Clinical Effect of Abdominal Massage Therapy on Blood Glucose and Intestinal Microbiota in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effects of abdominal massage on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its influence on the intestinal microflora. We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial. A total of 60 patients with T2DM, who met the inclusion criteria, were randomly allocated to the control group, the routine massage group, and the abdominal massage group. The control group received health education and maintained their hypoglycemic drug treatment plan. The routine massage group and the abdominal massage group received different massage interventions. In addition to glucose and lipid metabolism indicators, we quantitatively analyzed the gut microbiota to assess the effects of massage on the intestinal microflora of patients with T2DM. Compared with the control group, the abdominal massage improved levels of glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, Enterobacter, and Bifidobacteria with significant differences (P = 0.02, P = 0.03, P = 0.03, and P = 0.03). The comparison within group showed that the levels of the four bacterial genera in the abdominal massage group revealed significant differences before and after treatment (P = 0.006, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002). The comparison between the routine massage group and the abdominal massage group was not significantly different in all levels of test indices. The abdominal massage group regulated levels of Enterobacter and Lactobacilli to a greater extent than the routine massage group. Additionally, abdominal massage decreased Enterococcus levels. The results of this study showed that abdominal massage has clinical advantages over routine massage. Specifically, this intervention may correct microflora disturbances to a certain extent.

[Construction of hidden curriculum in the academic experience inheritance of distinguished TCM veteran doctors].

To discuss the advantages and necessity of hidden curriculum construction in the academic experience inheritance of distinguished TCM veteran doctors by analyzing the characteristics of the hidden curriculum and the academic experience inheritance of distinguished TCM veteran doctors, and put forward viewpoints and pathways of promoting academic experience inheritance of distinguished TCM veteran doctors through the construction of hidden curriculum，such as optimal design of teaching environment，reasonable planning of teaching content and development of teaching information model，to effectively improve student cultivation quality and achieve the TCM talent cultivation goal which clinical diagnosis and treatment skills and clinical innovation ability are the core.

[Influence of acupuncture on the motor ability in training-induced fatigue mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of acupuncture on the motor ability of training-induced fatigue mice so as to explore its mechanism underlying acupuncture-induced improvement of physical training fatigue. METHODS: Sixty Kunming mice were divided into normal control, training model and acupuncture groups, with 20 mice in each. The training-fatigue model was established by forcing the mouse to swim in a water tank for 30 min/d in the 1st week, 60 min/d in the 2nd week, 90 min/d in the 3rd week and 120 min/d in the 4th and 5th weeks. "Guanyuan" (CV 4), and bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) were punctured with filiform needles, and with the needle twirled for about 30 s and retained for 5 min. Thetreatment was conducted once daily for 2 weeks. The duration of exhaustion training was recorded. Serum lactic acid (LA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) contents were detected by LA oxidase method, immune-suppressive assay and enzyme-linked immunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the training-fatigue (model) group, the duration of the exhausted swimming of the acupuncture group was obviously longer (P < 0.05). In comparison with the control group, serum LA, LDH and CK contents were increased considerably in the model and acupuncture groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while compared with the model group, serum LDH level of acupuncture group was increased significantly (P < 0.05), and serum CK level of acupuncture group decreased obviously (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the model and acupuncture groups in serum LA content (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can effectively improve the motor ability of the training-fatigue mice, which may be closely relevant to its effects in upregulating LDH activity and reducing serum CK.

[Randomized controlled trials on the influence and mechanism of manipulation on delayed onset muscle soreness after eccentric exercise].

OBJECTIVE: To observe and compare the influence of pre- and post-exercise manipulation and natural recovery without any intervention on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after eccentric exercise and to explore the manipulation therapeutic mechanism on the metabolism of oxygen free radical (OFR). METHODS: The study was carried on during Apr. to Jul. in 2008 at Nanjing University of TCM. The 30 healthy male students were divided into 3 groups randomly according to condition-equivalence principle including control group (C), pre-exercise manipulation group (A), post-exercise manipulation group (B). Before exercise, group A were intervened by manipulation for 30 minutes, which was followed by exercise 5 minutes later. While 30 minutes after exercise, group B accepted manipulation for 30 minutes and continued manipulation once a day for consecutive 3 days. Group C were not intervened by any approaches before or after exercise. The clinical manifestations, which include soreness intensity and lasting time, maximal isometric strength, arm girth, elbow range of motion, were evaluated at the 1st hour before exercise, immediately, 24th, 48th and 72th hours after exercise. Meanwhile, serum creatine kinase (CK), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum malonaldehyde (MDA) were determined at the 1st hour before exercise, immediately, 24th and 48th hours after exercise. RESULTS: Compared to group C, group A and B were manifested by significantly lower peak soreness (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), significantly better recovery of elbow flexing degree at the 72th hour after exercise (P < 0.05) and significantly lower rising range of serum CK at the 48th hour after exercise (P < 0.01). Comparing to group C, group A was manifested by significantly shorter lasting time of muscle soreness (P < 0.01) and significantly better recovery of maximal isometric strength of the 72th hour after exercise (P < 0.01). Compared to group C, group B was manifested by significantly better recovery of elbow extending degree at the 72 th hour after exercise (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the change of arm girth among the three groups. The level of Serum SOD, MDA and SOD/MDA at the 48th hour after exercise in group A and B were significantly different from those in group C (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Through improving the metabolism of OFR, pre-exercise and post-exercise manipulation can partially prevent and treat DOMS respectively. In addition, preventive effect by pre-exercise manipulation is better than curing effect by post-exercise manipulation, which proves the TCM thought, that is, prevention superior to treatment.