Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the menstrual distress questionnaire.

Background: The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) is a commonly used questionnaire that assesses various symptoms and distress associated with the menstrual cycle in women. However, the questionnaire has not been completely translated into Chinese with rigorous reliability and validity testing.

Methods: This study translated the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire Form Cycle (MDQC) from English into Chinese: MDQCC in two stages.

Finding of the optimal preparation and timing of endometrium in frozen-thawed embryo transfer: a literature review of clinical evidence.

Frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) has been a viable alternative to fresh embryo transfer in recent years because of the improvement in vitrification methods. Laboratory-based studies indicate that complex molecular and morphological changes in endometrium during the window of implantation after exogenous hormones with controlled ovarian stimulation may alter the interaction between the embryo and endometrium, leading to a decreased implantation potential. Based on the results obtained from randomized controlled studies, increased pregnancy rates and better perinatal outcomes have been reported following FET.

Herbs for lochia discharge used among postpartum women in Taiwan.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In the traditional Taiwanese culture of "postpartum confinement", the term "lochia discharge" is a synonym for assisting postpartum uterine involution. Postpartum women in Taiwan consult traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies to obtain various TCM formulations that facilitate lochia discharge.

Aim Of The Study: As an ethnopharmacy study, we aimed to conduct field investigations to explore the herbal composition of TCM formulations for lochia discharge provided by TCM pharmacies in Taiwan and to identify the pharmaceutical implications of these TCM formulations.

Comparison of Quality of Life Between Breast Cancer Patients Treated With and Without Adjunctive Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, breast cancer has the highest incidence among all cancers. Although adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine treatment (TCM) have been used to ameliorate the side effects or discomfort caused by cancer treatments, no study has focused on the assessment of the quality of life of patients undergoing adjunctive TCM treatments. This study compared the quality of life between breast cancer patients treated with and without adjunctive TCM.

Ethnobotanical Survey on Bitter Tea in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, herbal tea is considered a traditional medicine and has been consumed for hundreds of years. In contrast to regular tea, herbal teas are prepared using plants other than the regular tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacy Prescriptions for Dysmenorrhea.

Chinese herbal medicines have long been used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. The treatment experiences of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies passed down through generations have contributed to a wealth of prescriptions for dysmenorrhea that have achieved significant therapeutic effects in countless Taiwanese women. Therefore, surveying and analyzing these prescriptions may enable us to elucidate the core medication combinations used in TCM prescriptions for dysmenorrhea.

Ethnobotanical Survey on Skin Whitening Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan.

The increasing interest and demand for skin whitening products globally, particularly in Asia, have necessitated rapid advances in research on skin whitening products used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Herein, we investigated 74 skin whitening prescriptions sold in TCM pharmacies in Taiwan. Commonly used medicinal materials were defined as those with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) > 0.

Electroacupuncture in the Contralesional Hemisphere Improves Neurological Function Involving GABA in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Rats.

This study investigated the effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on the contralesional hemisphere in rats with ischemic stroke. EA of 2 Hz was applied on the contralesionally Luoque (BL8) and Tongtian (BL7) acupoints of the scalp to investigate the neurological status and mechanism in ischemia-reperfusion injury rats. The differences in the neurological deficit score and Rotarod test time between days 3 and 15 after reperfusion were significantly lower in the sham group (0.

Ethnobotanical Survey of Natural Galactagogues Prescribed in Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacies in Taiwan.

Natural medicinal materials have been used to promote breast milk secretion. Here, we investigated the natural medicinal materials prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies across Taiwan to induce lactation. We collected medicinal materials from 87 TCM pharmacies, identified them in the prescriptions, and analyzed their drug contents.

Use of Chinese Medicine Reduces the Development of Cervical Cancer from Pap Smear-Diagnosed Cervical Dysplasia: A Case-Control Study.

The Pap test diagnosed cervical dysplasia, which could recover to normal or progress to cervical cancer (CC), is an early stage of cell abnormality before CC. This case-control study analyzed the differences in the risk to develop CC between Chinese medicine (CM) users and nonusers among women who had ever been diagnosed as having cervical dysplasia. A total of 750 CC patients with a cervical dysplasia history were collected between 1998 and 2011 from National Health Insurance Research Database, and controls were women with cervical dysplasia history but did not develop CC.

Asthma is associated with endometriosis: A retrospective population-based cohort study.

Background: Evidence regarding the association between asthma and endometriosis is limited and inconsistent. The goal of the study was to investigate whether women diagnosed as having asthma were at a greater risk of endometriosis than age-matched unaffected women.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective study by using data retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database during the period of 2000-2005 with follow-up through 2013.

Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects of the aqueous extracts from Glycine species and its bioactive compounds.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects of the aqueous extracts from three Glycine species. In HPLC analysis, the chromatograms of three Glycine species were established. Flavonoid-related compounds might be important bioactive compounds in Glycine species.

Tongue color changes within a menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women.

Tongue color ( shé sè) has been used to diagnose abnormal body conditions for thousands of years in traditional Chinese Medicine ( zhōng yī). However, it is not clear whether tongue color alters with physiological changes within a normal menstrual cycle ( yuè jīng zhōu qī). This study investigated difference in tongue color between the follicular phase and luteal phase in eumenorrheic women.

The Association Between Behavior Restrictions in Doing-the-Month Practice and Mental Health Status Among Postpartum Women.

Objectives: Doing-the-month practice has been commonly observed by women during the first month after delivery for hundreds of years in several countries of Asia. This retrospective study examined the correlation between these restricted behaviors and mental status in postpartum women.

Materials And Methods: The frequencies of seven restricted behaviors during the first month after delivery and levels of depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were measured in 341 women 4-6 weeks after delivery through self-reported questionnaires.

Use of Chinese medicine correlates negatively with the consumption of conventional medicine and medical cost in patients with uterine fibroids: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Chinese medicine is commonly used and covered by health insurance to treat symptoms of uterine fibroids in Taiwan. This retrospective cohort study compared the consumption of conventional western medicine and medical cost between Chinese medicine (CM) users and nonusers among patients with uterine fibroids.

Methods: We extracted 44,122 patients diagnosed with uterine fibrosis between 1996 and 2010 from the National Health Insurance reimbursement database, which is a population-based database released by a government-run health insurance system.

Reduction of surgery rate in endometriosis patients who take Chinese medicine: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Female patients have frequently utilized Chinese medicine (CM) to treat symptoms that could possibly be related to endometriosis. The objective of this population-based retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the relationship between CM use and subsequent surgery among patients with endometriosis.

Design: A total of 8,283 CM users were identified among the 22,488 endometriosis patients found in the National Health Insurance reimbursement database between 2000 and 2010.

Electroacupuncture-like stimulation at Baihui and Dazhui acupoints exerts neuroprotective effects through activation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated MEK1/2/ERK1/2/p90RSK/bad signaling pathway in mild transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture-like stimulation at Baihui (GV20) and Dazhui (GV14) acupoints (EA at acupoints) following mild cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Furthermore, we investigated whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway is involved in the neuroprotection induced by EA at acupoints.

Methods: Rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) for 15 min followed by reperfusion for 3 d.

Acoustic features for identifying constitutions in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objectives: Constitutions are Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes that are used to classify symptoms. The present study sought to identify objective acoustic features for eight commonly occurring abnormal constitutions.

Methods: Speech signals were obtained from 281 subjects through a 1-second vowel sound, /a/, uttered by the subjects.

Use of chinese medicine and subsequent surgery in women with uterine fibroid: a retrospective cohort study.

Background. Chinese medicine (CM) has been used to relieve symptoms relevant to uterine fibroids. Objective.

Paeonol Protects Memory after Ischemic Stroke via Inhibiting β-Secretase and Apoptosis.

Poststroke dementia commonly occurs following stroke, with its pathogenesis related to β-amyloid production and apoptosis. The present study evaluate the effects of paeonol, one of the phenolic phytochemicals isolated from the Chinese herb Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (MC), on protection from memory loss after ischemic stroke in the subacute stage. Rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo) with 10 min of ischemia.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Chinese medicinal herbs on cerebral ischemia.

Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of anti-inflammation, including cellular immunity, inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide and several transcriptional factors, in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. This article reviews the roles of Chinese medicinal herbs as well as their ingredients in the inflammatory cascade induced by cerebral ischemia. Chinese medicinal herbs exert neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia.

The Association between Traditional Chinese Dietary and Herbal Therapies and Uterine Involution in Postpartum Women.

Background. Traditional Chinese postpartum care is believed to help in the recovery of women after delivery. Objective.

Use of Chinese medicine among survivors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Taiwan: a population-based study.

Unlabelled: Hypotheses. The authors hypothesized that the use of alternative medicine, in the form of Chinese medicine (CM), among patients in the continuing care phase of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Taiwan is higher than the use in a matched control group of noncancer individuals.

Study Design: This was a case-control study.