http://www.hindawi.com The latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation © 2013 , Hindawi Publishing Corporation . All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:10:16 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/961957/ This paper suggests a theoretical framework for the primo vascular system (PVS), a hypothetical circulatory system, in which extracellular DNA microvesicles interact to form and break down cell structures. Since Bonghan Kim reported the existence of Bonghan ducts and the SNU research team reinvestigated and named it the PVS, there has been series of studies trying to examine its structure and functions. In this paper, we hypothesize that the PVS is the network system in which extracellular DNA microvesicles circulate and interact at the subcellular level, forming and breaking down cell structures. This idea integrates A. Béchamp’s idea of microzymas and Bonghan Kim’s idea of sanals. A proof of this idea may complement modern medical theory, perhaps providing an essential clue for an alternative solution dealing with modern healthcare problem. Byung-Cheon Lee, Ji Woong Yoon, Sang Hyun Park, and Seung Zhoo Yoon Copyright © 2013 Byung-Cheon Lee et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:09:24 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/636580/ In an attempt to further establish the pharmacological properties of Bauhinia purpurea (Fabaceae), hepatoprotective potential of methanol extract of B. purpurea leaves (MEBP) was investigated using the paracetamol- (PCM-) induced liver toxicity in rats. Five groups of rats () were used and administered orally once daily with 10% DMSO (negative control), 200 mg/kg silymarin (positive control), or MEBP (50, 250, and 500 mg/kg) for 7 days, followed by the hepatotoxicity induction using paracetamol (PCM). The blood samples and livers were collected and subjected to biochemical and microscopical analysis. The extract was also subjected to antioxidant study using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay with the total phenolic content (TPC) also determined. From the histological observation, lymphocyte infiltration and marked necrosis were observed in PCM-treated groups (negative control), whereas maintenance of the normal hepatic structural was observed in group pretreated with silymarin and MEBP. Hepatotoxic rats pretreated with silymarin or MEBP exhibited significant decrease () in ALT and AST enzyme level. Moreover, the extract also exhibited antioxidant activity and contained high TPC. In conclusion, MEBP exerts potential hepatoprotective activity that could be partly attributed to its antioxidant activity and high phenolic content and thus warrants further investigation. F. Yahya, S. S. Mamat, M. F. F. Kamarolzaman, A. A. Seyedan, K. F. Jakius, N. D. Mahmood, M. S. Shahril, Z. Suhaili, N. Mohtarrudin, D. Susanti, M. N. Somchit, L. K. Teh, M. Z. Salleh, and Z. A. Zakaria Copyright © 2013 F. Yahya et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:08:03 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/804696/ The objective of this study was to differentiate between pain-related and pain-unrelated neural responses of acupuncture at BL60 to investigate the specific effects of acupuncture. A total of 19 healthy volunteers were evaluated. fMRI was performed with sham or verum acupuncture stimulation at the left BL60 before and after local anesthesia. To investigate the relative BOLD signal effect for each session, a one-sample t-test was performed for individual contrast maps, and a paired t-test to investigate the differences between the pre- and post-anesthetic signal effects. Regarding verum acupuncture, areas that were more activated before local anesthesia included the superior, middle, and medial frontal gyri, inferior parietal lobule, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, middle temporal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, culmen, and cerebellar tonsil. The postcentral gyrus was more deactivated before local anesthesia. After local anesthesia, the middle occipital gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, precuneus, superior parietal lobule, and declive were deactivated. Pre-anesthetic verum acupuncture at BL60 activated areas of vision and pain transmission. Post-anesthetic verum acupuncture deactivated brain areas of visual function, which is considered to be a pain-unrelated acupuncture response. It indicates that specific effects of acupoint BL60 are to control vision sense as used in the clinical setting. Na-Hee Kim, Seung-Yeon Cho, Geon-Ho Jahng, Chang-Woo Ryu, Seong-Uk Park, Chang-Nam Ko, and Jung-Mi Park Copyright © 2013 Na-Hee Kim et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:06:16 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/757540/ Objectives. To assess the clinical evidence of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for obesity-related hypertension. Search Strategy. Electronic databases were searched until January, 2013. Inclusion Criteria. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) testing CHM against nondrug therapy and conventional western medicine, or combined with conventional western medicine against conventional western medicine. Data Extraction and Analyses. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and data analyses were conducted according to Cochrane standards. Results. 11 trials were included. Methodological quality was evaluated as low. 1 trial investigated the efficacy of CHM plus nondrug therapy versus nondrug therapy. Positive results in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD: −5.40 []; ) were found in combination group. 1 trial investigated the efficacy of CHM versus conventional western medicine. Positive results in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD: −1.39 []; ) were found in CHM. 9 trials investigated the efficacy of CHM plus conventional western medicine versus conventional western medicine. Positive results in SBP (WMD: -6.71 []; ) were found in combination group. The safety of CHM is unknown. Conclusions. No definite conclusion could be got due to poor methodological quality. Rigorously designed trials are warranted to confirm these results. Jie Wang, Bo Feng, and Xingjiang Xiong Copyright © 2013 Jie Wang et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:05:15 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/429106/ Though primo vessels are frequently found in the lymph near the abdominal aorta of rabbit by Alcian blue dye, the reproductions are still difficult to require considerable skills and technical know-how at dissected tissue of animal species. However, in the inguinal lymph node of a rabbit we found a long-type primo vascular system (LTP) dyed with Alcian blue, from an abdominal lymph vessel to an inguinal lymph node. The length of LTP was over an average length of 9.1 cm. The average diameters of the primo and the lymph vessels were about 23.9 μm and 242 μm, respectively. The primo vessels were not floating but adhered to lymph vessels with fascial connective tissue. These primo vessels might be a functional integration in the lymph system. Young-Il Noh, Yeong-Min Yoo, Ran-Hyang Kim, Ye-Ji Hong, Hye-Rie Lee, Min-Suk Rho, and Sang-Suk Lee Copyright © 2013 Young-Il Noh et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:59:09 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/529458/ Xiao Chai Hu Tang (XCHT), a compound formula originally recorded in an ancient Chinese medical book Shanghanlun, has been used to treat chronic liver diseases for a long period of time in China. Although extensive studies have been demonstrated the efficacy of this formula to treat chronic hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatocarcinoma, how it works against these diseases still awaits full understanding. Here, we firstly present an overview arranging from the entire formula to mechanism studies of single herb in XCHT and their active components, from a new perspective of “separation study,” and we tried our best to both detailedly and systematically organize the antihepatocarcinoma effects of it, hoping that the review will facilitate the strive on elucidating how XCHT elicits its antihepatocarcinoma role. Ningning Zheng, Jianye Dai, Huijuan Cao, Shujun Sun, Junwei Fang, Qianhua Li, Shibing Su, Yongyu Zhang, Mingfeng Qiu, and Shuang Huang Copyright © 2013 Ningning Zheng et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:47:09 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/478202/ Background. This study purposed to validate the use of artificial neural network (ANN) models for predicting myofascial pain control after dry needling and to compare the predictive capability of ANNs with that of support vector machine (SVM) and multiple linear regression (MLR). Methods. Totally 400 patients who have received dry needling treatments completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at baseline and at 1 year postoperatively. Results. Compared to the MLR and SVM models, the ANN model generally had smaller mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values in the training dataset and testing dataset. Most ANN models had MAPE values ranging from 3.4% to 4.6% and most had high prediction accuracy. The global sensitivity analysis also showed that pretreatment BPI score was the best parameter for predicting pain after dry needling. Conclusion. Compared with the MLR and SVM models, the ANN model in this study was more accurate in predicting patient-reported BPI scores and had higher overall performance indices. Further studies of this model may consider the effect of a more detailed database that includes complications and clinical examination findings as well as more detailed outcome data. Yuan-Ting Huang, Choo-Aun Neoh, Shun-Yuan Lin, and Hon-Yi Shi Copyright © 2013 Yuan-Ting Huang et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:46:01 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/397268/ The study aimed to identify the HWP1 gene in non-Candida albicans Candida species and the differential expression of HWP1 following treatment with Piper betle and Brucea javanica aqueous extracts. All candidal suspensions were standardized to  cells/mL. The suspension was incubated overnight at 37 °C (C. parapsilosis, 35°C). Candidal cells were treated with each respective extract at 1, 3, and 6 mg/mL for 24 h. The total RNA was extracted and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was carried out with a specific primer of HWP1. HWP1 mRNAs were only detected in C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Exposing the cells to the aqueous extracts has affected the expression of HWP1 transcripts. C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis have demonstrated different intensity of mRNA. Compared to P. betle, B. javanica demonstrated a higher suppression on the transcript levels of HWP1 in all samples. HWP1 was not detected in C. albicans following the treatment of B. javanica at 1 mg/mL. In contrast, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis were shown to have HWP1 regulation. However, the expression levels were reduced upon the addition of higher concentration of B. javanica extract. P. betle and B. javanica have potential to be developed as oral health product. Wan Himratul Aznita Wan Harun, Nur Alyaa Jamil, Nor Hazwani Jamaludin, and Mohd-Al-Faisal Nordin Copyright © 2013 Wan Himratul Aznita Wan Harun et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:51:03 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/989618/ Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ZHENG is the basic concept of TCM theory. The effectiveness of TCM treatment depends on the accuracy of ZHENG differentiation. ZHENG differentiation, using the “four diagnostic methods,” has the drawbacks of subjectivity and variability. Following development of omics technologies, which study the functional activities of human body from a system-wide perspective, it has been more and more applied in study of objectivity differentiating TCM ZHENG and understanding its biological mechanisms. This paper reviewed the literatures of clinical TCM ZHENG differentiation researches, underlying omics technologies, and indicated the increased trends of related articles with four kinds of omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, and the correlations between ZHENG differentiation and findings in omics studies. Moreover, the paper summarized the typical omics application in common studied diseases and TCM ZHENGs and discussed the main problems and countermeasure of ZHENG differentiation researches. The work here may provide a reference for further research of TCM ZHENG differentiation using omics technologies. Ya-Nan Song, Gui-Biao Zhang, Yong-Yu Zhang, and Shi-Bing Su Copyright © 2013 Ya-Nan Song et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:36:31 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/502727/ Eucalyptus oil has been reported effective in reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of eucalyptus oil inhalation on pain and inflammatory responses after total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Participants were randomized 1 : 1 to intervention group (eucalyptus inhalation group) or control group (almond oil inhalation group). Patients inhaled eucalyptus or almond oil for 30 min of continuous passive motion (CPM) on 3 consecutive days. Pain on a visual analog scale (VAS), blood pressure, heart rate, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, and white blood cell (WBC) count were measured before and after inhalation. Pain VAS on all three days () and systolic () and diastolic () blood pressure on the second day were significantly lower in the group inhaling eucalyptus than that inhaling almond oil. Heart rate, CRP, and WBC, however, did not differ significantly in the two groups. In conclusion, inhalation of eucalyptus oil was effective in decreasing patient's pain and blood pressure following TKR, suggesting that eucalyptus oil inhalation may be a nursing intervention for the relief of pain after TKR. Yang Suk Jun, Purum Kang, Sun Seek Min, Jeong-Min Lee, Hyo-Keun Kim, and Geun Hee Seol Copyright © 2013 Yang Suk Jun et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:55:06 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/765914/ The purpose of this study is to establish a protocol of retention-enema experiments and evaluate the antihypertensive effect and the safety of Gwakhyangjeonggi-san retention enema. Normal and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were divided into treatment and control groups, respectively. We applied the Gwakhyangjeonggi-san extract by decoction and 0.9% NaCl in each group, estimated the blood pressure and body weight, and performed HPLC analysis. ALT, AST, BUN, and creatinine were examined. The systolic blood pressure within each group in normal rats differed significantly in time effect, and so did the diastolic blood pressure in the treatment group of normal rats. The systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure showed significant differences in group effect in the treatment group of the SHRs. The time effect of the body weight in both groups of normal rats differed significantly, so did group × time and time effects in both groups of SHRs. AST, ALT, BUN, and creatinine showed no significant difference between groups. We concluded that the Gwakhyangjeonggi-san retention enema has a hypotensive effect in normal rats within the regular range of blood pressure, but an antihypertensive effect in SHRs. Also, the intervention is safe and does not affect the liver and kidney functions in normal rats. Eunyoung Song, Euiju Lee, Yongmin Bu, Junhee Lee, Seungwon Shin, Junghee Yoo, Jaewoo Park, and Jinhyeok Kwon Copyright © 2013 Eunyoung Song et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:51:38 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/514719/ Colorectal cancer is a common cancer worldwide, and chemotherapy is a mainstream approach for advanced and recurrent cases. Development of effective complementary drugs could help improve tumor suppression efficiency and control adverse effects from chemotherapy. The aqueous extract of Solanum nigrum leaves (AE-SN) is an essential component in many traditional Chinese medicine formulas for treating cancer, but there is a lack of evidence verifying its tumor suppression efficacy in colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tumor suppression efficacy of AE-SN using DLD-1 and HT-29 human colorectal carcinoma cells and examine the combined drug effect when combined with the chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin, doxorubicin, docetaxel, and 5-fluorouracil. The results indicated that AE-SN induced autophagy via microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 A/B II accumulation but not caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in both cell lines. The IC50s after 48 hours of treatment were 0.541 and 0.948 mg/ml AE-SN in DLD-1 and HT-29, respectively. AE-SN also demonstrated a combined drug effect with all tested drugs by enhancing cytotoxicity in tumor cells. Our results suggest that AE-SN has potential in the development of complementary chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. Chen-Jei Tai, Chien-Kai Wang, Cheng-Jeng Tai, Yi-Feng Lin, Chi-Shian Lin, Jiun-Yu Jian, Yu-Jia Chang, and Chun-Chao Chang Copyright © 2013 Chen-Jei Tai et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:51:09 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/246797/ Spirituality/religiosity is recognized as a resource to cope with burdening life events and chronic illness. However, less is known about the consequences of the lack of positive spiritual feelings. Spiritual dryness in clergy has been described as spiritual lethargy, a lack of vibrant spiritual encounter with God, and an absence of spiritual resources, such as spiritual renewal practices. To operationalize experiences of “spiritual dryness” in terms of a specific spiritual crisis, we have developed the “spiritual dryness scale” (SDS). Here, we describe the validation of the instrument which was applied among other standardized questionnaires in a sample of 425 Catholic priests who professionally care for the spiritual sake of others. Feelings of “spiritual dryness” were experienced occasionally by up to 40%, often or even regularly by up to 13%. These experiences can explain 44% of variance in daily spiritual experiences, 30% in depressive symptoms, 22% in perceived stress, 20% in emotional exhaustion, 19% in work engagement, and 21% of variance of ascribed importance of religious activity. The SDS-5 can be used as a specific measure of spiritual crisis with good reliability and validity in further studies. Arndt Büssing, Andreas Günther, Klaus Baumann, Eckhard Frick, and Christoph Jacobs Copyright © 2013 Arndt Büssing et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:50:19 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/549174/ Botanical compounds have been widely used throughout history as cures for various diseases and ailments. Many of these compounds exhibit strong antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. These are also common damaging mechanisms apparent in several ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and retinitis pigmentosa. In recent years, there have been many epidemiological and clinical studies that have demonstrated the beneficial effects of plant-derived compounds, such as curcumin, lutein and zeaxanthin, danshen, ginseng, and many more, on these ocular pathologies. Studies in cell cultures and animal models showed promising results for their uses in eye diseases. While there are many apparent significant correlations, further investigation is needed to uncover the mechanistic pathways of these botanical compounds in order to reach widespread pharmaceutical use and provide noninvasive alternatives for prevention and treatments of the major eye diseases. Tuan-Phat Huynh, Shivani N. Mann, and Nawajes A. Mandal Copyright © 2013 Tuan-Phat Huynh et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:11:33 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/523484/ Curcumin is extracted from the rhizomes of the ginger family plant Curcuma longa L., which has a good protection for liver, kidney, and immune system. However, there is little information about its contribution in protection of astrocytes recently. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the protective effect of curcumin, an herbal antioxidant, on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion- (MPP+-) and lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced cytotoxicities, as well as the underlying mechanisms by using primary mouse mesencephalic astrocytes. The results showed that curcumin protected the mesencephalic astrocytes from MPP+- and LPS-induced toxicities along with reducing reactive oxygen species () and maleic dialdehyde () sufficiently. Moreover, curcumin significantly inhibited the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) expression ( at mRNA level, at protein level) and its activity () sufficiently induced by MPP+ and LPS in the mouse mesencephalic astrocytes. And curcumin as well as diallyl sulphide, a CYP2E1 positive inhibitor, ameliorated MPP+- and LPS-induced mouse mesencephalic astrocytes damage. Accordingly, curcumin protects against MPP+- and LPS-induced cytotoxicities in the mouse mesencephalic astrocyte via inhibiting the CYP2E1 expression and activity. Hai-Yan Gui, Rui-Ni Chen, Yan Peng, Jin-Hua Hu, Zhao Mao, Rui Ning, Wei Shang, Wei Liu, Jing Xiong, Gang Hu, and Jian Yang Copyright © 2013 Hai-Yan Gui et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:43:01 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/237096/ Role of inflammation-induced oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic inflammatory airways diseases has received increasing attention in recent years. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 is the primary transcription factor that regulates the expression of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther, a vegetable consumed in Taiwan, has been used in folk medicine for protection against liver injury through elevating antioxidation. Recently, we found that gallic acid is an active compound of Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther, which has been reported to inhibit T-helper 2 cytokines. Currently, we assumed that Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther may potentially protect against ovalbumin-induced allergy and airway inflammation. Results demonstrated that Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther ethanolic extracts (GPE) clearly inhibited airway inflammation, mucus cell hyperplasia, and eosinophilia in OVA-challenged mice. Additionally, GPE also prevented T-cell infiltration and Th2 cytokines, including interleukin- (IL-)4, IL-5, and IL-13 generations in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid. The adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were substantially reduced by GPE treatment mediated by Nrf2 activation. Moreover, GPE attenuated GATA3 expression and inhibited Th2 signals of the T cells. These findings suggested that GPE ameliorated the development of airway inflammation through immune regulation. Bao-Hong Lee, Yu-Hsiang Cheng, and She-Ching Wu Copyright © 2013 Bao-Hong Lee et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:38:17 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/808076/ Objective. This paper systematically evaluated the efficacy and safety of compound Danshen dropping pill (CDDP) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparing CDDP with no intervention, placebo, or conventional western medicine, were retrieved. Data extraction and analyses were conducted in accordance with the Cochrane standards. We assessed risk of bias for each included study and evaluated the strength of evidence on prespecified outcomes. Results. Seven RCTs enrolling 1215 patients were included. CDDP was associated with statistically significant reductions in the risk of cardiac death and heart failure compared with no intervention based on conventional therapy for AMI. In addition, CDDP was associated with improvement of quality of life and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction. Nevertheless, the safety of CDDP was unproven for the limited data. The quality of evidence for each outcome in the main comparison (CDDP versus no intervention) was “low” or “moderate.” Conclusion. CDDP showed some potential benefits for AMI patients, such as the reductions of cardiac death and heart failure. However, the overall quality of evidence was poor, and the safety of CDDP for AMI patients was not confirmed. More evidence from high quality RCTs is warranted to support the use of CDDP for AMI patients. Jing Luo, Hao Xu, and Keji Chen Copyright © 2013 Jing Luo et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:22:06 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/873907/ Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a Schinus terebinthifolius (ST) mouthwash in reducing gingival inflammation levels (GI) and biofilm accumulation (BA) in children with gingivitis. Methods. This was a randomized, controlled, triple blind, and phase II clinical trial, with children aged 9–13 years presenting with biofilm-induced gingivitis. The sample was randomized into experimental (0.3125% ST, ) and control (0.12% chlorhexidine/CHX, ) groups. Products were masked as regards color, flavor and aroma. Intervention protocol consisted in supervised rinsing of 10 mL/day for 01 minute for 10 days. Gingival bleeding and simplified oral hygiene indexes were used to assess the efficacy variables, measured at baseline and after intervention by calibrated examiners. Data were statistically treated with paired t-test, unpaired t-test, and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests (α = .05). Results. It was found that both ST and CHX were able to significantly reduce GI levels after 10 days and there was no significant difference between them . CHX was the only product able to significantly reduce BA after 10 days when compared to baseline . Conclusion. ST mouthwash showed significant anti-inflammatory activity (equivalent to CHX), but it was not able to reduce biofilm accumulation. Irlan de Almeida Freires, Livia Araújo Alves, Gabriela Lacet Silva Ferreira, Vanessa de Carvalho Jovito, Ricardo Dias de Castro, and Alessandro Leite Cavalcanti Copyright © 2013 Irlan de Almeida Freires et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:54:59 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/795906/ The linkage between brain response to acupuncture and subsequent analgesia remains poorly understood. Our aim was to evaluate this linkage in chronic pain patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Brain response to electroacupuncture (EA) was evaluated with functional MRI. Subjects were randomized to 3 groups: (1) EA applied at local acupoints on the affected wrist (PC-7 to TW-5), (2) EA at distal acupoints (contralateral ankle, SP-6 to LV-4), and (3) sham EA at nonacupoint locations on the affected wrist. Symptom ratings were evaluated prior to and following the scan. Subjects in the local and distal groups reported reduced pain. Verum EA produced greater reduction of paresthesia compared to sham. Compared to sham EA, local EA produced greater activation in insula and S2 and greater deactivation in ipsilateral S1, while distal EA produced greater activation in S2 and deactivation in posterior cingulate cortex. Brain response to distal EA in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and brain response to verum EA in S1, SMA, and PFC were correlated with pain reduction following stimulation. Thus, while greater activation to verum acupuncture in these regions may predict subsequent analgesia, PFC activation may specifically mediate reduced pain when stimulating distal acupoints. Yumi Maeda, Norman Kettner, Jeungchan Lee, Jieun Kim, Stephen Cina, Cristina Malatesta, Jessica Gerber, Claire McManus, Jaehyun Im, Alexandra Libby, Pia Mezzacappa, Leslie R. Morse, Kyungmo Park, Joseph Audette, and Vitaly Napadow Copyright © 2013 Yumi Maeda et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:39:16 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/823453/ Few studies have been carried out on the medical flora of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in search for new therapeutic agents, in particular against cancer. In this paper, we evaluated the cytotoxic potential of the extract of Bonellia albiflora, a plant utilized in the traditional Mayan medicine for treatment of chronic injuries of the mouth. We carried out the methanolic extracts of different parts of the plant by means of extraction with the Soxhlet equipment. We conducted liquid-liquid fractions on each extract with solvents of increasing polarity. All extracts and fractions were evaluated for cytotoxic activity versus four human cancer cell lines and one normal cell line through a tetrazolium dye reduction (MTT) assay in 96-well cell culture plates. The methanolic root-bark extract possessed much greater cytotoxic activity in the human oropharyngeal cancer cell line (KB); its hexanic fraction concentrated the active metabolites and induced apoptosis with the activation of caspases 3 and 8. The results demonstrate the cytotoxic potential of the B. albiflora hexanic fraction and substantiate the importance of the study of the traditional Mayan medicinal plants. Rosa Moo-Puc, Juan Chale-Dzul, and Edgar Caamal-Fuentes Copyright © 2013 Rosa Moo-Puc et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:31:58 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/308134/ Berberine (BBR), an active ingredient from nature plants, has demonstrated multiple biological activities and pharmacological effects in a series of metabolic diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The recent literature points out that BBR may be a potential drug for NAFLD in both experimental models and clinical trials. This review highlights important discoveries of BBR in this increasing disease and addresses the relevant targets of BBR on NAFLD which links to insulin pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, gut environment, hepatic lipid transportation, among others. Developing nuanced understanding of the mechanisms will help to optimize more targeted and effective clinical application of BBR for NAFLD. Yang Liu, Li Zhang, Haiyan Song, and Guang Ji Copyright © 2013 Yang Liu et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:10:59 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/201329/ Background. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), when given as a therapy for symptom relief, has gained widespread popularity among diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the utilization of TCM among type 2 diabetic patients in Taiwan. Methods. The use of TCM for type 2 diabetic patients were evaluated using a randomly sampled cohort of 1,000,000 beneficiaries recruited from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Results. Overall, 77.9% of type 2 diabetic patients utilized TCM and 13.9% of them used TCM for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Among the top ten most frequently prescribed herbal formulae, four remedies, Zhi-Bo-Di-Huang-Wan, Qi-Ju-Di-Huang-Wan, Ji-Sheng-Shen-Qi-Wan and Ba-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan are derivative formulae of Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan. In other words, Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan and its derivatives were found to be the most common herbal formulae prescribed by TCM doctors for the treatment of diabetes in Taiwan. Conclusion. Although some evidence does support the use TCM to treat diabetes, the results from the current study may have been confounded by placebo effect, which emphasize the need for well conducted, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies in order to further evaluate the efficacy of Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan on patients with type 2 diabetes. Chung-Yu Huang, Yueh-Ting Tsai, Jung-Nien Lai, and Feng-Lin Hsu Copyright © 2013 Chung-Yu Huang et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:16:18 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/519174/ Senna italica, a member of the Fabaceae family (subfamily Caesalpiniaceae), is widely used in South African traditional medicine to treat a number of disease conditions. Aqueous extracts of the plant are mainly used to treat sexually transmitted infections and intestinal complications. The roots of S. italica were ground to a fine powder and sequentially extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, and methanol using serial exhaustive extraction (SEE) method. Thin layer chromatography was used to analyse the phytochemical composition of the extracts and DPPH radical scavenging method to detect the presence of antioxidant compounds. The bioassay guided fractionation of the acetone fraction afforded an antioxidant compound with free radical scavenging activity. The isolated compound was subsequently identified as 3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene (resveratrol). This study represents the first report of the stilbene resveratrol in S. italica. Matlou Phineas Mokgotho, Stanley Sechene Gololo, Peter Masoko, Ladislaus Kakore Mdee, Vusi Mbazima, Leshwene Jeremiah Shai, Victor Patrick Bagla, Jacobus Nicolaas Eloff, and Leseilane Mampuru Copyright © 2013 Matlou Phineas Mokgotho et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:46:37 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/469765/ Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signal pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. There is growing evidence that acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine has antidepressant-like effect. However, the effect of acupuncture on ERK-CREB pathway remains unknown. In our study, the antidepressant-like effect of acupuncture treatment was measured by sucrose intake test and open field test in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 4 weeks. The protein levels of ERK1/2, CREB, phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) in the hippocampus (HP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were examined by Western blot analysis. Our results showed that CUMS rats exhibited the reduction in behavioral activities, whereas acupuncture stimulation at acupoints Baihui (Du20) and Neiguan (PC6) reversed the behavioral deficit. In addition, exposure to CUMS resulted in the decrease of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the HP and PFC. Acupuncture increased the ratio of p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2 and the ratio of p-CREB to CREB in the HP and PFC. Our study suggested that one potential way, by which acupuncture had antidepressant-like effect, might be mediated by activating the ERK-CREB pathway in the brain. Jun Lu, Jia Liang, Jun-Ren Wang, Li Hu, Ya Tu, and Jian-You Guo Copyright © 2013 Jun Lu et al. All rights reserved. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:35:36 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/142898/ Waris Qidwai, Peng Nam Yeoh, Victor Inem, Kashmira Nanji, and Tabinda Ashfaq Copyright © 2013 Waris Qidwai et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:51:47 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/275431/ This study investigates whether a 12-week swimming exercise training can prevent liver damage or senescence associated biomarkers in an experimental aging model in rats. Twenty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: vehicle treatment with sedentary control (C, ), aging induction with sedentary (A, ), vehicle treatment with swimming exercise (SW, ), and aging induction with swimming exercise (A + SW, ). Rats in groups A and AS received intraperitoneal D-galactose injections (150 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks to induce aging. Rats in groups SW and A + SW were subjected to swimming exercise training for 12 weeks. Body weight, liver weight, epididymal fat mass, blood biochemistry, and liver pathology were performed at the end of the experiment. Hepatic senescence protein markers such as β-galactosidase, p53, and p21, as well as the inflammatory mediator, IL-6, were examined. The D-galactose-treated rats exhibited increases in AST and γ-GT plasma levels and β-galactosidase protein expression compared to the control group. Swimming exercise significantly reduced BW, epididymal fat mass, γ-GT activity, and p53, p21, and IL-6 protein levels compared to the aging group. These results suggest that a 12-week swimming exercise program suppresses senescence markers and downregulates inflammatory mediator in the liver tissues of D-galactose-induced aging rats. Chi-Chang Huang, Wen-Dee Chiang, Wen-Ching Huang, Chih-Yang Huang, Mei-Chich Hsu, and Wan-Teng Lin Copyright © 2013 Chi-Chang Huang et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:38:45 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/291764/ A large number of studies have been conducted to explore the mechanism of Back-Shu and Front-Mu points. While several lines of evidence addressed the acupuncture information of Shu acupoints and Mu acupoints gathering in the spinal cord, whether the convergence is extended to the high centre still remains unclear. The study selected gastric Mu points (RN12) and gastric Shu points (BL21) regulating gastric motility and its central neural mechanisms as the breakthrough point, using the technique of immunochemistry, nuclei lesion, electrophysiology, and nerve transection. Here, we report that gastric motility regulation of gastric Shu and Mu acupoints and their synergistic effect and the signals induced by electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of acupoints RN12 and RN12 gather in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), increasing the levels of gastrointestinal hormones in the DVC to regulate gastric motility through the vagus. In sum, our data demonstrate an important role of DVC and vagus in the regulation of gastric motility by EA at gastric Shu and Mu points. Hao Wang, Guo-ming Shen, Wei-jian Liu, Shun Huang, and Meng-ting Zhang Copyright © 2013 Hao Wang et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:14:03 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/306705/ Ellagic acid (EA) is able to inhibit the growth of several cancer cells; however, its effect on human ovarian carcinoma cells has not yet been investigated. Ovarian carcinoma ES-2 and PA-1 cells were treated with EA (10~100 μM) and assessed for viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, anoikis, autophagy, and chemosensitivity to doxorubicin and their molecular mechanisms. EA inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner by arresting both cell lines at the G1 phase of the cell cycle, which were from elevating p53 and Cip1/p21 and decreasing cyclin D1 and E levels. EA also induced caspase-3-mediated apoptosis by increasing the Bax : Bcl-2 ratio and restored anoikis in both cell lines. The enhancement of apoptosis and/or inhibition of autophagy in these cells by EA assisted the chemotherapy efficacy. The results indicated that EA is a potential novel chemoprevention and treatment assistant agent for human ovarian carcinoma. Yuan-Chiang Chung, Li-Cheng Lu, Ming-Hsiu Tsai, Yu-Jen Chen, Yi-Ying Chen, Shih-Ping Yao, and Chih-Ping Hsu Copyright © 2013 Yuan-Chiang Chung et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:45:16 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/146142/ Introduction. Hepatic inflammation underlies the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. S-[6]-Gingerol has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Important inflammatory mediators of interleukins include nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2). We now explore the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of S-[6]-gingerol in liver cells. Methods. HuH7 cells were stimulated with IL1β to establish an in vitro hepatic inflammatory model. Results. S-[6]-Gingerol attenuated IL1β-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in HuH7 cells, as evidenced by decreasing mRNA levels of inflammatory factor IL6, IL8, and SAA1, suppression of ROS generation, and increasing mRNA levels of DHCR24. In addition, S-[6]-gingerol reduced IL1β-induced COX2 upregulation as well as NFκB activity. Similar to the protective effects of S-[6]-gingerol, both NS-398 (a selective COX2 inhibitor) and PDTC (a selective NFκB inhibitor) suppressed mRNA levels of IL6, IL8, and SAA1. Importantly, PDTC attenuated IL1β-induced overexpression of COX2. Of particular note, the protective effect of S-[6]-gingerol against the IL1β-induced inflammatory response was similar to that of BHT, an ROS scavenger. Conclusions. The findings of this study demonstrate that S-[6]-gingerol protects HuH7 cells against IL1β-induced inflammatory insults through inhibition of the ROS/NFκB/COX2 pathway. Xiao-Hong Li, Kristine C. Y. McGrath, Van H. Tran, Yi-Ming Li, Colin C. Duke, Basil D. Roufogalis, and Alison K. Heather Copyright © 2013 Xiao-Hong Li et al. All rights reserved. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:05:13 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/846039/ Biochanin A has promising effects on bone formation in vivo, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear yet. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether biochanin A regulates osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation using primary adipose-derived stem cells. The effects of biochanin A (at a physiologically relevant concentration of 0.1–1 M) were assessed in vitro using various approaches, including Oil red O staining, Nile red staining, alizarin red S staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and western blotting. The results showed that biochanin A significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, as demonstrated by the inhibition of cytoplasmic lipid droplet accumulation, along with the inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and leptin and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression, in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, treatment of cells with 0.3 M biochanin A increased the mineralization and ALP activity, and stimulated the expression of the osteogenic marker genes ALP and osteocalcin (OCN). Furthermore, biochanin A induced the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) proteins. These observations suggest that biochanin A prevents adipogenesis, enhances osteoblast differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells, and has beneficial regulatory effects in bone formation. Shu-Jem Su, Yao-Tsung Yeh, Shu-Hui Su, Kee-Lung Chang, Huey-Wen Shyu, Kuan-Ming Chen, and Hua Yeh Copyright © 2013 Shu-Jem Su et al. All rights reserved.