It is one of the key problems for the development of Chinese medicine to standardize the diagnosis of syndromes. The authors mainly discuss the ideas and methods of the study of standardization of syndrome diagnosis by retrospective analysis, also put forward the following suggestions: (1) the main ideas of this study should be based on the comparison of the diseases and their relevant syndromes and the predictive diagnosis of syndromes by the effects of herbal prescription treatment; (2) they are important ways to carry out multicenter, large sample and perspective clinical trials on the basis of the investigation and study of literature, consultation of experts and retrospective case review, and following the principles of clinical epidemiology, and to use the methods of evidence-based medicine to do systemic evaluation on the criteria of syndrome diagnosis; (3) they are important sectors of the study of standardization of syndrome diagnosis to enhance the objective studies on the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine, and to do the functional studies under the conduction of systems biology; (4) Both data excavation technology and computer intelligence are the important technique supporting this study.

Along with the changes of disease spectrum, medical models and health concept, people pay more and more attention to the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the effect assessment being changed from disease-based model to patient-based model, how to scientifically and objectively explain the validity of TCM has become the premise for further development of TCM and dissemination of it throughout the world. In this article, the authors analyzed the status quo and problems of the effect assessment of TCM, and proposed some general methods for clinical effect assessment of TCM, including formulating criteria for syndrome differentiation under the guidance of TCM theories, paying attention to quality of life, proper selection of indexes for outcome assessment, application of modern clinical study methods, such as the methods of evidence-based medicine and clinical epidemiology, designing randomized controlled trials, multi-subject co-operation, strict supervision of the quality of researches, and establishment of organizations for professional training.

To study the distribution pattern of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in fatty liver disease.

Objective To master the current status of iodine nutrition of people in Nanjing after the adjustment of iodized salt standard,and to provide scientific basis for reasonable iodine supplementation and strategies for iodine nutrition control.Methods The probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling method was employed in the investigation.We firstly selected 30 streets in the whole city,and then chosen 50 children aged 8-10 years from each of 30 primary schools respectively,which was selected from 30 different streets to examine the size of thyroid gland by palpation and B-type ultrasound.We also collected urine and edible salt samples from 12 children aged 8-10 years from each primary school,to detect their urinary and salt iodine content.Moreover,20 pregnant women and 10 lactating women were picked out from each of 30 schools nearby to detect their urinary and salt iodine content.We also conducted a unique questionnaire survey in 30 fifth-grade students selected from each of 30 schools,and 5 housewives selected from these schools nearby to understand their knowledge of iodine deficiency disorders.Results The thyroid palpate swelling rate was 0.33％(5/1 500) in 1 500 children aged 8-10.The medians of urinary iodine level were 220.5 μg/L in 362 school-age children,196.7 μg/L in 600 pregnant women and 152.0 μg/L in 300 lactating women.A total of 1 260 samples of edible salt were tested.The coverage rate of iodized salt and the consumption rate of eligible iodized salt were 99.7％ (1 256/1 260) and 96.9％ (1 221/1 260),respectively.The mean iodine content of edible salt was (24.5 ± 4.5) mg/kg.A total of 900 fifth-grade students and 150 housewives were surveyed for health knowledge of iodine,and the eligible rate was 83.2％ (2 246/2 700) and 91.6％ (412/450),respectively.Conclusions After the adjustment of iodized salt content,iodine nutrition level of people in Nanjing has maintained appropriately.However,health education should be further strengthened.Improving the awareness rate of iodine deficiency knowledge,and guiding scientific iodine consciousness are our serious task in the future.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of the aging deformity of tear trough through the anatomic study of the tear trough region.

METHODS13 adult cadaveric heads (26 sides), including 9 male heads (18 sides) and 4 female heads (8 sides), aged 22-78 years old, were used. Anatomic study was performed around the orbital, especially tear trough region, with microsurgery instrument under microscope( x 10 times). The lower orbicularis retaining ligament was dissected and exposed. The anatomic location was recorded and photographed.

RESULTS(1) The anatomic layers of the tear trough region contains skin, subcutaneous tissue, orbicularis oculi muscle, periosteal membrane. There is no subcutaneous fat above the tear trough, while it exists below the tear trough, called malar fat pad. (2) There is a natural boundary between the septal and the orbital portions of the orbicularis oculi muscle of lower eyelid at surface of the orbital bone. The natural boundary, projected on the body surface corresponds to tear trough. The width of boundary is (2.06 +/- 0.15) mm on the vertical line through inner canthus and (3.25 +/- 0.12) mm on the vertical line through the lateral margin of the ala. The septal portion and the orbital portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle began to merge in (16.56 +/- 0.51) mm to inner canthus. (3) There is ligament attachment in the medial, upper and lower orbital and no ligament attachment in the lateral orbital. Orbicularis retaining ligament of lower eyelid is divided into two layers. (4) The medial of the upper layer of the orbicularis retaining ligament in lower eyelid originates from orbital margin and from preorbital walls laterally in (16.10 +/- 0.43) mm to the medial of lateral orbital margin, through orbicularis oculi muscle and ends at the skin. The lower layer of the orbicularis retaining ligament of lower eyelid originates from preorbital walls through orbicularis oculi muscle and its superficial fat, then ends at the skin.

CONCLUSIONSThe length of tear trough is (16.56 +/- 0.51) mm, the width of tear trough is (2.06 +/- 0.15) mm and (3.25 +/- 0.12) mm on the vertical line through inner canthus and the lateral margin of the ala nasi respectively. The main reason of the aging deformity of tear trough attributes to the increased distance between the upper and lower layers of the orbicularis retaining ligament in lower eyelid, which is caused by loose of the orbicularis retaining ligament and its underlying fat atrophy or decline.

Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; Cheek ; anatomy & histology ; Eyelids ; anatomy & histology ; Facial Muscles ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the methodology of reconstruction of a three-dimensional model of lid/cheek junction through continuous paraffin sections and stained lid/cheek junction three-dimensional visualization,and to further explore the feasibility and reliability to provide anatomical basis for clinical teaching of plastic and reconstructive surgery.Methods The full size of lid/cheek junction was cut from the specimens,the size of 25 mm× 15 mm× 10 mm,and then embedded in paraffin,and sectioned in thickness of 15 μm for 200 slices;the experimental HE staining and Masson staining were conducted,Sony camera photos using Adobe Photoshop CS 5.1 image processing software for image registration and 3D-Docter software image segmentation were used to give different colors for establishment of complete three-dimensional model.Results Histologically the LOT of the fascia area,the existence of reconstruction and the LOT model were confirmed.It showed the histological characteristics:the Masson stain displayed red,blue and white tissues in color;fascia tissue staining infered intertexture of elastic fibers and collagen fibers in LOT.LOT was the bottom edge of the triangle toward the orbital base with length of 26 mm,31 mm in high,0.8 mm in thick,and area of approximately 4.03 cm2 in size.Layers of skin,orbicularis oculi muscle,orbicularis retaining ligament,middle temporal fascia,periosteum and LOT were visible in the 3D model.By the three-dimensional model of lid/cheek junction,adjacent relationship could be rotated to any angle.Conclusions This initial establishment of a three-dimensional model of the lid/cheek junction confirms that the histological characteristics of lid/cheek junction and the feasibility of the fine structure of soft tissue within the three-dimensional model can be used as a new method for further research.

Objective To identify the anatomical basis for aging orbit-malar fold forming orbitmalar groove and its underlying mechanism.Methods Thirteen cadavers (26 hemifaces) were dissected in this study (9 male and 4 female heads).All specimens were fixed in 10％ formalin,with age ranges from 22 to 78 years.The lateral orbital region was dissected in layers by mieroinsrument using 10 X loupe magnification,especially at the palpebral and the lateral orbital part,and then the anatomy layer was described; the lateral orbital thickening (LOT) was performed carefully to evaluate whether there were multiple anatomical contributions to anatomy.Anatomic observations were systematically recorded,sketched,and photographically documented.Results The lateral orbital layers included skin,subcutaneous adipose tissue,orbicularis oculi muscle,middle temporal fascia,and periosteum.The lateral orbital thickening was a triangular condensation of fascia,which extended over the lateral orbital rim onto the adjacent medial tem~ral fascia,the lateral orbital thickening was measured (9.28 ±0.45) mm in transverse width from Vertex triangle to lateral canchal,the inner part of the LOT sanwiched between orbibularis and obital septum,which consisted of upper lid and lower lid part,the lower lid part presented transverse V shape,the top part of the transverse V was adhesive to fascial tissue over tarsal plate.The distance to lateral canthus angular was 21.69-37.21 mm,and the under part was adhesive to low orbital rim the low arm distance to lateral canthus angular was (13.55 ±0.52) mm.Vertex of.V to lateral canthus angular vertical distance was (11.35±0.27) mm.Conclusions The reason why aging orbit-malar fold forms orbital-malar groove is the atrophy of the subcutaneous adipose tissue and the middle temporal fascia fat.

OBJECTIVE: To study the assistant effect of Scutellaria barbata extract (ESB) in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy. METHODS: A mouse model of transplanted hepatoma H22 was used in this study to evaluate the synergic and attenuating effects of ESB in chemotherapy. Tumor inhibition rate, life span of mice and the toxicity of chemotherapy were observed. The body weight, tumor weight, thymus index and spleen index in H22-bearing mice were also measured. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was studied by observing phagocytization of peritoneal macrophages. RESULTS: The increase of body weight in 5-FU plus ESB groups was higher than that in 5-FU group, and the side effects such as anorexia, abdominal distention and athrepsy were relieved. Compared with untreated group, prolonged lifetime in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group was improved. Life prolongation rates in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group were 61.46% and 23.59% respectively. High-dose ESB, 5-FU, 5-FU plus low-dose ESB and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB could inhibit the tumor growth, and the tumor inhibition rates were 36.98%, 42.26%, 52.45% and 65.28%, respectively. Thymus index and spleen index were increased significantly in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. White blood cell (WBC) count was decreased obviously in 5-FU group, while the count of WBC was increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was also increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. CONCLUSION: ESB can enhance the effect of chemotherapy, relieve the side effects and improve immune function of mice in chemotherapy. These results suggest that ESB, as a biochemical modulator to enhance the therapeutic effects, is useful in cancer chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effects of Yanggan Lidan Granules (YGLDG) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver damage in mice and to find out its mechanism. METHODS: A model of chronic liver damage was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4). After three weeks, those model mice were treated with low-, medium-, high-dose YGLDG, Danning Tablets and bifendate respectively for four weeks. Then the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissues were detected. RESULTS: YGLDG could significantly reduce the levels of serum ALT and AST in model mice, and the content of MDA was obviously decreased while the content of SOD was increased in liver tissue. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of YGLDG on mice with CCl(4)-induced liver damage is to relieve the seriousness of liver damage, and its mechanism may relate to reducing peroxidation activity in liver tissue.

Objective To establish an orthotopic rat model of bladder cancer induced by N-methyl.nitrosourea (MNU)and to evaluate the diagnostic value of CT(computed tomography)scanning in this experimental model.Methods 50 SD rats were randomly divided into the control group(group A)with 15 rats and experimental group(group B)with 35 rats.Each rat of group B was treated with 2 mg MNU per dose every other week,totally 4 doses,by per urethra administration.Meanwhile,each rat of group A was treated with normal saline.Then,at the 14th week,all the rats were evaluated by CT scanning and pathological examination.Results Abnormal changes were detected in each of the 28 rats in group B by CT scanning,and manifested as local mass,thickening bladder wall accompanied with heterogeneous density.Bladder cancer was diagnosed by pathology.However,no bladder tumor was detected by CT scanning and pathologicalexamination in group A.Conclusion A rat model of orthotopic bladder cancer can be established by per urethra administration of MNU.CT scanning is a reliable diagnostic technique concerning this model.Furthermore,this technique can render US a more suitable rat model for further experimental studies on chemotherapy and radiotherapy of bladder Cancer.