In this article the classics textual research to the origin of "Zha-xun" was carried out, the ethnobotanical research methods, the origin of visits, key informant interviews, sample collection and textual research were applied in the research. The results showed that the hypothesis of Zha-xun"s origin mainly included "source of mine", "source of feces", "source of monkey menstrual blood" in China. There were "source of fossil", "source of the plant secretion" abroad. The authors had interviewed the villagers at origin, herbalists, Tibetan doctors, herb dealers, foreign scholars for a total of 18 people, and collecting 45 batches medicinal materials. According to ancient Tibetan classics textual and Tibetan medicine doctors' views, medicinal materials were divided into the genuine and the substitutes. The genuine was identified as ancient so-called "iron" type "Zha-xun", and the substitute was fecal pellet bonding briquette. According to the field survey and literature research, "source of fossil" more in line with substance of Zha-xun was derived from the rock. As the results, the author believed that Zha-xun was the mixture of organic fossils from the rock seepage with flying squirrel, pika feces. So it is needed to be set up Zha-xun classification standard to evaluate the quality of medicinal materials. Meanwhile, it was necessary to further clarify fecal pellet substitute rationality. Above all, this article clarified the status of the use of Tibetan medicine-"Zha-xun", and laid the foundation of species systematics and quality standards research of "Zha-xun".
Four novel lactams, colletotrilactam A-D (1-4), along with six known compounds (5-10) were isolated from the culture broth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides GT-7, a fungal endophyte of Uncaria rhynchophylla. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by comprehensive NMR spectroscopy. Isolates were tested for monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activity and compound 9 showed potent MAO inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 8.93±0.34μg/mL, when the IC50 value of iproniazid as a standard was 1.80±0.5μg/mL.
Four novel lactams, colletotrilactam A-D (1-4), along with six known compounds (5-10) were isolated from the culture broth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides GT-7, a fungal endophyte of Uncaria rhynchophylla. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by comprehensive NMR spectroscopy. Isolates were tested for monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activity and compound 9 showed potent MAO inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 8.93±0.34μg/mL, when the IC50 value of iproniazid as a standard was 1.80±0.5μg/mL.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Saussurea involucrata (Kar. et Kir.) Sch.-Bip. (Compositae) has long been used under the herbal name "Snow Lotus" for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, stomachache and dysmenorrhea in Uighur folk medicine. In traditional Tibetan medicine, Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz. and Saussurea medusa Maxim. have also been used under the name "Snow Lotus" and prescribed for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions.AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study evaluated the pharmacological effects of three species of "Snow Lotus" in experimental inflammation and pain models, and determined the chemical compounds that may correlate with their pharmacological activities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory activities of the three herbs were observed by using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and xylene-induced ear edema in mice. Investigations on the analgesic effects were conducted, including acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate test. An UPLC-MS method was developed to analyze the chemical composition of the three herbs and of plasma samples after herb administration.
RESULTS: In rat paw edema model, the peak inhibitory effects of Saussurea laniceps and Saussurea involucrata (55.1% and 42.2%, respectively) were recorded with the dose of 400mg/kg at 3h post-carrageenan injection. In mouse ear edema model, oral administration of Saussurea laniceps, Saussurea involucrata and Saussurea medusa extract (400mg/kg) resulted in a significant inhibition of ear edema by 40.9%, 33.3%, and 9.1%, respectively. In the writhing test, oral administration of Saussurea laniceps extract (100, 200 and 400mg/kg) resulted in a significant inhibition of writhings by 13.5%, 22.3%, and 43.5%, respectively. In the hot-plate test, Saussurea laniceps extract significantly increased the latency of jumping response by 38.2% and 52.7% when treated orally at 200 and 400mg/kg in mice, respectively. Flavonoids, coumarins and lignins were found to be present in plasma after administration of the extracts and may be the basis of the observed pharmacological effects.
CONCLUSION: The results clearly demonstrated that Saussurea laniceps was most effective; Saussurea involucrata exhibited a moderate potency, whereas Saussurea medusa possessed little effect against the experimental edema and pains. This study also supported discrimination among the three herbs when using them in folk medicine.
The present study evaluated the pharmacological effects of three species <b>Saussurea</b> commonly used as the traditional herbal drug “Snow Lotus” in experimental inflammation and pain models, and determined the chemical compounds that may correlate with their pharmacological activities. The results clearly demonstrated that <b>Saussurea laniceps</b> was most effective; <b>Saussurea involucrata</b> exhibited a moderate potency, whereas <b>Saussurea medusa</b> possessed little effect against the experimental edema and pains. Flavonoids, coumarins and lignins were found to be present in plasma after administration of the extracts and may be the basis of the observed pharmacological effects.<br>Ethnopharmacological relevance: <b>Saussurea involucrata</b> (Kar. et Kir.) Sch.-Bip. (Compositae) has long been used under the herbal name “Snow Lotus” for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, stomachache and dysmenorrhea in Uighur folk medicine. In traditional Tibetan medicine, <b>Saussurea laniceps</b> Hand.-Mazz. and <b>Saussurea medusa</b> Maxim. have also been used under the name “Snow Lotus” and prescribed for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions.<br>Aim of the study: The present study evaluated the pharmacological effects of three species of “Snow Lotus” in experimental inflammation and pain models, and determined the chemical compounds that may correlate with their pharmacological activities.<br>Materials and methods: The anti-inflammatory activities of the three herbs were observed by using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and xylene-induced ear edema in mice. Investigations on the analgesic effects were conducted, including acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate test. An UPLC-MS method was developed to analyze the chemical composition of the three herbs and of plasma samples after herb administration.<br>Results: In rat paw edema model, the peak inhibitory effects of <b>Saussurea laniceps</b> and <b>Saussurea involucrata</b> (55.1% and 42.2%, respectively) were recorded with the dose of 400 mg/kg at 3 h post-carrageenan injection. In mouse ear edema model, oral administration of <b>Saussurea laniceps</b>, <b>Saussurea involucrata</b> and <b>Saussurea medusa</b> extract (400 mg/kg) resulted in a significant inhibition of ear edema by 40.9%, 33.3%, and 9.1%, respectively. In the writhing test, oral administration of <b>Saussurea laniceps</b> extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) resulted in a significant inhibition of writhings by 13.5%, 22.3%, and 43.5%, respectively. In the hot-plate test, <b>Saussurea laniceps</b> extract significantly increased the latency of jumping response by 38.2% and 52.7% when treated orally at 200 and 400 mg/kg in mice, respectively. Flavonoids, coumarins and lignins were found to be present in plasma after administration of the extracts and may be the basis of the observed pharmacological effects.<br>Conclusion: The results clearly demonstrated that <b>Saussurea laniceps</b> was most effective; <b>Saussurea involucrata</b> exhibited a moderate potency, whereas <b>Saussurea medusa</b> possessed little effect against the experimental edema and pains. This study also supported discrimination among the three herbs when using them in folk medicine.
• MnFe2O4/MoS2 nanocomposites were prepared by a sonochemical method. • MoS2 nanosheets were exfoliated and decorated homogeneously with MnFe2O4 nanoparticles. • Mesoporous structure with specific surface area of 97.16 m2/g. • Superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetization of 37.4 Am2/kg.<br>This study established a facile one-step strategy to anchor MnFe2O4 nanoparticles on the surface of MoS2 nanosheets in a controlled manner. The as-prepared MnFe2O4/MoS2 nanocomposites were investigated by TEM, XRD, XPS, Raman, BET and VSM in detail. The MnFe2O4 nanoparticles with an average particle size of 26 nm were densely and uniformly decorated on MoS2 nanosheets, and consequently, both the aggregation of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles and restacking of MoS2 nanosheets were effectively prevented. More importantly, the MnFe2O4/MoS2 nanocomposites exhibited high specific surface area, typical superparamagnetic behavior and excellent solution dispersion, showing a great potential for biomedical applications in the fields of magnetic resonance imaging, targeted drug delivery and tumor hyperthermia.
The contents of four iridoids ( loganic acid, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside) in Gentiana tizuensis Franch. and Gentiana farreri were analyzed by HPLC. The analysis was performed on Econosphere C18 (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column, with the solution of 0.5 % acetic acid and methanol as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The results indicated that swertiamarin was not detected in Gentiana tizuensis Franch., and the contents of four iridoids in these two plants were different.
Abstract This presented study describes a method based on high performance liquid chromatography combined with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) using N-(2-iodoacetyl)-1-pyrenemethylamine (NIPA) as a novel fluorescence labeling reagent for the determination of thyreostats in bovine milk. Five thyreostats, belonging to the group of imidazole and thiouracil, were investigated in this work: tapazole (TAP), thiouracil (TU), methylthiouracil (MTU), propylthiouracil (PTU) and phenylthiouracial (PhTU). Thyreostats were specifically purified by a silver ion solid phase extraction (Ag-SPE) cartridge and then labeled using NIPA. The labeled derivatives showed excellent fluorescence property with maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of 330 nm and 375 nm, respectively. The labeled derivatives were separated on a reversed-phase Eclipse SB-C18 column within 12 min. Excellent linearity (R2 > 0.995) of all thyreostats was achieved with the limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantitation (LOQs) in the low micrograms per liter range of 0.21–0.30 μg/L and 0.70–1.00 μg/L, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 93.5–98.0% were obtained for all thyreostats. The developed method has been successfully applied to analyze thyreostats in bovine milk with good applicability. Thirty bovine milk samples have been investigated, and varying levels of thiouracil were detected in thirteen of these samples. The highest level in the raw milk reached a value of 4.5 μg/L. To our best knowledge, this study is the first to report the presence of naturally occurring thiouracil in milk by HPLC-FLD analysis. Highlights • A pre-column derivatization HPLC-FLD method was developed for the determination of thyreostats in milk samples. • LOD was in the low micrograms per liter range of 0.21–0.30 μg·L−1. • The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of thyreostats in milk sample. • This study is the first to report the presence of naturally occurring thiouracil in milk by HPLC-FLD analysis.
Chemical isotope labelling in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (CIL-HPLC-MS/MS) is a powerful method for quantitative profiling of targeted molecules. In the current work, we successfully developed a novel CIL-HPLC-MS/MS method for quantitative profiling of residual organophosphorus thioester pesticides (OPTPs) in agricultural products through the determination of the cleavage products of thiol (CP-thiol) compounds. In this method, we synthesized a novel pair of CIL reagents, i.e., N-(4-(carbazole-9-yl)-phenyl)-N-maleimide (NCPM-d0) and its deuterated analogue NCPM-d2, both of which contain a maleimide moiety as the reactive group and an isotope tag to sensitively label CP-thiol compounds. NCPM-d0 was used to label CP-thiol compounds cleaved from OPTPs in the investigated agricultural product samples, and NCPM-d2 was used to label CP-thiol compounds cleaved from OPTPs in the standard substance-spiked organic agricultural product samples. The heavily labelled derivatives were used as the internal standards (ISs) to compensate for the matrix effects during MS analysis. The NCPM-d0- and NCPM-d2-labelled derivatives generated two characteristic product ions (PIs) at m/z 372.5 and 374.5 under collision induced dissociation, respectively, which are used to establish the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode-based detection. The precursor ions of NCPM-d0 and NCPM-d2 labelled derivatives of CP-thiol compounds were deduced according to the structures of the OPTPs. The peak pairs with a fixed mass difference and similar retention times were assigned as potential CP-thiol candidates for the identification of the corresponding OPTPs. Using the proposed method, we successfully determined seven residual OPTPs in agricultural product samples. Taken together, the presented method was demonstrated to be a promising new technique in the quantitation of OPTPs in agricultural product samples with high reliability.
This study is aimed to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of skimmin, scopolin and umbelliferone in Saussurea hieracioides. Samples were analyzed on a Wondasil C18-WR column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with methanol (A) and water containing 0.1% phosphate (B) as mobile phases for gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength and column temperature were set at 325 nm and 35 degrees C, respectively, and the sample size was 10 microL. The results showed that skimmin, scopolin and umbelliferone were simultaneously achieved within 40 min under the above conditions. A good linearity was observed in the range of 0.18-5.6 microg (r = 1.000 0), 0.060-1.8 microg (r = 0.999 9), 0.032-0.97 microg (r = 0.999 8) for skimmin, scopolin and umbelliferone, respectively, with the average recoveries of 99.16% (RSD = 0.41%), 100.3% (RSD = 0.79%), 102.2% (RSD = 0.87%). The method is simple, accurate and reproducible and can be used for the quality control of S. hieracioides.
A pair of stable isotope labeling (SIL) reagents, <b>N</b>-(4-(carbazole-9-yl)-phenyl)-<b>N</b>-maleimide (NCPM-d0) and its heavy analogue NCPM-d2, were used for labeling thiol-containing drugs. On basis of SIL, a global isotope internal standard quantitative method for the detection of five thiol-containing drugs by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was developed. The NCPM-d0 and NCPM-d2 can easily label thiol-containing drugs under mild conditions within 10 min at 40 °C. The NCPM-d0 and NCPM-d2 labeled thiol-containing drugs can generate two characteristic product ions (<b>m</b>/<b>z</b> at 372.5 and 374.5) under collision induced dissociation, respectively, which is used to establish the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) based detection. The NCPM labeling combined with MRM analysis not only allowed trace detection of thiol-containing drugs due to the extremely high sensitivity, but also efficiently corrected the matrix effects during HPLC-MS/MS and the instrument fluctuation in the MS/MS signal intensity. The detection sensitivities of thiol-containing drugs improved by 14.5-650.5-fold due to NCPM-labeling, while the matrix and ion suppression effects were markedly minimized by the SIL strategy. The limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantitation (LOQs) were in the range 10.0-15.0 ng·mL−1 and 31.0-50.0 ng·mL−1, respectively. The proposed method was used for the simultaneous determination of five thiol-containing drugs in plasma samples with satisfactory recoveries in the range of 95.0-97.5%.<br>• A stable isotope labeling strategy for analyzing thiol-containing drugs has been developed. • A pair of SIL reagents NCPM-d0 and NCPM-d2 were used to label thiol-containing drugs. • The detection sensitivities of thiol-containing drugs improved by 14.5-650.5-fold. • The proposed method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of captopril.
The mercury in Tibetan medicine has become important focus in the research on medicine safety evaluation. The total mercury and the ionic mercury in artificial gastric juice of Tibetan medicine Dangzuo were detected by Gold Amalgam Enrichment-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (GAE-AFS). In the present study, Tibetan medicine Dangzuo was prepared by H2SO4-KNO3 digestion system and artificial gastric juice. The established method and condition of instrument were investigated. Under the optimum experimental conditions and instrumental operation parameters, the recovery (n=6) of HgS is 99.56$ (RSD = 1.94%), the limit of detection for mercury is 0.2 ng x L(-1), the linear range is 0-500 ng x L(-1), and r = 0.9999. Then, the total mercury and the ionic mercury in artificial gastric juice in Dangzuo samples from different Tibetan regions were assayed. The result showed that the ranges of total mercury and ionic mercury in artificial gastric juice were 3.9980-16.7358 x mg x g(-1) and 45.5377-1033.9850 ng x g(-1), respectively. The analytical method mentioned above is rapid and accurate for determining the amount of mercury in Tibetan medicine Dangzuo.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and excessive belching, most belches are supragastric, and can induce reflux episodes and worsen GERD. Supragastric belching (SGB) might be reduced with diaphragmatic breathing exercises. We investigated whether diaphragmatic breathing therapy is effective in reducing belching and proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-refractory gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 36 consecutive patients with GERD refractory to PPI therapy and a belching visual analogue scale (VAS) score of 6 or more, seen at a gastroenterology clinic at a tertiary hospital in Singapore from April 2015 through October 2016. Patients underwent high-resolution manometry and 24-hour pH-impedance studies while they were off PPIs. Fifteen patients were placed on a standardized diaphragmatic breathing exercise protocol (treatment group) and completed questionnaires at baseline, after diaphragmatic breathing therapy, and 4 months after the therapy ended. Twenty-one patients were placed on a waitlist (control subjects), completed the same questionnaires with an additional questionnaire after their waitlist period, and eventually received diaphragmatic breathing therapy. The primary outcome was reduction in belching VAS by 50% or more after treatment. Secondary outcomes included GERD symptoms (evaluated using the reflux disease questionnaire) and quality of life (QoL) scores, determined from the Reflux-Qual Short Form and EuroQoL-VAS.
RESULTS: Nine of the 15 patients in the treatment group (60%) and none of the 21 control subjects achieved the primary outcome (P < .001). In the treatment group, the mean belching VAS score decreased from 7.1 – 1.5 at baseline to 3.5 – 2.0 after diaphragmatic breathing therapy; in the control group, the mean VAS score was 7.6 – 1.1 at baseline and 7.4 – 1.3 after the waitlist period. Eighty percent of patients in the treatment group significantly reduced belching frequency compared with 19% in control subjects (P [ .001). Treatment significantly reduced symptoms of GERD (the mean reflux disease questionnaire score decreased by 12.2 in the treatment group and 3.1 in the control group; P [ .01). The treatment significantly increased QoL scores (the mean Reflux-Qual Short Form score increased by 15.4 in the treatment group and 5.2 in the control group; P [ .04) and mean EuroQoL-VAS scores (15.7 increase in treatment group and 2.4 decrease in the control group). These changes were sustained at 4 months after treatment. In the end, 20 of the 36 patients who received diaphragmatic breathing therapy (55.6%), all with excessive SGB, achieved the primary outcome.
CONCLUSIONS:
BackgroundMeditation has been increasingly evaluated as an important complementary therapeutic tool for the treatment of depression. The present study employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to examine the effect of body–mind relaxation meditation induction (BMRMI) on the brain activity of depressed patients and to investigate possible mechanisms of action for this complex intervention.
Method
21 major depressive disorder patients (MDDs) and 24 age and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) received rs-fMRI scans at baseline and after listening to a selection of audio designed to induce body–mind relaxation meditation. The rs-fMRI data were analyzed using Matlab toolbox to obtain the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of the BOLD signal for the whole brain. A mixed-design repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the whole brain to find which brain regions were affected by the BMRMI. An additional functional connectivity analysis was used to identify any atypical connection patterns after the BMRMI.
Results
After the BMRMI experience, both the MDDs and HCs showed decreased ALFF values in the bilateral frontal pole (BA10). Additionally, increased functional connectivity from the right dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) to the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was identified only in the MDDs after the BMRMI.
Limitation
In order to exclude the impact of other events on the participants׳ brain activity, the Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression (HDRS) was not measured after the body–mind relaxation induction.
Conclusion
Our findings support the hypothesis that body–mind relaxation meditation induction may regulate the activities of the prefrontal cortex and thus may have the potential to help patients construct reappraisal strategies that can modulate the brain activity in multiple emotion-processing systems.
BackgroundMeditation has been increasingly evaluated as an important complementary therapeutic tool for the treatment of depression. The present study employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to examine the effect of body–mind relaxation meditation induction (BMRMI) on the brain activity of depressed patients and to investigate possible mechanisms of action for this complex intervention.
Method
21 major depressive disorder patients (MDDs) and 24 age and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) received rs-fMRI scans at baseline and after listening to a selection of audio designed to induce body–mind relaxation meditation. The rs-fMRI data were analyzed using Matlab toolbox to obtain the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of the BOLD signal for the whole brain. A mixed-design repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the whole brain to find which brain regions were affected by the BMRMI. An additional functional connectivity analysis was used to identify any atypical connection patterns after the BMRMI.
Results
After the BMRMI experience, both the MDDs and HCs showed decreased ALFF values in the bilateral frontal pole (BA10). Additionally, increased functional connectivity from the right dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) to the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was identified only in the MDDs after the BMRMI.
Limitation
In order to exclude the impact of other events on the participants׳ brain activity, the Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression (HDRS) was not measured after the body–mind relaxation induction.
Conclusion
Our findings support the hypothesis that body–mind relaxation meditation induction may regulate the activities of the prefrontal cortex and thus may have the potential to help patients construct reappraisal strategies that can modulate the brain activity in multiple emotion-processing systems.
Total ash clearance rates and saponins' loss rates of <i>Panax notoginseng</i> rhizome, root tuber, and rootlet all increased with a prolonged washing time and the rising of water temperature. Under the same conditions, the total ash clearance rates of fresh <i>P. notoginseng</i> were significantly higher than those dried. Meanwhile, the saponins' loss rates were opposite. The highest daily intake of bioavailability heavy metals was rootlet. However, all of that was significantly lower than the recommended daily intake, and both the target hazard quotients and hazard index values were lower than 1. Conclusion, it is effective to decrease washing time and water temperature in order to reduce the loss of saponins of <i>P. notoginseng</i> on the premise that ash content of Notoginseng conforms to standard of Chinese Pharmacopeias. Safety risk assessments of heavy metals based on bioavailability can further reduce the health risk of the heavy metal exposure of Notoginseng.<br>Practical applications: Notoginseng possesses the functions of hemostatic and promoting blood circulation. Clay on the surface of Notoginseng contains high content of heavy metal and induces the exceeding of standard. Washing is the most effective way to clean heavy metal attached on Notoginseng. However, research about the washing technology of <i>Panax notoginseng</i> is still blank. Heavy metals in Notoginseng that are taken orally are much higher than the amount actually absorbed by humans. In such a condition, the risk of heavy metals in Notoginseng will be overestimated, which may bring unnecessary loss to the development of Notoginseng industry. Therefore, this experiment researches the remaining of heavy metal under different washing water temperature and washing time. Also, we evaluate the bioavailability and risk of heavy metals in Notoginseng that are washed in an optimum condition. In this way, we provide technological parameters for the washing operation in processing <i>P. notoginseng</i> and referential data to set the quantity standard of heavy metal in Notoginseng.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness on reducing anxiety of a diaphragmatic breathing relaxation (DBR) training program.DESIGN AND METHODS: This experimental, pre-test-post-test randomized controlled trial with repeated measures collected data using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and biofeedback tests for skin conductivity, peripheral blood flow, heart rate, and breathing rate.
FINDINGS: The experimental group achieved significant reductions in Beck Anxiety Inventory scores (p < .05), peripheral temperature (p = .026), heart rate (p = .005), and breathing rate (p = .004) over the 8-week training period. The experimental group further achieved a significant reduction in breathing rate (p < .001).
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings provide guidance for providing quality care that effectively reduces the anxiety level of care recipients in clinical and community settings.
BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, which is associated with diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle interventions applied to people with MetS has considerable beneficial effects on disease preventive outcomes. This study aimed to examine the effects of 1-year of yoga exercise on the cardiovascular risk factors including central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia in middle-aged and older Hong Kong Chinese adults with MetS. METHODS: Adults diagnosed with MetS using National Cholesterol Education Program criteria (n = 182; mean +/- SD age = 56 +/- 9.1) were randomly assigned to a 1-year yoga intervention group or control group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were examined at baseline, midway, and on completion of the study. Physical activity level and caloric intake were assessed and included in the covariate analyses. RESULTS: A reduction of the number of diagnostic components for MetS was found to be associated with the yoga intervention. Waist circumference was significantly improved after the 1-year yoga intervention. A trend towards a decrease in systolic blood pressure was observed following yoga intervention. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that yoga exercise improves the cardiovascular risk factors including central obesity and blood pressure in middle-aged and older adults with MetS. These findings support the complementary beneficial role of yoga in managing MetS.
INTRODUCTION: Laughter Yoga is claimed to promote mental health and is increasingly popular worldwide. Despite its popularity, there has been no systematic review of Laughter Yoga intervention studies and thus evidence of its effects on mental health is unclear. AIM: This review aimed to critically evaluate the effects of group-based Laughter Yoga on improving mental health in adults. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review of experimental studies (published from 1995 to 2017). Study quality was assessed, the effect sizes for individual mental health outcomes were calculated and all reviewed studies were narratively synthesized. RESULTS: Six experimental studies with inconsistent results were included in this review. The most promising effect of Laughter Yoga is the improvement of depressive symptoms, indicating significant medium-large effect sizes in two studies over the short term. The overall level of evidence was weak due to poor study quality and risks of bias. DISCUSSION: Laughter Yoga shows potential, but currently there is insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness in improving mental health when compared to other group-based interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This review highlights the need to conduct rigorous trials of laughter yoga before the intervention can be considered as an evidence-based intervention to improve mental health. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Low well-being is common among Chinese pregnant women but few effective interventions currently exist to improve prenatal stress and negative emotions. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been proved to be effective in reducing stress and rarely studies were focused on Chinese pregnant women. The aim of the current paper is to investigate the effects of 8-week MBSR on prenatal stress, anxiety and depression among Chinese pregnant women. A sample of 66 pregnant women randomly allocated into either the MBSR group (n=34) or the control group (n=32). Participants in the MBSR group received a group 8-week, 90-min each time intervention. The results found a significant interaction between time and condition for prenatal stress (F=45.51, p<0.001, η 2=0.427), anxiety (F=19.30, p<0.001, η 2=0.240), while depression showed no time-by-group interaction (F=0.29, p=0.589, η 2=0.005). As for the sub-scale of state anxiety, while there was only no time effect (F=3.68, p=0.060, η 2=0.057). The findings of this study preliminary indicated effects of the MBSR intervention on self-reported prenatal stress and anxiety in comparison to a treatment-as-usual control. Effect on depression was not observed may due to the low level of depression of participants. This study provides preliminary evidence that MBSR is suitable for Chinese pregnant women and be effective in decreasing prenatal stress, anxiety.
Low well-being is common among Chinese pregnant women but few effective interventions currently exist to improve prenatal stress and negative emotions. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been proved to be effective in reducing stress and rarely studies were focused on Chinese pregnant women. The aim of the current paper is to investigate the effects of 8-week MBSR on prenatal stress, anxiety and depression among Chinese pregnant women. A sample of 66 pregnant women randomly allocated into either the MBSR group (n=34) or the control group (n=32). Participants in the MBSR group received a group 8-week, 90-min each time intervention. The results found a significant interaction between time and condition for prenatal stress (F=45.51, p<0.001, η 2=0.427), anxiety (F=19.30, p<0.001, η 2=0.240), while depression showed no time-by-group interaction (F=0.29, p=0.589, η 2=0.005). As for the sub-scale of state anxiety, while there was only no time effect (F=3.68, p=0.060, η 2=0.057). The findings of this study preliminary indicated effects of the MBSR intervention on self-reported prenatal stress and anxiety in comparison to a treatment-as-usual control. Effect on depression was not observed may due to the low level of depression of participants. This study provides preliminary evidence that MBSR is suitable for Chinese pregnant women and be effective in decreasing prenatal stress, anxiety.
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