Includes bibliographical references and index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 1993. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. CM)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Dissertation submitted to the School of Chinese Medicine. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-45).

Thesis (M. CM)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Dissertation submitted to the School of Chinese Medicine. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 18-19).

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A dor à uma das principais causas do sofrimento humano, aflige a humanidade desde o inicio de sua existÃncia e, independentemente de seu carÃter agudo ou crÃnico, desencadeia no homem alteraÃÃes nos padrÃes de sono, apetite e libido, irritabilidade, diminuiÃÃo da capacidade de concentraÃÃo, alÃm de dificuldades em atividades familiares, profissionais e sociais. A fibromialgia (FB) à uma sÃndrome musculoesquelÃtica crÃnica caracterizada por dor generalizada, de etiologia ainda nÃo completamente esclarecida, que ocorre predominantemente em indivÃduos de cor branca, afetando 2,5% da populaÃÃo brasileira, com maior incidÃncia no sexo feminino, na fase produtiva (antes dos 50 anos de idade), podendo tambÃm afetar crianÃas e idosos. Na ausÃncia de marcadores especÃficos, o diagnÃstico da FB à baseado em achados clÃnicos conforme critÃrios estabelecidos pelo American College of Rheumatology: dor generalizada presente no esqueleto axial e em ambos os hemicorpos, acima e abaixo da cintura, presenÃa de 11 ou mais dos18 tender points e dor crÃnica por mais de 3 meses. O tratamento da FB tem como objetivo reduzir a dor e os sintomas associados e melhorar a qualidade de vida. Antidepressivos associados a tratamentos nÃo farmacolÃgicos incluindo exercÃcios aerÃbicos de baixo impacto, alongamentos, programas de fortalecimento ou relaxamento muscular, reabilitaÃÃo e fisioterapia tÃm sido usados com resultados nem sempre satisfatÃrios. Outras terapias sÃo recomendadas, como balneoterapia, termoterapia, terapia magnÃtica, homeopatia, manipulaÃÃo manual, dietoterapia, musicoterapia e acupuntura, pelos seus efeitos auto-reguladores, analgÃsicos e antiinflamatÃrios. Na busca de outras opÃÃes terapÃuticas, este estudo objetiva avaliar os efeitos da acupuntura, da eletro- acupuntura e da moxabustÃo sobre a dor e a qualidade de vida em mulheres fibromiÃlgicas. Participaram do estudo 30 mulheres com idades entre 20 e 60 anos (mÃdia 46,90Â9,24), selecionadas segundo critÃrios prÃ-definidos, portadoras de fibromialgia, que apresentavam dor de intensidade moderada a grave (Algometria de Fischer <4kg/cm2). As pacientes foram distribuÃdas aleatoriamente em trÃs grupos (n=10) e tratadas com acupuntura (AC) [G-1], eletroacupuntura (EAC) [G-2] e moxabustÃo (MX) [G-3], durante 8 semanas (sessÃes semanais). Agulhas de aÃo inoxidÃvel foram inseridas em acupontos especÃficos bilateralmente (Neiguan/PC-6, Hegu/IG-4, Yanglingquan/VB-34, Sanyinjiao/BP-6 e Taichong/F-3) em todas as pacientes e retidas por 30 minutos. Adicionalmente, foram aplicadas a EAC (G-2) ou a MX (G-3) durante 30 minutos. Para avaliaÃÃo da intensidade da dor foram utilizados o questionÃrio McGill, a Escala de Faces de Wong-Baker e o AlgÃmetro de Fischer. A qualidade de vida foi avaliada utilizando o questionÃrio The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), traduzido, adaptado e validado para a lÃngua portuguesa em 1999. Os dados foram tabulados utilizando-se o software Excel para Windows 2007 da Microsoft Corporation (U.S.A.) e analisados pelo programa de anÃlise estatÃstica GraphPad Prism v.5.00 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CalifÃrnia, U.S.A). Os resultados mostram que nenhum dos trÃs mÃtodos de tratamento utilizados no estudo (AC, EAC, MX) promove reduÃÃo da dor em mulheres fibromiÃlgicas, apÃs 8 semanas de tratamento. Por outro lado, tanto a EAC como a MX melhoram a saÃde mental; a AC promove a melhora da vitalidade nessas pacientes. / Pain is one of the major causes of human suffering, afflicted humanity since the beginning of its existence and, regardless of its acute or chronic character, triggers in man changes in sleep patterns, appetite and libido, irritability, decreased ability to concentrate, in addition to difficulties in family, professional and social activities. Fibromyalgia (FB) is a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, etiology not yet fully clarified, that occurs predominantly in white individuals, affecting 2.5% of the Brazilian population, with higher incidence in females, in the productive phase (before 50 years of age), and may also affect children and the elderly. In the absence of specific markers, the diagnosis of FB is based on clinical findings according to criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology: widespread pain present in the axial skeleton and in both hemibodies, above and below the waist, presence of 11 or more of the 18 tender points and chronic pain for more than 3 months. FB treatment aims to reduce pain and associated symptoms and improve quality of life. Antidepressants associated with non-pharmacological treatments including low impact aerobic, stretching, strengthening programs, or muscle relaxation, rehabilitation and physical therapy have been used with results not always satisfactory. Other therapies such as balneotherapy, thermotherapy, magnetic therapy, homeopathy, manual handling, dietotherapy, music therapy and acupuncture are recommended for its self-regulatory, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. In search of other therapeutic options, this study aims to evaluate the effects of acupuncture, electroacupuncture and moxibu stion on the pain and quality of life in fibromyalgic women. Thirty women aged between 20 and 60 years (mean age 46.90Â9.24), selected according to predefined criteria, with FB, who had pain of moderate to severe intensity (<4kg/cm2) were included in the study. The patients were randomized, distributed in three groups (n=10) and treated with acupuncture (AC) [G-1], electroacupuncture (EAC) [G-2] and moxibustion (MX) [G-3], during 8 weeks (weekly sessions). Stainless steel needles were inserted into specific acupoints bilaterally (Neiguan/PC-6, Hegu/G-4, Yanglingquan/VB-34, Sanyinjiao/BP-6 and Taichong/F-3) in all patients, and retained for 30 minutes. Additionally, EAC (G-2) or MX (G-3) were applied during 30 minutes. To evaluate the intensity of the pain the McGill questionnaire, the Wong-Baker Faces Scale and the Fischer Algometer device were used. The quality of life was assessed using the questionnaire The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), translated, adapted and validated for the Portuguese language in 1999.The data was tabulated using the Excel 2007 software for Windows  from Microsoft Corporation (U.S.A). GraphPad Prism  v. 5.00 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California, U.S.A) program was used for statistical analysis. The results show that none of the three treatment methods used in the study (AC, EAC, MX) promotes reduction of pain in fibromyalgic women, after 8 weeks of treatment. However, both EAC as MX treatments improve the mental health. Additionally, the AC improves vitality in these patients.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

and senkyunolide A were found as the three major compounds in all herbal samples investigated. In addition, great variations in both total and individual content of each of the ten main components investigated were observed in samples of different origins and those collected from a GAP developing base in the same or different years, suggesting the necessity of a thorough quality control for Rhizoma Chuanxiong. / Extraction of the main ingredients from Rhizoma Chuanxiong by supercritical fluid extraction using CO2 was investigated. An appropriate SCFE method for Chuanxiong was developed with the mild conditions for the extraction of the unstable components. The method provided a high recovery and adequate reproducibility, and may be suitable for large-scale industry extraction of Chuanxiong. / Firstly, a total of sixteen ingredients were identified from Chuanxiong by HPLC-UV-MS and HPLC-UV analyses. Among them, ten ingredients were determined to be the main components in Chuanxiong. A simple, sensitive and specific HPLC-UV method was developed, for the first time, to simultaneously qualitatively and quantitatively determine twelve ingredients, including the identified ten main ingredients, plus vanillin and tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), which although were not found in the present study, had also been reported to be present in Rhizoma Chuanxiong. The developed assay was fully validated and provided adequate accuracy and reproducibility for all compounds analyzed. It was applied successfully to simultaneously quantify all main constituents in different Chuanxiong samples. TMP and vanillin were not detected, while Z-ligustilide, coniferylferulate. / Furthermore, a comprehensive stability study was carried out for the first time with the three major components senkyunolide A, coniferylferulate, Z-ligustilide and the main ingredient 3-butylidenephthalide, in pure form or Chuanxiong extract obtained from supercritical fluid extraction using CO 2 (SCFE) under different conditions. Results showed that both sun light and elevated temperature led to degradations of these components to different extents. Owing to such thermal and light instability, post-harvest drying and processing procedures could significantly alter the chemical profile of Chuanxiong herb, and thus also need to be well controlled. / In conclusion, analytical and pharmacokinetic studies of the main chemical ingredients in Rhizoma Chuanxiong were systematically conducted. The results revealed, for the first time, that senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide and 3-butylidenephthalide might be the primary chemical ingredients contributing to the beneficial effects of Chuanxiong. / Oral bioavailability was about 8%, 3% and 20% for senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide and 3-butylidenephthalide, respectively. Instability in the gut mainly contributed to a low oral bioavailability of senkyunolide A. First-pass metabolism in the liver also contributed to the low oral bioavailability but to a much lower extent. For Z-ligustilide, extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver and degradation in the stomach only partly accounted for its poor oral bioavailability, while other gut factors involved are still unknown. In the case of 3-butylidenephthalide, its low oral bioavailability was attributed to extensive first-pass metabolism in both the gut and the liver. / Pharmacokinetic fates of the main ingredients in Chuanxiong SCFE extract were firstly evaluated in rats. After a single intravenous and oral administration, only senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide and 3-butylidenephthalide were determined as the main herb related components in plasma. Coniferylferulate, although it is one of the abundant principles in the herb, was not detected in the plasma even immediately after dosing. / Pharmacokinetic profiles of senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide and 3-butylidenephthalide were further elucidated individually in rats. All three compounds exhibited rapid absorption, extensive distribution, and rapid elimination. The pharmacokinetic profile of senkyunolide A followed a dose-independent pattern, whereas Z-ligustilide exhibited dose-dependent kinetics. 3-Butylidenephthalide underwent enterohepatic re-circulation. / Rhizoma Chuanxiong is derived from the dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae). In China, it has been widely prescribed for the treatment of cerebro- and cardio-vascular diseases for thousands of years. However, its chemical and pharmacological basis is poorly understood. In the present study, analytical methods for qualitative and quantitative determination of the main chemical components in Chuanxiong herb were developed. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic profiles of the main chemical ingredients in Chuanxiong were systematically investigated in rats for the first time. / The metabolic profiles of senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide and 3-butylidenephthalide were investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Oxidation and hydration were found to be the main metabolic pathways for all three compounds. In addition, glutathione conjugation of senkyunolide A and Z-ligustilide also occurred in the rat. A novel metabolite 3-hydroxy-3-butylphthalide was identified as the major metabolite of 3-butylidenephthalide generated by a direct hydration, and was shown to have significantly higher plasma levels than those of the parent compound. Furthermore, the main metabolites detected in the plasma of rats administered with Chuanxiong extract were generated from senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide and 3-butylidenephthalide. / Yan Ru. / "May 2005." / Adviser: Ge Lin. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: B, page: 1583. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 244-255). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.