Objective: To explore the molecular biological mechanism of acupuncture in intervening visual deprivation.
Methods: Forty-eight 2-week old Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and 6 acupuncture groups (group C1: acupuncture at the unaffected side in early stage; group C2: acupuncture at the affected side in early stage; group D1: acupuncture at the unaffected side in mid-stage; group D2: acupuncture at the affected side in mid-stage; group E1: acupuncture at the unaffected side in late stage; group E2: acupuncture at the affected side in late stage) by the random number table, 6 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group didn’t receive any interventions. The rat model of deprivation amblyopia was established by unilateral eyelid suture in the model group and each acupuncture group. After successful modeling, rats in model group didn’t receive any treatments; rats in the acupuncture groups received acupuncture intervention which began respectively on the 3rd, 12th and 21st day after modeling. Pattern visual evoked potential (P-VEP) and N-methy D-aspartatreceptor-1 (NMDAR1) mRNA expression in visual cortex area 17 were detected at the end of acupuncture intervention in each group.
Results: After the intervention, the P-VEP waveform was significantly changed, with a significantly delayed P100 value (P<0.01) and significantly decreased amplitude of N45-P100 in the model group versus the normal group (P<0.01); the P-VEP waveform was significantly improved, with obviously earlier P100 (P<0.01) and increased amplitude of N45-P100 (P<0.05) in each acupuncture group versus the model group. The improvement effect of acupuncture on the P-VEP waveform in group C1 and C2 was more significant than that in group D1, D2, E1 and E2. The expression of NMDAR1 mRNA of the rat visual cortex area 17 in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P<0.01); and the expression of NMDAR1 mRNA in the visual cortex area 17 of each acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.05); the effect of acupuncture on NMDAR1 mRNA expression in group C1 and C2 was more significant than that in group D1, D2, E1 and E2; and the effect of acupuncture on NMDAR1 mRNA expression was better in group C2 than in group C1 (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the expression of NMDAR1 mRNA between group D1 and D2, neither between E1 and E2 (P>0.05).
Conclusion: P-VEP waveform is abnormal and NMDAR1 mRNA expression in visual cortex area 17 is decreased in rats with monocularly-deprived amblyopia. Acupuncture in the sensitive period can significantly regulate the abnormal P-VEP waveform and the down-regulate the NMDAR1 mRNA expression of the visual cortex of rats with monocularly-deprived amblyopia. Early treatment in the sensitive period should be the key to obtaining the curative effect.

Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological mechanism of acupuncture for the visual cortex plasticity during the sensitive period. Methods: Fifty 2-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group, an early-stage acupuncture group, a middle-stage acupuncture group and a late-stage acupuncture group, 10 rats in each group. Monocular deprivation amblyopia models were prepared in rats except those in the blank control group by unilateral eyelid suture. After successful modeling, no treatment was applied to the rats in the model group. Rats in each acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Jingming (BL 1), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Fengchi (GB 20) and Guangming (GB 37), started from the 3rd day, 12th day or 21st day after modeling separately, once a day, for a total of 9 d treatment. The neuronal discharge frequency and action potential inter-spike interval (ISI) in the rat visual cortex area 17 of each group were measured by multi-channel microelectrode array nerve signal technique. Results: The discharge number of neurons in the visual cortex of the model group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the discharge numbers in the early-stage acupuncture group and the middle-stage acupuncture group were significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the discharge numbers between the late-stage acupuncture group and the model group (P>0.05). The discharge number in the middle-stage acupuncture group was lower than that in the early-stage acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the discharge number of the late-stage acupuncture group was lower than that in the middle-stage acupuncture group (P<0.05). The ISI sequences of the visual cortex neurons were mainly distributed under 0.3 s in the blank control group, under 15 s in the model group, under 1 s in the early-stage acupuncture group, under 4 s in the middle-stage acupuncture group, and under 10 s in the late-stage acupuncture group, divergent in each group. Conclusion: The neuronal coding appears abnormality in the visual cortex area 17 of monocular deprivation rats, indicating that there is a plasticity change in the visual cortex neurons during the sensitive period. Acupuncture has a significant effect on the abnormal neural coding. The therapeutic efficacy is closely related to the stage to start the treatment. Early stage treatment in the sensitive period is the key to achieving the good efficacy.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Moxibustion treatment for RA has significant efficacy, with high security and without dependency. It can alleviate the symptoms and make the body gradually return to normal level of immunity at the same time. This article reviewed the study on mechanism of moxibustion for the treatment of RA in recent years from the aspects of innate immunity, humeral immunity, cellular immunity, cytokines and immune organs, discussed the existing problems in relevant study, and provided a basis for clinic and future research.

Objective To assess the therapeutic efficacy of trigger points (TrPs) combined with acupoints by acupuncture for subjective tinnitus (ST);To discuss the correlation of TrPs acupuncture inactivation and the releasing of symptom. Methods Sixty patients with ST were randomly divided into trial group and control group, 30 cases in each group. Those in trial group were acupunctured by TrPs combined with acupoints, and those in control group received regular acupuncture treatment. The scores of tinnitus severity assessment were available for effect evaluation after 3 treatment course. The size and tenderness degree of TrPs contraction knots were checked, and TrPs local thermal infrared spectrum was compared by infrared camera. Results The post-treatment tinnitus severity scores had significant difference compared with pre-therapy in each group (P<0.01). The total effective percentage of trial group with 93.33%(28/30) was obviously higher than control group with 86.67%(26/30) (P<0.05). The post-treatment and pre-therapy contraction knots size, tenderness and temperature difference of TrPs within trial groups had a very significant difference (P<0.01), and difference of tenderness and temperature of patients’ TrPs had a positive correlation with the difference of tinnitus severity scores before and after treatment (P<0.01). The contraction knots area of TrPs had not significant correlation with the difference of tinnitus severity scores (P>0.05). Conclusion TrPs combined with acupoints by acupuncture for ST patients are better than conventional acupoints in improving clinical symptoms. The deactivation of TrPs is closely related to tinnitus symptoms, therefore, temperature and tenderness of TrPs can be employed to assist in the diagnosis, or evaluated the tinnitus severity and therapeutic efficacy.

The degranulation of mast cells represents a pivotal e-vent in the allergic disorders.The Src family kinases(SFKs)are as a starting signal in the activation of mast cell.Lyn,Fyn and Syk play important regulatory role in the degranulation of mast cells.Regulating SFKs can reduce the degranlation process and inhibit the allergic disorders.Therefore,SFKs inhibitors can be potential drugs in the allergy.It is necessary to study the targeted medicine of SFKs,which will be a new direction of drug develop-ment.

Objective To investigate the circulation and use of Akebiae Caulis and Clematidis Armandii Caulis;To provide references for clinical safe medication. Methods Literature review, field survey and telephone interview were used to conduct the investigation. Results ① The market currency of the Akebiae Caulis and Clematidis Armandii Caulis was very confused, and the mainly medicinal materials on the market were Clematidis Armandii Caulis. ② The majority used medicinal materials were Clematidis Armandii Caulis, and Akebiae Caulis was rarely used. ③ The Chinese Pharmacopoeia collected Akebiae Caulis and Clematidis Armandii Caulis separately, but there was phenomenon of using Clematidis Armandii Caulis replacing of Akebiae Caulis. Conclusion Market of Akebiae Caulis is shrinking; the phenomenon of using Clematidis Armandii Caulis to replace Akebiae Caulis widespread in clinic. There are differences in the efficacy of Akebiae Caulis and Clematidis Armandii Caulis, so they should be distinguished and cannot be used to mix or substitute.

OBJECTIVE:To compare the contents of loganic acid,swertiamarin,6′-O-β-D-glucosyl gentiopicroside,gentiopi-croside,sweroside,isoorientin and isovitexin in wild and cultivated Gentiana officinalis,and to provide basis for rational use of G. officinalis. METHODS:UPLC method was adopted. The separation was performed on ACQUITY UPLC? BEH C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm,1.7 μm) with mobile phase consisted of methanol-0.04% phosphoric acid (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The detection wavelength was set at 242 nm,and column temperature was 30 ℃. RESULTS:For loganic acid,swertiama-rin,6′-O-β- D-glucosyl gentiopicroside,gentiopicroside,sweroside,isoorientin and isovitexin,a good linearity was obtained in the range of 2.1-537.1 μg,1.05-270 μg,0.92-236 μg,11.1-2 830 μg,0.75-192 μg,0.167-102 μg,0.216-52.80 μg(r≥0.999 5), respectively. Their average recoveries were 97.72%-99.84%(RSD≤3.39%,n=6). The contents of loganic acid,swertiamarin, 6′-O-β-D-glucosyl gentiopicroside,gentiopicroside,sweroside and isoorientin in the wild sample were higher than in the cultivat-ed;the content of isovitexin was lower than the cultivated,but there was no statistical significance(P>0.05). The sum of gentiopi-croside and loganin acid content were all higher than 2.5% in both wild and cultivated samples,and met the requirements of 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(first part). CONCLUSIONS:The content difference of 7 indicative constituents in wild and cul-tivated G. officinalis is not statistically significant,and the indicative constituents of the pharmacopoeia is qualified.

Objective To observe the efficacy of Zheng’s “gold hook fishing acupuncture” in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Methods Sixty patients were randomly divided into gold hook fishing group and reinforcing-reducing group, with 30 cases in each group. Gold hook fishing group chose the main points from the Tianzong (SI11), Bingfeng (SI12), Jiajixue (double EX-B2), Binao (LI14), Jianyu (LI15), Jianliao (SJ14), Jianzhen (SI9), Ashi, Naoshu (SI10), Quchi (LI11), Waiguan (SJ5), Hegu (LI4), Houxi (SI3), Tiaokou (ST38) and Chengshan (BL57). Needles were pierced at tendon junction points and Ashi points, and golden hook fishing acupuncture was operated. Other points were given reinforcing-reducing method. The reinforcing-reducing group was treated with reinforcing-reducing method at points the same as gold hook fishing group. Patients were treated once a day for 2 courses, 5 days as a treatment course. The pain visual analogue scale (VAS), shoulder range of motion (ROM), and ability of daily life (ADL) were observed before and after treatment to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Results The total effective rate of gold hook fishing group was 90.0% (27/30), better than the reinforcing-reducing group 83.3% (25/30, P<0.05); VAS pain score, ROM score and ADL score before and after treatment in the two groups were improved to some extent (P<0.05), and scores in the golden hook fishing group were improved more significantly compared with reinforcing-reducing group (P<0.05). Conclusion Zheng’s gold hook fishing acupuncture can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and signs of patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis and their life quality.

Objective To investigate the genetic relationships of Astragalus membranaceus and Codonopsis pilosula from the different cultivars (varieties). Methods Twenty-five samples of A. membranaceus and seventeen samples of C. Pilosula were amplified by ISSR-PCR. Genetic diversity and genetic distance were analyzed by Popgen32. UPGMA dendrogram relationship was clustered by NTSYS. Results Totally 62 and 100 loci were detected respectively from A. membranaceus and C. pilosula. All percentages of polymorphic loci (PPL) were 100%. Shannon’s information indexes (I) were 0.537 6 and 0.472 7. Nei’s genetic diversity indexes (H) were 0.361 3 and 0.307 4. A. membranaceus was divided into two groups in genetic distance 0.59, and C. pilosula was alike in 0.50. Conclusion Different cultivars (varieties) of A. membranaceus and C. pilosula had rich genetic diversities among species, and had large genetic differences.

Atherosclerosis is a complex metabolic cardiovascular disease. such inflammatory phenomena as the invasion of lipid into the arterial intima and accumulation, the increase of foam cells, the exacerbation of inflammatory lesions, plaque necrosis and disintegration, ulcer bleeding and thrombosis, fibrosis and calcification, etc, are basic pathological characteristics of ather-osclerosis. In this process, macrophages and T lymphocytes play an important role. In recent years,atherosclerosis pathology re-search mainly focuses on the role of macrophage polarization.
Basically,macrophage can be divided into two subtypes: classi-cal activation macrophage M1 and alternative activation macro-phage M2. Therefore to paper reviews the meaning of M1 and M2 macrophage polarization during atherosclerosis, regulatory pathways and drug targets research status to provide new direc-tion for innovative drugs and disease treatment.