Background and objectives: Traditional Chinese Medicine has been implemented in clinical practice for thousands of years to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Aconitum carmichaelii Debx (Fuzi) and Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Baishao) are a common herb-pair that is used in many herbal prescriptions to treat RA. However, the mechanism of Fuzi and Baishao for treating RA remains unclear. Here, we used a systems pharmacology and molecular docking approach to investigate the mechanism of Fuzi and Baishao in the treatment of RA.
Methods: We obtained active compounds and targets through a database search and manual supplementation, followed by network construction and protein-protein interaction construction, which were then verified using molecular docking, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses.
Results: We obtained 56 active compounds (including a duplicate compound), 102 targets, and 54 pathways using our systems approach. The results indicate that both herbs are involved in IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways through albumin, interleukin-6, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, epidermal growth factor receptor, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, and other targets in the treatment of RA. After the combination, the number of targets, pathways, and specific targets on pathways increased.
Conclusion: This research provides new insight into this particular herb pair and novel research directions for the treatment of RA with Fuzi and Baishao.
Background and objectives: Because of its extraordinary phytomedicinal potential and numerous potential health benefits, lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), a well-known medicinal and aromatic plant, is of paramount significance. It is typically used as a drug replacement.
Methods: The present study was comprised of drying lemongrass into powder and determining the proximate and mineral composition, and then developing ethanolic extracts of powder to determine total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), total carotenoids (TC), and DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Next, lemongrass powder (LGP) was replaced at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% levels to develop nutritional biscuits.
Results: The results revealed that lemongrass powder contained higher fiber (8.34 ± 0.04%) and ash (7.26 ± 0.06%) quantities, than wheat flour. Similarly, essential minerals Ca, Mg, K, Fe, and Zn contents in LGP were 36.80 ± 0.12, 64.89 ± 0.13, 54.65 ± 0.18, 12.68 ± 0.05, and 8.46 ± 0.07 mg/100 g dry weight, respectively, which were significantly higher than that calculated in wheat flour. Phytochemical analyses of lemongrass ethanolic extracts documented TPC as 240.46 ± 0.20 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, TFC as 98.45 ± 0.15 mg catechin equivalent/100 g, TC as 62.36 ± 0.12 mg/100 g, and DPPH activity as 60.18 ± 0.14 mg AAE/100 g, with such values being significantly higher than those in wheat flour.
Conclusion: Incorporation of LGP at different levels in wheat flour resulted in boosted phytochemical profiles of nutritional biscuits, but upon sensory evaluation of biscuits 2.5% level of LGP provided good scores for taste, flavor and overall acceptability, while for color and flavor 5% LGP was also found to be suitable with highest sensory scores.
Background and objectives: Semisolid oral preparations (Avaleha) are used in Ayurvedic therapeutics. The problems with these preparations include a bitter taste and the use of a sugar base. Here, we aimed to modify the semisolid Vasavaleha (VA) preparation to an oral solution (syrup) and to observe the efficacy of the VA syrup on patients with bronchial asthma.
Methods: VA syrup was prepared by dissolving the water-soluble extracts of Adhatoda vasica leaves and Piper longum fruits in purified water; sorbitol solution and honey were used as sweeteners. Organoleptic tests as well as pH, specific gravity, and viscosity measurements were performed. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the VA syrup was carried out using an Agilent UHPLC-MS/Q-TOF (6545) system coupled with a Dual AJS ESI source. An open-label clinical trial of the VA syrup was performed on 13 patients with bronchial asthma at a dose of 10 mL (oral, twice a day) for 30 days.
Results: The prepared VA syrup was brown in color and sweet in taste. The pH, specific gravity, and viscosity of the prepared VA syrup were 7.52, 1.10, and 1.922, respectively. Piperine, piperdardine, vasicine, vasicol, vasicinol, and vasicinone were determined to be the major phytochemical compounds. This preparation significantly improved all clinical symptoms of asthma and lung function test results in patients with bronchial asthma. It had mucolytic, bronchodilator, and anti-allergic properties. It had no adverse effects at the indicated dose.
Conclusions: The oral solution (syrup) might be an effective alternative for Ayurvedic semisolid preparations. The VA syrup may be taken as an alternative for VA as it was found to be an effective formulation for the management of bronchial asthma.
Biophysiologic monitoring exists as a method of collecting objective information about the neurosurgical patient throughout their treatment and recovery process. Such data is crucial for an improved understanding of the disease processes while providing the surgeon additional clarity as they decipher the next best steps in decision-making and medical recommendations. In the current review article, the authors discuss the commonly used wearable and placeable monitoring devices and the biophysiological data that can be collected to monitor, as well as, assess the neurosurgical patient. Special focus is placed on invasive and non-invasive neurologic monitoring devices, but important and commonly used monitors for the rest of the body are also discussed as they relate to the neurosurgical patient. Last, the authors review new, as well as, upcoming devices and measurements to better analyze the neurosurgical patient’s bodily function and physiologic status as needed. The synthesis of methods contained herein may provide meaningful guidance for neurosurgeons in effectively monitoring and treating their patients while also helping to guide their future efforts in patient biophysiologic monitoring developments within neurosurgery.
Cancer remains a significant threat to public health globally. Within the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) framework, cancer is perceived not merely as an isolated disease but as a manifestation of a broader imbalance within the human body. Recent advancements in modern medicine have garnered increased attention toward the integrative approach to cancer therapy, combining conventional treatments with TCM practices focusing on achieving a holistic balance. This article aims to delineate the comprehensive perspective of TCM in integrative cancer therapy, emphasizing its foundational principles of personalized treatment grounded in syndrome differentiation and treatment.
Background and objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that is often diagnosed when affected individuals die with respiratory failure. Currently, there are few bibliometrics studies on ALS.
Methods: In this study, a comprehensive literature search using the PubMed, WangFang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Science and Technology Periodical databases was conducted. The Core Collection database for scientific output related to ALS from 1990 to 2022 was also searched. The retrieved dataset was analyzed using.
Results: A total of 12,450 articles published since 1990 were retrieved, and 243 articles were included in this study. Thirty-two countries contributed to ALS research, among which Italy had the dominant position with the highest number of publications. In addition, keyword co-occurrence was analyzed. As the three indirect subjects of this article, the sources, affiliations, as well as authors of the study were included in the analysis.
Conclusion: In recent years, ALS research has made some progress in terms of elucidating the mechanism of the disease and providing clinical treatment, but the results are concentrated in the United States and European countries. For more complicated research results, critical analysis must be performed.