Prevalence and Correlates of Discomfort and Acceptability of Acupuncture among Outpatients in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion Departments: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective. This study aims to give a profile of discomfort and acceptability of acupuncture, including the prevalence and association with demographic and acupuncture-related factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Beijing, China. Outpatients of acupuncture and moxibustion departments were recruited using purposive sampling. 925 subjects were interviewed with an anonymous questionnaire. Multinomial and binary logistic regression were used to analyze factors affecting discomfort and acceptability of acupuncture. Results. The average VAS value of 925 subjects’ acupuncture discomfort was 2.66 ± 2.02, within the range of mild discomfort. Acupuncture was easily accepted by 81.1% of the subjects. Results of logistic regression were as follows: (1) subjects with a better knowledge of acupuncture, or a greater fear of pain or needles, experienced more “moderate to severe discomfort” and showed a decreased acupuncture acceptance (P<0.001 or P<0.01); (2) Acupuncture with less discomfort or implemented by a more qualified doctor was easy to be accepted (P<0.001); (3) subjects aged 20–29 preferred to report “moderate to severe discomfort” while those aged 40–59 preferred to report “slight discomfort” (P<0.001). Conclusion. Acupuncture is an acceptable therapy with less discomfort, which can be greatly affected by fear of pain or needles, age, knowledge of acupuncture, and professional title of acupuncturist

Prodrug design, synthesis and pharmacokinetic evaluation of (3′R, 4′R)-3-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-3′, 4′-di-O-(S)-camphanoyl-(+)-cis-khellactone

3-Hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-DCK (3, HMDCK) was discovered previously as a potent HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs) (EC50: 0.004 μM, TI: 6225) with a novel mechanism of action. It exerts anti-HIV activity by inhibiting the production of HIV-1 double-stranded viral DNA from a single-stranded DNA intermediate, rather than blocking the generation of single-stranded DNA from a RNA template, which is the mechanism of action of current HIV-1 RT inhibitors. However, the insufficient metabolic stability of 3 limits its further clinical development. In the current study, a series of ester prodrugs of 3 was designed and synthesized to explore the new drug candidates as NNRTIs. The l-alanine ester prodrug 10 exhibited desirable pharmacokinetic properties in vitro and in vivo and showed improved oral bioavailability of 26% in rat, and would be a potential clinical candidate as a new anti-AIDS drug

The role of 245 phase in alkaline iron selenide superconductors revealed by high pressure studies

Here we show that a pressure of about 8 GPa suppresses both the vacancy order and the insulating phase, and a further increase of the pressure to about 18 GPa induces a second transition or crossover. No superconductivity has been found in compressed insulating 245 phase. The metallic phase in the intermediate pressure range has a distinct behavior in the transport property, which is also observed in the superconducting sample. We interpret this intermediate metal as an orbital selective Mott phase (OSMP). Our results suggest that the OSMP provides the physical pathway connecting the insulating and superconducting phases of these iron selenide materials.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figure

A desinstitucionalização e as alternativas habitacionais ao dispor de indivíduos com perturbações mentais: Um novo modelo habitacional – A habitação apoiada

Desde o início do processo de desinstitucionalização desinstitucionalização que este se tem vindo a deparar com dificuldades. Passando pelos poucos recursos ao dispor dos serviços de saúde mental, à tendência para trabalhar com os elementos que apresentam maiores probabilidades de sucesso, à não articulação entre os serviços hospitalares e os centros comunitários de saúde mental, até à falta de investimentos em alternativas habitacionais de carácter permanente. Estas têm sido algumas das situações a que os consumidores de serviços de saúde mental se têm sujeitado. Actualmente, assistimos à emergência de um paradigma que assenta na crença de que se deverá prestar apoio a estes consumidores numa casa tipicamente normal, com uma vivência na comunidade, em que o apoio é disponibilizado consoante as necessidades de cada indivíduo sem que exista uma limitação temporal à sua prestação. Torna-se assim necessário criar novos papéis para os técnicos, no sentido de que estes ajudem os consumidores a escolher, a obter, e a manter uma habitação. É pois urgente o desenvolvimento de um conjunto diversificado de alternativas habitacionais que se baseiem nos recursos e capacidades das comunidades locais, no sentido de garantir que o processo de desinstitucionalização se conclua com sucesso. Palavras-chave: desinstitucionalização, habitação apoiada, satisfação dos consumidores, doença mental.ABSTRACT: Since its beginning the deinstitutiondeinstitutionalization process has faced some difficulties, such as the mental health services lack of resources, the trend to work with the individual who presents higher probability of success, the lack of articulation between hospital services and community mental health centers, and the lack of investments on accommodations for long periods of time. These are some of the situations that consumers of mental health services have endured. Nowadays we witness the emerging of a paradigm which lies on the idea that these consumers need to be supported at a ordinary house, living in community, where the support is provided according to each person’s needs, and without a time limit. This paradigm also creates a need for the professionals to find new roles so that they will be able to help the consumers to choose, get, and keep a home. To ensure the success of deinstitutionalization it is vital that the establishment of different alternatives of accommodation be based on communities’ resources and capabilities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Robust magnetism against pressure in non-superconducting samples prepared from lutetium foil and H2/N2 gas mixture

Recently, the claim of "near-ambient superconductivity" in a N-doped lutetium hydride attracted enormous following-up investigations in the community of condensed matter physics and material sciences. But quite soon, the experimental results from different groups indicate consistently that no evidence of near-ambient superconductivity is found in the samples synthesized by the same method as the reported one, or by the other alternative methods. From our extended high-pressure heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility measurements on the samples prepared with the lutetium foil and H2/N2 gas mixture, we report the finding of a magnetic transition at the temperature about 56 K. Our results show that this magnetic phase is robust against pressure up to 4.3 GPa, which covers the critical pressure of boosting the claimed near room temperature superconductivity.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Effect of Different Water Treatments in Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Based on Intelligent Weighing Systems

In order to meet the needs of dynamic continuous monitoring of soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC), a new soil, plant, atmosphere analysis system has been established based on an intelligent weighing system (IWS). Four types of irrigation treatments (90%, 80%, 70%, and 60% of field capacity (FC)) were conducted on lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. ramosa Hort.) for two-season planting experiments. Regarding the soil, the relative system weight of IWS showed a significant linear correlation with the soil volumetric moisture content (SWC) (R2 = 0.64–0.94). When the SWC increased by 1.00%, the soil weight increased by 56–62 g. Regarding plants, the IWS also clearly reflected the changes in plant weight gain, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance at different growth stages. After verification, the relative errors of the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance measured by the IWS were −9.60–22.30% and −7.20–22.20%, respectively. Regarding the atmospheric environment, the variation trend of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) based on the IWS and the reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) calculated with meteorological parameters were consistent. However, the numerical difference was in the uncertainty of the crop coefficient (Kc). The ETc of lettuce under the 80% FC treatment was the highest. Accordingly, a daily online measurement method for Kc was established. The Kc values of lettuce at different growth stages were 0.88, 1.22, and 2.43, respectively. The growth, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of crops under 80% FC treatment compared with other treatments significantly increased by 11.07–21.05%, 0.91–9.89%, and 2.16–15.80%, respectively. Therefore, the 80% FC was adopted as the irrigation low limit of potted lettuce. The experimental results provide a theoretical basis for further guiding crop irrigation

Effect of Different Water Treatments in Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Based on Intelligent Weighing Systems

In order to meet the needs of dynamic continuous monitoring of soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC), a new soil, plant, atmosphere analysis system has been established based on an intelligent weighing system (IWS). Four types of irrigation treatments (90%, 80%, 70%, and 60% of field capacity (FC)) were conducted on lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. ramosa Hort.) for two-season planting experiments. Regarding the soil, the relative system weight of IWS showed a significant linear correlation with the soil volumetric moisture content (SWC) (R2 = 0.64&ndash;0.94). When the SWC increased by 1.00%, the soil weight increased by 56&ndash;62 g. Regarding plants, the IWS also clearly reflected the changes in plant weight gain, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance at different growth stages. After verification, the relative errors of the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance measured by the IWS were &minus;9.60&ndash;22.30% and &minus;7.20&ndash;22.20%, respectively. Regarding the atmospheric environment, the variation trend of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) based on the IWS and the reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) calculated with meteorological parameters were consistent. However, the numerical difference was in the uncertainty of the crop coefficient (Kc). The ETc of lettuce under the 80% FC treatment was the highest. Accordingly, a daily online measurement method for Kc was established. The Kc values of lettuce at different growth stages were 0.88, 1.22, and 2.43, respectively. The growth, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of crops under 80% FC treatment compared with other treatments significantly increased by 11.07&ndash;21.05%, 0.91&ndash;9.89%, and 2.16&ndash;15.80%, respectively. Therefore, the 80% FC was adopted as the irrigation low limit of potted lettuce. The experimental results provide a theoretical basis for further guiding crop irrigation

Moxibustion using different habitat moxa floss for moderate to severe primary knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a three-armed randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial

Abstract Background According to the traditional Chinese medicine theory, moxa floss is the best material for moxibustion; the effect of moxibustion is closely related to the habitats of moxa floss, among which Qichun County, Hubei Province, China, is considered as the genuine origin. However, this view has not been validated by clinical studies. Moxibustion has been proven effective in alleviating pain and improving physical function and quality of life for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This trial aims to determine whether the habitat of moxa floss contributes to the effect of moxibustion and to validate the effectiveness of moxibustion for KOA. Methods This is a three-armed, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial. A total of 350 patients with moderate to severe primary KOA will be randomly allocated to groups A, B, or C with a 2:2:1 ratio. Moxa stick moxibustion using moxa floss from different habitats will be applied in two experimental groups: group A, moxa floss from the habitat of Qichun County, Hubei Province, China; and group B, moxa floss from the habitat of Nanyang County, Henan Province. Group C will use non-moxa floss for sham moxibustion as control. Patients will be treated for 20 min per session, for three sessions per week for 2 weeks, and followed up for 4 weeks. The primary outcome will be the change from baseline in the pain score of the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at week 2. Secondary outcomes will include a change in the WOMAC pain score at week 6; the visual analogue scale for knee pain, the total WOMAC score, the WOMAC stiffness score, the WOMAC function score, the patient global assessment, and the responder criteria at weeks 2 and 6. Adverse events will be assessed throughout the study. Discussion This trial will help to identify the effectiveness of moxibustion for KOA and whether the habitat of moxa floss contributes to the effect of moxibustion. Trial registration Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry: AMCTR-IOR-16000007. Registered on 29 February 2016

Dynamic diffraction effects and coherent breathing oscillations in ultrafast electron diffraction in layered 1T-TaSeTe

Anisotropic lattice movements due to the difference between intralayer and interlayer bonding are observed in the layered transition-metal dichalcogenide 1T-TaSeTe following femtosecond laser pulse excitation. Our ultrafast electron diffraction investigations using 4D-transmission electron microscopy (4D-TEM) clearly reveal that the intensity of Bragg reflection spots often changes remarkably due to the dynamic diffraction effects and anisotropic lattice movement. Importantly, the temporal diffracted intensity from a specific crystallographic plane depends on the deviation parameter s, which is commonly used in the theoretical study of diffraction intensity. Herein, we report on lattice thermalization and structural oscillations in layered 1T-TaSeTe, analyzed by dynamic diffraction theory. Ultrafast alterations of satellite spots arising from the charge density wave in the present system are also briefly discussed