Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for thousands of years. The holistic view of TCM and the “multitarget” characteristics of Chinese medicine have unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of T2DM. TCM syndrome differentia...

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Main Authors: Meina Yang, Zhongwen Zhang, Jialei Fu, Junyan Liu, Jiangxiang Pang, Hua Fan, Zailin Yang, Yuanbin Zhang, Jinxiang Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-07-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023052635
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author Meina Yang
Zhongwen Zhang
Jialei Fu
Junyan Liu
Jiangxiang Pang
Hua Fan
Zailin Yang
Yuanbin Zhang
Jinxiang Han
author_facet Meina Yang
Zhongwen Zhang
Jialei Fu
Junyan Liu
Jiangxiang Pang
Hua Fan
Zailin Yang
Yuanbin Zhang
Jinxiang Han
author_sort Meina Yang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for thousands of years. The holistic view of TCM and the “multitarget” characteristics of Chinese medicine have unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of T2DM. TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment are effective for T2DM; however, currently, the therapeutic effect of TCM is generally evaluated by asking for patients' subjective feelings, or by checking the changes in relevant indicators. The main problems are that the patient's descriptions are unclear and subjective, and although the self-reported symptoms may have improved significantly, the relevant indicators are sometimes not obvious, which cannot truly reflect the therapeutic effect of TCM. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a novel, sensitive, and noninvasive method to quantitatively evaluate the therapeutic effect of TCM. Methods: In this study, ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) was measured at four sites of hands of T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency before treatment and after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment with TCM. The UPE intensity and spectral distribution were calculated and analyzed using the results measured at these four sites. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to quantify the correlation between the UPE parameters and the syndrome scores of TCM. Results: The UPE intensity of T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency decreased gradually with the course of the treatment and was significantly lower than that before the treatment. The ratio of photon counts between the wavelength ranges of 495–550 nm and 550–610 nm after the treatment was higher than that before the treatment and negatively correlated with the corresponding syndrome scores so that the degree of symptoms improvement could be characterized by the ratio (495–550 nm/550–610 nm). Conclusions: The therapeutic effect of TCM in T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency can be shown at the level of UPE. UPE is a potential and noninvasive tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of TCM in patients with T2DM.
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spelling doaj.art-c0a5ce5489bb402ab6a6a3a9f2b5f3232023-07-27T05:58:23ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-07-0197e18055Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetesMeina Yang0Zhongwen Zhang1Jialei Fu2Junyan Liu3Jiangxiang Pang4Hua Fan5Zailin Yang6Yuanbin Zhang7Jinxiang Han8Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drugs (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Biomedical Sciences College, Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong, ChinaShandong Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong, ChinaShandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, ChinaNHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drugs (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Biomedical Sciences College, Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong, ChinaShandong First Medical University& Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, ChinaNeck-Shoulder and Lumberjack Pain Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong, ChinaNeck-Shoulder and Lumberjack Pain Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China; Corresponding author.NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drugs (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Biomedical Sciences College, Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China; Corresponding author.Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for thousands of years. The holistic view of TCM and the “multitarget” characteristics of Chinese medicine have unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of T2DM. TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment are effective for T2DM; however, currently, the therapeutic effect of TCM is generally evaluated by asking for patients' subjective feelings, or by checking the changes in relevant indicators. The main problems are that the patient's descriptions are unclear and subjective, and although the self-reported symptoms may have improved significantly, the relevant indicators are sometimes not obvious, which cannot truly reflect the therapeutic effect of TCM. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a novel, sensitive, and noninvasive method to quantitatively evaluate the therapeutic effect of TCM. Methods: In this study, ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) was measured at four sites of hands of T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency before treatment and after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment with TCM. The UPE intensity and spectral distribution were calculated and analyzed using the results measured at these four sites. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to quantify the correlation between the UPE parameters and the syndrome scores of TCM. Results: The UPE intensity of T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency decreased gradually with the course of the treatment and was significantly lower than that before the treatment. The ratio of photon counts between the wavelength ranges of 495–550 nm and 550–610 nm after the treatment was higher than that before the treatment and negatively correlated with the corresponding syndrome scores so that the degree of symptoms improvement could be characterized by the ratio (495–550 nm/550–610 nm). Conclusions: The therapeutic effect of TCM in T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency can be shown at the level of UPE. UPE is a potential and noninvasive tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of TCM in patients with T2DM.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023052635Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE)Syndrome of TCMType 2 diabetesNoninvasiveTherapeutic effect
spellingShingle Meina Yang
Zhongwen Zhang
Jialei Fu
Junyan Liu
Jiangxiang Pang
Hua Fan
Zailin Yang
Yuanbin Zhang
Jinxiang Han
Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes
Heliyon
Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE)
Syndrome of TCM
Type 2 diabetes
Noninvasive
Therapeutic effect
title Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes
title_full Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes
title_fullStr Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes
title_full_unstemmed Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes
title_short Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes
title_sort ultra weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes
topic Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE)
Syndrome of TCM
Type 2 diabetes
Noninvasive
Therapeutic effect
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023052635
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