Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practice is currently intentionally applied in clinical populations, especially those with cardiovascular diseases because of its potential benefits on the autonomic nervous system. The long-term effect of TCC practice on heart rate variability (HRV) remains largely unknown. In this study, we recruited 23 TCC practitioners whose experience averaged approximately 21 years and 19 controls matched by age, sex and education to examine the effect of TCC practice on the autonomic nervous system during a resting state and during an abdominal breathing state. HRV was measured by traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) recording. The results showed that the low frequency, total power frequency, and normalized low frequency components and the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio were significantly higher, whereas the normalized high frequency was significantly lower in the TCC practitioners relative to controls during the abdominal breathing state. However, we did not detect any significant difference in the HRV measures during the resting state between the two groups. Additionally, TCC experience did not correlate with HRV components either in the abdominal state or the resting state in the TCC group. Considering all of these findings, we suggest that TCC improves vagal activity and the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity during the relaxation state. This study also provides direct physiological evidence for the role of TCC practice in relaxation.
In this paper, ab initio MP2 calculations have been performed to study the traditional and halogen-shared halogen bonds formed by a series of doped all-metal aromatic clusters MAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup> (M = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) and YX (Y = HCC-, F<sub>3</sub>C-, HO-; X = Cl, Br, I). On the basis of our calculations, four halogen-bonded interaction modes, coded as MAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup>-XY-<i>1</i>, MAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup>-XY-2, MAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup>-XY-<i>3</i> and MAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup>-XY-<i>4</i>, have been recognized for complexes of MAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup>-XY. In particular, the configurations (configurations <i>2</i> and <i>3</i>) of the HCCX- and F<sub>3</sub>CX-containing complexes display different arrangements from those of HOX-containing complexes. Although the most positive electrostatic potentials on the surfaces of X atoms in monomers of YX (Y = HCC-, F<sub>3</sub>C-, HO-; X = Cl, Br, I) are similar, the interaction strength of HOX-containing complex is much stronger than those of HCCX- and F<sub>3</sub>CX-containing complexes. Based on the AIM, NBO and ELF analyses, the halogen bonds in the HCCCl/Br- and F<sub>3</sub>CCl/Br-containing complexes belong to traditional halogen bonds, while those in SiAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup>-BrCF<sub>3</sub>-<i>1</i>, GeAl<sub>3</sub> <sup>−</sup>-BrCF<sub>3</sub>-<i>1</i> and HCCI- and F<sub>3</sub>CI-containing complexes are halogen-shared halogen bonds. The halogen bonds in the HOX-containing complexes belong to covalent bonds or halogen-shared halogen bonds.
Liver fibrosis is a severe health problem, threatening the life quality and causing death, raising great concerns worldwide. Shi-Wei-Gan-Ning-Pill (SWGNP) is a traditional Tibetan recipe used to treat hepatic injuries; however, its hepatoprotective mechanism has not yet fully clarified. In this study, histological staining, biochemical assays, and elements determination were applied to evaluate the anti-fibrotic efficacy of SWGNP on a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepato-fibrosis rat model. NMR-based metabolomics combined with orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), canonical regression analysis, and correlation networks analysis was used to characterize the potential biomarkers as well as metabolic pathways associated with the hepatoprotective activity of SWGNP. The results showed that SWGNP could significantly attenuate the pathological changes and decrease the levels of fibrosis markers (ColIV, HA, LN, and PCIII), and regulate the disordered elements distribution. Multivariate analysis and correlation network analysis revealed that SWGNP could protect rats against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis through anti-oxidation, repairing the impaired energy metabolisms and reversing the disturbed amino acids and nucleic acids metabolisms. In conclusion, this integrated metabolomics approach provided new insights into the mechanism of the hepatoprotective effect of SWGNP in liver fibrosis disease.
Around 70-80% of drugs used in traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) come from Qinghai Tibet Plateau, the majority of which are plants. The biological and medicinal culture diversity on Qinghai Tibet Plateau are amazing and constitute a less tapped resource for innovative drug research and development. Meanwhile, the problem of the exhausting Tibetan medicine resources is worrying. Here, the latest awareness, as well as the gaps of the traditional Tibetan medicinal plant issues in drug development and clinical usage of TTM compounds, was systematically reviewed and highlighted. The TTM resource studies should be enhanced within the context of deeper and more extensive investigations of molecular biology and genomics of TTM plants, phytometabolites and metabolomics and ethnopharmacology-based bioactivity, thus enabling the sustainable conservation and exploitation of Tibetan medicinal resource.
Around 70–80% of drugs used in traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) come from Qinghai Tibet Plateau, the majority of which are plants. The biological and medicinal culture diversity on Qinghai Tibet Plateau are amazing and constitute a less tapped resource for innovative drug research and development. Meanwhile, the problem of the exhausting Tibetan medicine resources is worrying. Here, the latest awareness, as well as the gaps of the traditional Tibetan medicinal plant issues in drug development and clinical usage of TTM compounds, was systematically reviewed and highlighted. The TTM resource studies should be enhanced within the context of deeper and more extensive investigations of molecular biology and genomics of TTM plants, phytometabolites and metabolomics and ethnopharmacology-based bioactivity, thus enabling the sustainable conservation and exploitation of Tibetan medicinal resource.
Highly elevated concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were found in the municipal sewage in Tibet. Material flow analysis supports the hypothesis that these elevated concentrations are related to regular ingestion of Hg-containing Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM). In Tibet in 2015, a total of 3600 kg of THg was released from human body into the terrestrial environment as a result of TTM ingestion, amounting to 45% of the total THg release into the terrestrial environment in Tibet, hence substantially enhancing the environmental Hg burden. Regular ingestion of TTM leads to chronic exposure of Tibetans to inorganic Hg (IHg) and MeHg, which is 34 to 3000-fold and 0-12-fold higher than from any other known dietary sources, respectively. Application of a human physiology model demonstrated that ingestion of TTM can induce high blood IHg and MeHg levels in the human body. Moreover, 180 days would be required for the MeHg to be cleared out of the human body and return to the initial concentration i.e. prior to the ingestion of 1 TTM pill. Our analysis suggests that high Hg level contained in TTM could be harmful to human health and elevate the environmental Hg burden in Tibet.
Highly elevated concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were found in the municipal sewage in Tibet. Material flow analysis supports the hypothesis that these elevated concentrations are related to regular ingestion of Hg-containing Traditional Tibetan Medicine (TTM). In Tibet in 2015, a total of 3600 kg of THg was released from human body into the terrestrial environment as a result of TTM ingestion, amounting to 45% of the total THg release into the terrestrial environment in Tibet, hence substantially enhancing the environmental Hg burden. Regular ingestion of TTM leads to chronic exposure of Tibetans to inorganic Hg (IHg) and MeHg, which is 34 to 3000-fold and 0-12-fold higher than from any other known dietary sources, respectively. Application of a human physiology model demonstrated that ingestion of TTM can induce high blood IHg and MeHg levels in the human body. Moreover, 180 days would be required for the MeHg to be cleared out of the human body and return to the initial concentration i.e. prior to the ingestion of 1 TTM pill. Our analysis suggests that high Hg level contained in TTM could be harmful to human health and elevate the environmental Hg burden in Tibet.
Purpose: The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, types and reasons for use, and determinants of use among survivors of childhood cancer. Methods: An interviewer-based survey of CAM use was administered to 197 survivors or their guardians. Demographic data, CAM therapies used, purpose and referral for use, and communication about use was collected. Results: A total of 115 (58%) survivors reported using CAM in survivorship, 72% of which used biologically based therapies. The majority of therapies were used for relaxation and stress management (15%), referred for use by the parent (25%), reported as very effective (62%), and initiated 0 to 4 years after completion of cancer treatment (41%). Among CAM users, young adults used manipulative and body-based therapies [odds ratio (OR) = 3.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-7.8] and mind-body therapies (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2-6.4) more than children. Use of mind-body therapies was associated with not attending religious services regularly (OR = 2.4; P < 0.01). Half (51%) of all CAM therapies were disclosed to the physician. Conclusions: Survivors of childhood cancer frequently use CAM for health promotion and mitigation of physical and psychological conditions. Clinicians should consider the role of CAM in the adoption of healthy lifestyles among this population.
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