Our ancestor found that some of the Chinese herbal drugs were toxic during their clinical practice. They graded the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs into three degrees and thought that the term "toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs" could be used in a broad and a narrow sense. In modern times, toxic components of the Chinese herbal drugs and their toxic mechanisms, especially the toxicity on the kidney, were further revealed. The factors that affect the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs include the species, preparation, dose and environment. To prevent the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs, we must strengthen the management of the Chinese herbal drugs. On the other hand, doctors' recognition of the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs should be enhanced. At the same time, patients should be told to decoct and take Chinese herbal drugs correctly.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce and analyze the present status of research on decomposed recipes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). METHODS: The relevant literature on the study of the decomposed recipes of TCM in the past five years was collected and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Studies on the decomposed recipes of TCM have been made from the whole body level to the organ, cell and molecular research level. The pharmacological research in vitro is the main way and quantitative changes of the chemical ingredients have been measured before and after composition. It is very important to combine the modern science and technology in exploring the composing mechanisms of TCM remedies.

ABSTRACT: "Association of the kidney with the ears" is central to the traditional Chinese medical (TCM) theory of the viscera and their manifestations. Previous studies have shown that thyroxin, aldosterone, calcium and iron might be the material basis of the correlation between the kidney and the ears. Due to restriction in research techniques and methods, there has been no further progress in this research field, whose modern biological mechanisms and scientific connotations have not been explained clearly. In recent years, the progress of biological techniques and research on kidney essence provided promising opportunities for research of the association between the kidney and the ears. This article summarized the study progress of "association of the kidney with the ears" theory and posed some meaningful study thoughts. Presbycusis is a kind of degenerative disease caused by aging, which is one aspect of aging of the human body. Because aging is considered as physiological "kidney deficiency", presbycusis can be regarded as a model of "kidney deficiency" deafness. In conclusion, investigating the correlation between "kidney deficiency" and presbycusis using biotechnology systems combined with "essence of kidney", should provide a sound basis for study of the theory of the relationship between the kidney and the ears. This will provide new and valuable information for the modern biological research about the theory of visceral associations in TCM.

Objective To design leaf patterns for Multileaf Collimator(MLC)routine quality assurance(OA)with a 2D diode array.Methods According to the detector distribution characteristic of the 2D diode array and basillg on the"picket fence"pattern,design the"stepwise"pattern.For each diode involving MLC QA,a calibration curve of relative output versus leaf positioning error was measured through delivering a set of patterns with different intentionally introduced positioning errors.When this proposed technique was delivered,the referenced patterns were exposed,and the calibration curves were used as a mean to quantitative determination of the leaf possible positioning errors through the detector readings.Results Compared with the"picket fence"pattern,the"stepwise"pattern not only had a high detecting efficiency,but also increased the dosimetric sensidvity to leaf positioning error.A 1 mm Ieaf positioni.error corresponds to a dose variation of 25% for the"stepwise"pattern,while for the"picket fence"pattern the same positioning error just causes a 17% dose vailation.Conclusions The new"stepwise"pattern is more efficient to be carried out,and more sensitive to sub-millimeter changes of leaf positioning.

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at different points on auditory brainstem response (ABR) in a rat model of sodium salicylate-induced tinnitus.Method Forty-one male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to saline control (saline), sodium salicylate model (SA), electroacupuncture at Tinggong+ Yifeng (EA), electroacupuncture at Waiguan+ Zhongzhu (AA) and electroacupuncture at Zusanli+ Sanyinjiao (LA) groups. The saline group consisted of five rats and each of the other groups, nine rats. The model was made by intraperitoneal injection of sodium salicylate 275 mg/kg. The saline control group was injected with a corresponding volume of saline. Various acupoint electroacupuncture groups were given electroacupuncture at bilateral Tinggong+ Yifeng, Waiguan+ Zhongzhu and Zusanli+ Sanyinjiao, respectively, at 30 min after model making. Electroacupuncture lasted 30 min. The ABRs were recorded before model making and once every one hour for five consecutive hours after model making. The stimulus sounds were short clicks and tone bursts of frequencies of 4, 8, 16 and 32 kHz. The ABR threshold was used as an assessment index.Results Under the condition of clicks, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the SA, EA, AA or LA group and the saline group (P<0.05), at two to five hours after model making between the EA or AA group and the SA group (P<0.05) and at one hour after model making between the LA and SA groups (P<0.05). Under the conditions of 4, 8 and 16 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the SA, EA, AA or LA group and the saline group (P<0.05). Under the condition of 32 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the SA, AA or LA group and the saline group (P<0.05). Under the condition of 4 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at two to five hours after model making between the EA and SA groups (P<0.05) and at four to five hours after model making between the AA and SA groups (P<0.05). Under the condition of 8 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at two to five hours after model making between the EA or AA group and the SA group (P<0.05). Under the condition of 16 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at two, four and five hours after model making between the EA and SA groups (P<0.05). Under the condition of 32 kHz, there was a statistically significant difference in the ABR threshold at one to five hours after model making between the EA and SA groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at both periauricular and forelimb points can improve the ABR threshold in sodium salicylate-treated rats. The effect of electroacupuncture at periauricular points is superior to that at forelimb points.

Cold-heat problem is one core of traditional Chinese medicine theory. This paper summarizes the experimental research related to the biological basis of cold-heat essence in cold-heat syndrome, cold-heat body constitution and cold-heat property of Chinese herbs. In view of the classical physiological and biochemical indices, gene expression, protein expression and metabolic differences, differences in cold-heat syndrome or cold-heat constitution are mainly based on neurotransmitter, thyroid function, sex hormone, cyclic nucleotide system, and energy metabolism relating to the corresponding gene and protein expression. Furthermore, this paper analyses the change of correlation indices that accompany with a dynamic development process of "constitution-syndrome-herbal intervention", implying that the research of biological basis of cold-heat essence has turned from single index to multiple indices, and from dispersion research to system research.

Objective To explore the application of atomic force microscopy( AFM ) on the research of morphology of the rabies viruses. Methods To prepare the rabies virus CTN-1v strains by ultracentrifugation, and observe it with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which negatively stained by phosphotungstic acid. Then study the morphology of rabies virus with AFM based on the result of TEM. AFM image applies the tapping mode to rabies virus without any further treatment in air at room temperature. Results The TEM image is two-dimensional image which can be seen the classical bullet-shaped structure,and the spike structure can also be seen. The AFM image showed the rabies virus morphology with three-dimensional image which can shows the characteristics of the virus surface and edge. The rabies virus particle was successfully observed by TEM or AFM methods. Conclusion It's the first time to get the three-dimensional morphological structure of rabies virus by atomic force microscopy, compared with transmission electron microscopy, AFM is a new research tool for viral morphology study with the advantages of simple sample preparing and intuitionistic and visible interface for researchers.

Objective To evaluate intra-operative radiotherapy after breast conservative surgery in early breast cancer patients in terms of postoperative complications,cosmetic outcome and recurrence events.Methods From June 2007 to Dec 2010,115 early breast cancer patients received breast conserving surgery.Fifty-nine patients (study group) received intra-operative radiotherapy,compared with 56 patients (control group) receiving routine postoperative radiotherapy.Postoperative complications were evaluated 1 month after surgery; cosmetic outcome was evaluated 1 year postoperatively; recurrence and death events were followed up.Results The average wound healing time was 13 -22 days in study group and 9 - 14days in control group.In the study group,2 patients developed fat deliquescence,16 patients showed wound edema while no such side effects were found in control group.No infection or hematoma were found in either group.Overall cosmetic outcome was rated 1 year post operation.In the study group (41 cases),36 patients were graded as excellent or good,5 patients were as fair or poor.Meanwhile in the control group (37 cases),wounds in 25 patients were graded as excellent or good,that in 12 patients were as fair or poor (P =0.031).After a follow-up from 3 to 42 months(median:24 months),two patients (3.39％) in study group developed local cancer relapses,one of them( 1.7％ ) died.In control group,one patient ( 1.8％ )developed local relapse,and no one died.Conclusions Intra-operative radiotherapy is safe and reliable with good cosmetic outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Erxian Decoction (EXD), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine and its separate prescriptions such as Wenshen Yijing Recipe (WSYJR, a recipe for warming kidney and replenishing essence), Ziyin Xiehuo Recipe (ZYXHR, a recipe for nourishing yin and dispersing fire) and Tiaoli Chongren Recipe (TLCRR, a recipe for regulating thoroughfare and conception vessels) and some extracts from EXD on the levels of LH and FSH in the primary cultured anterior pituitary cells from female rats. METHODS: EXD, its separate prescriptions and traditional Chinese herbal extracts from EXD were added directly to the incubators. The levels of LH and FSH were tested by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The levels of LH and FSH in the supernatant of anterior pituitary cells treated by EXD or its separate prescriptions including ZYXHR and TLCRR were increased significantly as compared with those in the blank control. There was a tendency for stimulating the secretions of LH and FSH in the WSYJR-treated group too. Dimethyl sulfoxide as the solvent of icariin and curculigoside could interfere with the results. CONCLUSION: EXD and its separate prescriptions such as ZYXHR and TLCRR can increase the levels of LH and FSH significantly.