This paper reviewed researches reported in the last 10 years on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) facial diagnosis information acquisition and recognition. It summarized the information acquisition environment, facial segmentation method, recognition method and analysis of facial characteristics. Some clinical application examples based on modern consultation technologies were enumerated. Meanwhile, analysis was made on shortcomings of TCM facial diagnosis. It showed direction for its in-depth study.

Objective To evaluate the clinical and genetic characteristics of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Methods The clinical materials and hereditary histories of 110 cases in 70 families with CMT were analyzed retrospectively.Results The ratio of male to female was 2.03∶1. The age at onset was from 1 to 61 years old and the mean age was 19.1 years old. 78.2% of the patients had CMT before 30 years old.70 patients (63.6%) had positive family history and they showed mostly autosomal dominant inheritance. The rate of consanguinity was 6.9%. In the CMT group, we could find the amyotrophy of legs in 106 patients (96.4%), distal muscle weakness and atrophy of the upper limbs in 48 patients (43.6%), stork legs in 64 patients (58.2%), pes cavus in 68 patients (61.8%), decreased or diminished tendom reflexes in 108 patients (98.2%). Electromyography examination in 61 patients showed neurogenic damages. Muscle biopsy in 37 patients showed neurogenic amyotrophy. Sural nerve biopsy was performed in 25 patients. 20 patients were charactered by demyelination, Schwann cell proliferation and/or “onion bulbs” change and 5 patients were associated with axis cylinder degeneration, but tomaculous change was not found in all the 25 patients.Conclusions In the CMT group, the onset age was mostly in childhood and adolescence. The male CMT cases were more than the females. Autosomal dominant was the mostly frequent inheretance. Neuroelectrophysiology and pathological examination are important for the diagnosis and type of CMT.

This article was aimed to study the proteomic spectra expression of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cold and heat constitution rats with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), in order to search for the cold and heat-associated proteins for the investigation of the biological basis of TCM cold and heat body constitution formation. The total protein in rat’s liver cell was extracted. The 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry (MS) were used in the screening and identification of differentially expressed proteins of cold and heat constitution rats. The results showed that a total of 10 different points in the protein expression were obtained with statistical significance after screening and MS, which were carbamoyl-phosphate synthase, protein disulfide isomerase associated 3, catalase, hydroperoxide isomerase, cytosol aminopeptidase, glutamate dehydrogenase 1, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase 2, heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) precursor, homocysteine, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor. It was concluded that some differences were existed in the proteomic spectra expression of TCM cold and heat constitution rats. The abnormality of enzyme protein metabolism may be one of the material bases for the formation of cold and heat constitution.

Objective To establish transgenic mouse models expressing human HSP22 protein.Methods pCAGGS-HA-Wt HSP22 transgenic expressing vector carrying human HSP22 gene was constructed by gene recombination technology.The linearized DNA was got by SalI、Hind Ⅲ and BsaⅪ digestion of PCAGGS-HA-Wt HSP22,purified and microinjected into fertilized eggs from C57BL mice.The tail DNA of pups was tested by PCR and DNA sequencing.Expression of human HSP22 protein was detected by western blot with anti-HA tag monoclonal antibody.Results 4 transgenic founder mice (Tg646,Tg648,Tg649,Tg661) carrying human HSP22 gene were identified by PCR and DNA sequencing.The human HSP22 protein was expressed in the lines Tg646,Tg648 and Tg649 founder mice,but was not expressed in the line Tg661 founder mouse.Conclusions The mouse models expressing human HSP22 protein are established successfully and provide the foundation for HSP22 gene research in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can accelerate the bone marrow mesenchymai stem cells (BMSCs) proliferation and differentiation into nerve cells, which is considered as a mitogen of glial cells.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the survival and differentiation of bFGF gene modified BMSCs transplanted on rat models of cerebral ischemia by double immunofluorescence staining, and to study the differentiation trend of BMSCs into neuron-like cells and glial cells.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized control animal experiment was completed in the central laboratory of Experimental Animal Center of Central South University from July 2005 to March 2006.MATERIAL: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups at random: sham operation group (n=10), cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury group (n=10), BMSCs group (n=i5) and bFGF modified BMSCs group (n=15). METHODS: Except sham operation group, rats in the other three groups were prepared for local cerebral ischemia-reperfusion models. Then BMSCs or bFGF modified BMSCs were intravenously transplanted into cerebral ischemic rats, and the same volume of DMEM were injected in the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival rate and differentiation of grafted cells were observed by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-NeuN, and BrdU-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) double immunofluorescence staining; the neurological scores and infarction volumes in each group. RESULTS: At 7 days after implantation, the number of BrdU/NeuN-positive cells and BrdU-GFAP-positive cells in the bFGF modified BMSCs group was higher than those on the BMSCs group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in the co-expression cells by double immunofluorescence staining between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 7 days following reperfusion, neural function of cerebral ischemia rats were improved and infarction volume was reduced in both BMSCs group and the bFGF modified BMSCs group, and bFGF modified BMSCs group was superior to BMSCs group. CONCLUSION: BMSCs modified by bFGF can survive in cerebral ischemic region and differentiate into neuron and glial cells, which are more proper for repairing nerves.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the immunological mechanism of exfoliative tongue fur in children with asthma. METHODS: Thirty-nine children with asthma, twenty-eight children with repetitive respiratory tract infection (non-asthma) and eleven healthy children were divided into five groups, which were asthma with exfoliative fur or with non-exfoliative fur groups, non-asthma with exfoliative fur or with non-exfoliative fur groups and normal control group. The concentrations of keratin 13 and bcl-2 in cells exfoliated from tongue fur were detected by immunohistochemical method. The expression levels of blood cell chemokine receptor-3 (CCR-3) and CD4(+) were examined by flow cytometry, and the levels of serum cortisol and IgE were detected by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The levels of blood CD4(+) and CCR-3 of children with asthma and exfoliative fur were higher than those in the asthma with non-exfoliative fur group and the normal control group (P<0.05). The serum level of cortisol in the groups of asthma with exfoliative fur and non-asthma with exfoliative fur were lower than that in the other groups (P<0.05). The serum levels of IgE in asthma with exfoliative fur or with non-exfoliative fur groups were higher than that in the other groups (P<0.05). Concentrations of keratin 13 in the cells exfoliated from tongue fur in the groups of asthma or non-asthma with exfoliative fur were lower than that of the other groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference of expression level of bcl-2 in the cells exfoliated from tongue fur among these five groups. CONCLUSION: There is a reasonably close relationship between the formation of exfoliative tongue fur and the immune system such as low level of serum cortisol and high levels of blood CD4(+) and CCR-3, which may all promote the formation of exfoliative fur. The disability of keratinization and apoptosis of epithelial cells of tongue may also be one cause for its formation.

The central nervous system (CNS) plays a key regulatory role in glucose homeostasis. In particular, the brain is important in initiating and coordinating protective counterregulatory responses when blood glucose levels fall. This may due to the metabolic dependency of the CNS on glucose, and protection of food supply to the brain. In healthy subjects, blood glucose is normally maintained within a relatively narrow range. Hypoglycemia in diabetic patients can increase the risk of complications, such as heart disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The clinical research finds that the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive effect on the treatment of hypoglycemia. Here the authors reviewed the current understanding of sensing and counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia, and discuss combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the theory of iatrogenic hypoglycemia in diabetes treatment. Furthermore, the authors clarify the feasibility of treating hypoglycemia on the basis of TCM theory and CNS and have an insight on its clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the relationship of optimal pulse-taking pressure among cun,guan,chi pulse of of healthy persons.Methods:264 Healthy undergraduate were included and pulse signals were collected from cun,guan,chi in cunkou area.The relationship of optimal pulse-taking pressure among three-region pulse,ratios and body mass index(BMI)were researched.At the same time,to calculate relationship of optimal pulse-taking pressure among cun,guan,chi pulse.Results:The optimal pulse-taking pressure of cun,guan,chi pulse was positively correlated with BMI.The optimal pulse-taking pressure of guan and cun pulse was significantly smaller than that of chi pulse.The optimal pulse-taking pressure of cun pulse is similar to that of guan pulse,which was 90 percents of the chi pulse.Conclusion:There was significant difference in optimal pulse-taking pressure between cun,guan,chi pulse.The result was favourable to the optimizing the program of pulse device,consummating of three-probe pulse sensor and studying pulse thoroughly.

To develop an inquiry scale for diagnosis of heart system syndromes, and to discuss the provisional standardization of the inquiry method in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).