Jade material in vitro and in vivo: A study on the anti-inflammatory and repair efficacy of jade material on the skin

Local cOinage and Hospital Equipment Index (Lo Hei): projectile distance of Singapore coinage and healthcare-related equipment in a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner

INTRODUCTION

Modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners utilise superconducting magnets that are permanently active. Patients and healthcare professionals have been known to unintentionally introduce ferromagnetic objects into the scanning room. In this study, we evaluated the projectile risk of Singapore coinage as well as some common healthcare equipment within a 3 T MRI scanner.

METHODS

A rig termed 'Object eNtry Guidance and Linear Acceleration Instrument' (ONG LAI) was custom-built to facilitate safe trajectory of the putative ferromagnetic objects. A ballistic gel target was utilised as a human tissue surrogate to estimate tissue penetration. The point at which objects would self-propel towards the scanner was named 'Huge Unintended Acceleration Towards Actual Harm (HUAT AH)'.

RESULTS

Singapore third-series coins (10-cent to 1-dollar coins) are highly ferromagnetic and would accelerate towards the MRI scanner from more than one metre away. Cannulas with their needles are ferromagnetic and would self-propel towards the scanner from a distance of 20 cm. Standard surgical masks are ferromagnetic and may lose their sealing efficacy when they are worn too close to the magnet. Among the tested objects, a can of pineapple drink (Lee Pineapple Juice) had the highest HUAT AH at a distance of more than 1.5 m.

CONCLUSION

Some local coinage and commonly found objects within a healthcare setting demonstrate ferromagnetic activity with projectile potential from a distance of more than 1 m. Patients and healthcare professionals should be cognisant of the risk associated with introducing these objects into the MRI scanning room.

Benefits of topical natural ingredients in epidermal permeability barrier

Because of the crucial role of epidermal permeability barrier in regulation of cutaneous and extracutaneous functions, great efforts have been made to identify and develop the regimens that can improve epidermal permeability barrier function. Studies have demonstrated that oral administration of natural ingredients can improve epidermal permeability barrier in various skin conditions, including inflammatory dermatoses and UV-irradiation. Moreover, topical applications of some natural ingredients can also accelerate the repair of epidermal permeability barrier after acute barrier disruption and lower transepidermal water loss in the intact skin. Natural ingredient-induced improvements in epidermal permeability barrier function can be attributable to upregulation of keratinocyte differentiation, lipid production, antioxidant, hyaluronic acid production, expression of aquaporin 3 and sodium-hydrogen exchanger 1. In this review, we summarize the benefits of topical natural ingredients in epidermal permeability barrier in normal skin with or without acute barrier disruption and the underlying mechanisms.

A comparison of jade moxibustion and traditional moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

This study was developed to compare the relative clinical efficacy of traditional moxibustion and Jade moxibustion in an effort to define the most effective approaches to treating knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

In total, 94 patients were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the traditional moxibustion (TM) and Jade moxibustion (JM) groups. For JM, a jade kneepad was preheated for 3 minutes via electrification, with the jade in the kneepad being pressed onto acupoints when reaching an initial temperature of 46°C. For patients in the TM group, moxa cones were applied to acupoints for treatment. In total, 12 treatments were performed for patients in each group, with treatment being conducted 3 times per week. Study outcomes included 36-item short-form health survey and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index knee stiffness scores. In addition, serum levels of osteoarthritis-related cytokines were measured.

RESULTS

Overall, 89/94 patients completed this study, including 44 and 45 in the TM and JM groups, respectively. The 36-item short-form health survey physical functioning at weeks 12 and 24 (P = .033, 0.001), role-physical at weeks 4 and 24 (P = .030, 0.014), and role-emotional at week 4 (P = .045) were the only scores to differ significantly between the TM and JM groups. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index stiffness scores in the JM groups improved significantly relative to baseline at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24 (all P < .01). The scores in the TM group differed significantly at all time points relative to baseline (all P < .01), with no differences between groups (all P > .05). Serum Interleukin-2 levels were lower in both groups (all P < .01). Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 only differed significantly for patients treated via JM (P < .05, P < .01), with the same also being true for Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-8 in the TM group (all P < .01). No significant differences in other cytokines were observed, nor did they differ significantly between groups (all P > .05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that JM treatment can improve knee osteoarthritis patient quality of life, alleviating joint stiffness and restoring joint function with a level of efficacy comparable to TM.