Objective:To study the teeth of the ancients in Xia Dynasty,the first dynasty in Chinese history about 4 000 years ago,and acquaint ourselves with their incidences of periodontal disease,and the evolution of oral diseases.Methods:The teeth and jaws excavated in Erlitoou,Henan Province and Youyao,Shanxi Province were observed with clinical methods.The specimens totaled 56 individuals(male 38,and female 18),including 894 teeth,and 86 dental arches.The objects were all permanent teeth.The major observation items were periodontal disease.The prevalence of periodontal disease of the people in Chinese Xia Dynasty were outlined.Results:The prevalence rate of periodontal disease was 19.80% in the 894 teeth,while prevalence rate was about 42.86% among the individuals.The premortal tooth lossrate was 7.45% in the observed teeth.Conclusion:Periodontal disease is an aging-related disease without sex difference and commonly seen in the mandible,which is quite similar to the situation at present.The periodontal disease was the main reason for tooth loss in people of Xia Dynasty.

Objective:To evaluate the value of serum anti citrullinated antibody ( anti CCP-Ab) ,anti keratin antibody ( AKA) and rheumatoid factor ( RF) diagnostic significance of these 3 kinds of index in RA.Methods:256 patients with RA ,92 patients with other autoimmune diseases,50 cases of healthy people were anti CCP-Ab,AKA,RF detection,and the results were analyzed.Results:single target detection ,diagnostic sensitivity of RA from high to low was RF ,anti CCP-Ab,AKA,specific from high to low was AKA ,anti CCP-Ab, RF,anti CCP-Ab and AKA combined detection in clinical diagnostic efficiency.Conclusion: RF,AKA,anti CCP-Ab three index have advantages and disadvantages in diagnosis of RA ,the diagnosis of AKA ,anti CCP-Ab serum of RF negative RA is a powerful complement to,in accordance with the selection of project portfolio appropriate experimental conditions ,the early diagnosis of RA and early treatment ,improve the prognosis had higher value.

Objective To observe changes of the partial oxygen pressure in the deep tissues along the Large Intestine Meridian (LIM) during acupuncture stimulation,so as to reveal the characteristics of energy metabolism in the tissues along the LIM. Methods Thirty-one healthy volunteer subjects were enlisted in the present study. Partial oxygen pressure (POP) in the tissues (at a depth of about 1.5 cm) of acupoints Binao (LI 14),Shouwuli (LI 13),Shousanli (LI 10),2 non-acupoints [the midpoints between Quchi (LI 11) and LI 14,and between Yangxi (LI 5) and LI 11) of the LIM,and 10 non-meridian points,1.5-2.0 cm lateral and medial to each of the tested points of the LIM was detected before,during and after electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of Hegu (LI 4) by using a tissue oxygen tension needle-like sensor. Results In normal condition,the POP values in the deep tissues along the LIM were significantly higher than those of the non-meridian control points on its bilateral sides. During and after EA of Hegu (LI 4),the POP levels decreased significantly in the deep tissues along the LIM in comparison with pre-EA (P0.05). Conclusion POP is significantly higher in the deep tissues along the LIM of healthy subjects under normal conditions,which can be downregulated by EA of Hegu (LI 4),suggesting an increase of both the utilization rate of oxygen and energy metabolism after EA.

Objective: The topographical mapping technique of brain evoked potential was used to observe the changes of the functional activities in the cortical somatosensory area I (SⅠ) during imitating the sensation conduction along the Meridian (SCM). The formation mechanism of sensation conduction was discussed here. Method: 26 healthy adult volunteers were chosen as observe object. Cerebral electric signal processing system was used to record topographical mapping of evoked potential in SⅠ outside the skull. Soft paintbrush was used to slightly brush the Gall Bladder Meridian (GBM) to imitate the sensation conduction. Result: Evoking responses appeared in both foot and face representation areas in SⅠ of 11 healthy volunteers without conduction sensation during imitation of sensation conduction along the GBM (SCGBM), which coincided with the distribution of responses evoked in SI during sensation conduction along Meridian . 15 healthy volunteers were offered imitation of SCGBM as well as brushing through the upper arm additionally, while, the results showed that the evoking responses appeared in the foot, the upper arm and the face representation area of SⅠ. So, it formed a high potential response belt that was similar to the course occurred during the imitation of SCM. Conclusion: The external stimulation along the meridian course can change the distribution of evoking responses in SⅠduring stimulating point. The results provide experimental evidence for the supposition that “activation in sequence in periphery” is the decisive factor for the formation of SCM.

BACKGROUND: Without any external stimuli in natural environment, it is applicable to observe the infrared radiant track over human body surface that is in conformity basically with the running courses of ancient fourteen meridians.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the influence of electroacupuncture on infrared radiant track along meridian courses over human body surface.DESIGN: Self-controlled opening experiment.SETTING: Department of Meridian Research of Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Fujian Province.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was performed in Key Laboratory of Meridian Research of Fujian Province from January 2000 to December 2002. Totally 53 students from Department of Acupuncture and Massage of Fujian College of Chinese Medicine were observation, of which, 38 students were males, 15 students were females, aged varied from 19 to 23years.METHODS: The receptors exposed completely the body areas required and sat quietly for 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the environmental temperature. In natural state, 6T67 infrared thermo tracer produced by Japanese San-Ei Company was used to observe 1 to 2 infrared radiant tracks in advance as the control before acupuncture (scanned once per second). Afterwards, acupuncture was done on Guangming (GB 37), Neiguan (PC 6) and Dazhui (GV 14). The stimulation was given by a pair of stainless filiform needles, 6.6 cm long. The frequency of effectric pulse was 2 Hz, and 0.2 ms in duration. The video record was taken once every 5 to 10 minutes during stimulation. After acupuncture, 1 to 2 infrared radiant tracks were scanned.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tracks of isothermal display and whole thermal display on infrared thermography.infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface high basic temperature, acupuncture decreased skin temperature on infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface in a part of subjects. The skin temperature of a part of subjects was decreased acupuncture increased skin temperature on infrared radiant track along though it did not great affect the skin temperature on infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface in a part of subjects,acupuncture induced infrared radiant track to be more continuous and human body surface, acupuncture stimulates the infrared radiant track displayed along the meridians over human body surface, too.CONCLUSION: Infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface is a kind of normal life phenomenon existed commonly among peoples. Acupuncture not only induces the infrared radiant track of the related meridian, but also alters the skin temperature of the displayed infrared radiant track along meridian courses and makes it become more continuous and regular. Changes in tissue temperature are relevant necessarily with altered energetic metabolism. It is suggested that infrared radiant track along meridian courses is closely contributed to functional regulation of the human body.

Objective: To investigate the distribution features of somatosensory cortical evoked potential map with augmented blocking of the sensation transmission along meridians.Method: The EEG-4400 electro-encephalogram (EEG) and ND-1 brain electrical activity mapping were adopted on 11 volunteers with remarkable sensation transmission along meridians, showing that the sensation can transmit to head and face after stimulating the points below the knee joints. Also, special observation was made on accurate location of somatosensory cortical evoked potential map in 10 people without sensation transmission.Result: Observation on 11 volunteers with remarkable transmission along the Three Foot-yang Meridians showed that they presented with concurrent high potential reactions in somatosensory cortical lower limbs and face without blocking the augmented sensation transmission along the meridians; however, when mechanical pressure was exerted to block the sensation transmission,only one reaction in the lower limbs occurred in the somatosensory cortical evoked map and the other one in the face disappeared. Conclusion: Peripheral tissue evoking is the decisive factor for transmission along the meridians.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of Saussurea involucrate injection in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats.Methods A total of 80 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight groups:SAP group (three hours、48 hours),Saussurea involucrate treated group (three hours、48 hours),ulinastatin control group (three hours、48 hours) and sham operation group (three hours、48 hours),10 rats in each group.After modeling,the rats of SAP group were regularly feeded and the rats of other three group were treated with Saussurea involucrate injection (1.04 mL/kg) intraperitoneal injection,ulinastatin 10 000 U/L tail vein injection,and saline femoral vein injection,respectively and injected every 12 hours.At three hours and 48 hours after treated,blood and pancreatic tissue samples were obtained.The mortality rate,serum amylase level and pathological changes of the pancreas of each group were observed.Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α),interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in pancreatic tissues was determined by chemical colorimetry.The level of TNF-α mRNA,IL 6 mRNA and IL-10 mRNA in pancreatic tissues were measured with reverse trascription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The activity of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) in the pancreatic tissue was tested by immunohistochemistry.Single factor analysis of variance was used to compare multiple groups,and the least significant difference (LSD) method was used in the multiple comparisons between groups.Fisher's exact probability method was performed for rates comparison.Results At 48 hours,there was no statistically significant difference in mortality rate among Saussurea involucrate treated group,SAP group and ulinastatin groups (all P＞0.05).At 48 hours,the histopathology score (8.13 ± 0.64),levels of serum amylase ((2 597.0±214.0) U/L),TNF-α ((254.4±11.6) ng/L),IL-6 ((441.4±14.6) ng/L),levels of pancreatic tissues MDA ((311.0±10.6) mmol/L),TNF-α mRNA(2.04±0.08),IL-6 mRNA (1.77±0.04)and activity of NF-κB p65 ((25.90±2.90)％) of Saussurea involucrate treated group were all lower than those of SAP group (11.40±0.89,(4 780.0±101.0) U/L,(396.0±7.4) ng/L,(664.4± 7.6) ng/L,(418.0± 10.6) mmol/L,2.94±0.03,2.63±0.08 and (51.60±5.27) ％;however level of serum IL-10 ((133.5±6.9) ng/L vs (95.1±5.2) ng/L) and IL-10 mRNA of the pancreatic tissue (1.38±0.06 vs 0.85±0.03) significantly increased (F=253.07、441.63、489.40、2 465.00、196.65、477.89、562.79、131.70、560.18、570.04,all P＜0.01).There was no significant differences in all above parameters between Saussurea involucrate treated group and ulinastatin groups (7.56±0.88,(2 607.0±239.0) U/L,(252.2 ±9.2) ng/L,(443.4±9.6) ng/L,(308.4±9.2) mmol/L,2.10±0.12,1.74±0.04,(26.00±3.67)％,(134.5±7.8) ng/L and 1.42±0.06) at 48 hours (all P＞0.05).Conclusion Saussurea involucrate injection can eliminate oxygen free radicals and prevent to xidation,inhibit NF-κB activation,regulate synthesis and release of cytokines,and alleviate pancreatic injury in SAP rats,but it can not decrease mortality.

This study was aimed to establish a method for sensorial color digitalization of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) with the application of spectrocolorimeter. The discussion was focused on difficulties of distinguishing surface and section color of CHMs. Based on uniform color space system of CIE1976L*a*b*, two methods for determination of section and surface color were constructed with two different kinds of spectrocolorimeters taking Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma as the experimental objective. In this paper, different kinds of sample preparation methods were used. Based on results, the method of scraping and grinding was proposed to prepare samples for section color determination. The method of wet pressing and peeling was proposed to prepare samples for surface color determination. Besides, RSD and dE*ab were served as evaluation indexes. This paper provided a simple, rapid and reliable analysis method for the color determination of CHMs. It also gave insight to future research on digitalization and modernization of CHMs' organoleptic characteristics based on traditional macroscopic identification.

To explore novel antifatigue agents targeting with AMPA receptor, 10 compounds were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis. 1-BCP was treated as the leading compound. The antifatigue activities were evaluated by weight-loaded forced swimming test, and the AMPA receptor binding affinities were tested with radioligand receptor binding assays. The results unveiled that 5b appeared to possess potent antifatigue activities and high affinity with AMPA receptor, which deserved further studies.

AIM:To explore the influences of semaphorin 3A (Sema 3A) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).METHODS:Sema 3A over-expression vectors were constructed and transfected into the HUVECs by Lipofectamine 2000, and the over-expression effect was verified by qPCR and Western blot.The HUVECs in different groups were treated with or without 200 μmol/L H2O2 for 4 h.The levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured by qPCR.The levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by corresponding colorimetry.The cell viability was measured by MTT assay.The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The levels of apoptosis-related proteins cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS:H2O2 induced inflammatory cytokine secretion, increased the levels of LDH and MDA, decreased SOD activity and cell viability, and increased cell apoptosis in the HUVECs.Over-expression of Sema 3A enhanced the above processes.No injury effect of Sema 3A over-expression on HUVECs without H2O2 treatment was observed, indicating that the injury effects of Sema 3A on HUVECs depended on H2O2.CONCLUSION:Sema 3A markedly enhances H2O2-induced injury in the HUVECs, which depends on H2O2.Sema 3A may promote oxidative stress-caused endothelial cell injury.