RECENT RESEARCH
Acupuncture and TCM
Dong Y , Hao L , Fang K . et al .
A network pharmacology perspective for deciphering potential mechanisms of action of Solanum nigrum L . in bladder cancer . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2021 , 21 , Article no . 45 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-021-03215-3
Background : Solanum nigrum L . decoction has been used as a folklore medicine in China to prevent the postoperative recurrence of bladder cancer ( BC ). However , there are no previous pharmacological studies on the protective mechanisms of this activity of the plant . Thus , this study aimed to perform a systematic analysis and to predict the potential action mechanisms underlying S . nigrum activity in BC based on network pharmacology .
Methods : Based on network pharmacology , the active ingredients of S . nigrum and the corresponding targets were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicines for Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database , and BC-related genes were screened using GeneCards and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database . In addition , ingredient-target ( I – T ) and protein – protein interaction ( PPI ) networks were constructed using STRING and Cytoscape , Gene Ontology ( GO ) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes ( KEGG ) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted , and then the pathways directly related to BC were integrated manually to reveal the pharmacological mechanism underlying S . nigrum-medicated therapeutic effects in BC .
Results : Seven active herbal ingredients from 39 components of S . nigrum were identified , which shared 77 common target genes related to BC . I-T network analysis revealed that quercetin was associated with all targets and that NCOA2 was targeted by four ingredients . Besides , interleukin 6 had the highest degree value in the PPI network , indicating a hub role . A subsequent gene enrichment analysis yielded 86 significant GO terms and 89 significant pathways , implying that S . nigrum had therapeutic benefits in BC through multipathway effects , including the HIF-1 , TNF , P53 , MAPK , PI3K / Akt , apoptosis and bladder cancer pathway .
Conclusions : S . nigrum may mediate pharmacological effects in BC through multi-target and various signaling pathways . Further validation is required experimentally . Network pharmacology approach provides a predicative novel strategy to reveal the holistic mechanism of action of herbs .
Qu F , Zhang Q , Dai M . et al .
An evaluation survey of traditional Chinese medicine learning among international students majoring in conventional medicine : a study from a university in China . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2021 , 21 , Article no . 16 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-020- 03174-1
Background : Traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) has gained increasing acceptance and popularity by the global community . The current study aimed to investigate self-reported evaluations of learning TCM and opinions about TCM courses among undergraduate international students majoring in conventional medicine at a university in China .
Methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Zhejiang University School of Medicine . A self-reported questionnaire was administered to international undergraduates who were enrolled in the TCM course during the 2018 and 2019 academic years ( n = 157 ). The course employed a student-centered , multiform learning model . Demographic data and self-reported evaluations of TCM learning background and TCM learning course were obtained to conduct the analysis .
Results : A total of 133 students responded to the questionnaire . Among the respondents , 21.0 % had some TCMrelated knowledge , and 51.1 % were interested in learning TCM before the course . Ninety-six students ( 85.7 %) were from Asia . Students from Thailand showed significantly more interest in learning TCM than did students from other Asian countries ( p = 0.025 ). After the course , 77.2 % of students agreed that the course had brought about many benefits , 86.4 % were satisfied with the course content , and 77.3 % were satisfied with the teaching method . Students expressed their willingness to further learn acupuncture and to obtain more skilled practice through more visualized learning methods .
Conclusions : The majority of the international students we surveyed agreed that the TCM course improved their interest in and understanding of TCM . It is thus suggested that TCM education should be directed toward students ’ learning barriers and needs .
Dong B Lin L , Chen Q . et al .
Wrist-ankle acupuncture has a positive effect on cancer pain : a meta-analysis . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2021 , 21 , Article no . 24 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-020-03193-y
Background : Wrist-ankle acupuncture ( WAA ) as a kind of micro acupuncture therapy has been used to management cancer pain , however , the effects of WAA on cancer pain were controversial in the current studies . Therefore , the purpose of this meta-analysis was to critically evaluate the effect of wristankle acupuncture ( WAA ) on cancer pain .
Methods : Seven digital databases were searched from the inception of databases to July 2020 , including CNKI , Wanfang , VIP , CBM , Cochrane Library , PubMed and Embase . Randomized controlled trials conforming to the inclusion and exclusion criteria were screened and extracted ; the risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration criteria . The primary outcome indicators included pain relief rate and pain score , and the secondary outcome was adverse reaction incidence . All analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.3 .
Results : A total of 13 studies with 1005
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