Acupoints for Headache with Blood Stasis Syndrome: a Literature Study Based on Data Mining Technology

Jin-yu Shi,1,* Ting-ting Li,1,2,* Hui-ting Yang,1 Shi Zhang,2 Ran An,2 Liang Mao,2 Yang Li,2 Qian Li,2 Guang-yi Luan,2 Yan Shen,2 En-long Wang,2 Guang-hui Liu1,2 1First Clinical Medical College, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Guang-hui Liu, First Clinical Medical College, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, People’s Republic of China; Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 33, Beiling Street, Huanggu District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110032, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: This study aimed to investigate the features and underlying principles of acupuncture points used in the treatment of headaches associated with blood stasis syndrome.Methods: Literature on the treatment of blood stasis headache with acupuncture and moxibustion was searched across three Chinese databases and one English database from January 1st, 2000, to January 1st, 2024. Relevant data including titles, journals, authors, keywords, interventions, main acupoints, and outcomes were extracted for further analysis.Results: A total of 112 papers with 102 complete prescriptions were analyzed. Of the 77 acupoints examined, 72 were meridian points, and 5 were extraordinary points, used 699 times in total. The top ten acupoints by frequency were Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Baihui (GV20), Hegu (LI4), Shuaigu (GB8), Taichong (LR3), Xuehai (SP10), Touwei (ST8), Geshu (BL17), and Waiguan (TE5). Yang meridian points were used more frequently than Yin meridian points (82.8% vs 17.2%), with the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang being the most common. Nearly half of the acupoints (49.9%) were on the head and neck, and 23.1% on the lower limbs. Specific acupoints accounted for 53.5% of the total frequency. Fengchi (GB20) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) showed the highest correlation. Association rule mining highlighted combinations like Fengchi (GB20) with Taiyang (EX-HN5) and Baihui (GV20). Cluster analysis yielded five clusters.Conclusion: The study provides insights into selecting effective acupoints and combinations for clinical acupuncture practice and experimental studies in treating blood stasis headaches. Acupoints like Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), and Baihui (GV20) may be effective for clinical treatment, but further studies are needed to validate their efficacy.Keywords: headache, blood stasis syndrome, acupuncture, treatment rule, data minin

A case of mistaken identity: HSPs are no DAMPs but DAMPERs

Until recently, the immune system was seen solely as a defense system with its primary task being the elimination of unwanted microbial invaders. Currently, however, the functional significance of the immune system has obtained a much wider perspective, to include among others the maintenance and restoration of homeostasis following tissue damage. In this latter aspect, there is a growing interest in the identification of molecules involved, such as the so-called danger or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), also called alarmins. Since heat shock proteins are archetypical molecules produced under stressful conditions, such as tissue damage or inflammation, they are frequently mentioned as prime examples of DAMPs (Bianchi, J Leukoc Biol 81:1–5, 2007; Kono and Rock, Nat Rev Immunol 8:279–289, 2008; Martin-Murphy et al., Toxicol Lett 192:387–394, 2010). See for instance also a recent review (Chen and Nunez, Science 298:1395–1401, 2010). Contrary to this description, we recently presented some of the arguments against a role of heat shock protein as DAMPs (Broere et al., Nat Rev Immunol 11:565-c1, 2011). With this perspective and reflection article, we hope to elaborate on this debate and provide additional thoughts to further ignite this discussion on this critical and evolving issue

A new class of homogeneous nucleic acid probes based on specific displacement hybridization

We have developed a new class of probes for homogeneous nucleic acid detection based on the proposed displacement hybridization. Our probes consist of two complementary oligodeoxyribonucleotides of different length labeled with a fluorophore and a quencher in close proximity in the duplex. The probes on their own are quenched, but they become fluorescent upon displacement hybridization with the target. These probes display complete discrimination between a perfectly matched target and single nucleotide mismatch targets. A comparison of double-stranded probes with corresponding linear probes confirms that the presence of the complementary strand significantly enhances their specificity. Using four such probes labeled with different color fluorophores, each designed to recognize a different target, we have demonstrated that multiple targets can be distinguished in the same solution, even if they differ from one another by as little as a single nucleotide. Double-stranded probes were used in real-time nucleic acid amplifications as either probes or as primers. In addition to its extreme specificity and flexibility, the new class of probes is simple to design and synthesize, has low cost and high sensitivity and is accessible to a wide range of labels. This class of probes should find applications in a variety of areas wherever high specificity of nucleic acid hybridization is relevant

Evaluation quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma using UW-QOL

目的：应用UW-QOL 第4 版评价口腔鳞癌患者的生存质量(quality of life, QOL)。方法：采用直接翻译并经过适当修改的UW-QOL 第4 版，对97 例确诊为口腔鳞癌的连续患者的术前QOL 进行测量，术后3 个月对其中55 例患者的QOL 作重复测量。采用SPSS12.0 软件包分析量表的信度、效度和反应度。结果：量表总的克朗巴赫系数和分半信度分别为0.725 和0.701；12 个条目可提取4 个因子，累计方差贡献率为65.4%；以SF-36 中文版和FACT-H&N 的头颈特异性子量表FACT-HN 为效标，其效标效度分别为0.543 和0.738；量表能敏感地区分已知的2 组口腔癌患者术前QOL 的差异及口腔癌患者QOL 随时间的变化。结论：UW-QOL 第4 版具有良好的信度和反应度，其测定结构呈多维性，可用于中国人口腔癌患者生存质量的测量。 PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma using UW-QOL version 4. METHODS: The quality of life(QOL) of 97 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as oral squamous cell carcinoma was assessed preoperatively with UW-QOL version 4 which was translated directly and modified necessarily. QOL of 55 patients was examined 3 months postoperatively. The validity, reliability and responsiveness of the scale were analyzed using SPSS12.0 software package. Statistical methods involved in this study included Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and bivariate correlation analysis. RESULTS: The internal consistency α of the instrument was 0.725, and the split-half reliability was 0.701. An exploratory factor analysis on the 12 items produced 4 factors, and the analysis explained 65.4% of the total variation. The criterion validity with SF-36 and FACTHN was 0.543 and 0.738, respectively. The instrument could detect the differences of preoperative QOL between T1+T2 group and T3+T4 group and the changes of QOL over time sensitively. CONCLUSION: The UW-QOL version 4 could measure the quality of life in oral cancer patients with good reliability, responsiveness and multi-dimensional constructs, it can be used in Chinese population with oral cancer

Molecular beacon-based homogeneous fluorescence PCR assay for the diagnosis of infectious diseases

Conference Name:5th ASIANALYSIS Meeting. Conference Address: XIAMEN, PEOPLES R CHINA. Time:MAY 04-07, 1999.A rapid and simple homogeneous fluorescence PCR assay was developed for the clinical diagnosis of infectious diseases based on a molecular beacon. The established method could reproducibly detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis at the 10 bacteria/mL level. The analytical specificity was tested with 14 strains of mycobacterium, four unrelated bacteria and 220 negative samples; no false positive results were obtained. A blind test was also performed to evaluate its performance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis diagnosis. The results showed that both the clinical sensitivity and the specificity were 100%, and that the detection limit was in the range of 1 - 10 bacteria/ml. A clinical study with 466 patient samples demonstrated that fluorescence PCR assay correlated well with smear (93.6%) and culture (98.4%) methods for positive samples. However, fluorescence PCR could detect positive samples (62.9%) more than smear (30.3%) and culture (31.4%), indicating a higher sensitivity of the present method than the traditional ones. The feasibility of this method was further approved by successful detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis

Comparative studies of AOT and NaDEHP by fluorescence technique and z-potential (ζ) measurements

The aggregation behaviors of two surfactants with the same hydrophobic tail, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (NaDEHP), have been investigated by the fluorescence technique and z-potential (ζ) measurements. Five fine peaks of the pyrene molecule fluorescence spectroscopy appear in the surfactant solution, and the micropolarity at which pyrene locates is monitored from the intensity ratio of the first (I1) and the third peak (I3). A wide peak around 475 nm, the emission spectra of the excimer of pyrene molecules, is observed in the NaDEHP solution, while this is not found for the AOT system. The value of I1/I3 decreases in a more limited concentration range for the AOT system than for NaDEHP, indicating that small aggregates can be more easily formed by NaDEHP molecules. The z-potential results for the aggregates formed by the two surfactants show that the interaction between AOT and PVP is stronger than that between NaDEHP and PVP

The interaction between poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and reversed micelles of water/AOT/n-heptane

The interactions between poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and the reversed micelles composed of water, AOT, and n-heptane are investigated with the aid of phase diagram, measurements of conductivity and viscosity, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The phase diagrams of water/AOT/heptane in the presence of and absence of PVP are given. The conductivity of the water/AOT/heptane reversed micelle without PVP initially increases and then decreases with the increase of water content, ω0 (the molar ratio of water to AOT), while the plots of conductivity (K) versus ω0 of the reversed micelle in the presence of PVP depend on the PVP concentrations. The plot of K versus ω0 with 2.0%wt PVP is similar to that without PVP. Only the ω0,max (the water content that the maximum conductivity corresponds to) is larger than that without PVP. Nevertheless, the conductivity of the reversed micelle containing more than 4%wt PVP always rises with the increase of the water content in the measured range. The DLS results indicate that the hydrodynamic radius (Rh) in the presence and absence of PVP rises with the increase of ω0. The plots with PVP and without PVP have almost the same value when ω0<17; and after that, it quickly increases with the increase of ω0. It is interesting to find that there is almost no effect of the PVP concentration on the viscosity and Rh of the reversed micelle at ω0 = 15. The FTIR results suggest that the contents of SO3--bound water and Na+-bound water both decrease with PVP added, while the content of the bulky-like water increases. However, the trapped water in the hydrophobic chain of the surfactant is nearly unaffected by PVP. It is also found from the FTIR that the carbonyl group stretching vibration of AOT is fitted into two sub-peaks, which center at 1740 and 1729 cm-1, corresponding to the trans and cis conformations of AOT, respectively

Association of SNPs and haplotypes in GABA(A) receptor beta(2) gene with schizophrenia

Disturbances in GABAergic system have been observed in schizophrenics.(1-3) In the present study, population association analysis was performed on 19 SNPs in the alpha(1), beta(2), gamma(2), epsilon and pi subunit genes of GABA(A) receptor. Five SNPs in GABRB2, namely B217G1584T, rs1816071, rs194072, rs252944 and rs187269, were found to be significantly associated, and their haplotypes in linkage disequilibrium, with schizophrenia. This represents the first report on any disease association of SNPs in the human GABA(A) receptor genes, and focuses attention on the GABAergic hypothesis of schizophrenia etiology.(3,4

Experimental evidence of above-threshold photoemission in solids

Nonlinear photoemission from a silver single crystal is investigated by femtosecond laser pulses in a perturbative regime. A clear observation of above-threshold photoemission in solids is reported for the first time. The ratio between the three-photon above-threshold and the two-photon Fermi edges is found to be 10(-4). This value constitutes the only available benchmark for theories aimed at understanding the mechanism responsible for above-threshold photoemission in solids