EBASE, Springer, PubMed, WFDP, CNKI, VIP, and CBM. The period of retrieval was from the establishment of the database to December 2018. Randomized controlled trials which compared thunder-fire moxibustion and other therapies in CS were included. The quality of inclusive trials was accessed though a Cochrane risk of bias tool. According to the test results of heterogeneity, a random effect model or fixed effect model was used to analyze the data. Results Meta-analythe existing evidence, the curative effect and safety of thunder-fire moxibustion on CS were statistically significant. We should interpret the results scrupulously because of the low evidence level. Large-scale, high-quality, rigorous RCTs with long-term follow-up should be performed in the future. Copyright © 2020 Ruina Huang et al.Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiarthritic effects of different polar solvent extracts of Er Miao San (EMS) on model rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) and screen the effective pats of EMS in the treatment of arthritis. Methods Four different polar solvent extracts of EMS such as petroleum ether (PE), methylene chloride (CH2Cl2), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-butanol (. Results Administration of EtOAc and CH2Cl2 parts remarkably inhibited the paw swelling, decreased the index of arthritis, decreased the body weight loss, and improved the changes of histopathology. Furthermore, the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were significantly lower, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was remarkably higher compared with that in the model group. And the result of UHPLC analysis indicated that the effective parts of EMS contain berberine and atractylodin. Conclusions EtOAc and CH2Cl2 are the effective parts of EMS that can improve arthritis. In particular, berberine and atractylodin may be responsible for the antiarthritic activity of EMS.