Objective: to explore the mechanism of leeching in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Forty-four patients with SLE were randomly divided into conventional corticosteroid treated group (control group...Objective: to explore the mechanism of leeching in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Forty-four patients with SLE were randomly divided into conventional corticosteroid treated group (control group, n =20) and conventional treatment group with leeching intervention added (leeching group, n =24). Before and after treatment the concentration of plasma endothelin (ET) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were determined. Results: Before treatment the level of plasma ET and sIL-2R in the SLE patients were all higher than those in the normal healthy group, ( P <0.01). But after treatment the level of these in both groups were significantly improved than those of before treatment ( P <0.05), and comparison between these two treated groups showed that the difference between them was significant ( P <0.05). Conclusion: Leeching added to conventional treatment of SLE could be more effective in improving the level of plasma ET and sIL-2R, and ameliorating the impairment of renal tissues.展开更多
Leg ulcers pose a significant burden on morbidity,healthcare costs,and quality of life,despite rarely resulting in limb loss.This underscores the necessity for safe and effective alternative treatments.Unani medicine ...Leg ulcers pose a significant burden on morbidity,healthcare costs,and quality of life,despite rarely resulting in limb loss.This underscores the necessity for safe and effective alternative treatments.Unani medicine offers various therapeutic options for managing ulcers.This case report details the successful treatment of a non-healing venous ulcer using Unani regimens in a 40-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus and paralytic polio.The patient sought care at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine,Silchar,Assam,India,for a chronic ulcer in the gaiter region of his right leg,which was associated with mild pain,itching,and hyperpigmentation but notably lacked any signs of varicose veins.Over the years,the patient had undergone various treatments,including topical care and antibiotics;however,frustration with persistent non-healing led him to explore alternative interventions.The Unani treatment included medicinal leech therapy,followed by the application of a grated unripe papaya bandage for 14 days.By the end of this period,the ulcer had completely healed,allowing the discontinuation of the dressing.By the 21st day,symptom resolution was observed,with complete relief from pain and itching and normalization of hyperpigmentation in the surrounding area.This case highlights the potential of Unani therapeutic approaches in effectively managing non-healing venous ulcers.展开更多
Animal medicines,which boast a lengthy history as treasures of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),frequently encounter safety challenges stemming from the accumulation of heavy metals and harmful elements,such as arsen...Animal medicines,which boast a lengthy history as treasures of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),frequently encounter safety challenges stemming from the accumulation of heavy metals and harmful elements,such as arsenic(As)[1].The toxicity of As differs by species,especially inorganic arsenic(iAs),and current methods for assessing herbal risks based on total arsenic(tAs)content are insufficient[2].To address this,studies have focused on As contamination in TCMs,especially leeches.Widely used for anticoagulant and other pharmacological activities,leeches are susceptible to water contamination and high As levels due to immature farming technology[3].The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the distribution of tAs and toxic elements in leeches from multiple sources and batches.We used advanced analytical techniques(e.g.,liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LC-ICPMS))to accurately identify As forms.This study aims to investigate the biological effects at the exposure point through in vitro experiments(simulating physiological conditions)and assess the potential clinical risks associated with iAs.展开更多
Objective: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects synovial joints. Micro-injuries of articular structures initiate inflammatory processes, leading to persistent pain. Due to various risk factors,osteoar...Objective: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects synovial joints. Micro-injuries of articular structures initiate inflammatory processes, leading to persistent pain. Due to various risk factors,osteoarthritis is often diagnosed in multimorbid patients. This makes pain management one of the key challenges, with a consistent need for new therapeutic strategies. Hence, complementary and integrative methods such as hirudotherapy have become increasingly important, even though their mechanisms of action are not entirely understood.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the longitudinal effect of a single leech application on osteoarthritic joints in a heterogenic cohort of 24 cases with various chronic pain syndromes. We assessed articular pain intensity ratings and movability of the treated joint after one-time leeching for up to 12 months.We further investigated the effect of hirudotherapy on the systemic pain status and multimodal treatment strategies of the patients.Results: There was a significant reduction in pain intensity ratings at the joint of leech application for up to 12 months after treatment. The improvements in pain intensities were independent of the form of osteoarthritis treated. In addition, we saw a considerable enhancement in local movability of the treated joint. Hirudotherapy did not seem to influence the systemic pain status as well as the previously established individualized multimodal treatment model of the patients.Conclusion: Leeching as an adjuvant therapy has a great potential especially in terms of safety and longterm outcome.展开更多
1 IntroductionApplication of leeches has been a common treatment measure since ancient times and descriptions can be found in the works of Pliny,Galen,Avicenna and Themison.
文摘Objective: to explore the mechanism of leeching in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Forty-four patients with SLE were randomly divided into conventional corticosteroid treated group (control group, n =20) and conventional treatment group with leeching intervention added (leeching group, n =24). Before and after treatment the concentration of plasma endothelin (ET) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were determined. Results: Before treatment the level of plasma ET and sIL-2R in the SLE patients were all higher than those in the normal healthy group, ( P <0.01). But after treatment the level of these in both groups were significantly improved than those of before treatment ( P <0.05), and comparison between these two treated groups showed that the difference between them was significant ( P <0.05). Conclusion: Leeching added to conventional treatment of SLE could be more effective in improving the level of plasma ET and sIL-2R, and ameliorating the impairment of renal tissues.
文摘Leg ulcers pose a significant burden on morbidity,healthcare costs,and quality of life,despite rarely resulting in limb loss.This underscores the necessity for safe and effective alternative treatments.Unani medicine offers various therapeutic options for managing ulcers.This case report details the successful treatment of a non-healing venous ulcer using Unani regimens in a 40-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus and paralytic polio.The patient sought care at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine,Silchar,Assam,India,for a chronic ulcer in the gaiter region of his right leg,which was associated with mild pain,itching,and hyperpigmentation but notably lacked any signs of varicose veins.Over the years,the patient had undergone various treatments,including topical care and antibiotics;however,frustration with persistent non-healing led him to explore alternative interventions.The Unani treatment included medicinal leech therapy,followed by the application of a grated unripe papaya bandage for 14 days.By the end of this period,the ulcer had completely healed,allowing the discontinuation of the dressing.By the 21st day,symptom resolution was observed,with complete relief from pain and itching and normalization of hyperpigmentation in the surrounding area.This case highlights the potential of Unani therapeutic approaches in effectively managing non-healing venous ulcers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:82404856)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.:2023YFC3504100)the Key projects for Building a Scientific System for Drug Regulation,China(Project No.:RS2024Z006).
文摘Animal medicines,which boast a lengthy history as treasures of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),frequently encounter safety challenges stemming from the accumulation of heavy metals and harmful elements,such as arsenic(As)[1].The toxicity of As differs by species,especially inorganic arsenic(iAs),and current methods for assessing herbal risks based on total arsenic(tAs)content are insufficient[2].To address this,studies have focused on As contamination in TCMs,especially leeches.Widely used for anticoagulant and other pharmacological activities,leeches are susceptible to water contamination and high As levels due to immature farming technology[3].The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the distribution of tAs and toxic elements in leeches from multiple sources and batches.We used advanced analytical techniques(e.g.,liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LC-ICPMS))to accurately identify As forms.This study aims to investigate the biological effects at the exposure point through in vitro experiments(simulating physiological conditions)and assess the potential clinical risks associated with iAs.
基金the departmental funding of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine of the University Hospital Cologne。
文摘Objective: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects synovial joints. Micro-injuries of articular structures initiate inflammatory processes, leading to persistent pain. Due to various risk factors,osteoarthritis is often diagnosed in multimorbid patients. This makes pain management one of the key challenges, with a consistent need for new therapeutic strategies. Hence, complementary and integrative methods such as hirudotherapy have become increasingly important, even though their mechanisms of action are not entirely understood.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the longitudinal effect of a single leech application on osteoarthritic joints in a heterogenic cohort of 24 cases with various chronic pain syndromes. We assessed articular pain intensity ratings and movability of the treated joint after one-time leeching for up to 12 months.We further investigated the effect of hirudotherapy on the systemic pain status and multimodal treatment strategies of the patients.Results: There was a significant reduction in pain intensity ratings at the joint of leech application for up to 12 months after treatment. The improvements in pain intensities were independent of the form of osteoarthritis treated. In addition, we saw a considerable enhancement in local movability of the treated joint. Hirudotherapy did not seem to influence the systemic pain status as well as the previously established individualized multimodal treatment model of the patients.Conclusion: Leeching as an adjuvant therapy has a great potential especially in terms of safety and longterm outcome.
文摘1 IntroductionApplication of leeches has been a common treatment measure since ancient times and descriptions can be found in the works of Pliny,Galen,Avicenna and Themison.
