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Practices such as “Reiki”, therapeutic touch, healing touch, and external “Qigong” have been regarded as some form of “energy medicine” or “biofield therapy”. The biofield concept has been studied and debated by researchers of distinct areas of expertise, and although the phenomenon was sometimes described as physically related to electromagnetics, other factors such as “subtle energy” and focused intention might be involved. These nonconventional practices integrate contact and non-contact techniques, and those dealing with so-called distant healing interventions are perhaps the most difficult to understand and accept. Practitioners describe these so-called nonlocal interventions as involving intentional factors and particular states of consciousness. With a spiritual mindset and a particular state of awareness, compassion is said to work out as a catalyst to produce physiological and physical changes through mechanisms that are still unknown. At the body level, these vegetative changes might be related to individual self-perception variations as part of the body neurovegetative feedback system of regulation. Further mechanisms are difficult to document and measure, and might be more accessible to research by using physical signal detectors, chemical dynamics methods, detectors using biological materials, detectors using living sensors, and detectors using the human body. The growing interest in these practices and the considerable amount of research exploring their effects and clinical applications encouraged this narrative review, which aims to provide an easy to consult partial overview of the history, theory and findings of quantitative research strategies exploring non-contact biofield-based practices. This work also aims to stimulate the reader’s mind with the raised hypotheses, catalyzing further research on the subject to confirm or deny the reported outcomes.
Luís Matos; Jorge Machado; Fernando Monteiro; Henry Greten. Perspectives, Measurability and Effects of Non-Contact Biofield-Based Practices: A Narrative Review of Quantitative Research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 6397 .
AMA StyleLuís Matos, Jorge Machado, Fernando Monteiro, Henry Greten. Perspectives, Measurability and Effects of Non-Contact Biofield-Based Practices: A Narrative Review of Quantitative Research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (12):6397.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Matos; Jorge Machado; Fernando Monteiro; Henry Greten. 2021. "Perspectives, Measurability and Effects of Non-Contact Biofield-Based Practices: A Narrative Review of Quantitative Research." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 12: 6397.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a systematic healthcare system developed from clinical experience based on a scientific model of regulation. TCM relies on unique theories and practices to treat diseases and enhance health. These practices include Chinese herbal medicine and dietetics, acupuncture and moxibustion, and other non-medication therapies such as Chinese bodywork or manual therapy, known as “Tuina”, and traditional biofeedback exercises, known as “Qigong” and “Taijiquan”. The integration of TCM in Western health systems and research requires a rational communicable theory, scientific proof of efficacy and safety, and quality control measures. Understanding the structural concepts of the TCM language makes possible the parallelism to Western physiology, and the inherent rational use of the reflex therapeutic systems, anti-inflammatory mechanisms and mental training involved, for example, in acupuncture and “Qigong”. The results of TCM clinical trials and fundamental research on its nature and mechanisms have encouraged the development and application of well-designed research strategies such as double blinding in acupucture to overcome limitations and resistances in integrating these practices into the existing biomedical paradigms of the West. This review aims to overview some TCM theoretical concepts and the evidence-based clinical application of TCM’s leading practices to create an easy-to-consult and condensed source of information, available for the healthcare community, facilitating the understanding and communication between conventional health professionals and TCM practitioners and acupuncturists.
Luís Matos; Jorge Machado; Fernando Monteiro; Henry Greten. Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications. Healthcare 2021, 9, 257 .
AMA StyleLuís Matos, Jorge Machado, Fernando Monteiro, Henry Greten. Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications. Healthcare. 2021; 9 (3):257.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Matos; Jorge Machado; Fernando Monteiro; Henry Greten. 2021. "Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications." Healthcare 9, no. 3: 257.
The integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Western health systems and research requires a rational communicable theory, scientific proof of efficacy and safety, and quality control measures. The existence of clear definitions and the diagnosis standardization are critical factors to establish the patient’s vegetative functional status accurately and, therefore, systematically apply TCM therapeutics such as the stimulation of reflex skin areas known as acupoints. This science-based conceptualization entails using validated methods, or even developing new systems able to parameterize the diagnosis and assess TCM related effects by objective measurements. Traditionally, tongue and pulse diagnosis and the functional evaluation of action points by pressure sensitivity and physical examination may be regarded as essential diagnostic tools. Parameterizing these techniques is a future key point in the objectification of TCM diagnosis, such as by electronic digital image analysis, mechanical pulse diagnostic systems, or the systematic evaluation of acupoints’ electrophysiology. This review aims to demonstrate and critically analyze some achievements and limitations in the clinical application of device-assisted TCM diagnosis systems to evaluate functional physiological patterns. Despite some limitations, tongue, pulse, and electrophysiological diagnosis devices have been reported as a useful tool while establishing a person’s functional status.
Luís Matos; Jorge Machado; Fernando Monteiro; Henry Greten. Can Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Be Parameterized and Standardized? A Narrative Review. Healthcare 2021, 9, 177 .
AMA StyleLuís Matos, Jorge Machado, Fernando Monteiro, Henry Greten. Can Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Be Parameterized and Standardized? A Narrative Review. Healthcare. 2021; 9 (2):177.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Matos; Jorge Machado; Fernando Monteiro; Henry Greten. 2021. "Can Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Be Parameterized and Standardized? A Narrative Review." Healthcare 9, no. 2: 177.
Introduction Acupoints have bioelectrical properties distinct from common skin. Besides the higher electrical conductivity and lower resistance, acupoints show capacitor-like properties, which can be related to their endogenous electrical potential. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) postulates that meridians are physiological structures connecting acupoints and working as a conduit for the flow of two essential substances known as qi and xue. Objectives: This pilot study was focused in evaluating whether the electrical potential of acupoints can be correlated objectively to the functional properties as described by ancient Chinese medical theories, such as the theories of coupled meridians of the same phase ('elements'), and the principle of coupled points. Methods: Direct needle moxibustion on LU5 and needle dispulsion of LI4 were performed in 21 subjects. The electrical potential of each acupoint was measured with a high-resolution data acquisition system taking to reference the acupoint SP6 of the Spleen conduit. Results: The results may indicate a functional relationship between the therapeutics and the electrical potential response on the selected acupoints. These effects seem to be explainable considering the specific properties of each acupoint, the relationship between TCM phases, and the dynamics between coupled conduits. Conclusion: The evaluation of the endogenous electrical potential of acupoints and the changes caused by an external stimulus might contribute to the understanding of TCM concepts, mechanisms, and the effects of associated therapeutics. The observed phenomena encourage the systematic assessment of the functional vegetative status via skin electrophysiology and using objective measurements.
Luís Carlos Matos; Lara Teixeira Lopes; Virginie Abreu Freire; Jorge Pereira Machado; Fernando Jorge Monteiro; Henry Johannes Greten. Can the electrical potential of acupoints be used to assess the functional state of meridians and the effects of therapeutics? An exploratory data analysis. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2020, 26, 309 -317.
AMA StyleLuís Carlos Matos, Lara Teixeira Lopes, Virginie Abreu Freire, Jorge Pereira Machado, Fernando Jorge Monteiro, Henry Johannes Greten. Can the electrical potential of acupoints be used to assess the functional state of meridians and the effects of therapeutics? An exploratory data analysis. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2020; 26 ():309-317.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Carlos Matos; Lara Teixeira Lopes; Virginie Abreu Freire; Jorge Pereira Machado; Fernando Jorge Monteiro; Henry Johannes Greten. 2020. "Can the electrical potential of acupoints be used to assess the functional state of meridians and the effects of therapeutics? An exploratory data analysis." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 26, no. : 309-317.
BackgroundThe biofield is a controversial concept among the scientific community. Some aspects of this phenomenon relate to measurable factors of mainstream science such as electromagnetics, while others, involving nonlocal interventions, intention, and consciousness, seem to produce physical changes through mechanisms that are still unknown, making the outcomes of many studies not fully explained by our current state of scientific understanding. This study explored the hypothetical effects of intention on the conditioning of a pH system with continuous data acquisition for real-time measurements. As a follow-up study, those effects were related to changes in the physicochemical properties of water samples chosen as a target in a previous large-scale intervention of focused intention.MethodsThe intention experiments were conducted under controlled conditions from the 8th to September 11, 2015. During this period, 286 qualified biofield therapy practitioners meditated at a distance with the intention of changing the vibrational state of the water molecules contained in specific flasks. Several variables were evaluated, including the magnetic field and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) radiation from 175 to 954 nm near the experimental spot, as well as Raman spectra, pH, and electrical conductivity of all the water samples. After this period, real-time pH measurements of water samples were taken with the same equipment and under the same experimental conditions, except for the practitioners’ awareness of those experiments, and without their focused intention. Real-time pH, electrical conductivity and the concentration of cations and anions measured by ion chromatography in the water samples were used to test the proposed hypothesis.ResultsReal-time pH was responsive during the intention experiments and after this period. Further continuous measurements performed after the 11th September showed that the pH variations overtime kept a systematic and consistent tendency similar to the one observed during the experimental activities involving focused intention. After the replacement of the electrode internal electrolyte, this behavior was no longer verified, and the pH was stable as the initial tests to evaluate the equipment sensitivity.ConclusionsAfter the experimental period involving focused intention, the pH system maintained a systematic and consistent behavior while measuring the pH of new water samples. An eventual intention-mediated conditioning of the pH measurement system occurred because of changes in the properties of the electrode internal electrolyte.
Luís Matos; Sara Cristina Santos; Joel G. Anderson; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Fernando Jorge Monteiro. Can measurements be physically conditioned by thought? Further observations following a focused intention experiment. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine 2020, 17, 1 .
AMA StyleLuís Matos, Sara Cristina Santos, Joel G. Anderson, Jorge Machado, Henry Johannes Greten, Fernando Jorge Monteiro. Can measurements be physically conditioned by thought? Further observations following a focused intention experiment. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2020; 17 (4):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Matos; Sara Cristina Santos; Joel G. Anderson; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Fernando Jorge Monteiro. 2020. "Can measurements be physically conditioned by thought? Further observations following a focused intention experiment." Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine 17, no. 4: 1.
IntroductionQigong is widespread in the West and used for preventive care, stress-induced conditions, emotional and vegetative symptoms like migraine and hypertension, as well as for better coordination in the elderly and quality of life enhancement in severe disease such as cancer. Adequate controls for Qigong research are lacking, compromising the level of efficacy evidence. Adequate Qigong placebo control exercises should match clear and standardized criteriaMethodsThree computerized databases were assessed in January 2018 (Scopus, Web of Science and MEDLINE on PubMed) using the following keywords or their combinations: (Qigong OR Qi Gong OR Gong Qi OR Chi Kung OR Kung Chi OR Kiko OR Ki Gong OR Ki Kong) AND placebo. In addition, all reference lists were scanned for further relevant articles. Literature was examined for the effects of Qigong as compared to a control intervention.Results110 articles were found, 78 of which were excluded after examining the title and abstract, and 16 because they were duplicates. Four more articles were found by searching in the bibliographies of published papers. A total of 20 studies were included in this systematic review. We found that, to the best of our knowledge, no criteria for placebo controls have been published in peer-reviewed journals so far.ConclusionPlacebo controls should be developed by the usage of vegetative functional assessments such as heart rate variability, thermography, and electrophysiological measurements, thus excluding major vegetative effects of the exercise, as well as by the usage of psychometric tests and other quantitative evaluations.
Mário Gonçalves; Luís Carlos Matos; Leonel Duarte; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Giovanna Franconi. Problems of scientific methodology related to placebo control in Qigong studies: A systematic review. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2020, 24, 261 -270.
AMA StyleMário Gonçalves, Luís Carlos Matos, Leonel Duarte, Jorge Machado, Henry Johannes Greten, Giovanna Franconi. Problems of scientific methodology related to placebo control in Qigong studies: A systematic review. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2020; 24 (4):261-270.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMário Gonçalves; Luís Carlos Matos; Leonel Duarte; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Giovanna Franconi. 2020. "Problems of scientific methodology related to placebo control in Qigong studies: A systematic review." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 24, no. 4: 261-270.
Water is one of the scarcest resources in the world, and it is becoming rarer fast, year after year. Chemical engineers are particularly suited to addressing the challenges of saving water and producing more fresh water. Proper education is then critical to prepare them for the upcoming decades. All student laboratories need distilled water, which is typically produced using commercial distillation units, which consume up to 70 L of fresh water per liter of distillated water. This work reports the design, construction, optimization, and operation of a water distillation unit that produces 10 liters per hour at 4 µS∙cm−1 and wastes no fresh water. Developed by a committed team made up of students, lab technicians, and instructors, this unit saves ca. 550 m3 of fresh water annually while spending less electrical power.
Luís Carlos Matos; Ana Eulálio; Tiago Antunes; José Miguel Loureiro; Alexandre Ferreira; Adélio Mendes. Project and Implementation of an Educational Large-Scale Water Distillation Unit with a Closed-Circuit Condenser. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3239 .
AMA StyleLuís Carlos Matos, Ana Eulálio, Tiago Antunes, José Miguel Loureiro, Alexandre Ferreira, Adélio Mendes. Project and Implementation of an Educational Large-Scale Water Distillation Unit with a Closed-Circuit Condenser. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (8):3239.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Carlos Matos; Ana Eulálio; Tiago Antunes; José Miguel Loureiro; Alexandre Ferreira; Adélio Mendes. 2020. "Project and Implementation of an Educational Large-Scale Water Distillation Unit with a Closed-Circuit Condenser." Sustainability 12, no. 8: 3239.
The ability to direct and maintain attention is a prerequisite for learning. Qigong exercises are already commonly practiced in many developed countries to increase attention and memory. The main goal of this study was to examine whether Qigong would improve the attention levels of adolescents (12-14 years of age) when practiced as part of their physical education course. Three groups of 22 individuals were considered: the verum group, which performed true Qigong; the control group, which performed sham, or placebo Qigong; and the waiting list group. In order to evaluate Qigong effects, attention tests (d2) were applied to all groups before the intervention period (t1) and after two and four weeks of practice (t2 and t3, respectively). At t1, there was no significant difference between the verum, control and waiting list groups in all measurable features. After 4 weeks of exercise, the verum group was significantly superior in all measurable features in comparison to the control group and the waiting list group. Values in the waiting list group were generally worse than in the control group (placebo Qigong), but there was no significant difference between the control and waiting list group, showing that the placebo offered an effect that was not significantly greater than the effect of no intervention at all. 'White Ball' Qigong was able to improve attention in adolescents after 4 weeks of practice, leading us to conclude that it may be a useful tool when integrated into physical education classes.
Leonel Duarte; Mário Gonçalves; Patrícia Mendes; Luís Carlos Matos; Henry Johannes Greten; Jorge Machado. Can Qigong improve attention in adolescents? A prospective randomised controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2020, 24, 175 -181.
AMA StyleLeonel Duarte, Mário Gonçalves, Patrícia Mendes, Luís Carlos Matos, Henry Johannes Greten, Jorge Machado. Can Qigong improve attention in adolescents? A prospective randomised controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2020; 24 (1):175-181.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeonel Duarte; Mário Gonçalves; Patrícia Mendes; Luís Carlos Matos; Henry Johannes Greten; Jorge Machado. 2020. "Can Qigong improve attention in adolescents? A prospective randomised controlled trial." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 24, no. 1: 175-181.
Strenuous physical exercise may cause acute muscle soreness (AMS), which occurs directly after exercise, as well as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which occurs about 24 h after exercise. Studies of acupuncture's effect on DOMS have had contradictory results, whereas its effect on AMS has not been extensively studied. The main goal of this study was to evaluate acupuncture's effects on AMS and DOMS and on the prevention of DOMS. 45 volunteers were randomised into a verum acupuncture group, a sham acupuncture group and a control group. After exercise-induced muscle damage was elicited, muscle soreness and pressure pain threshold were assessed at different time points. The outcome assessments were performed before (T1) and 20 min after the first acupuncture treatment (T2); then, 24 h later, they were performed before (T3) and 20 min after the second acupuncture treatment (T4). In the verum and sham acupuncture groups, acupuncture was performed for 2 min, immediately after T1 and T3 assessments, whereas subjects in the control group simply rested for 2 min without treatment. Verum acupuncture was given at ST34, ST36 and LR3, whereas sham acupuncture was given at three nontraditional points. We found that verum acupuncture can reduce the occurrence of AMS by one-half and DOMS by one-third. We also found specific and nonspecific acupuncture effects in AMS and DOMS. The uneven induction of muscle damage identified by our study, as shown by heterogeneity in pressure pain threshold values, may have led to the contradictory results in published studies on DOMS.
Ricardo Cardoso; José A. Lumini-Oliveira; Maria João Santos; Bruno Ramos; Luís Matos; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Giovanna Franconi. Acupuncture can be beneficial for exercise-induced muscle soreness: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2020, 24, 8 -14.
AMA StyleRicardo Cardoso, José A. Lumini-Oliveira, Maria João Santos, Bruno Ramos, Luís Matos, Jorge Machado, Henry Johannes Greten, Giovanna Franconi. Acupuncture can be beneficial for exercise-induced muscle soreness: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2020; 24 (1):8-14.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRicardo Cardoso; José A. Lumini-Oliveira; Maria João Santos; Bruno Ramos; Luís Matos; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Giovanna Franconi. 2020. "Acupuncture can be beneficial for exercise-induced muscle soreness: A randomised controlled trial." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 24, no. 1: 8-14.
The adsorption of Basic Blue 41 (BB41), Methylene Blue (MB) and Basic Red 18 (BR18), three known basic dyes, was studied in shaped mesoporous adsorbent MCM-41. The granules were obtained by extrusion of the powder adsorbent and were analyzed by nitrogen adsorption, SEM–EDS, XRD, mercury porosimetry and helium picnometry. Adsorption equilibrium isotherms, kinetics, and breakthrough curves were performed with the selected adsorbent and dyes. The experimental results indicated that the Sips model better describes the equilibrium than the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Additionally, the co-adsorption equilibrium of two dyes was well predicted by the extended form of the Sips model. The kinetics results showed that the adsorption of Basic Blue 41 onto the selected adsorbent is faster than with the other studied dyes. The obtained adsorbed equilibrium amounts through the breakthrough curves were 308 mg g−1, 55 mg g−1 and 106 mg g−1 for the Basic Blue 41, Methylene Blue and Basic Red 18 dyes, respectively. The dye is concentrated during regeneration step, since the volume of regenerating solution, eluted during the regeneration, is considerably lower (about two orders of magnitude) when compared with the volume of effluent treated until the breakthrough point. This fact demonstrates the feasibility of a potential adsorption based process to treat dyed effluents, with the shaped MCM-41.
Albertina G. Rios; Luís Matos; Yaidelin Manrique; José Miguel Loureiro; Adélio Mendes; Alexandre F. P. Ferreira. Adsorption of anionic and cationic dyes into shaped MCM-41. Adsorption 2019, 26, 75 -88.
AMA StyleAlbertina G. Rios, Luís Matos, Yaidelin Manrique, José Miguel Loureiro, Adélio Mendes, Alexandre F. P. Ferreira. Adsorption of anionic and cationic dyes into shaped MCM-41. Adsorption. 2019; 26 (1):75-88.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlbertina G. Rios; Luís Matos; Yaidelin Manrique; José Miguel Loureiro; Adélio Mendes; Alexandre F. P. Ferreira. 2019. "Adsorption of anionic and cationic dyes into shaped MCM-41." Adsorption 26, no. 1: 75-88.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder leading to loss of autonomy and a decline in quality of life. Qigong, a practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, has been positively reported on a variety of complaints of chronically ill patients and on gait imbalance in the elderly. PubMed and B-On databases were accessed during March 2018 to carry out an inventory of relevant scientific papers relating PD to Qigong. Fifteen articles were found and analyzed allowing us to highlight that: (1) in addition to medication, Qigong shows potential gains in PD management; (2) there is a stabilizing effect of motor symptoms and positive results in several frequent autonomy symptoms; (3) Qigong is highly accepted by patients, and is a cost-effective treatment that can be self-practiced, improving sleep quality, gait speed, functional mobility and quality of life, thus reducing the risk of falling; (4) Qigong improves muscle hardness, functional ability to walk, hand–eye coordination and balance. Despite the promising results, the limitations and the disparity of experimental designs of the included studies do not allow us to have a conclusive answer to the question whether Qigong benefits the management of PD or not.
António Moreira; Luís Carlos Matos; Ana Maria Conceição. Does Qigong Practice Have Benefits on the Management of Parkinson’s Disease? J 2019, 2, 352 -363.
AMA StyleAntónio Moreira, Luís Carlos Matos, Ana Maria Conceição. Does Qigong Practice Have Benefits on the Management of Parkinson’s Disease? J. 2019; 2 (3):352-363.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntónio Moreira; Luís Carlos Matos; Ana Maria Conceição. 2019. "Does Qigong Practice Have Benefits on the Management of Parkinson’s Disease?" J 2, no. 3: 352-363.
Qigong is a therapeutic method of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that combines slow, soft movements and postures with breath control and a special mental state of ‘awareness'. TCM holds that the practice of Qigong promotes the ‘circulation of qi' in the human body, the ‘flow' of upward yangqi and downward yinqi to establish ‘balance'. In Western terms, this may be generally equivalent to vegetative homeostasis and the emotionally balanced state induced thereby. Researchers have often attempted to evaluate the functional movements of qi using measurements of the skin's electrical resistance. However, these methodologies have proven difficult to gauge, validate, repeat, and interpret. We aimed to overcome these limitations by measuring the skin's electrical potential between two points of the same system. The main goal of this study was to assess the skin's electrical potential changes in acupoints from the Ren Mai and Du Mai conduits, or meridians, as well as in other points of interest, during Qigong practice. While participants performed a specific Qigong exercise called ‘White Ball', we observed significant changes in the skin electrical potential on Mìngmén (GV 4), Shèndáo (GV 11) and Baihuì (GV 20), from the Du Mai conduit, as well as on Huiyin (CV 1), Qìhai (CV 6), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Dànzhong (CV 17), from Ren Mai. These observations are in accordance with TCM theory and may contribute to the explanation of the vegetative physiological changes that are associated with ‘qi flow' in TCM.
Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Fernando Monteiro. Changes of skin electrical potential in acupoints from Ren Mai and Du Mai conduits during Qigong practice: Documentation of a clinical phenomenon. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2019, 23, 713 -720.
AMA StyleLuís Carlos Matos, Jorge Machado, Henry Johannes Greten, Fernando Monteiro. Changes of skin electrical potential in acupoints from Ren Mai and Du Mai conduits during Qigong practice: Documentation of a clinical phenomenon. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2019; 23 (4):713-720.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Carlos Matos; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Fernando Monteiro. 2019. "Changes of skin electrical potential in acupoints from Ren Mai and Du Mai conduits during Qigong practice: Documentation of a clinical phenomenon." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 23, no. 4: 713-720.
Cathodic protection, often taught in curricular units, such as corrosion and materials science, is an important subject in the study of chemical engineering. The implementation of lab setups and experimental activities in this field, are core to promoting understanding of the underlying concepts and to developing “hands-on” skills fundamental to the success of future process engineers. This paper reports the influence of different variables on the electrical potential and current behaviors of an educational cathodic protection system operated with a single drainage point. The system comprised a steel bar cathode connected to a zinc sacrificial anode, both placed in aqueous medium. The study variables were the anode area, the cathode diameter, the NaCl electrolyte concentration and the anode placement. Each variable showed a specific influence on the attenuation curves, allowing us to conclude that: (1) increasing the sacrificial anode area, or decreasing the resistivity of the medium, promotes more electronegative potentials on the structure and higher currents; (2) increasing the cathode diameter decreases the protection capacity; (3) positioning the anode in the middle of the cathode lengthwise gives rise to a more balanced potential distribution; and (4), the attenuation curves, both for potential and current, can be successfully predicted using equations based on Morgan and Uhlig’s work. High correlations were obtained between the experimental and modeling data for all the studied variables.
Luís Carlos Matos; José Inácio Martins. Analysis of an Educational Cathodic Protection System with a Single Drainage Point: Modeling and Experimental Validation in Aqueous Medium. Materials 2018, 11, 2099 .
AMA StyleLuís Carlos Matos, José Inácio Martins. Analysis of an Educational Cathodic Protection System with a Single Drainage Point: Modeling and Experimental Validation in Aqueous Medium. Materials. 2018; 11 (11):2099.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Carlos Matos; José Inácio Martins. 2018. "Analysis of an Educational Cathodic Protection System with a Single Drainage Point: Modeling and Experimental Validation in Aqueous Medium." Materials 11, no. 11: 2099.
Auriculotherapy is a therapeutic technique used for a wide variety of conditions. Nevertheless, similarly to any health related intervention, the clinical use of this therapy requires scientific evidence of effectiveness in order to support its rational use. The main goal of this article is to critically analyze published literature on auriculotherapy and to provide an overview of the effectiveness of this technique in the management of health disorders. The inventory of published reviews on this subject was carried out in November 2017, by assessing the following computerized databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EBMR, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL Plus NRC and Science Direct. Were only considered the systematic reviews based on meta-analysis with high methodological quality described according to AMSTAR (Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews). The eligible articles were systematically reviewed to find out in which health conditions auriculotherapy can be used with effectiveness. A total of 14 reviews were eligible according to the inclusion and exclusion criterions. Those reviews were focused on the management of insomnia, smoking cessation and pain, within the clinical scope of Neurolgy, Orthopaedics and Rheumatology. Auriculotherapy has shown to have positive effects while associated to conventional treatments of insomnia, chronic and acute pain. Further well designed studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique in the treatment of other health conditions.
Andreia Vieira; AlessanRSS Reis; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Machado; António Moreira. Does auriculotherapy have therapeutic effectiveness? An overview of systematic reviews. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 2018, 33, 61 -70.
AMA StyleAndreia Vieira, AlessanRSS Reis, Luís Carlos Matos, Jorge Machado, António Moreira. Does auriculotherapy have therapeutic effectiveness? An overview of systematic reviews. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2018; 33 ():61-70.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndreia Vieira; AlessanRSS Reis; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Machado; António Moreira. 2018. "Does auriculotherapy have therapeutic effectiveness? An overview of systematic reviews." Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 33, no. : 61-70.
Background/Aims: Acupuncture and moxibustion, when used together, have act mechanically and thermally on treated reflexological areas. The main goal of this work was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on the electrophysiological properties of the ulnar nerve. Methods: Electrical stimulation was applied to the ulnar nerve above the epicondyle of 28 volunteers. A 20-V potential was applied, and after each 10 impulses it was increased by 10 V, up to a maximum of 80 V. At 20 and 80 V, the participants were asked to rate the discomfort from 0 to 10 on a Numeric Rating Scale for pain. After the first stimulation and data collection, the control group rested for 6 min, while the intervention group was submitted to acupuncture and moxibustion on Lingdao (HT 4). Following this period of time, a second electrical stimulation was performed on both groups. Results: The discomfort was greater in the intervention group during the second stimulation. The stimulus required to achieve the maximum amplitude decreased, but the changes were only statistically significant in the intervention group (p = 0.006). An increase in latency and a decrease in reaction velocity were noticed between the first and the second stimulation for both groups; however, only the control group presented statistically significant differences (p = 0.018 and p = 0.022, respectively). Conclusions: Acupuncture and moxibustion on HT 4 increased the electrical sensitivity, decreased the stimulus intensity to achieve the maximum amplitude, and avoided a significant increase in latency and decrease in reaction velocity in two consecutive electrical stimulations.
Sónia Chan; Sérgio Ferreira; Bruno Ramos; Maria João Santos; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Machado. Assessment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Effects on the Electrophysiological Properties of the Ulnar Nerve: A Nerve Conduction Study. Integrative Medicine International 2018, 4, 198 -207.
AMA StyleSónia Chan, Sérgio Ferreira, Bruno Ramos, Maria João Santos, Luís Carlos Matos, Jorge Machado. Assessment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Effects on the Electrophysiological Properties of the Ulnar Nerve: A Nerve Conduction Study. Integrative Medicine International. 2018; 4 (3-4):198-207.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSónia Chan; Sérgio Ferreira; Bruno Ramos; Maria João Santos; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Machado. 2018. "Assessment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Effects on the Electrophysiological Properties of the Ulnar Nerve: A Nerve Conduction Study." Integrative Medicine International 4, no. 3-4: 198-207.
Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be understood as a system of sensations and findings designed to establish the functional vegetative state of the body. This state may be treated by several therapeutic methods such as acupuncture, Chinese pharmacotherapy, dietetics, Tuina, and Qigong. Nowadays, as a result of several evidence-based reported beneficial effects over specific pathological conditions, there is an increasing tendency to integrate some of these practices in Western medicine. The main goal of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of TCM scientific production between 1982 and 2016 indexed in PubMed, by analyzing several parameters including time and location distribution, publication quality, experimental design, and treatment methods. Methods: The methodology was based on the quantitative inventory of published scientific research indexed in PubMed medical subject headings (MeSH), sorted within the broad term “Traditional Chinese Medicine” and integrating the following criteria as limit filters: “Species: Humans”, “Article Type: Clinical Trial”. In addition, the articles’ triage was ruled by temporal limitations set between 1945 and 2016. Results: The overall analysis of data allowed observation of an average annual growth of approximately 33%, with a productive peak of 122 articles in 2007. The scientific production was distributed in 27 countries, led by China (76.1%), followed by the United States of America (3.0%) and South Korea (2.1%). A significant amount of references were published in Chinese journals: more than 50%; however, these journals had a low impact factor. The most cited treatments in the keywords section of the articles were phytotherapy (55%) and acupuncture (40%). Conclusion: The increasing demand for TCM seems to be due to factors such as lower side effects and greater efficacy in some patients not responding well to conventional therapy. As a result, a considerable amount of TCM science-based literature has been produced, supporting the rational integration of these practices in Western healthcare systems and research. Our results show that the quality of TCM research and inherent publications have been increasing over the last decades, with a higher incidence of studies published in well-ranked journals.
Ricardo Consentino; Maria João Santos; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Pereira Machado. Bibliometric Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Production between 1982 and 2016 Indexed in PubMed. Medicines 2018, 5, 41 .
AMA StyleRicardo Consentino, Maria João Santos, Luís Carlos Matos, Jorge Pereira Machado. Bibliometric Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Production between 1982 and 2016 Indexed in PubMed. Medicines. 2018; 5 (2):41.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRicardo Consentino; Maria João Santos; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Pereira Machado. 2018. "Bibliometric Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Production between 1982 and 2016 Indexed in PubMed." Medicines 5, no. 2: 41.
Background: Osteoarthritis is a widespread chronic disease seen as a continuum of clinical occurrences within several phases, which go from synovial inflammation and microscopic changes of bone and cartilage to painful destructive changes of all the joint structures. Being the most common joint disease, it is the leading cause of disability in working individuals above 50 years of age. In some cases, conventional treatments produce just a mild and brief pain reduction and have considerable side-effects. Contemporary Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a model of systems biology based on a logically accessible theoretical background. It integrates several therapeutic approaches, among them acupuncture, which has shown effective results in the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis, minimizing pain, improving functionality and consequently leading to a better quality of life. Methods: The present case study included two patients with clinical signs of osteoarthritis and diagnosis of medial pain, as defined by the Heidelberg Model of TCM. Over 6 weeks, those patients were treated with acupuncture, with a frequency of one session a week. The sessions lasted for thirty minutes and were based on the needling of 4 local acupoints. Before and after each session, pain and mobility assessments were performed. Results: The results were positive, with significant reduction of pain and increased knee joint flexion amplitude and mobility. Conclusion: Acupuncture was effective as an alternative or complementary treatment of knee osteoarthritis, with high levels of improvement within a modest intervention period.
Joana Teixeira; Maria João Santos; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Pereira Machado. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Study. Medicines 2018, 5, 18 .
AMA StyleJoana Teixeira, Maria João Santos, Luís Carlos Matos, Jorge Pereira Machado. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Study. Medicines. 2018; 5 (1):18.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoana Teixeira; Maria João Santos; Luís Carlos Matos; Jorge Pereira Machado. 2018. "Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Study." Medicines 5, no. 1: 18.
Child development and wellness are strictly dependent on several factors among them physical activity, a proper nutrition and, of critical importance, a healthy mind. Psychopathologies like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) have a direct negative impact on social, academic or occupational functioning of the affected children. If left untreated, these pathologies may progress to adulthood, thus requiring research strategies on conventional and nonconventional modalities of treatment. In this pilot study, conducted during the academic year 2015/2016, a combination of exercises of TaijiQuan (TJQ) and Qi Gong (QG) were taught to four selected children, three males and one female, aged between 6 and 10, suffering from the above mentioned behavioural disorders. The main goal was to understand if it is possible to achieve any kind of improvement in their condition, by evaluating the scores of the Achenbach Teacher's Report Form (TRF) in the beginning and ending of the experimental period. Results showed very interesting improvements in symptoms of CD, ODD and ADHD-HI (hyperactive-impulsive), while ADHD-PI (predominantly inattentive) showed only minor improvements. The overall symptom improvement was 43% across pathologies, which demonstrates that TJQ and QG may be a promising treatment of symptoms for children with behavioural disorders. More research is needed with controlled experimental designs and statistically representative samples in order to fully comprehend the versatility of these modalities.
Jorge Magalhães Rodrigues; Mariana Isabel C.P. Mestre; Luís Matos; Jorge Pereira Machado. Effects of taijiquan and qigong practice over behavioural disorders in school-age children: A pilot study. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2018, 23, 11 -15.
AMA StyleJorge Magalhães Rodrigues, Mariana Isabel C.P. Mestre, Luís Matos, Jorge Pereira Machado. Effects of taijiquan and qigong practice over behavioural disorders in school-age children: A pilot study. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2018; 23 (1):11-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJorge Magalhães Rodrigues; Mariana Isabel C.P. Mestre; Luís Matos; Jorge Pereira Machado. 2018. "Effects of taijiquan and qigong practice over behavioural disorders in school-age children: A pilot study." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 23, no. 1: 11-15.
The main goal of this work was the assessment of measurable interactions induced by focused intention, frequently used in biofield practices such as Healing Touch and Reiki. Water, as the main component of the human body, was chosen as a model. Intention experiments were performed over 4 different days at a scheduled interval, during which 286 trained biofield practitioners from several countries were instructed to meditate with the intention to change the molecular vibrational state of water samples selected by a blinded operator. The experimental protocol was randomized, blinded, and controlled; the measured variables included Raman spectra and the pH and electrical conductance of the water, as well as the magnetic field and UV-VIS (ultraviolet-visible) radiation near the experimental spot. Although a direct causal relationship cannot be established, some measurements of the water samples, as well as the magnetic field and radiation near the experimental spot, were responsive during the experimental period.
Luís Carlos Matos; Sara Cristina Santos; Joel G. Anderson; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Fernando Monteiro. Instrumental Measurements of Water and the Surrounding Space During a Randomized Blinded Controlled Trial of Focused Intention. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine 2017, 22, 675 -686.
AMA StyleLuís Carlos Matos, Sara Cristina Santos, Joel G. Anderson, Jorge Machado, Henry Johannes Greten, Fernando Monteiro. Instrumental Measurements of Water and the Surrounding Space During a Randomized Blinded Controlled Trial of Focused Intention. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2017; 22 (4):675-686.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuís Carlos Matos; Sara Cristina Santos; Joel G. Anderson; Jorge Machado; Henry Johannes Greten; Fernando Monteiro. 2017. "Instrumental Measurements of Water and the Surrounding Space During a Randomized Blinded Controlled Trial of Focused Intention." Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine 22, no. 4: 675-686.
Joel M. Silva; Luís C. Matos; Fernão D. Magalhães; Manuel A. Alves; Luis M. Madeira. Coke combustion in fluidized bed: A multi-disciplinary lab experiment. Education for Chemical Engineers 2017, 19, 13 -22.
AMA StyleJoel M. Silva, Luís C. Matos, Fernão D. Magalhães, Manuel A. Alves, Luis M. Madeira. Coke combustion in fluidized bed: A multi-disciplinary lab experiment. Education for Chemical Engineers. 2017; 19 ():13-22.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoel M. Silva; Luís C. Matos; Fernão D. Magalhães; Manuel A. Alves; Luis M. Madeira. 2017. "Coke combustion in fluidized bed: A multi-disciplinary lab experiment." Education for Chemical Engineers 19, no. : 13-22.