Puerarin Attenuates Iron Overload-Induced Ferroptosis in Retina through a Nrf2-Mediated Mechanism.

Scope: Age-related increases in retinal iron are involved in the development of retinal degeneration. The recently discovered iron-dependent mechanism of cell death known as ferroptosis has been linked to a wide range of pathologies. However, its role in iron overload-induced retinal degeneration is still uncertain.

Efficacy and safety of Weifuchun tablet for chronic atrophic gastritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic atrophic gastritis is a significant premalignant lesion of gastric carcinoma. There is a great need to prevent the progression to gastric carcinoma through early intervention and treatment for chronic atrophic gastritis. Weifuchun, a famous Chinese patent drug, has been widely used for chronic atrophic gastritis in China.

Evaluation of individualized treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy: a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the differences in the efficacy of stationary treatment and individualized treatment for patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).

Methods: This study was a randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial. Participants with NPDR were randomized into the stationary treatment group or the individualized treatment group.

Ameliorative effects and mechanisms of salvianic acid A on retinal iron overload in vivo and in vitro.

Excessive iron can be accumulated in the retina and lead to retinal iron overload. Salvianic acid A (SAA) has a variety of pharmacologic effects, but there is only a limited understanding of its benefits for retinal iron overload. The aim of this study was to examine the protective effects and latent mechanisms of SAA on retinal iron overload.

The efficacy and safety of Yuxingcao eye drops in the treatment of COVID-19 conjunctivitis: A protocol for a systematic review.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is no specific cure for this disease, and the clinical management mainly depends on supportive treatment. This disease may affect SARS-CoV-2 conjunctivitis.

miR-29a promotes osteoblast proliferation by downregulating DKK-1 expression and activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) is a kind of non-coding small RNA with a negative regulating function. Some miRNAs play a role in regulating the differentiation and function of osteoblasts, chondrocytes and osteoclasts.

Objectives: In this study, we analyzed the role of miR-29a and dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) in osteoblast differentiation.

Acupuncture as Adjunctive Therapy for Chronic Stable Angina: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The effects of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment to antianginal therapies for patients with chronic stable angina are uncertain.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy to antianginal therapies in reducing frequency of angina attacks in patients with chronic stable angina.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this 20-week randomized clinical trial conducted in outpatient and inpatient settings at 5 clinical centers in China from October 10, 2012, to September 19, 2015, 404 participants were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture on the acupoints on the disease-affected meridian (DAM), receive acupuncture on the acupoints on the nonaffected meridian (NAM), receive sham acupuncture (SA), and receive no acupuncture (wait list [WL] group).

Efficacy and safety of umbilical therapy with the traditional Chinese medicine formulation Lishui Xiaogu cataplasm for cirrhotic ascites: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Ascites is one of the most common complications of cirrhosis. Umbilical therapy with traditional Chinese medicines has been increasingly prescribed to treat cirrhotic ascites. However, high-quality evidence from clinical trials supporting such application of traditional Chinese medicines remains limited.

CTHRC1 mediates IL‑1β‑induced apoptosis in chondrocytes via JNK1/2 signaling.

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, is characterized by chondrocyte apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) and the c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK) 1/2 inhibitor SP600125 on rat chondrocytes cultured in vitro with interleukin (IL)‑1β. Chondrocytes were treated with different doses of IL‑1β and cell viability and CTHRC1 expression were assessed using Cell Counting Kit‑8 and western blot assays, respectively.

[Experimental research of articular cartilage defect repair using micro-fracture and insulin-like growth factor 1 in rabbits].

Objective: To investigate the effects of micro-fracture and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in treatment of articular cartilage defect in rabbits.

Methods: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits (aged, 4-6 months; weighing, 2.5-3.

Effects of long-term acupuncture treatment on resting-state brain activity in migraine patients: a randomized controlled trial on active acupoints and inactive acupoints.

Background: Acupuncture has been commonly used for preventing migraine attacks and relieving pain during a migraine, although there is limited knowledge on the physiological mechanism behind this method. The objectives of this study were to compare the differences in brain activities evoked by active acupoints and inactive acupoints and to investigate the possible correlation between clinical variables and brain responses.

Methods And Results: A randomized controlled trial and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were conducted.

Two sets of acupoint combination of similar functions engage shared neural representation: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Objective: To investigate whether the neural representations underlying alternating two acupoint combinations (ACs) are the same or not.

Methods: In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, two sets of analgesia ACs were utilized, including Waiguan (TE5) and Qiuxu (GB40) for Group A, and Neiguan (PC6) and Taichong (LR3) for Group B, which are the most commonly adopted in clinical treatment. Each group had 20 healthy subjects.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 randomized clinical trials of radix astragali and its prescriptions for diabetic retinopathy.

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radix astragali and its prescriptions for diabetic retinopathy. Methods.

[Mild cognitive impairment disease treated with electroacupuncture: a multi-center randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To verify the clinical efficacy on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) treated with electroacupuncture (EA) intervention based on the principle as "promoting the circulation of the Governor Vessel and regulating the marrow" and plan to provide the A-grade evidence of the evidence-based medicine for the clinical treatment of this disease with acupuncture and moxibustion.

Methods: The multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) was adopted. One hundred and ninety-two cases of MCI were randomized into an EA group and a nimodipine group, 96 cases in each one.

Adverse events associated with acupuncture: three multicentre randomized controlled trials of 1968 cases in China.

Background: In order to evaluate the safety of acupuncture in China objectively, we investigated the adverse events associated with acupuncture based on three multicentre randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the safety of acupuncture, identifying the common types of acupuncture adverse events, and analysing the related risk factors for their occurrence.

Methods: This observational study included patients who received acupuncture from three multicentre RCTs respectively for migraine, functional dyspepsia and Bell's palsy. The 1968 patients and their acupuncturists documented adverse events associated with acupuncture after treatment.

Effect on multifocal electroretinogram in persistently elevated intraocular pressure by erigeron breviscapus extract.

Aim: To observe the effect on multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) in persistently elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) by erigeron breviscapus extract (also named Dengzhanhua in Chinese) in rat models.

Methods: The rat models with persistently elevated IOP were established by the method of Akira. Then, erigeron breviscapus extract was given for one month to observe the effect on mfERG in persistently elevated IOP in rats.

Improved quality monitoring of multi-center acupuncture clinical trials in China.

Background: In 2007, the Chinese Science Division of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) convened a special conference to discuss quality control for TCM clinical research. Control and assurance standards were established to guarantee the quality of clinical research. This paper provides practical guidelines for implementing strict and reproducible quality control for acupuncture randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

[Quality monitoring in multi-central large sample acupuncture clinical trials].

Objective: To ensure and enhance the quality of multi-central large sample clinical trials of acupunc ture and moxibustion.

Methods: Take the multi-central clinical trials supported by National Key Technology R &- D Program of "the 11th Five-year Plan" as an example to introduce the duty of monitors and simply describe the formulation of the monitoring plan, the monitoring procedure and contents of the monitoring plan and treatment of the commonly-seen problems.

Conclusion: Quality monitoring work in multi-central large sample clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion is equally serious and scientific with clinical medical trials and it is an important way to guarantee the credible results.