Medicine Books Research Articles

Progress in Clinical Research on Functional Dyspepsia in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Functional dyspepsia (FD) refers to a group of clinical syndromes characterized by persistent or recurrent upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal distension, early satiety, belching, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and other upper abdominal discomfort symptoms. Organic lesions are excluded after examination. FD is a common functional gastrointestinal disease in clinical practice, with no characteristic clinical manifestations and often characterized by one or a group of symptoms. Its symptoms can also change during the course of the disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, although there is no name for functional dyspepsia, relevant discussions can still be found in ancient Chinese medicine books based on its etiology and clinical manifestations. This disease belongs to the categories of "stomach pain", "fullness of the stomach", "hiccup", "vomiting" in traditional Chinese medicine. The disease is located in the spleen and stomach and is closely related to liver and gallbladder dysfunction. In recent years, the traditional Chinese medicine community has conducted extensive clinical research on this disease. This article reviews the current status of clinical research on functional dyspepsia in traditional Chinese medicine.

The Genus Commiphora: An Overview of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Quality Control.

Myrrh is the resinous substance secreted by plants of the genus Commiphora. In traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional Arabic medicine, myrrh is regarded as an important medicinal material, widely used in the treatment of trauma, arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and other diseases. This review explores the evolving scientific understanding of the genus Commiphora, covering facets of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, artificial cultivation, and quality control. In particular, the chemical constituents and pharmacological research are reviewed. More than 300 types of secondary metabolites have been identified through phytochemical studies of this genus. Guggulsterone is a bioactive steroid isolated mainly from Commiphora mukul. The two isomers, Z- and E-guggulsterone, have shown a wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects, including anti-proliferation, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. However, the current scientific research on quality control of medicinal materials and identification of original plants is insufficient, which limits the reproducibility and accuracy of biological activity evaluation experiments. Therefore, the establishment of analytical protocols and standardization of extracts is an important step before biological evaluation. At the same time, in order to find more bioactive substances, it is necessary to strengthen the research on the stems, barks, and leaves of this genus. The sources used in this study include PubMed, CNKI, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and other databases, as well as multinational pharmacopoeias, ancient books of traditional medicine, herbal classics, and modern monographs.

Yue Chang and his Yao Xing Ji Yao Bian Du

Yao Xing Ji Yao Bian Du was a book on materia medica, compiled by Yue Chang, a physician in Wujin, Jiangsu, in the Qing Dynasty. This book was first published in the 23rd year of Dao Guang in the Qing Dynasty (1843) and there are three versions remaining. They were the movable-type printing of the Song Yang Study of the Tao's in 1843, the reprinted version of the Song Yang Study in the 30th year of Dao Guang (1850) , and the version of the Yi Hai Tang in the first year of Xian Feng (1851). This book involved 374 herbs, describing each of their shapes and colours, features and tastes, and meridial distribution with poems of five or seven characters, as well as their functions and prescriptions. It attached many herbs from the formulas of physicians and a 'Brief Guide of Medicine' to the poems, indicating herb features and Chinese medical culture. The book had both academic value and literature value because it integrated theories and practice. This paper examines the life of Yue Chang and his book, and clarifies the content and version sources of the Yao Xing Ji Yao Bian Du. It also corrects the mistakes of version recording to the following books: the General Catalogue of Chinese Ancient Books, the General Catalogue of Chinese Ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine Books and the Dictionary of Chinese Medical Books.

Systematic analysis of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions provides new insights into drug combination therapy for pox

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe decline in cross-protection provided by the smallpox vaccine increases the risk of infection from other poxviruses. While drug combinations are a promising management, they remain underdeveloped for poxviruses. Prior to the development of the smallpox vaccine, China had long relied on herbal medicine to combat pox and accumulated a wealth of knowledge regarding different herb combinations and symptoms related to pox. The information was documented in the form of prescriptions. Aim of the studyThe extensive data of prescriptions offer the potential for uncovering commonalities underlying these prescriptions, thereby providing valuable insights into the development of drug combinations against pox. Materials and methodsThe 2344 prescriptions were collected from the LTM-TCM database and 12 traditional Chinese medicine books. Firstly, the relative frequency of citation was utilized to identify the most used herbs among these prescriptions. TCMSP and LTM-TCM databases were employed to gather information about active compounds and their targets. GeneCards and DisGeNET databases were utilized to determine the associated targets for smallpox, cowpox, chickenpox, and mpox. Subsequently, network pharmacology analysis was conducted to investigate potential pathway information related to the most used herbs. A comparison of active compounds from these herbs resulted in the identification of 29 high-frequency compounds. The functions of these compounds were elucidated through gene overlap analysis, docking, and literature review. Finally, we summarized pox-related symptoms and used fidelity levels to distinguish specific herbs for corresponding symptoms. ResultsBased on 2344 traditional pox-related prescriptions, we identified 19 most used herbs and 64 associated bio-functional modules for poxvirus treatment, with the most significant one being immunoregulation primarily involving CD4+ regulation. We also identified 29 leads that possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. These herbs and leads hold the potential for pox treatment. Additionally, docking analysis suggested that these leads could inhibit poxvirus DNA synthesis, RNA capping machinery processes, and mature poxvirus particle formation, as well as immunosuppressors. The clinical features of mpox in 2022 were found to align well with our description of symptoms related to the pox. ConclusionThrough the analysis of 2344 prescriptions for pox treatment, we obtained a comprehensive library of the most used herbs and high-frequency compounds, along with their potential functional spectrum. These libraries served as raw resources for drug combination development, while the identified symptom patterns and specific herbs greatly enhanced our insight into diverse treatments for pox patients.

Rules of medication for leucorrhea in ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine based on latent structure model and association rules

Objective: To analyze syndrome differentiation and medication rules for leucorrhea in ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based on the “Chinese Medical Code” using the latent structure model. Methods: The formulations for leucorrhea were searched in the Chinese Medical Code (software), based on which an Excel sheet was created to conduct frequency analysis and construct a matrix of high-frequency medications. The high-frequency medications for leucorrhea were then analyzed using the Latent 5.0 software and a latent structure model. With SPSS Modeler and Latent 5.0 as the main analysis methods, Chinese medications with a frequency >1.00% were investigated using the latent structure model and association rules, and the medication rules in treating leucorrhea with TCM were dissected based on the data of frequency. Results: For 373 kinds of Chinese medicines retrieved from 236 TCM prescriptions, the total medication frequency was 2522. Chinese Angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), White Peony Root (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Indian Buead Tuckahoe (Poria), Common Oyster Shell (Ostreae Concha), and Largehead Atractylodes Rhizome (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) were high-frequency medicines for leucorrhea. Tonic, heat-clearing, and qi-regulating medicines had a high frequency of usage. According to a formula-based analysis of the evidence, the main syndromes of leucorrhea included liver qi affecting the spleen pattern, damp heat accumulation pattern, liver qi stagnation pattern, liver-stomach disharmony pattern, yin deficiency of the liver and kidney pattern, and spleen deficiency with dampness pattern, which are generally in line with the etiology and pathogenesis of leucorrhea, namely pathogenic dampness as the detrimental factor together with spleen-kidney dysfunction. However, in ancient books, emphasis was laid out on the regulation of the liver. This study determined 31 association rules for treating leucorrhea, where the primary compatible medicines contained Chinese Angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix)-Nutgrass Galingale Rhizome (Cyperus rotundus), Chinese Angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix)-Szechwan Lovage Rhizome (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.), White Peony Root (Paeoniae Radix Alba)-Szechwan Lovage Rhizome (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.), White Peony Root (Paeoniae Radix Alba)-Adhesive Rehmannia Root Tuber (Rehmanniae Radix) and Tangerine Peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium)-Ternate Pinellia (Rhizoma Pinelliae). Conclusion: The medication rules targeting leucorrhea in the Chinese Medical Code were mainly represented by the regulation of qi and blood, as well as the 3 internal organs—the kidney, spleen, and liver.

Research pro gress on historical processing evolution, chemical constituents,and pharmacological effects of Plantaginis Semen

Plantaginis Semen is a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) commonly used in clinical practice in China, which has the effects of clearing heat, inducing diuresis for treating stranguria, draining dampness and relieving diarrhea, brightening eyes, and eliminating phlegm. Plantaginis Semen has a long history of processing. In the Han Dynasty, there were records of stir-frying, and then processing with wine, processing with salt water, processing with rice water, and other processing methods appeared. Plantaginis Semen after processing can weaken the cold nature of the drug, suitable for clinical application. Modern research has shown that the main chemical constituents of Plantaginis Semen are phenylethanol glycosides, cyclic enol ether terpenes, polysaccharides, and flavonoids, with diuretic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. This article reviewed the materia medica, medicine books, and related literature in various dynasties and analyzed the historical processing evolution, chemical constituents, and pharmacological effects of Plantaginis Semen, so as to provide a reference for the relevant research on Plantaginis Semen.

Preliminary study on the first book of the forensic medicine translated from Japanese Han Yi Shi Yong Fa Yi Xue Da Quan(Practical forensic medicine translated into Chinese)

In 1908, Wang You and Yang Hongtong, who studied in Japan, translated Han Yi Shi Yong Fa Yi Xue Da Quan(Practical forensic medicine translated into Chinese), which was the first book of the modern forensic medicine translated from Japanese and the first independent translation of the book of the modern forensic medicine by Chinese, playing an important role in the history of the development of modern forensic medicine and the history of scientific and technological exchanges in China. Han Yi Shi Yong Fa Yi Xue Da Quan introduced to China the advanced basic knowledge, techniques and instruments of modern forensic medicine in foreign countries in the form of textbooks, and supplemented the deficiencies of traditional Chinese forensic toxicology, forensic material evidence and other knowledge. It is found that the background of forensic science of Wang You and Yang Hongtong makes Han Yi Shi Yong Fa Yi Xue Da Quan show the characteristics of the combination of Chinese and Western and graphic combination. Han Yi Shi Yong Fa Yi Xue Da Quan has been actively spread in modern times. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was taken as the textbook of the examination and learning Institute of the capital by the Ministry of Law, and continued to be republished after the Republic of China, which had an important impact on the creation and development of modern forensic medicine.

Examining the author of She Sheng Yao Yi

She Sheng Yao Yi, a medical book on how to keep fit and healthy in the Ming Dynasty, contained a variety of theoretical ideas for doing so from diverse traditional Chinese medicine physicians and had great influence. However, its author has not been identified because the author of this book in Bibliography of Ancient Books of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Bibliography of Ancient Chinese Books is claimed to be different. The authors dates of birth and death also vary in other relevant reference books. This paper examines and identifies the author of this book based on biographies, historical records, dictionaries and other relevant documents, with a view to contributing to the research of medical history literature.

Lipid Profiling of Oily Skin in Chinese Female aged 22-28 and 29-35 Defined by the Life Rhythm Theory of Huangdi Neijing

Purpose: According to the life rhythm derived from the ancient Chinese medicine book Huangdi Neijing, female growth and development culminates between the age of 22-28, with strong muscles, bones and vigorous hair. To investigate the characteristics of facial lipid profile in oily skin of female at different developmental stages classified based on seven-year rhythm, and to provide the mechanistic insight into the aging theory of Huangdi Neijing.Methods: The facial lipid composition of two groups of healthy women with oily skin (O1 group: age of 22-28; O2 group: age of 29-35) was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Differential lipids between O1 and O2 groups were identified using an orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model.Results: No significant difference in skin barrier function was found between the O1 and O2 groups. In contrast, skin elasticity and skin radiance displayed significant changes, with the O2 group showing decreased skin elasticity and dull skin, which is consistent with the description in Huangdi Neijing. In terms of lipid profile, among eight lipid main classes, seven lipid classes [FA], [GL], [GP], [PK], [PR], [SP] and [ST] showed significantly higher relative levels in the O2 group (<i>p</i><0.05). Among the differential lipid species, myriocin, erucamide, phosphatidylserine, flavonoid compounds, and sphinganine were significantly and negatively correlated with skin elasticity (R2) and skin radiance (ITA) (<i>p</i><0.05).Conclusion: The seven lipid species identified are important for targeting markers of skin aging and developing cosmetics that maintain skin elasticity and color.

The Iatriki Biblos (Book of Medicine) by Nikolaos Ieropais. Α 17th-century manuscript examined from a medical viewpoint

The “Iatriki Biblos” (“Book of Medicine”) is part of codex no. 46, hosted at the library of the Olympiotissa Monastery in Elassona, Greece. It is a medical manual that includes many diseases in the form of ailment groups, recording their aetiology, signs and symptoms on which diagnosis and the relevant therapy is based. This treatise constitutes a compendium of many Greek, Arab, Italian or French medical authors’ works. We have examined the “Biblos” from a medical viewpoint to find supporting evidence of: a. The scientific rigor of the text and its correlation with any possible theoretical basis regarding the signs and symptoms described. Although the classification system used today is different, it was possible to identify specific diseases based on the recorded signs and symptoms. Special attention was paid to the Greek terminology, because many terms are used to this day, with the same or different meanings.b. The influence of ancient medical authorities and the prevailing medical knowledge of Ieropais’ time.c. The usefulness or otherwise of the listed iamata (medicaments). We studied the active substances of the proposed plants, animal tissues and minerals, with the aim of ascertaining whether they had any positive or negative effect on the described symptoms.We discuss the problematic nature of such an investigation, as many essential details concerning their action as medicaments are absent.In conclusion, the 17th-century Greek doctor Nikolaos Ieropais adhered to the principles of natural philosophy in medicine of his time. His references to western Renaissance doctors of the 16th century add no new knowledge. The proposed therapies have a slight general and rarely a targeted effect.

Dealing with (COVID-19) With Treatment Through Al-Bukhari's Book of Medicine

Dealing with (COVID-19) With Treatment Through Al-Bukhari's Book of Medicine

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iranian adults toward Persian Medicine: a national survey

BackgroundPrevious researches conducted in both developed and developing countries have demonstrated a rising trend in the utilization of complementary and alternative medicine. The World Health Organization has underscored the importance of studying the prevalence and determinants of such alternative practices. This study delves into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Iranian adults towards Persian medicine, a distinct form of complementary and alternative medicine, through a national survey for the first time.MethodsA total of 2882 Iranian adults (aged ≥ 15 years) were randomly chosen from all regions. Data were gathered through structured door-to-door interviews using a survey questionnaire, wherein cases were selected randomly based on postal codes, and interviewers completed the forms at the participants’ residences.ResultsApproximately 46% of the subjects exhibited familiarity with Persian Medicine. The study revealed that the primary sources of knowledge about Persian Medicine were family, relatives, and friends, with only 2.9% indicating medical staff as their source of information. Furthermore, the study indicated that 21% of participants expressed a strong interest in using Persian Medicine, while 30.3% did not. When comparing Persian medicine to modern medicine, respondents indicated that Persian medicine is more cost-effective and has fewer side effects, yet modern medicine is more widely used globally; although, the majority responded “I don’t know” to other questions. The results also demonstrated that approximately 37% of the participants had a history of Persian Medicine utilization in their lifetime.ConclusionThis study revealed that Iranian adults have low reliable knowledge (from medical staff, Persian medicine books and other publications) and limited familiarity with Persian medicine, with about one third of the participants expressing disinterest (attitude) and over half of them having not utilized this form of medicine (practice).

Chinese text recognition and knowledge graph of Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing based on BERT pre-trained language models

Background: The research and utilization of ancient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) books are relatively limited at present. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge graph related technology has brought light on this field. Objective: To construct the knowledge graph of Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, analyze basic knowledge of materia medica, explore implicit knowledge, and conduct visualization display, as well to provide methodological references for the study of ancient TCM books. Methods: The types of knowledge entities and relationships between entities in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing were analyzed. A training corpus dataset was produced by using the BIO sequence labeling method; a self-developed CNLP text labeling system was used for text labeling; the BERT model was used to recognize named entities; the relationships between entities were set based on rules and semantic associations; the data into the Neo4j-community 4.4.9 graph database was imported by using Cypher language for storage and visualization display after knowledge fusion; finally, a knowledge graph was constructed. Results: The knowledge graph of Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing included 5, 273 nodes and 11, 064 relationships. The schema layer contained 14 entity types and 15 relationship types. Through the query, knowledge can be visualized from the aspects of classification, property, and seven mutual relationships of herbal combination. Conclusion: The knowledge graph constructed in this study directly reflects the knowledge recorded in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing and the relationship between them, which is suitable for knowledge mining and intuitive multi-dimensional display of ancient TCM books.

Influential literature in tennis medicine and science

This study examined the most influential peer-reviewed journal articles and books in tennis medicine and science based on citations (C). Systematic searches were performed to extract authors, titles, year, journal, C, and research focus for the top cited publications indexed in Google Scholar (GS). The top 100 articles had high numbers of citations (85 to 1,164) and citation rates (3 to 41 C/year) that were similar between tennis medicine and science, with fewer citations to tennis books. The influence of tennis research has increased over the last decade, with citations and citation rates were higher than was previously reported (Knudson, 2012). The study confirmed important research topics and journal outlets and identified influential authors. Influential tennis research continues to focus on injuries, physiological and psychological factors, with recent increases in analytics and business aspects of the sport.

Ayurvedic management in case of Vishwachi (Cervical Radiculopathy): A Case Report

Cervical problems are very similar to Vata Vyadhi disorders. Thus, in the current investigation, in Vata Dosha Janya Vyadhi management by Brimhana Chikitsa is very effective. A disease known as Vishwachi has been described in Ayurvedic Samhitas as one of these illnesses. The symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy, such as pain in neck region which is radiating to the upper limbs and sometimes restricted neck movements, have been explained in Internal Medicine books (Davidsons, Harrison). Vishwachi is a Vataja Nanatmaja Vyadhi. According to several Acharyas Ruja, Stambhata, Todan, Karmakshaya, and Chestapaharana of Bahus are symptoms that affects the cervical region and upper extremities. According to Acharya Dalhana, the treatment of Vishwachi is similar to Gridhrasi, a disorder that affects the unilateral or bilateral lower extremities and divided into two types: Vataja and Vatakaphaja. Vishwachi has symptoms which are comparable to Cervical Radiculopathy, a degenerative disorder of the cervical spinal part. Nasya Karma has been described as the treatment of Shirogata Vyadhis. Dhatukshaya is a main contributor of disease to the development of Vishwachi. Present study is an effort made to better understanding of disease and its management.

Qinzhuliangxue mixture ameliorates psoriasis by restraining apoptosis in psoriasis via downregulating the MDA-5 pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevancePsoriasis is characterized by hyperkeratosis that produces the classic silvery scales, and the pathogenesis of psoriasis involves abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes. Emerging evidence supports that apoptosis regulates keratinocyte proliferation and formation of stratum corneum, which maintains the homeostasis of the skin. Qinzhuliangxue mixture (QZLX) is a representative formula for the treatment of psoriasis, which was earliest recorded in the classic Chinese medicine book Xia's Surgery. In our previous clinical studies, QZLX demonstrated 83.33% efficacy with few side effects in the treatment of psoriasis. Furthermore, our published basic research has also proved that the QZLX mixture effectively inhibits the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, thus exerting therapeutic effects on psoriasis. However, whether QZLX mixture can regulate keratinocytes apoptosis requires further clarification. Objective of the studyTo investigate the mechanism of QZLX in the treatment of psoriasis from the perspective of keratinocyte apoptosis. Materials and methodsFirst, psoriasis-like mice with imiquimod (IMQ)-induced were given QZLX intragastric administration and Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores were recored for 11 consecutive days to appraise the efficacy. Then, tissue samples were collected for transcriptome analysis. The DEseq2 method detected significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway databases were used to analyze the functions and pathway enrichment of DEGs. After that, the therapeutic mechanisms of QZLX in intervening with psoriasis were explored using TUNEL, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting. ResultsQZLX ameliorated the symptoms and pathological characteristics of IMQ-induced psoriasis in mice. The epidermal cell hyperplasia in the skin was inhibited, in accordance with the suppressed expression of PCNA and Ki67 after treatment. Transcriptome sequencing showed that melanoma differentiation associated gene-5 (MDA-5) was downregulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the signaling pathways indicated that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in apoptosis pathways. Besides, QZLX treatment decreased the apoptosis of keratinocyte as shown by reduced TUNEL-positive cells. As MDA-5 protein levels decreased, so did the expression of the downstream protein Caspase-8, which indicates that the apoptotic pathway was triggered. Furthermore, QZLX therapy might also help to balance the apoptotic Bcl-2 family expression. ConclusionQZLX restrains the apoptosis of keratinocyte in psoriasis-like mice by downregulating the MDA-5 pathway. The restoration of the balance between cell apoptosis and proliferation in the skin may lead to considerable psoriasis relief. Our study reveals the possible molecular processes behind the effects of QZLX therapy on the skin lesions of psoriasis, and lends support to its clinical efficacy.

Ginkgo biloba L. exocarp petroleum ether extract inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by modulating ion transport, virulence, and biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAs reported in the Ancient Chinese Medicinal Books, Ginkgo biloba L. fruit has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment asthma and cough or as a disinfectant. Our previous study demonstrated that G. biloba exocarp extract (GBEE), an extract of a traditional Chinese herb, inhibits the formation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms. However, GBEE is a crude extract that contains many components, and the underlying mechanisms of purified GBEE fractions extracted with solvents of different polarities are unknown. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to investigate the different components in GBEE fractions extracted with solvents of different polarities and their antibacterial effects and mechanisms against MRSA and Staphylococcus haemolyticus biofilms both in vitro and in vivo. MethodsThe components in different fractions were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC–HRMS). Microbroth dilution assays and time growth curves were used to determine the antibacterial effects of the fractions on 15 clinical bacterial isolates. Crystal violet staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to identify the fractions that affected bacterial biofilm formation. The potential MRSA targets of the GBEE fraction obtained with petroleum ether (PE), denoted GBEE-PE, were screened by transcriptome sequencing, and the gene expression profile was verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). ResultsHPLC–HRMS analysis revealed that the four GBEE fractions (extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) contained different ginkgo components, and the antibacterial effects decreased as the polarity of the extraction solvent increased. The antibacterial activity of GBEE-PE was greater than that of the GBEE fraction extracted with ethyl acetate (EA). GBEE-PE improved H. illucens survival and reduced MRSA colonization in model mouse organs. Crystal violet staining and SEM and TEM analyses revealed that GBEE-PE inhibited MRSA and S. haemolyticus biofilm formation. Transcriptional analysis revealed that GBEE-PE inhibits MRSA biofilms by altering ion transport, cell wall metabolism and virulence-related gene expression. In addition, the LO2 cell viability and H. illucens toxicity assay data showed that GBEE-PE at 20 mg/kg was nontoxic. ConclusionThe GBEE fractions contained different components, and their antibacterial effects decreased with increases in the polarity of the extraction solvent. GBEE-PE limited MRSA growth and biofilm formation by affecting ion transport, cell wall synthesis, and virulence-related pathways. This research provides a more detailed overview of the mechanism by which GBEE-PE inhibits MRSA both in vitro and in vivo and suggests that GBEE-PE is a new prospective antimicrobial with the potential to be used in MRSA therapeutics in the future.

Antibiotic use in the Northern Irish sheep flock: What lessons can be learnt from medicine records and farmer attitudes to improve stewardship of these essential medicines?

Stewardship of antibiotics used in livestock production has come under increasing scrutiny, from both the animal welfare point of view and due to concerns that antibiotic use in livestock may pose a risk to human health through selection pressure to drive development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. Despite this concern, however, antibiotic consumption in the sheep sector is currently poorly described. This study determines the range and quantities of antibiotics used in the Northern Irish (NI) sheep flock as well as exploring drivers for their use. A mixed-methods approach was utilised, with an anonymous online scoping survey, analysis of the medicine records from 52 NI sheep farms and semi-structured interviews undertaken with 27 farmers. Eighteen farmers contributed both records and participated in interviews. Veterinary medicine records were derived from two sources: on-farm medicine books (seven) or veterinary practice sales data (51). As six of these farmers provided information from both sources a total of 52 unique farms participated. Overall, antibiotic use in sheep on the 52 farms sampled was low, with a median value of 11.35 mgPCU−1 (mean 13.63 mgPCU−1, sd 10.7; range 0–45.29 mgPCU−1), with all farms below 50 mgkg−1. Critically important antibiotics accounted for 0.21% of all antibiotics purchased. Lameness was the main driver of antibiotic use identified by this study. Others included a range of prophylactic treatments such as oral antibiotics to prevent watery mouth, injectable antibiotics to prevent abortion and following assisted lambing. Farmers acknowledged some of these uses had become habitual over time. The veterinary medicine sales records demonstrated significant sales of antibiotics not authorised for use in sheep, on an ongoing, rather than case-by-case, basis. Farmers were positive about their veterinarian’s ability and knowledge to improve flock welfare and productivity, but were unwilling to pay for this advice. However, veterinarians may have facilitated weak medicine stewardship through a failure to adequately challenge farmers seeking antibiotics. Farmers did not maintain accurate or up-to-date on farm medicine or production records in the majority of cases. Despite this lack of on-farm recording, veterinary sales records can be studied in consultation with farmers to provide veterinarians with a farm-specific insight into antibiotic use and related attitudes and behaviours. Farmers and veterinarians can then identify areas and behaviours to target collaboratively, improving antibiotic and wider medicine stewardship, whilst simultaneously improving flock health and productivity.

Study on changes of Styrax varieties

Styrax is a commonly used imported traditional Chinese medicinal material in China. It was introduced to China in the Han Dynasty and was first described as a traditional Chinese medicine in Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians(Ming Yi Bie Lu). In this paper, by combing ancient and modern Chinese and foreign herbal medicine books and modern literature, combined with the results of field investigations on the origin of Styrax, the changes of Styrax involving the name, quality evaluation, origin, place of origin, and harvesting and processing were systematically verified. The results show that since ancient times, the origin and place of origin of Styrax have been unclear. The medical scientists of all dynasties in China have evaluated the quality of Styrax from four aspects: texture, viscosity, odor concentration, and color. The varieties of Styrax changed twice. The first change may have occurred during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the base changed from Styrax officinalis to Liquidambar orientalis. The second change was in modern times, and the base changed from L. orientalis to L. styraciflua. At the same time, the place of origin changed for the first time, from Turkey, Syria, and other countries in southern Asia Minor to Honduras, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America and southern North America. This paper studied the historical evolution of Styrax in terms of quality evaluation, origin, place of origin, character, and harvesting and processing. At the same time, it summarized the application of Styrax in the western countries, which can provide a historical basis for the further development and utilization of Styrax.

Pharmaceutical Screening of Bat Feces and Their Applications and Risks in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Bat feces have been reported in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) books to have the effect of reducing fever and improving eyesight, but the mechanism of vision improvement still needs further research. To this end, we used 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to analyze the antioxidant capacity of and the types of vitamins in bat feces. We hoped to screen the pharmacological components of bat feces and to explain the role that these components may play in treating visual deterioration. Our results found that bat feces had a good antioxidant capacity and mainly contained vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B3 (nicotinic acid), and B5 (pantothenic acid). Although these vitamins may help to maintain the health of the optic nerve and cornea, the vitamin content of bat feces is low, but the heavy metal content is high, as shown using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. Therefore, we suggest that the use of bat feces as TCM to improve vision should be strictly restricted.