Characteristics of Chinese Medicine Education Under British Education System in New Zealand Abstract With the globalisation of Chinese medicine (CM), the local CM education institutions were established in many other countries outside of China. These CM education institutions have formed a new mode in CM education after integrating with local culture, law and national conditions. This article takes New Zealand CM education institutions as an example to discuss the characteristics of CM education under the British education system, aiming to provide ideas on CM education in China and other countries.

Current Status and Problem-Solving Strategies for Ginseng Industry Abstract Ginseng is a plant in the family Araliaceae and the genus Panax with the formal name of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer and the treasure of traditional herbal medicine resources as the “king of herbs”. Ginseng has been traditionally used for over 2,000 years in Asian countries, especially in China and Republic of Korea. During the ginseng industry chain, the cultivation in farmland and seed breeding are important for sustainable development of ginseng resources. Active components in ginseng including ginsenosides, polysaccharides, phenolic compound and their therapeutic benefits for multiple diseases are being studied. This paper aimed to review current research status and problem-solving strategies for each step of ginseng industry, including ginseng growing cultivation and seed resources, basic and clinical studies as well as comparison of ginseng industry between China and Republic of Korea, hoping to provide a reference for research direction and future development of ginseng industry.

Acupuncture/Electroacupuncture as an Alternative in Current Opioid Crisis Abstract Opioid drugs are the first line of defense in severe pain but the adverse effects associated with opioids are considered as a serious issue worldwide. Acupuncture/electroacupuncture is a type of Chinese medicine therapy which is an effective analgesic therapy, well documented in animals and human studies. Electroacupuncture stimulation could release endogenous opioid peptides causing analgesia in a variety of pain models. It can be used as an alternative therapy to control the opioid crisis.

Ultrastructure Characteristics of Different Chinese Medicine Syndromes of Helicobacter pylori -Correlated Gastric Diseases Abstract Objective To explore the ultrastructure characteristics of patients with dampness-heat of Pi (Spleen)-Wei (Stomach) syndrome (DHPW) and Pi-qi deficiency syndrome (PQD), both of which are Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-correlated gastric diseases (HPCG), and implicate a helpful hint for the clinical microcosmic syndrome differentiation. Methods Fourteen gastric mucosa samples from 6 chronic gastritis (CG) and 6 active peptic ulcer (including 8 DHPW, 4 PQD) as well as 2 healthy volunteers were collected and tested for Hp infection. The ultrastructure of gastric mucosa was observed under the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results Among 14 gastric mucosa samples, 8 of them were Hp positive (6 DHPW and 2 PQD), which were all accordance with the results screened by supermicro-pathological method. Under TEM, the normal gastric mucosa, with tidy microvilli and abundant in mucus granules, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum distributed evenly, and with smooth nucleus membrane. But in those specimens of DHPW with Hp infection, microvilli were presented with burr shape. Especially, those samples from dampness-heat syndrome with predominant heat type (DHSH) patients were more obvious, with microvilli damaged, mitochondria concentrated and distributed in disorder, secretory tubule extended. In dampness-heat syndrome with predominant dampness type (DHSD) patients, mucus granules aggregated obviously, mitochondria swelled and blurred, and rough endoplasmic reticulum crowded. For 2 samples of DHPW without Hp infection, their microvilli were intact, with mitochondria increased and gathered but well-distributed, and secretory tubule extended mildly. In 2 PQD patients with Hp positive, the specimens of microvilli were sparse, and their mucus granules and mitochondria were decreased, with fractured crests and vacuole, secretory tubules extension to nucleus membrane, and rough endoplasmic reticulum extension in a pool-like way, and nucleus condensed. The 2 samples from PQD patients without Hp infection were characterized with intact microvilli, decreased mitochondria, fractured crest and extended rough endoplasmic reticulum in a pool-like way. Conclusion It’s obviously different in ultrastructure of DHPW and PQD patients under TEM, which may give a helpful hint for the microcosmic syndrome differentiation of HPCG.

Effects of TAT-SOD at Acupoints on Essential Hypertension by Monitoring Meridians Electrical Potential Abstract Objectives To investigate the effect on essential hypertension of the topical application of TAT-Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (TAT-SOD) at left acupoint Zusanli (ST 36), and to observe whether the change of electrical potential difference (EPD) can be related to the change of blood pressure. Methods Sixteen patients with essential hypertension and 16 healthy subjects were included in the study. EPD between the left acupoints of Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Qiuxu (GB 40) was firstly screened out for the EPD detection. An intracellular superoxide quenching enzyme, TAT-SOD, was topically applied to the acupoint ST 36 within an area of 1 cm2 once a day, and the influence on EPD was investigated. The dosage applied to TAT-SOD group (n=8) was 0.2 mL of 3000 U/mL TAT-SOD cream prepared by adding purified TAT-SOD to a vehicle cream, while placebo group (n=8) used the vehicle cream instead. The left acupoints of Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Qiuxu (GB 40) were selected for EPD measurement after comparing EPD readings between 5 acupoints on each of all 12 meridians. Results EPDs between the left acupoints of GB 34 and GB 40 for 16 patients of essential hypertension and 16 healthy subjects were 44.9±6.4 and 5.6±0.9 mV, respectively. Daily application of TAT-SOD for 15 days at ST 36 of essential hypertension patients significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 179.6 and 81.5 mm Hg to 153.1 and 74.1 mm Hg, respectively. Responding to the change in blood pressure, EPD between the left acupoints of GB 34 and GB 40 also declined from 44.4 to 22.8 mV with the same trend. No change was observed with SBP, DBP and EPD between the left acupoints of GB 34 and GB 40 with the daily application of the placebo cream. Conclusion Enzymatic scavenging of the intracellular superoxide at ST 36 proved to be effective in decreasing SBP and DBP. The results reconfirm the involvement of superoxide anions and its transportation along the meridians, and demonstrate that EPD between acupoints may be an indicator to reflect its functioning status. Moreover, preliminary results suggest a close correlation between EPD and blood pressure readings, implying a possibility of using EPD as a sensitive parameter for blood pressure and to monitor the effect of antihypertensive treatment.

Study on Mechanism of Chaihu Shugan Powder (柴胡疏肝散) for Treating Depression Based on Network Pharmacology Abstract Objective To analyze the effective components of Chinese medicine (CM) contained in Chaihu Shugan Powder (柴胡疏肝散, CSP) in the treatment of depressive disorders and to predict its anti-depressant mechanism by network pharmacology. Methods Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity calculation method was used to screen the active components of CSP. Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacological Database Analysis Platform and text mining tool (GoPuMed database) were used to predict and screen the active ingredients of CSP and anti-depressive targets. Through Genetic Association Database, Therapeutic Target Database, and PharmGkb database targets for depression were obtained. Cytoscape3.2.1 software was used to establish a network map of the active ingredients-targets of CSP, and to analyze gene function and metabolic pathways through Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery and the Omicshare database. Results The 121 active ingredients and 15 depression-related targets which were screened from the database can exert antidepressant effects by improving the neural plasticity, growth, transfer condition and gene expression of neuronal cell, and the raise of the expression of gap junction protein. The 15 targets passed 14 metabolic pathways, mainly involved in the regulation of neurotransmitters (5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and epinephrine), inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, calcium signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and other signal channels to exert anti-depressant effects. Conclusion This article reveals the possible mechanism of CSP in the treatment of depression through network pharmacology research, and lays a foundation for further target studies.

Exploration of Stratified Evidence Scoring Method of Acupuncture Clinical Practice Guidelines Abstract Due to its own internal laws of development, Chinese medicine (CM) seems more inclined to empirical medicine in a relatively long historical period. It is considered to be lacking objective and unified clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), and the difficulties in diagnosis and therapeutic effect evaluation comes with it, have restricted its further inheritance, development and international communication. Over the years, our research group has been committed to improving the standardization theory and methodology of CM, also perfecting relative techniques for further application, which are all based on the stratified evidence scoring method. We have already applied this method to 45 issued guidelines, including 5 national guidelines, 3 industrial guidelines, and 37 formulation/revision social organization guidelines. The stratified evidence scoring method has been recognized and used widely. It helps scholars and applicators to study, formulate, publish and popularize the acupuncture therapy clinical practice guidelines better, thus further promotes the development of acupuncture therapy.

Effect of Korean Magnolia obovata Extract on Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of Korean Magnolia obovata crude extract (KME) on plateletderived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods KME composition was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). VSMCs were isolated from the aorta of a Sprague-Dawley rat, incubated in serum free-Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium in the presence or absence of KME (10, 30, 100, and 300 μg/mL), then further treated with PDGF-BB (10 ng/mL). VSMC proliferation was detected using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and VSMC migration was determined using the Boyden chamber and scratch wound healing assays. Western blot analysis was used to detect phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (p-ERK1/2), protein kinase B (p-Akt), and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (p-SAPK/JNK). The antimigration and proliferation effects of KME were tested using aortic sprout outgrowth. Results The HPLC analysis identified honokiol (0.45 mg/g) and magnolol (0.34 mg/g) as the major components of KME. KME (30, 100, and 300 μg/mL) significantly decreased the proliferation and migration of PDGF-BB-stimulated (10 ng/mL) VSMCs and the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of EKR1/2, Akt, and SAPK/JNK (P<0.05). Furthermore, PDGF-BBinduced VSMCs treated with 300 μg/mL of KME showed reduction in aortic sprout outgrowth. Conclusion KME could inhibit abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs by down-regulating the phosphorylation of EKR1/2 and Akt. Thus, KME might be a functional food for preventing vascular disorders.

Correlation between Chinese Medicine Constitution and Skin Types: A Study on 187 Japanese Women Abstract Objective Chinese medicine (CM) is widely applied in cosmetics and dermatology. The theory of CM believes that skin characterizations reflect the internal status of balance which can be represented by body constitution, but relevant studies are few. This study aims to analyze the relationship between body constitution of CM and skin condition. Methods Participants were recruited from a private health and beauty clinic in Tokyo, Japan from June 2013 to January 2015. Each participant was assessed using Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ) for body constitution and the Baumann Skin Type Questionnaire for skin type. Spearman’s rank correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression were used to investigate the effect of body constitutions on skin types. Results A total of 187 Japanese females were recruited in this study. Higher dampness-heat and phlegm-dampness scores were associated with oilier skin while higher qi-depression and blood-stasis were associated with drier skin. Higher score in Inherited Special and yin-deficiency constitutions tended to have more sensitive skin, and higher score in blood-stasis was associated with more pigmented skin and wrinkles. Conclusions Our findings supported the “Constitution-Skin Correlated theory” in CM. Understanding of the association between skin conditions and the body constitutions might be helpful to explore more individualized treatment options for skin care and dermatological diseases through modifications of the unique body constitutions using CM modalities.

Research Progress in Astragalus Membranaceus and Its Active Components on Immune Responses in Liver Fibrosis Abstract The interaction between immune cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can modulate the development of hepatic fibrosis. It can also regulate hepatic fibrosis and liver cirrhosis caused by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). This article reviews the action mechanism of immune cells on liver fifibrosis and the effect of Astragalus membranaeus and its active components on immune cells. In-depth study of interaction between immune cells and HSCs on the pathogenesis of liver fifibrosis, and the regulatory effect of Astragalus membranaeus and its active components on immune mechanism will provide new insights in the treatment of liver fifibrosis.