Exploration of Macro-Micro Biomarkers for Dampness-Heat Syndrome Differentiation in Different Diseases

Increased attention is being paid to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a complementary and alternative medicine to provide an effective approach for personalized diagnosis and clinical treatment. TMC performs treatment based on differentiation of TCM syndrome (ZHENG), which may identify special phenotypes by symptoms and signs of patients even if they are in different diseases. There has, however, been skepticism and criticism because syndrome classification only depends on observation, knowledge, and clinical experience of TCM practitioners, which lacks objectivity and repeatability. In order to transform syndrome classification into mainstream medicine, we introduce a macro-micro approach that combines symptoms, clinical indicators, and metabolites. The present paper explores the macro-micro biomarkers of dampness-heat syndrome in chronic hepatitis B and nonalcoholic fatty liver patients, which could provide the basis for developing a possible population-screening tool for selecting target individuals and creating an evaluation index for personalized treatment

The Shape Trail Test: application of a new variant of the Trail making test.

The Trail making test (TMT) is culture-loaded because of reliance on the Latin alphabet, limiting its application in Eastern populations. The Shape Trail Test (STT) has been developed as a new variant. This study is to examine the applicability of the STT in a senile Chinese population and to evaluate its potential advantages and disadvantages.A total of 2470 participants were recruited, including 1151 cognitively normal control (NC), 898 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and 421 mild Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. Besides the STT, the Mini mental state examination and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery involving memory, language, attention, executive function and visuospatial ability were administered to all the participants. In a subgroup of 100 NC and 50 AD patients, both the STT and the Color Trail Test (CTT) were performed.In NC, the time consumed for Part A and B (STT-A and STT-B) significantly correlated with age and negatively correlated with education (p<0.01). STT-A and B significantly differed among the AD, aMCI and NC. The number that successfully connected within one minute in Part B (STT-B-1 min) correlated well with STT-B (r = 0.71, p<0.01) and distinguished well among NC, aMCI and AD. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the AUCs (area under the curve) for STT-A, STT-B, and STT-B-1min in identifying AD were 0.698, 0.694 and 0.709, respectively. The STT correlated with the CTT, but the time for completion was longer.The TMT is a sensitive test of visual search and sequencing. The STT is a meaningful attempt to develop a "culture-fair" variant of the TMT in addition to the CTT

Understanding Acupuncture Based on ZHENG Classification from System Perspective

Acupuncture is an efficient therapy method originated in ancient China, the study of which based on ZHENG classification is a systematic research on understanding its complexity. The system perspective is contributed to understand the essence of phenomena, and, as the coming of the system biology era, broader technology platforms such as omics technologies were established for the objective study of traditional chinese medicine (TCM). Omics technologies could dynamically determine molecular components of various levels, which could achieve a systematic understanding of acupuncture by finding out the relationships of various response parts. After reviewing the literature of acupuncture studied by omics approaches, the following points were found. Firstly, with the help of omics approaches, acupuncture was found to be able to treat diseases by regulating the neuroendocrine immune (NEI) network and the change of which could reflect the global effect of acupuncture. Secondly, the global effect of acupuncture could reflect ZHENG information at certain structure and function levels, which might reveal the mechanism of Meridian and Acupoint Specificity. Furthermore, based on comprehensive ZHENG classification, omics researches could help us understand the action characteristics of acupoints and the molecular mechanisms of their synergistic effect

Evaluation and Exploration of Citrus Germplasm Resources in the Origin of Shatangju (Citrus flamea Hort.ex Tseng Shiyueju)

[Objectives] To protect the local rare citrus germplasm resources and further develop and cultivate new citrus varieties. [Methods] The germplasm resources of Shatangju (Citrus flamea Hort. Ex Tseng Shiyueju) in Sihui City of Guangdong Province and other 8 citrus varieties from the same origin were evaluated. The appearance characteristics of tree shape, the length and thickness of shoot at each shoot stage, the appearance characteristics of leaves and the fruit quality of each variety were investigated. [Results] Through the comparison of various citrus varieties grafted with sour mandarin, the results showed that the overall advantages of the length and thickness of the shoots of Shatang tangerine in summer and autumn were more prominent, which was conducive to fruit setting. The sprouting time of the three shoots of each variety was different, and there were sporadic sprouting phenomena in different seasons, so the growth was different, and the length and thickness of the shoots were different in different seasons. There were significant differences in shoot length and diameter among different varieties in the same season. The coefficient of variation of Shatangju’s leaves was low, and the traits were stable; leaf shape, leaf base shape, leaf margin and other indicators among the three shoots of the same variety and the differences among the same shoots of different varieties were compared. All varieties had strong flavor, separately sweet and sour, sweet and sweet taste. Shatangju has many segments, orange pericarp, rough texture, easy peeling, and high oblate fruit shape. The orange pericarp was favored by the participants, while the rough and thick peel was not favored by the participants. [Conclusions] Based on the improvement of local varieties, it is recommended to improve the smoothness of pericarp, reducing the thickness of pericarp and improving the flavor of fruit will be conducive to increasing sales. In the cultivation process of various quality resources, especially in the period of fruit growth and development, the plan of nutrition and fertilization should be formulated according to the rules of fruit growth and development, the rules of yield formation and the rules of quality composition, so as to establish the integrated nutrient management system of various varieties

Evaluation and Exploration of Citrus Germplasm Resources in the Origin of Shatangju (Citrus flamea Hort.ex Tseng Shiyueju)

[Objectives] To protect the local rare citrus germplasm resources and further develop and cultivate new citrus varieties. [Methods] The germplasm resources of Shatangju (Citrus flamea Hort. Ex Tseng Shiyueju) in Sihui City of Guangdong Province and other 8 citrus varieties from the same origin were evaluated. The appearance characteristics of tree shape, the length and thickness of shoot at each shoot stage, the appearance characteristics of leaves and the fruit quality of each variety were investigated. [Results] Through the comparison of various citrus varieties grafted with sour mandarin, the results showed that the overall advantages of the length and thickness of the shoots of Shatang tangerine in summer and autumn were more prominent, which was conducive to fruit setting. The sprouting time of the three shoots of each variety was different, and there were sporadic sprouting phenomena in different seasons, so the growth was different, and the length and thickness of the shoots were different in different seasons. There were significant differences in shoot length and diameter among different varieties in the same season. The coefficient of variation of Shatangju’s leaves was low, and the traits were stable; leaf shape, leaf base shape, leaf margin and other indicators among the three shoots of the same variety and the differences among the same shoots of different varieties were compared. All varieties had strong flavor, separately sweet and sour, sweet and sweet taste. Shatangju has many segments, orange pericarp, rough texture, easy peeling, and high oblate fruit shape. The orange pericarp was favored by the participants, while the rough and thick peel was not favored by the participants. [Conclusions] Based on the improvement of local varieties, it is recommended to improve the smoothness of pericarp, reducing the thickness of pericarp and improving the flavor of fruit will be conducive to increasing sales. In the cultivation process of various quality resources, especially in the period of fruit growth and development, the plan of nutrition and fertilization should be formulated according to the rules of fruit growth and development, the rules of yield formation and the rules of quality composition, so as to establish the integrated nutrient management system of various varieties

Current Understanding on Antihepatocarcinoma Effects of Xiao Chai Hu Tang and Its Constituents

Xiao Chai Hu Tang (XCHT), a compound formula originally recorded in an ancient Chinese medical book Shanghanlun, has been used to treat chronic liver diseases for a long period of time in China. Although extensive studies have been demonstrated the efficacy of this formula to treat chronic hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatocarcinoma, how it works against these diseases still awaits full understanding. Here, we firstly present an overview arranging from the entire formula to mechanism studies of single herb in XCHT and their active components, from a new perspective of “separation study,” and we tried our best to both detailedly and systematically organize the antihepatocarcinoma effects of it, hoping that the review will facilitate the strive on elucidating how XCHT elicits its antihepatocarcinoma role

Shape Trail Test: Part B-Practice Test.

<p>Shape Trail Test: Part B-Practice Test.</p

Visit-to-visit HbA1c variability is associated with aortic stiffness progression in participants with type 2 diabetes

Abstract Background Glycemic variability plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aims to determine whether long-term visit-to-visit glycemic variability is associated with aortic stiffness progression in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods Prospective data were obtained from 2115 T2D participants in the National Metabolic Management Center (MMC) from June 2017 to December 2022. Two brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) measurements were performed to assess aortic stiffness over a mean follow-up period of 2.6 years. A multivariate latent class growth mixed model was applied to identify trajectories of blood glucose. Logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratio (OR) for aortic stiffness associated with glycemic variability evaluated by the coefficient of variation (CV), variability independent of the mean (VIM), average real variability (ARV), and successive variation (SV) of blood glucose. Results Four distinct trajectories of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) or fasting blood glucose (FBG) were identified. In the U-shape class of HbA1c and FBG, the adjusted ORs were 2.17 and 1.21 for having increased/persistently high ba-PWV, respectively. Additionally, HbA1c variability (CV, VIM, SV) was significantly associated with aortic stiffness progression, with ORs ranging from 1.20 to 1.24. Cross-tabulation analysis indicated that the third tertile of the HbA1c mean and VIM conferred a 78% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–2.58) higher odds of aortic stiffness progression. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the SD of HbA1c and the highest HbA1c variability score (HVS) were significantly associated with the adverse outcomes independent of the mean of HbA1c during the follow-up. Conclusions Long-term visit-to-visit HbA1c variability was independently associated with aortic stiffness progression, suggesting that HbA1c variability was a strong predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis in T2D participants