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Objective: To observe the correlation between the thickness of superficial fascia at Dazhui (GV14) acupoint and cervical spondylosis, so as to explore the essence of its morphological and structural changes of acupoint sensitivity., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. According to the diagnostic criteria of "Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Cervical Spondylosis" (2017), 344 cases of cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination were included and divided into control group (73 cases) and observation group (271 cases). The control group was healthy population, and the observation group was patients with cervical spondylosis conforming to the diagnostic criteria, including cervical spondylosis of neck type, cervical spondylosis radiculopathy, cervical spondylotic myelopathy, cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type, and sympathetic cervical spondylosis. According to MRI images of cervical spine, the structure of GV14 acupoint including skin, superficial fascia layer and aponeurosis ligament layer were measured., Results: The acupoint depth and the superficial fascia thickness at GV14 in the observation group were (56.6±8.8) mm and (22.8±7.6) mm, the acupoint depth and the superficial fascia thickness at GV14 were (49.8±7.0) mm and (16.6±6.6)mm in the control group, which were significantly greater in the observation group than in the control group ( P <0.01). The superficial fascia thickness at GV14 of cervical spondylotic mye-lopathy, cervical spondylosis of neck type and cervical spondylosis radiculopathy in the observation group was (23.8±8.1)mm, (23.0±7.3)mm and (22.6±6.5)mm, the acupoint depth of GV14 was (58.7±8.8)mm, (56.2±9.1)mm and (55.8±6.4)mm, which were significantly thicker than the superficial fascia thickness and the acupoint depth in the control group ( P <0.01). In the observation group，the superficial fascia thickness of GV14 of cervical spondylosis myelopathy was significantly thicker than those of sympathetic cervical spondylosis (17.8±8.1) mm and cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (19.9±5.9) mm ( P <0.01, P <0.05). In the observation group, the depth of GV14 of cervical spondylosis myelopathy was thicker than that of cervical spondylosis of neck type, cervical spondylosis radiculopathy, sympathetic cervical spondylosis and cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type( P <0.05， P <0.01)； the depth of GV14 of sympathetic cervical spondylosis was thinner than that of cervical spondylosis of neck type and cervical spondylosis radiculopathy ( P <0.01)., Conclusion: The superficial fascia thickness at GV14 was correlated with cervical spondylosis, and it is also related to cervical spondylotic myelopathy, cervical spondylosis of neck type and cervical spondylosis radiculopathy. The morphological and structural changes of GV14 in the state of cervical spondylosis were mainly the thickness of the superficial fascia.

Particulate matter (PM) is a hazardous airborne pollutant that encompasses all airborne particles with diameters ranging from 0.001 to 100 μm. It is composed of total suspended particles (TSPs), consisting of two main particle sizes: PM10 and PM2.5. PM poses various threats to human health because of its rapid mobility and its ability to spread over a wide area. In particular, it has long-term negative effects on such organs as the lungs and heart. China and South Korea, located in Northeast Asia, are representative of the countries at risk of PM, and their populations live with an awareness that the harms of PM go beyond physical risks. Therefore, based on previous studies, this study classifies the perceived PM risks into physical, psychological, financial, functional, and time risks. It has tried to verify the effect of this risk perception on the behavior intention of Chinese and Koreans and examine the moderating effect according to the difference in nationality. The study's conceptual model was constructed by applying Ajzen's proven theory of planned action. Utilizing AMOS 22.0 and SPSS 22.0, an analysis was performed. Following this analysis, it was determined that there was a significant causal relationship between perceived PM risk and behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Additionally, it was discovered that perceived PM risk significantly impacted desire and behavioral intention. These findings demonstrate that when persons are exposed to high concentrations of PM, they perceive a variety of risks that go beyond the merely physical, and they can form different attitudes depending on their nationality. This study greatly contributes to the theoretical and practical implications by presenting more diverse perspectives on PM risk., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Park, Park, Yoo, Yue and Yu.)

Parthenium hysterophorus L. is a vigorous plant species with cosmopolitan distribution. It can uptake considerable quantities of heavy metals from the soil and accrue these metals in its different tissue. The use of chelating agent i.e., Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) can boost up metal uptake capacity. Pot experiment was performed to evaluate phytoextraction potential of P. hysterophorus for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) with and without the aid of EDTA chelator. Shoot length, weight of root and shoot (both fresh and dry), leaves number, and chlorophyll contents of P. hysterophorus got reduced with an increase in metal uptake. The results revealed the highest concentration of Cd in shoot without and with EDTA was 283.6 and 300.1 mg kg -1 , correspondingly. Increase in Pb concentration was also boosted up by the EDTA from its maximum concentration in shoot 4.30-9.56 mg kg -1 . Generally, Pb and Cd concentrations were greater in shoots of P. hysterophorus than the roots regardless of EDTA in the treatments. EDTA also impacted positively the accumulation of essential ions K + , Na + , and Ca +2 in P. hysterophorus . The capacity of P. hysterophorus to accumulate Pb and Cd found to be increased with EDTA in the soil. Bringing metals level in the soil in accordance to the WHO standards can improve the ecosystem as well as public health., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ejaz, Khan, Aqeel, Khalid, Sarfraz, Naeem, Han, Yu, Yue and Raposo.)

Objective: To explore the efficacy difference of electroacupuncture at lower he -sea point and he -sea matching front- mu points for the treatment of gastroparesis., Methods: A total of 63 patients with gastroparesis were randomly divided into a lower he point group (group A, 32 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a he matching mu points group (group B, 31 cases, 1 case dropped off). The group A was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), and the group B was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12). Both groups were treated with continuous wave (2 Hz in frequency) for 30 min, once a day, 5 times a week for 3 weeks. The gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) score, gastric half-emptying time (T 1/2 ) and the 180 min gastric residual rate of the two groups before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical effective rate was compared., Results: After treatment, the total GCSI scores, T 1/2 and the 180 min gastric residual rates in both groups were lower than those before treatment ( P <0.01), and the 180 min gastric residual rate and T 1/2 in the group A were lower than those in the group B ( P <0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the group A, which was superior to 70.0% (21/30) in the group B ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Electroacupuncture at lower he -sea point and he -sea matching front- mu points can both be used to treat gastroparesis, but electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) has a better effect. The acupoints of Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12) may have antagonistic effects.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method on insomnia of heart and spleen deficiency and the effect of brain blood flow., Methods: Sixty cases were randomly divided into a tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method group (observation group) and an eight confluence points selected group (control group), 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated by acupuncture at Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmen (HT 7), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) with tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method. The control group was treated by acupuncture at Shenmai (BL 62) and Zhaohai (KI 6). Their therapeutic effects and changes of brain blood flow were observed., Results: The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group which was better than 83.3% (25/30) in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the peak velocity of systolic (Vp) and diastolic blood flow velocity (Vd) of middle cerebral artery, basilar artery and vertebral artery were increased in the both groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), with more obvious increase in the observation group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), except the Vd of left vertebral artery., Conclusion: Both the tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method and the eight confluence points selected needling method can improve the clinical signs and symptoms. Meanwhile, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture is related with improvement of brain blood flow. However, the tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method has better therapeutic effect on insomnia of heart and spleen deficiency.

Having studied white tiger shaking head method described by ancient and modern physicians, and analyzed and compared its manipulation techniques, the authors believe that the core of white tiger shaking head method originating from Zhenjiu Daquan ([Chinese characters: see text] Complete Book of Acupuncture-Moxibustion) by XU Feng lies in the techniques of "squarely withdrawing and circularly inserting" and "shaking and vibrating", and the manipulation factor is "circularly inserting and shaking, and squarely withdrawing and vibrating". Physicians such as WANG Ji (his second method), YANG Ji-zhou, LU Shou-kang and ZHENG Kui-shan inherited and developed white tiger shaking head method. WANG Ji's first method and what LI Chan and modem physicians YANG Zhao-min and LU Shou-yan described do not belong to white tiger shaking head method. The authors have made a new suggestion on standardizing the manipulation of white tiger shaking head method and approached to new ideas on research into standardization of ancient acupuncture.