According to the analysis and integration on prior research results regarding meridian essence, it is believed that high-energy metabolism is one of the main characteristics of along-meridian specificity. With discussion on the formation mechanism of along-meridians high-energy metabolism as entry point, it is found out that proteins of voltage-gated calcium channel along the meridians are likely to play an essential role of starting and coupling during the along-meridians functional activity. Thus, the hypothesis "proteins coupling in the meridians" is modified to the hypothesis "calcium channels proteins coupling in the meridians", which opens new path to reveal material basis and action mechanism of meridians.
Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Meridians

Chronic alcohol consumption is a leading cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide, resulting in cirrhosis and hepa-tocellular carcinoma. Almost all heavy drinkers develop fatty liv-er, but only 20% ~40% of them develop more severe forms of alcoholic liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic fibrosis, and the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the disease progression remain largely unknown. The animal models which can mimic human alcoholic liver diseases are very neces-sary tools for better understanding and exploring the therapy strat-egy of the disease. Currently, the most widely used models for alcoholic liver injury are Lieber-DeCarli model, Tsukamoto-French model, Gao-binge model and others. Here we summarize the recent advances in animal models recapitulating different fea-tures and etiologies of human alcoholic liver diseases. These ani-mal models will be very useful for the mechanism study of alco-holic liver diseases and further new therapeutic drug screening.

Objective To study the effects of Danlong Xingnao Tablet on neuronal apoptosis and expression of TNF-? after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rat hippocampus. Methods The model of middle cerebral arteries occlusion (MCAO) were performed with intraluminal filament blockade. By using in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotor nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry staining, the number of apoptotic cells and TNF-? positive cells were detected in the sham-operated group, the ischemia reperfusion group, Danlong Xingnao Tablet group and nimodipine group after the middle cerebral arteries of SD rats occluded for 1 h and reperfused for 24 h.Results Compared with the sham operation group, the number of apoptotic cells and TNF-? positive cells of the model group increased significantly (P

5 13. 9 mmol/L two days after STZ( 60 mg/kg) administration. Age-matched normal rats received 3 ml/kg bw 0. 9% saline as control group. The expression of PKC isoforms in control and diabetic glomerular cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the onset of hyperglycemia. Results Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant increase of the expression of PKCa in glomeruli cells at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks. A significant decrease of PKCB1,B2 in glomerular cells at 2 weeks and a gradually increase at 4 weeks and 12 weeks were found; No significant change of the expression of PKC e in the diabetic glomerular cells was observed. Conclusions The expression of PKCa, B1,B2 e isoforms varies in different stages of diabetic nephropathy. The effect of PKC isoforms on the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is different.

Objective: To explore the relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and myocardial infarction (MI) occurrence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) combining coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods: A total of 106 consecutive patients with RA combining CAD were studied. There were 46 male and 60 female patients and divided into 2 groups:RA with MI group, n=46 and RA without MI group, n=60. The base line condition was compared between 2 groups, and multivariate regression analysis was conducted to explore the risk factors for MI occurrence in relevant patients.
Results: Compared with RA without MI group, RA with MI group had the lower level of cholesterol and higher levels of inlfammatory indexes of ESR, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and CRP, P<0.05. The base line condition was similar between 2 group, P>0.05. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that ESR was the independent risk factor of MI occurrence, OR=1.024, 95%CI 1.024 (1.007-1.043), P=0.007.
Conclusion: ESR was independently related to MI occurrence in patients with RA combining CAD.

Objective:To establish a method for the content uniformity ( CU) of fennel oil in Weitongning tablets to study the CU of fennel oil in Weitongning tablets. Methods: Methyl salicylate as the internal reference, the content of trans-anethole in fennel oil was determined by GC. The separation was performed on a DB-FFAP capillary column (30 m × 0. 32 mm, 0. 25 μm) at 145℃, the injection part temperature was 180℃ and the FID detector temperature was 230℃, nitrogen with high purity was used as the carrier gas at the flow rate of 0. 8 ml·min-1 . The air flow rate was 400 ml·min-1 and that of hydrogen was 35 ml·min-1 . The methodology validation was carried out, and the samples from different companies with different batches were determined. Results:Significant differ-ence showed in the CU of fennel oil in the samples with different batches from the same manufacturer or from different companies. The trans-anethole showed linear correlation within the range of 2. 189-35. 030 μg · ml-1 ( r =0. 999 9 ) and the average recovery was 100. 06% (RSD=0. 5%, n=9). Conclusion:The method is simple and quick. It is accurate in the CU determination of fennel oil and can be used for the quality control of Weitongning tablets.

Objective To explore influential factors and features of relapse of presenting with an initial episode of acute central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease(IDDCNS) in children.Methods By group-control study,20 relapsing patients with IDDCNS compared with 50 single episoding patients with IDDCNS whose case history longer than 0.5 year,whose age at onset,gender,preceding infection or immunization,neurologic syndromes at presentation,therapeutic response,and final neurologic outcome after initial episode were analyzed by mono-factor analysis and multi-factor nonconditional Logistic regression model.Results 1.The risk of relapse increased in the near future,75.0% relapsed before 6 months.There were 18 cases diagnosed multiple sclerosis(MS),1 case neurooptic myelitis and 1 case immaturity myelitis in relapsing patients.There were 39 cases diagnosed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in single episoding patients.2.Mono-factor analysis:8 factors were not statistically significant,including age at onset,gender,seizure,palsy,conscious disturbance,ataxia,natural relief,sequelae after the first attack;6 factors were statistically significant,including infectious or vaccination agents before episode,fever,visual disorder,multiple neurological signs,positive pathologic reflex,with marked improvement to cortical hormone.3.In the multi-factor stepwise regression analysis,visual disorder(OR=42.50)and positive pathologic reflex(OR=8.666)were the independent influencing factors,multiple neurological signs(OR=0.068)was independent protecting factor.Conclusions The rate of relapse in IDDCNS is lower than abroad and most relapse before 0.5 year,the main diagnosis of relapsing case is MS.When visual disorder and positive pathologic reflex presenting in the fist episode of IDDCNS,the opportunity of relapse will increase,and will decrease when multiple neurological signs presenting.

Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Femur Neck ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Osteochondroma ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy difference on vegetative state in children between acupoint injection combined with plum-blossom needle and western medication based on basic treatment.

METHODSForty-eight children of vegetative state were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 24 cases in each one. On the basis of the treatment of transcranial magnetic stimulation apparatus, balancing treatment apparatus and massage, the acupoint injection and tapping method with plum-blossom needle were adopted in the observation group, in which Xingnaojing injection, mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) injection, monosialotetrahexosylganglioside sodium injection (MSI), compound Danshen injection were divided in 6 pairs and were injected respectively in Baihui (GV 20), Yongquan (KI 1), Fengfu (GV 16), Yamen (GV 15) and the others, 0.5 mL in each acupoint, once a day for continuous 10 days. Additionally, the tapping method with plum-blossom needle was used on the Governor Vessel and Jiaji (EX-B 2) on the back. In the control group, the intravenous infusion was adopted with citicoline sodium injection, mannitol injection and dexamethasone injection. The treatment was given once a day, 20 days of treatment made one session and totally 3 sessions were required in the two groups. The clinical efficacy, the vegetative state score and the mean curing time were observed after 20 days, 40 days and 60 days of treatment between the two groups.

RESULTSThe effective rates were 58.3% (14/24), 70.8% (17/24) and 79.2% (19/24) in 20 days, 40 days and 60 days of treatment in the observation group and 20.8% (5/24), 45.8% (11/24) and 58.3% (14/24) in the control group respectively. The efficacy in the observation group was superior to those in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The vegetative state score was improved apparently after 20 days, 40 days and 60 days of treatment as compared with those before treatment separately (all P < 0.05). It was improved obviously at the each time point after treatment in the observation group as compared with that in the control group (3.34 +/- 2.41 vs 2.64 +/- 11.56, 6.20 +/- 1.46 vs 4.34 +/- 1.64, 11.26 +/- 2.63 vs 8.75 +/- 2.18, all P < 0.05). The mean curing time was (45.67 +/- 16.24) days in the observation group, which was shorter apparently than that of (55.34 +/- 4.57) days in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBased on basic treatment acupoint injection combined with tapping method of plum-blossom needle achieve the reliable efficacy on vegetative state in children.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Animals ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mice ; Nerve Growth Factor ; administration & dosage ; Persistent Vegetative State ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Phenanthrolines ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Bloodletting ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Crying ; Female ; Humans ; Laughter ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; psychology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome