Research on the Effect of Light and Heat Sensing along Meridian of Chinese Medicine

INTRODUCTION: Photonics refers to the technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. Photonic technology in the meridian and acupoints research has shown the unique advantages, by which the microcosmic material basis and macroscopic phenomena research can be integrated to interpret the occurrence of propagated sensation along meridian (PSM) and its underlying mechanism. This study seeks to investigate light and heat sensing action along meridian.METHODS: From the modern research of meridian point of view, PSM is the break point to research the essentiality of meridian. The bio-photonic feature of meridian is the most promising research direction to investigate the PSM phenomena for its contribution to prove the existence of meridian objectively and spontaneously. Therefore, the bio-photonic features of meridian under physiological, pathological, therapeutic, and mechanical conditions were analyzed. Firstly, the four aspects of light sensing action were discussed, i.e. light sensing effect along meridian, blocking effect, laser induced effect and underlying mechanism of light sensing action along meridian. Secondly, the four items of heat sensing action were discussed as well, i.e. thermo-effects, heat perception ability, laser induced heat effect, underlying mechanism on heat sensing effect along meridian.RESULTS: The authors point out that photonic technology, e.g. ultra-weak luminescence, photonic imaging, infrared imaging and infrared spectrum analysis, biological photons detection and laser Doppler application, can achieve purposes of in vivo, dynamic, multiple comparable studies. Thereby, the effect of light and heat sensing along meridian can be detected and illustrated by the use of natural science. The effect of light sensing and heat sensing along meridians with the help of advantages of photonics is expected to interpret and quantify the meridian doctrine, to provide an important experimental basis for meridians and acupoint properties of light and heat, to find a kind of non-invasive diagnostic technique, and to promote the integration and development of meridians and modern medicine.CONCLUSION: Light and heat information can be investigated to analyze the relationship between zang-fu organs and meridians, and the functional characteristics of the meridian. Hence, the effect of light and heat sensing along meridian is the break point of the research of photonics in meridian, which is beneficial to further study the meridian optics

A Descriptive study of Naadi Thervu and Its Clinical features based on the text “Sadhaga Naadi”

Naadi diagnosis is the best diagnostic method in siddha system. • Tree Naadi analytical methods, manual Naadi, naadi Thrangini & symptom based Naadi, are used in this descriptive analysis based on Agathiyar vaidhya sadhaga Naadi. • The fundamentals and basic of Naadi and its diagnostic methods are discussed and data collected. • The data analysis and interpretation done by T-Test and one way annova by using SPSS software and the results are discussed. Naadi diagnosis is the best diagnostic method in siddha system. Tree Naadi analytical methods, manual Naadi, naadi Thrangini & symptom based Naadi, are used in this descriptive analysis based on Agathiyar vaidhya sadhaga Naadi. The fundamentals and basic of Naadi and its diagnostic methods are discussed and data collected. The data analysis and interpretation done by T-Test and one way annova by using SPSS software and the results are discussed. The author concluded the descriptive analytical study of Naadi thervu and its clinical features based on “sadhaga naadi” if effective in diagnosis of disease. According to one way ANOVA The symptom based naadi is take as a control test & other two analysis of Naadi patern Manual Naadi & Nadditharangini is compared with one another. There is no significantly difference in between Manual naadi and symptom based naadi. The naadi tharangini and manual naadi is not significantly variable. Pitham only is significantly variable in between symptom based naadi and naadi tharangini. Author conclude that the brief history taking based on sadhaga naadi clinical feature and compare any one of the naadi thervu by manual or electronic based divice and correlative comparison method is effective in naadi based diagnosis. The naadi tharangini is not much more effective in diagnosis compared with the Manual naadi and symptom based naadi

Aerospace medicine and biology. A continuing bibliography (supplement 231)

This bibliography lists 284 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in March 1982

Diabetes mellitus type 2; The incretin effect and interaction with the autonomic nervous system

Bakgrunn: Inkretineffekten er kroppens evne til økt insulinsekresjon når glukose inntas peroralt sammenliknet med administrert intravenøst, utløst av spesifikke hormoner fra tarmen. En redusert inkretineffekt leder til forhøyet blodsukker etter måltid, og er et tidlig fenomen ved diabetes type 2, også påvist i forstadier til diabetes, såkalt prediabetes, og ved fedme. En bevart inkretineffekt ser delvis ut til å være avhengig av et intakt autonomt nervesystem. Autonom nevropati har vært betraktet som en sen komplikasjon til diabetes mellitus, men det er økende evidens for at nevropati også kan oppstå tidlig i forløpet. Kjennskap til disse faktorene ledet oss til en hypotese om at tidlig autonom nevropati kan bidra til den reduserte inkretineffekten ved diabetes type 2. Mål: Vårt primære mål var å undersøke om det var assosiasjon mellom inkretineffekt og grad av autonom nevropati. Sekundære mål var å se på inkretineffekten relatert til grad av hyperglykemi og varighet av diabetes, og sammenlikne en ny test som innebærer ballongdilatasjon i rektum, som mål for tarmens sensitivitet og videre signaloverføring, med mer etablerte tester for nevropati. Et siste sekundærmål var å undersøke gjennomførbarheten av en norsk versjon av spørreskjemaet, «Composite Autonomic Symptom Score» (COMPASS) 31, som kan påvise mulige symptomer fra autonom dysfunksjon, og vi testet om dette var assosiert med øvrige nerveundersøkelser. Metode: Tre grupper ble inkludert; en gruppe med diabetes type 2 varighet >10 år, en gruppe med nyoppdaget type 2 diabetes siste året, uten behov for medikamentell behandling, og en kontrollgruppe matchet for alder, kjønn og kroppsmasseindeks. Inkretineffekten ble kalkulert fra c-peptid (areal under kurven) ved oral glukosebelastning sammenliknet med intravenøs isoglykemisk glukose infusjon. Gastrointestinal glukose-håndtering (GIGD) ble kalkulert fra glukose gitt oralt sammenliknet med glukose tilført intravenøst. Tester for nevropati inkluderte kardiovaskulære reflekstester, hjertefrekvensvariabilitet, svettefunksjon, nerveledningshastighet i nervus suralis og monofilament test. Som mål på gastrointestinal visceral nervefunksjon utførte vi rektal ballongdilatasjon med registrering av trykk for første følelse av dilatasjon og ubehagelig følelse av dilatasjon. Evokerte hjernepotensial ble målt som respons på ballongdilatasjon ved gjentatte stimuli av nevnte trykk. Spørreskjemaet COMPASS 31 ble besvart digitalt. Resultat: Deltakerne med diabetes trengte høyere trykk for å oppnå første følelse av ballongdilatasjon i rektum, uavhengig av diabetesvarighet. Økt behov for trykk korrelerte med nedsatt GIGD, men ikke med inkretineffekt. Økt behov for trykk korrelerte også med nedsatt følelse på monofilament test. GIGD og inkretineffekt korrelerte signifikant med både grad av hyperglykemi og diabetesvarighet. Det ble funnet få tilfeller av nevropati totalt sett, og få forskjeller mellom gruppene. Det var en tendens til at lenger latenstid og mindre amplituder på evokerte hjernepotensial var assosiert med lavere hjertefrekvensvariabilitet og kardiovaskulære reflekstester, sural nerveledning og monofilament test, men ikke statistisk signifikant etter korreksjon for multippel testing. Høyere score på COMPASS 31 ble funnet hos dem med langvarig diabetes og hos kvinner, med best sensitivitet og negativ prediktiv verdi for score <10. Konklusjon: Vi fant rektal hyposensitivitet både ved langvarig og tidlig type 2 diabetes og dette var assosiert med redusert GIGD, men ikke med redusert inkretineffekt. Dette kan tyde på at adekvat nervefunksjon i tarmen er viktig for andre faktorer enn inkretineffekten i håndteringen av glukose. Redusert GIGD og inkretineffekt er assosiert med økende hyperglykemi og varighet av diabetes, som viser et kontinuum i tarmens glukosehåndtering fra normo- til hyperglykemi. Vi fant klinisk plausible tegn på at sentral nerveledning er assosiert med perifer nervefunksjon, men resultatene må tolkes med forsiktighet, gitt multippel testing. Rektal ballongdilatasjon med måling av sensitivitet og evokerte hjernepotensial synes å være en lovende metode for undersøkelse av nervefunksjon i tarmen, også når øvrige autonome tester er normale. Til sist finner vi spørreskjemaet COMPASS 31 lovende til bruk både i forskning, men også i den kliniske hverdag, hvor autonome symptomer ofte er neglisjert. I en liknende populasjon som vår vil en score på 10 poeng eller mindre nærmest utelukke kardiovaskulær autonom nevropati.Background: The incretin effect refers to the amplified insulin response when glucose is administered orally compared to intravenously. A reduced incretin effect is found at early stages of type 2 diabetes, even in prediabetes and obesity, but the mechanisms behind are unknown. Evidence suggests that part of the effect of incretin hormones are mediated through vagal nerve transmission. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is considered a late complication of diabetes mellitus, but there is an increasing awareness that neuropathy can exist in both prediabetes and early stages of diabetes. This led us to the hypothesis that the incretin effect could be affected by early autonomic neuropathy because of a reduced transmission of signals. Aims: Our main objective was to explore whether a reduced incretin effect could be associated with autonomic neuropathy. Secondarily, we aimed to explore the incretin effect in relation to degree of dysglycemia and the duration of diabetes. Other secondary objectives were to explore a novel test of gut visceral sensitivity and central transmission of peripheral signals, and to compare it with established tests for diabetic neuropathy, including assessment of symptoms using the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS) 31. Methods: This was case-control study including three groups of participants: People with type 2 diabetes for >10 years (longstanding), people with newly discovered type 2 diabetes within the last year, without the need for antidiabetic medication (early), and a group of matched controls in age, sex, and body mass index. An oral glucose tolerance test followed by an intravenous isoglycemic glucose infusion were performed to calculate the incretin effect (from c-peptide area under the curve). Gastrointestinal-mediated glucose disposal (GIGD) was calculated as an estimate of the body’s ability to cope with the challenge of a carbohydrate ingestion. Neuropathy tests included cardiovascular reflex tests, heart rate variability, sudomotor function, sural nerve, and the monofilament test. Rapid rectal balloon distention measuring visceral sensitivity and evoked potentials was performed as a proxy for gut autonomic nerve function. The COMPASS 31 questionnaire was distributed and answered online. Results: Both groups of diabetes were hyposensitive to first sensation performing rapid rectal balloon distention. Also, those with reduced sensation performing the monofilament test showed hyposensitivity. A correlation was found between rectal hyposensitivity at the first sensation and reduced GIGD, but not with the incretin effect. Both GIGD and the incretin effect were found to correlate with degree of dysglycaemia and duration of diabetes, and were comparable to previous studies. Overall, few cases of confirmed neuropathy were detected, and there were few differences between groups regarding established neuropathy tests. Longer evoked potential latencies and smaller amplitudes plausibly correlated with lower heart rate variability and cardiovascular reflex test score, reduced parameters in the sural nerve test and monofilament sensation, but not statistically significant considering multiple testing. Higher scores in COMPASS 31 were correlated with longstanding diabetes and female sex. We found an acceptable negative predictive value for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy at a 10-point cut-off . Conclusions: Rectal hyposensitivity may be an early manifestation of type 2 diabetes, and associated with GIGD, but not with the incretin effect. GIGD and the incretin effect are associated with degree of dysglycemia and duration of diabetes, indicating a continuum in the diminished effect. Central neuronal signal processing appears to be affected in parallel with peripheral neuronal function, but the results must be interpreted with caution. In general, we found that investigating evoked potentials following rapid rectal balloon distention may be a useful research tool for evaluating gut autonomic neuropathy, also when other autonomic neuropathy tests are normal. The Norwegian version of COMPASS 31 was easy to use and for assessing autonomic neuropathy in diabetes, and we suggest a cut off at ten points for screening purposes. Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy seems to be more frequent in people with longstanding diabetes and in women.Doktorgradsavhandlin

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma of the kidney: A case report

We report a 41-year-old Chinese woman with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma diagnosed by percutaneous renal biopsy. The patient was admitted to Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China with complaints of high spiking fever for a month and bilateral lower limb fatigue with difficulty ambulating for the past 5 months

Baroreceptors in the Aortic Arch and Their Potential Role in Aortic Dissection and Aneurysms

The arterial baroreflex is a key autonomic regulator of blood pressure whose dysfunction has been related to several cardiovascular diseases. Changes in blood pressure are sensed by specific mechanosensory proteins, called baroreceptors, particularly located in the outer layer of the carotid sinus and the inner curvature of the aortic arch. The signal is propagated along the afferent nerves to the central nervous system and serves as negative feedback of the heart rate. Despite extensive research, the precise molecular nature of baroreceptors remains elusive. Current knowledge assumes that baroreceptors are ion channels at the nerve endings within the outer layer of the arteries. However, the evidence is based mainly on animal experiments, and the specific types of mechanosensitive receptors responsible for the signal transduction are still unknown. Only a few studies have investigated mechanosensory transmission in the aortic arch. In addition, although aortic dissection, and particularly type A involving the aortic arch, is one of the most life-threatening cardiovascular disorders, there is no knowledge about the impact of aortic dissection on baroreceptor function. In this review, we aim not to highlight the regulation of the heart rate but what mechanical stimuli and what possible ion channels transfer the corresponding signal within the aortic arch, summarizing and updating the current knowledge about baroreceptors, specifically in the aortic arch, and the impact of aortic pathologies on their function

Decreased ADP-Ribosyl Cyclase Activity in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Diabetic Patients with Nephropathy

Aims/hypothesis. ADP-ribosyl-cyclase activity (ADPRCA) of CD38 and other ectoenzymes mainly generate cyclic adenosine 5’diphosphate-(ADP-) ribose (cADPR) as a second messenger in various mammalian cells, including pancreatic beta cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Since PBMCs contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, ADPRCA of PBMCs could serve as a clinical prognostic marker for diabetic nephropathy. This study aimed to investigate the connection between ADPRCA in PBMCs and diabetic complications. Methods. PBMCs from 60 diabetic patients (10 for type 1 and 50 for type 2) and 15 nondiabetic controls were fluorometrically measured for ADPRCA based on the conversion of nicotinamide guanine dinucleotide (NGD+) into cyclic GDP-ribose. Results. ADPRCA negatively correlated with the level of HbA1c (P = .040, R2 = .073), although ADPRCA showed no significant correlation with gender, age, BMI, blood pressure, level of fasting plasma glucose and lipid levels, as well as type, duration, or medication of diabetes. Interestingly, patients with nephropathy, but not other complications, presented significantly lower ADPRCA than those without nephropathy (P = .0198) and diabetes (P = .0332). ANCOVA analysis adjusted for HbA1c showed no significant correlation between ADPRCA and nephropathy. However, logistic regression analyses revealed that determinants for nephropathy were systolic blood pressure and ADPRCA, not HbA1c. Conclusion/interpretation. Decreased ADPRCA significantly correlated with diabetic nephropathy. ADPRCA in PBMCs would be an important marker associated with diabetic nephropathy

Study evaluating chronic abdominal pain and functional abdominal pain syndrome

Background: Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) is a prevalent condition with a wide etiology and is often associated with significant health care utilization. A functional diagnosis, particularly, Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) is more challenging and has been a less extensively studied condition in adults as compared to other common functional gastrointestinal disorders. Hence, this study attempts to formulate a definite line of investigations, study various causes of chronic abdominal pain and to evaluate FAPS, in a population from Central India.Methods: 100 patients in the age-group of 10-60 years with chronic abdominal pain were selected. A careful history, clinical examination and investigations were performed and final diagnosis was made on the basis of the available data.Results: Eighty-nine out of hundred patients were found to be having some organic disorder causing CAP while eleven had functional gastrointestinal disorders. FAPS was diagnosed in three patients on the basis of Rome III diagnostic criteria while one had unspecified functional abdominal pain.Conclusions: CAP is a multifactorial condition yet, a thorough history coupled with a complete physical examination and investigative profile help to a great extent in diagnosing the cause. FAPS should be diagnosed on the basis of a careful clinical history and characteristic pain behaviour during physical examination. A cost-effective and conservative approach should be adopted for investigations. Unlike the organic causes, FAPS should be treated with a biopsychosocial approach with a variable combination of pharmacological, cognitive-behavioural and psychological interventions.