Research Progress on the Mechanism of the Acupuncture Regulating Neuro-Endocrine-Immune Network System

As one of the conventional treatment methods, acupuncture is an indispensable component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Currently, acupuncture has been partly accepted throughout the world, but the mechanism of acupuncture is still unclear. Since the theory of the neuro-endocrine-immune network was put forward, new insights have been brought into the understanding of the mechanism of acupuncture. Studies have proven that acupuncture is a mechanical stimulus that can activate local cell functions and neuroreceptors. It also regulates the release of related biomolecules (peptide hormones, lipid hormones, neuromodulators and neurotransmitters, and other small and large biomolecules) in the microenvironment, where they can affect each other and further activate the neuroendocrine-immune network to achieve holistic regulation. Recently, growing efforts have been made in the research on the mechanism of acupuncture. Some researchers have transitioned from studying the mechanism of acupuncture as a single linear pathway to using systems approaches, including metabolomics, genomics, proteomics and biological pathway analysis. This review summarizes the research progress on the neuro-endocrine-immune network related mechanism of acupuncture and discusses its current challenges and future directions.

Leveraging integrated spatial planning for sustainable regulation of coastal tourism activities in Malindi town, Kenya

Unprecedented demand for both land and ocean space within the coastal zone to support tourism has continued to negatively impact the coastal marine environment leading to degradation. Poorly planned and regulated tourism activities on land and sea have led to degradation of environmentally sensitive marine areas, encroachment on public beaches, erosion of the shoreline and blockage of public access points to the beaches. These impacts transcend the land and ocean continuum necessitating the need for regulation. Spatial planning is one of the key tools that provides a pre-emptive strategic framework for regulating tourism uses so as to prevent harmful development and mitigate the impact of potentially polluting activities. However, spatial planning as applied in Kenya has focused on the regulation of physical developments on land such as the construction of hotels but not on the related tourism activities that emanate from such developments. In this case, activities that tourists engage in outside of the physical hotel structure such as swimming, leisure walks, sport fishing, souvenir collection, and snorkeling are not the subject of spatial planning leading to unsustainable use within the coastal zone. This study makes a case for adopting an integrated spatial planning approach as a lever for regulating tourism activities within this expanded lens, beyond just the buildings and activities that take place within the hotel establishments. The spatial planning approach would include a holistic regulation of coastal tourism activities within both terrestrial and marine spaces in order to attain sustainable management of the marine ecosystem.

A Systematic Review of the Mechanisms Underlying Treatment of Gastric Precancerous Lesions by Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gastric precancerous lesions (GPLs) are an essential precursor in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer, known to be one of the most common and lethal cancers worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive prospect for the prevention and therapy of GPL owing to several advantages including a definite curative effect, fewer side effects compared to other treatments, multiple components, and holistic regulation. Despite these characteristic advantages, the mechanisms of TCM in treating GPL have not been fully elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge with respect to herbal formulations and the therapeutic mechanisms of TCM active ingredients for GPL. This paper elaborates on the mechanisms of TCM underlying the prevention and treatment of GPL, specifically those that are linked to anti-H. pylori, anti-inflammation, antiproliferation, proapoptotic, antioxidation, antiglycolytic, and antiangiogenesis effects.