Research Progress on Forensic Palynology and Its Application in Forensic Science / 法医学杂志

Forensic palynology is to apply palynology to the field of forensic science, using pollen and spores to solve issues in juridical practice, such as civil and criminal issues. Sporopollens have a small size, wide distribution, diverse morphology, can be easily transferred, have durability, and is not easily noticed. It can provide strong investigation and related evidence for case detection as good trace evidence. The application of palynology in forensic science has achieved certain success, but it is underutilized in most countries. This paper analyzes the evidence value provided by sporopollen, collection of the sporopollen samples, the progress in detection technology and challenges ahead, based on the biological characteristics of sporopollen, combined with recent successful cases in forensic science, to comprehensively discuss the research progress in forensic palynology and its application prospects in forensic science.

Effect of ear-acupoint pressing and Ear Apex (HX6,7) bloodletting on haemorheology in chloasma patients with Gan depression pattern / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the therapeutical effect of ear-acupoint pressing combined with Ear Apex (HX6,7) bloodletting on haemorheology in chloasma patients with Gan (Liver) depression pattern.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 180 chloasma patients were randomly assigned to three groups, 60 cases in each. Patients in the earacupuncture (EA) group were treated with ear-acupoint pressing combined with Ear Apex (HX6,7) bloodletting; vitamins C and E were put into practice in the Western medicine (WM) group together with 0.025% tretinoin cream for local external application; patients in the placebo group were treated with urea-cream by external use, while 30 healthy volunteers were in the control group. After a treatment course of 2 months, the changes of haemorheology, injury skin area, colour score and symptom score before and after the treatment were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference on whole blood reduced viscosity (high shear, medium shear, and low shear), erythrocyte aggregation index, hematocrit, plasma viscosity among the four groups (F =2.65, P>0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the whole blood viscosity (high shear) and whole blood reduced viscosity (high shear) after treatment in the EA group, the WM group and the placebo group were with no statistical significance (P>0.05). The injury skin area and colour score after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment in the EA group and the WM group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in placebo group (P>0.05). Clinical symptoms of the EA group were obviously improved after the 2-month treatment, which was significantly different compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), there was significant difference compared with those of WM group and placebo group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was no significant difference on haemorheology index between healthy people and chloasma patients without angionosis, cerebrovascular disease, hematopathy, metabolic disease or any other organic disease. Ear-acupoint pressing combined with Ear Apex (HX6,7) bloodletting can effectively improve concurrent symptoms, lighten chloasma and lower chloasma area in patients accompanied by Gan depression.</p>

Effect of Gan-Pi regulatory needling in treating chloasma / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Gan-Pi regulatory needling (GPRN) in treating chloasma and its influences on female sex hormones, superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxide (LPO) and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety chloasma patients were equally randomized to three groups, the treatment group treated with GPRN, the control group treated with conventional Western medicine and the blank group untreated. Changes in the scores of skin lesion (area and color) and symptom, as well as blood levels of female sex hormones, MSH, SOD and LPO were observed and compared after 3 months of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the treatment group, the scores of skin lesion area and color were reduced from 2.76 + or - 0.96 and 2.48 + or - 0.78 before treatment to 1.42 + or - 0.42 and 1.03 + or - 0.41 after treatment, respectively, while in the control group they were from 2.78 + or - 1.06 and 2.53 + or - 0.88 to 1.58 + or - 1.23 and 1.28 + or - 0.96, respectively, all showing significant changes (P<0.05); the scores were insignificantly changed in the blank group (P>0.05). At the same time, the score of symptoms in the treatment group significantly improved after treatment (P<0.05), significantly different from that of the other two groups. Comparison of female sex hormones among groups showed no significant differences either before or after treatment. The level of LPO decreased and SOD increased in both the treatment group and the control group significantly (all P<0.05), but significant lowering of MSH was only seen in the treatment group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GPRN can effectively lessen the size and lighten the color of chloasma, improve the accompanying symptoms in patients and decrease LPO and MSH levels and increase the SOD level, but will not affect the level of the female sex hormones.</p>

Effect of scalp acupuncture drawing method on motor function in hemiplegic patients following cerebral thrombosis at convalescent period / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of scalp-acupuncture drawing method (SADM) on recovering motor function in hemiplegic patients following cerebral thrombosis at convalescent period.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adopting randomized, single-blinded, controlled method, 93 patients suffering from hemiplegia following cerebral thrombosis were randomly assigned to 3 groups, 31 in each group. All patients were treated based on neurological routine therapy, those in the treated group and the control group I were treated respectively with SADM and scalp-acupuncture twirling method (SATM) additionally, but for those in the control group II, no additional treatment was given. The treatment course for all was 4 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before treatment, there were insignificant difference among 3 groups in the score of neural motor function deficits (NFDS) of limbs and activity of daily life (ADL) score (P > 0.05). After being treated for 4 weeks, the NFDS was significantly lower and in the control group II (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the change of the scores in the treated group was more than that in the control group I (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SADM was superior to scalp-acupuncture twisting prove the ADL score and motor function of hemiplegia patients following cerebral thrombosis in the convalescent stage.</p>

Clinical observation on the treatment of chloasma by Chinese herbs combined with acupuncture / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effect of Chinese herbs combined with acupuncture (CH-A) in treating chloasma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-one patients with chloasma were randomly assigned to two groups: 30 in the control group and 31 in the treated group. Both groups received conventional treatment with oral intake of vitamin C and E, and external application of quban powder. Besides, the treated group also received CH-A, with the therapeutic course for both groups as 3 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in the treated group and the control group was 100.00% and 46.67% respectively, and the cure-effective rate was 74.19% and 13.33% respectively, all showing significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The scores of size and color of skin lesion and that of symptoms decreased in both groups, but the decrease in the treated group was more obvious, showing significant difference compared with those before treatment and also compared with those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). A follow-up study in 1 year to 2 years and 4 months showed that the long-term effect in the treated group showed an increasing trend compared with the effect immediately after treatment, but it showed a decreasing trend in the control group, though with no any statistical significance (both P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>On the basis of conventional treatment, combined use of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in treating chloasma could markedly improve the accompanied symptoms, lighten the color and shrink the size of skin lesions.</p>