Objective To assess the feasibility of using PET molecular imaging to evaluate the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine FuZhiSan (FZS) on the model of aging Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats. Methods Twenty aged AD rats (Sparague-Dawley rats,male) were randomly divided into FZS treated group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Another 10 healthy adult rats were as blank controls. Morris water maze record system was used for cognitive function assessment. Before and after FZS treatment 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 11 C-2- [4'-(methylamino) phenyl] benzothiazol-6-ol ( PIB )PET imaging was undertaken. After post-treatment imaging procedures the brain tissues of all animals were taken for histochemical study,such as staining with HE,congo red,amyloid β (Aβ) immunofluorescence,5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunofluorescence and NeuN immunofluorescence. Paired t-test was performed with SPSS 13.0 software for the data analysis. Results The cognitive dysfunction of aging AD rats was improved after FZS treatment. The escape latency in FZS treated group was significantly shorter than that of control group ((32.5 ±10.8) s vs (102.6±8.8) s,t =15.7987,P=0. 0001). Diffuse neuronal loss and Aβ deposition were detected in the hippocampus and cortex in the aged AD rats. The imaging data showed that brain glucose metabolism was amended in FZS treated group while the abatement of amyloid deposition was not significant. Immunofluorescence results indicated that the neuronal proliferation was more remarkable in FZS treated group. Conclusions It may be feasible to use PET imaging as a method to evaluate the therapeutic effect in AD rats. FZS may ameliorate memory dysfunction of aged AD rats. Its mechanism may be partly contributed to the enhancement of the neuronal proliferation and survival.

Professor ZHENG Kui-shan is a famous specialist of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences, and he has obtained a lot of achievements in about 70 years' clinical treatment, scientific studies and teaching. He has advocated and devoted himself to the studies of traditional needling methods of acupuncture and moxibustion, with outstanding contributions to the development of Chinese and world's acupuncture and moxibustion. He participated in the scientific studies, clinical treatment and teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion at the early stage of founding of the China Academy of TCM. He first advocated and led "the study on channel essence", established Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Gansu College of TCM and Gansu Society of Zheng's Needling Methods. Professor Zheng's opinions and practice which emphasize on the studies of Chinese traditional acupuncture, moxibustion and needling methods indicate the direct of acupuncture and moxibustion studies in both China and world.
Acupuncture ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Moxibustion

Mr. ZHENG Yu-lin is one of the most outstanding acupuncture scientists in the modern times in our country. He inherits the learning handed down in a family and is bold in making innovations, successfully combines the exercises to benefit the internal organs with Chinese traditional acupuncture needling methods, forming a set of unique Zheng's needling methods, which is used for treatment of severe ophthalmopathy with excellent therapeutic effects, and is famed the world over. Main achievements: took on scientific researches of acupuncture and moxibustion, teaching and clinical works in the first stage of establishment of China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicinel trains a large number of famous specificities of acupuncture and moxibustion for new China; advocates study on channel essence; cures stubborn diseases for leaders of friend countries undertaking the great trust of the central leaders for many times, becoming an important ties of Chinese political foreign affairs.
Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of cerebral computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of the severity of brain injury following hypoxia in neonates.

METHODSA total of 114 full-term newborns who had perinatal hypoxia, including 25 cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), 36 cases of neonatal asphyxia and 53 cases of simple intrauterine fetal distress, were enrolled in this study. Twenty normal newborns served as the Control group. All had cerebral CT scan at 2-7 days of age. Neonatal behavior neurological assessment (NBNA) was performed at 5 days of age.

RESULTSThe average NBNA scores were significantly lower and the abnormality rate of NBNA was significantly higher in the HIE group than in the other three groups (P < 0.05). The Asphyxia and the Distress groups had also lower NBNA scores and higher abnormality rate of NBNA than the Control group (P < 0.05). Twenty-two patients were found to have cerebral CT abnormality in the HIE group, but there was only 1 case in the Control group (P < 0.01). The abnormality rate of cerebral CT in the Asphyxia and the Distress groups was not statistically different from that of the Control group. Twenty-five cases of HIE were divided into mild (n=15), medium (n=6) and severe (n=4) by clinical grading but were divided into normal (n=3), mild (n=10), medium (n=7) and severe (n=5) by CT grading. CT and clinical grading on HIE was not consistent. The sensitivity of CT in the diagnosis of mild, moderate and severe HIE was 47%, 33% and 50% respectively, the specificity was 70%, 74% and 86% respectively and the accuracy was 48%, 64% and 80% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCT evaluation on mild brain injury induced by asphyxia or intrauterine fetal distress is not of any value and the role of CT evaluation on the HIE grade is uncertain and doubtful.

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neurologic Examination ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The even reinforcing-reducing technique of acupuncture is one of the common needling methods in clinical practice at present, but there are various understandings on it among scholars. In the paper, the origin of the even reinforcing-reducing technique of acupuncture was explored on the base of literature collection and clinical practice. The comments were put forward in association with the initial understanding of reinforcing and reducing techniques of acupunctures and actual clinical applications. In ancient time, the even reinforcing-reducing method includes two meanings. The first one refers to the compound reinforcing-reducing needling technique for mixture of cold and heat or of deficiency and excess, in which, the reinforcing and reducing techniques are used alternatively at same acupoint. The second one implies the imbalance of and with human body or meridian involved. For example, in the syndromes as excess in the upper part of body and deficiency in the lower part, heat on the left and cold on the right, the treatment for reinforcing the lower and reducing the upper, or reinforcing the right and reducing the left is adopted to rebalance and . Hence, it is regarded as a treating principle or a needling method. No matter at the same acupoint or at different acupoints, the final target of treatment is to harmonize and . The acupuncture scholars in modern times seldom describe even reinforcing-reducing technique. Since the foundation of People's Republic of China, the relevant technique is again called even reinforcing-reducing manipulation, characterized as evenly lifting, thrusting and rotating of needle and has been developed gradually as the common needling technique in present clinical practice, which is widely divergent from the traditional understanding. The reinforcing-reducing techniques of acupuncture are different in understanding between the ancient time and the present. It is necessary to identify the origin for the better contributions to clinical application.
Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Humans ; Meridians

Regarding the existing questions of the understanding and application of lateral needling technique in the Chapter 7 of
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Needles ; Punctures ; Vascular Surgical Procedures

Renying Cunkou pulse method is one of the classical pulse methods of acupuncture-moxibustion in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, which is also a classical clinical paradigm for diagnosing and treating meridian diseases in the ancient times. Based on comprehensive review of literature and clinical practice, this paper reveals that this method compares the size of the neck Renying pulse with hand Cunkou pulse to determine the change of yin-yang and excess-deficiency identifying the affected meridians. The jing-well, xing-spring, and shu-stream points of the surface and interior meridians of affected meridians are mainly selected to regulate deficiency and excess through reinforcing and reducing methods. The Renying Cunkou pulse method possesses a simple and practical medical theory, easy diagnostic procedure, and clear meridian selection for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment, warranting further exploration of its essence and diagnostic therapeutic principles.
Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture ; Yin-Yang ; Acupuncture Points

Objective To explore the relationship between sleep duration and different ischemic stroke (IS) subtypes. Methods Participants in the study were recruited from rural communities in Beijing. The survey questionnaires, physical examination and biochemical tests were performed. Sleep duration was categorized into 5 groups, namely ≤5 hours/day, 6 hours/day (5.5-6.5 h/d), 7 hours/day (6.5-7.5 h/d), 8 hours/day (7.5-8.5 h/d) and ≥9 hours/day(≥8.5 h/d). Classification of ischemic stroke was based on Trial of org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification. Logistic models were used to evaluate the associations between sleep duration and different IS subtypes. Results A total of 6 370 participants were recruited. The average age was (58.34±9.37) years old. Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, behavioral lifestyle, socioeconomic status and health status, compared to subjects with 7 hours/day, subjects with sleep duration ≤5 hours/day was significantly associated with increased risk of IS (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.42-2.15, P<0.001), large-artery atherosclerosis (OR=1.98, 95% CI:1.46-2.70, P<0.001), small-artery occlusion lacunar (OR=5.73, 95% CI:3.34-9.83, P<0.001) and stroke of undetermined etiology (OR=4.43, 95% CI:1.86-10.53, P=0.001). Subjects with sleep duration 8 hours/day and ≥9 hours/day was only found to be significantly associated with IS and large-artery atherosclerosis (P<0.05). Conclusions Short sleep duration is associated with increased risk of IS, large-artery atherosclerosis, small-artery occlusion lacunar and stroke of undetermined etiology. But long sleep duration is only associated with increased risk of IS and large-artery atherosclerosis.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate associations of overall obesity (OO) and abdominal obesity (AO) with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) among type 2 diabetes(T2DM) patients. Methods A community-based study for T2DM patients was conducted in rural communities in Beijing．Every patient completed a questionnaire to collect demography, lifestyle and diseases history, and underwent physical examinations, baPWV assessments and blood biochemical tests. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the relationship between obesity index and baPWV. Abnormal baPWV was defined as patients with baPWV≥1,700 cm/s. Logistic regression model was performed to explore the risk of abnormal baPWV after adjusting for poetential confounders step by step. Results A total of 2 048 T2DM patients were recruited. The average age was (59.2±8.3) years and total prevalence of abnormal baPWV was 49.7%. After multivariable adjustment, linear regression showed that there was a negative correlation between body mass index(BMI) and baPWV and a positive correlation between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and baPWV. Compared to normal weight group, those with BMI≥28 kg/m2 had lower risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.44-0.78，P<0.001), but there was an increased risk of 46% among patients with obesity in WHR (OR=1.46, 95% CI:1.07-2.00，P=0.018). Compared to those without OO and AO, patients without OO but with AO had a 1.67-fold increasesd risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.19-2.35，P=0.003). Conclusions Abdominal obesity is related with arterial stiffnening among T2DM patients, and it is critical to evaluate arterial stiffness of T2DM patients with abdmonal obesity and normal BMI in order to reduce future risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami killed nearly 5,400 people in Southern Thailand,including foreign tourists and local residents. To recover DNA evidence as much as possible from the seriously decomposed bodies, we explored procedures of sample preparation from both bone and tooth samples as well as both mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Despite having failed to recover enough DNA for nuclear marker typing, we succeeded in obtaining fully informative results for mitochondrial markers (HV1 and HV2) from 258 tooth samples with a success rate of 51% (258/507).Using an organic DNA extraction method coupled with an ultrafiltration step, we obtained 16 STR (including 13 CODIS loci, one sex discrimination locus, and two Identifiler loci) profiles for 834 samples with a success rate of 79% (834/1,062).In addition, by comparing the allelic frequencies between the typed samples as a group and other index populations, we conclude that the Thai tsunami victims are a combined group of several populations. Our results provide valuable evidence and protocols for the future forensic practice.