Current state of research about acupuncture for the treatment of COVID-19: A scoping review

Chen Chen,Jie Zhan,Hao Wen,Xiaojing Wei,Lu Ding,Chenyang Tao,Cui Li,Peiming Zhang,Yuyuan Tang,Jing-chun Zeng,Li-ming Lu 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.-

Background Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19. The research community has responded rapidly and has already published many research articles about this topic. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library as well as CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. The dates of publication, language of publication, methodological characteristics and the key findings were analyzed separately. The data are presented as bar graphs, structured tables and figures. Results In this scoping review, 16 research articles were included: 7 case reports, 6 observational studies, 1 review, 1 RCT and 1 nonrandomized clinical trial. The majority of the articles (81.3%) were published by Chinese scholars, 12.5% articles were by scholars in the United States, and 6.3% articles were by scholars in Iran. The included studies reported that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, shorten their hospitalization days, and is effective for the elderly. There were no side effects reported. The most frequent acupoints used were LI4, PC6, ST36 and KI3. They reported many obstacles in implementing acupuncture therapy for treating COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Acupuncture has a good effect for the treatment of COVID-19, but high-quality evidence support is still lacking. Coupled with the difficulties that acupuncturists experienced during the process of treatment, the promotion of acupuncture treatment for COVID-19 faces many obstacles. Background Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19. The research community has responded rapidly and has already published many research articles about this topic. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library as well as CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. The dates of publication, language of publication, methodological characteristics and the key findings were analyzed separately. The data are presented as bar graphs, structured tables and figures. Results In this scoping review, 16 research articles were included: 7 case reports, 6 observational studies, 1 review, 1 RCT and 1 nonrandomized clinical trial. The majority of the articles (81.3%) were published by Chinese scholars, 12.5% articles were by scholars in the United States, and 6.3% articles were by scholars in Iran. The included studies reported that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, shorten their hospitalization days, and is effective for the elderly. There were no side effects reported. The most frequent acupoints used were LI4, PC6, ST36 and KI3. They reported many obstacles in implementing acupuncture therapy for treating COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Acupuncture has a good effect for the treatment of COVID-19, but high-quality evidence support is still lacking. Coupled with the difficulties that acupuncturists experienced during the process of treatment, the promotion of acupuncture treatment for COVID-19 faces many obstacles.

Organo-layered double hydroxides for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil washing effluents containing high concentrations of surfactants

Zhang, Ming,Zhao, Cheng,Li, Jinye,Xu, Liheng,Wei, Fang,Hou, Deyi,Sarkar, Binoy,Ok, Yong Sik Elsevier 2019 Journal of hazardous materials Vol.373 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Disposal of soil washing effluent (SWE) resulting from the surfactant-enhanced remediation of soil containing hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs)is complicated because of the presence of high levels of surfactants. The synthesized layered double hydroxides (LDHs), modified with sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) in different loading amounts (organo-LDHs),were evaluated in this study as sorbents for the removal of two typical HOCs, phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR),from a simulative SWE. The results showed that the organo-LDHs can effectively sorb PHE and PYR from the SWE within an equilibrium time of 2 h. All isotherms were linear and the sorption capabilities of the organo-LDHs increased almost linearly with the increase in the amount of SDS loaded on the LDHs. Besides, the surface areas of the organo-LDHs decreased sharply with the increase in SDS loading owing to the hindrance of the exposed surface of the LDHs by the incorporated SDS. These findings indicated that partitioning dominated the sorption process rather than adsorption, and the strong affinity of HOCs towards the organic phase in LDHs assisted in the effective removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the SWE. Furthermore, the sorption capabilities of organo-LDHs towards PHE and PYR at the higher loading amounts of SDS were much greater than that of commercial activated carbon at the higher concentration ranges of PAHs.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Dodecyl sulfonate anion modified LDHs are employed for the removal of PHE and PYR in soil washing effluent (SWE). </LI> <LI> Organo-LDHs showed superior performance in PHE removal from SWE than that of commercial activated carbon. </LI> <LI> Partitioning of PHE and PYR in the organic fraction of the organo-LDHs was the main mechanism. </LI> <LI> Using organo-LDHs for the separation of HOCs from surfactants in SWE facilitated reuse of the surfactants. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Novel arylhydrazone derivatives bearing a rhodanine moiety: synthesis and evaluation of their antibacterial activities

Li, Wei,Zheng, Chang-Ji,Sun, Liang-Peng,Song, Ming-Xia,Wu, Yan,Li, Yin-Jing,Liu, Yi,Piao, Hu-Ri 대한약학회 2014 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.37 No.7

A series of arylhydrazone derivatives bearing a rhodanine moiety have been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as antibacterial agents. Some of these compounds showed potent antibacterial activities against several different strains of Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Of the compounds tested, IIk and IIIk were identified as the most effective, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of $2-4{\mu}g/mL$ against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant and quinolone-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. None of the compounds exhibited any activity against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli 1356 at $64{\mu}g/mL$.

B-cell Lymphoma 2 rs17757541 C>G Polymorphism was Associated with an Increased Risk of Gastric Cardiac Adenocarcinoma in a Chinese Population

Li, Qiong,Yin, Jun,Wang, Xu,Wang, Li-Ming,Shi, Yi-Jun,Zheng, Liang,Tang, Wei-Feng,Ding, Guo-Wen,Liu, Chao,Liu, Rui-Ping,Gu, Hai-Yong,Sun, Jia-Ming,Chen, Suo-Cheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.7

Aim: Apoptosis has been considered as a fundamental component in cancer pathogenesis, and related genetic factors might play an important role in gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA) genesis. Methods: We conducted a hospital based case.control study to evaluate the genetic effects of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): BCL2 rs17757541 C>G, BCL2 rs12454712 T>C, FAS rs2234767 G>A, FASL/FASLG rs763110 C>T, ERBB2 rs1136201 A>G and VEGFR2/KDR rs11941492 C>T on the development of GCA. A total of 243 GCA cases and 476 controls were recruited for the study and genotypes were determined using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNPscan$^{TM}$ Kit. Results: The BCL2 rs17757541 C>G polymorphism was associated with increased risk of GCA. However, there was no significant associations with the other five SNPs. Stratified analyses indicated a significantly increased risk of GCA associated with the BCL2 rs17757541 C>G polymorphism among males, older patients and those with a history of smoking or drinking. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the functional polymorphism BCL2 rs17757541 C>G might contribute to GCA susceptibility. However, our results were limited by small sample size. Future larger studies are required to confirm our current findings.

Purification and Characterization of Cathepsin B from the Gut of the Sea Cucumber (Stichopus japonicas)

Li-Ming Sun,Bei-Wei Zhu,Hai-tao Wu,Lei Yu,Da-Yong Zhou,Xiuping Dong,Jing-Feng Yang,Dong-Mei Li,Wen-Xiu Ye,Yoshiyuki Murata 한국식품과학회 2011 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.20 No.4

Cathepsin B from the gut of sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicas) was purified 81-fold with a 3%recovery by ammonium sulfate fractionation and a series chromatography on DEAE Sepharose CL-6B, Sephadex G-75, and TSK-Gel 3000 SWxl. The purified protein appeared as a single band on Native-PAGE but showed 2bands of 23 and 26 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The optimum activity was found at pH 5.5 and 45°C. The enzyme was stable at pH 4.5-6.0 and the thermal stability was up to 50oC. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by E-64, iodoacetic acid, and antipain, demonstrating it is a cysteine protease containing sulfhydryl groups. Cu^2+, Ni^2+, and Zn^2+ could strongly inhibit the enzyme activity. The amino acid sequences of the purified enzyme were acquired by mass spectrometer, which did not show any homology with previously described cathepsins, suggesting it may be a novel member.

Study of Recellularized Human Acellular Arterial Matrix Repairs Porcine Biliary Segmental Defects

Wei Liu,Sheng-Ning Zhang,Zong-Qiang Hu,Shi-Ming Feng,Zhen-Hui Li,Shu-Feng Xiao,Hong-Shu Wang,Li Li 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2019 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.16 No.6

BACKGROUND: With the popularity of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, common bile duct injury has been reported more frequently. There is no perfect method for repairing porcine biliary segmental defects. METHODS: After the decellularization of human arterial blood vessels, the cells were cultured with GFP? (carry green fluorescent protein) porcine bile duct epithelial cells. The growth and proliferation of porcine bile duct epithelial cells on the human acellular arterial matrix (HAAM) were observed by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence. Then, the recellularized human acellular arterial matrix (RHAAM) was used to repair biliary segmental defects in the pig. The feasibility of it was detected by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, liver function and blood routine changes, HE staining, immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and western blot. RESULTS: After 4 weeks (w) of co-culture of HAAM and GFP? porcine bile duct epithelial cells, GFP? porcine bile duct epithelial cells grew stably, proliferated, and fused on HAAM. Bile was successfully drained into the duodenum without bile leakage or biliary obstruction. Immunofluorescence detection showed that GFP-positive bile duct cells could still be detected after GFP-containing bile duct cells were implanted into the acellular arterial matrix for 8 w. The implanted bile duct cells can successfully resist bile invasion and protect the acellular arterial matrix until the newborn bile duct is formed. CONCLUSION: The RHAAM can be used to repair biliary segmental defects in pigs, which provides a new idea for the clinical treatment of common bile duct injury.

Adaptive Multiple MPC for a Wind Farm with DFIG: a Decentralized-Coordinated Approach

LI, Xiao-ming,ZHANG, Xi,LIN, Zhong-wei,NIU, Yu-guang,LI, Ming-yang,Nathan, Noel Vishal The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2016 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.11 No.5

Concurrent Weekly Docetaxel Chemotherapy in Combination with Radiotherapy for Stage III and IVA-B Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Wei, Wei-Hong,Cai, Xiu-Yu,Xu, Tao,Zhang, Guo-Yi,Wu, Yong-Feng,Feng, Wei-Neng,Lin, Li,Deng, Yan-Ming,Lu, Qiu-Xia,Huang, Zhe-Li Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

Background and Purpose: Cisplatin is the most common chemotherapeutic agent for loco-regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); however, toxicity is a limiting factor for some patients. We retrospectively compared the efficacy and toxicity of weekly docetaxel-based and cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy in loco-regionally advanced NPC. Methods and Materials: Eighty-four patients with Stage III and IVA-B NPCs, treated between 2007 and 2008, were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty received weekly docetaxel-based concurrent chemotherapy, and 43 were given weekly cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was administered using a conventional technique (seven weeks, 2.0 Gy per fraction, total dose 70-74 Gy) with 6-8 Gy boosts for some patients with locally advanced disease. Results: Median follow-up time was 42.3 months (range, 8.6-50.8 months). There were no significant differences in the 3-year loco-regional failure-free survival (85.6% vs. 92.3%; p=0.264), distant failure-free survival (87.0% vs. 92.5%; p=0.171), progression-free survival (85.7% vs. 88.4%; p=0.411) or overall survival (86.5% vs. 92.5%, p=0.298) of patients treated concurrently with docetaxel or cisplatin. Severe toxicity was not common in either group. Conclusions: Weekly docetaxel-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy is potentially effective and has a tolerable toxicity; however, further investigations are required to determine if docetaxel is superior to cisplatin for advanced stage NPC.

Novel arylhydrazone derivatives bearing a rhodanine moiety: synthesis and evaluation of their antibacterial activities

Wei Li,Chang-Ji Zheng,Liang-Peng Sun,Ming-Xia Song,Yan Wu,Yin-Jing Li,Yi Liu,Hu-Ri Piao 대한약학회 2014 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.37 No.7

A series of arylhydrazone derivatives bearing arhodanine moiety have been synthesized, characterized, andevaluated as antibacterial agents. Some of these compoundsshowed potent antibacterial activities against several differentstrains of Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Of the compounds tested, IIkand IIIk were identified as the most effective, with minimuminhibitory concentration values of 2–4 lg/mL against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant and quinolone-resistant Staphylococcusaureus. None of the compounds exhibited any activityagainst the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli 1356 at64 lg/mL.

Experimental Study on Sustained-release 5-Fluorouracil Implantation in Canine Peritoneum and Para-aortic Abdominalis

Wei, Guo,Nie, Ming-Ming,Shen, Xiao-Jun,Xue, Xu-Chao,Ma, Li-Ye,Du, Cheng-Hui,Wang, Shi-Liang,Bi, Jian-Wei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.1

Objective: To observe local and systemic toxicity after sustained-release 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) implantation in canine peritoneum and para-aortic abdominalis and the changes of drug concentration in the local implanted tissue with time. Methods: 300 mg sustained-release 5-Fu was implanted into canine peritoneum and para-aorta abdominalis. Samples were taken 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after implantation for assessment of changes and systemic reactions. High performance liquid chromatography was applied to detect the drug concentrations of peritoneal tissue at different distances from the implanted site, lymphatic tissue of para-aortic abdominalis, peripheral blood and portal venous blood. Results: 10 days after implantation, the drug concentrations in the peritoneum, lymphatic tissue and portal vein remained relatively high within 5 cm of the implanted site. There appeared inflammatory reaction in the local implanted tissue, but no visible pathological changes such as cell degeneration and necrosis, and systemic reaction like anorexia, nausea, vomiting and fever. Conclusions: Sustained-release 5-Fu implantation in canine peritoneum and para-aortic abdominalis can maintain a relatively high tumour-inhibiting concentration for a longer time in the local implanted area and portal vein, and has mild local and systemic reactions. Besides, it is safe and effective to prevent or treat recurrence of gastrointestinal tumours and liver metastasis.