As an important part of Chinese medicinal materials, uncommon-territorial herbs are also the most complex parts in the herbal medicine markets. Through years of investigation on the key markets of Chinese herbal medicine, the meaning of uncommon-territorial herbs, their historical evolution, origin and characteristics were clarified in this paper, and some countermeasures were put forward for its development.
Biological Evolution ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences of the expression of Cx43 in rats' acupoints and sham-acupoint when needled blocks, and explore the relatively specificity of acupoints.

METHODTwenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: an acupuncture group and a control group, ten in each group. The rats in the control group were not treated and sacrificed directly to by air embolism; the rats in the acupuncture group were needled at "Neiguan (PC 6)", "Zusanli (ST 36)", "Dazhui (GV 14)" and "Guanyuan (CV 4)", Sham-acupoints were on 1 cm next to each of the above acupoints and "Yongquan (KI 1)" were needled by hand manipulation, retented needles for 30 min, then all the rats were sacrificed by air embolism. With the rats fixed, the tissue blocks at the acupoints and sham-acupoints were collected, then quick-frozen and cut into sections. The sections were stained by immunohistochemical method (Cx43).

RESULTSThe expression of the rats' Cx43 at the acupoints was significantly higher than that at the non-points in both groups (all P < 0.01). The expression of Cx43 at the acupoints in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of Cx43 at acupoints and non-points is significantly different, which indicates that the acupoints are actually existed and have relatively specificity.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo bring forward a method to improve the prominence of the forehead contour.

METHODS16 patients(age 29-53 years, female 11, male 5) were treated through a bicoronal incision. Following the incision, the forehead soft tissues are reflected down to the level of the superior orbital rims with the protection to the supraorbital neurovascular bundles. To adjust the forehead contour, both superior orbital rims and frontal bossing was reduced by burring down the excess bone or removing the anterior wall of the forehead.

RESULTSThe operative effect were satisfactory during 3-12 months of follow-up. No recurrence or osteogenesis were found in the cases. Nasofrontal angle and forehead angle were normal. The prominence of the supraorbital ridges disappeared and forehead became nature.

CONCLUSIONCranioplasty via an osteomy or burring of the outer line of forehead bone are safe, compact and effective way to improve the prominence of the superior orbital rims or frontal bossing.

Adult ; Female ; Forehead ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the mutation of HBV polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine.

METHODSThe restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (RFLP) assay for HBV DNA sequence determination at the codon 528 and 552 in the HBV polymerase gene associated with lamivudine resistance in vitro. HBV DNA samples extracted from sera of 240 patients were subjected to PCR amplification with primer pairs F2/R2 (552), F3/R2 (528). Each PCR product was digested with Nde I or Nla III.

RESULTSSerum HBV DNA mutation was found in 51/240 patients (38/51M552V, 26/38L528M, 13/51M552I) after therapy for 52 weeks. DNA sequence analysis was performed on samples of 3 patients, and the results were consistent with those of RFLP assay.

CONCLUSIONThe RFLP assay was able to detect the mutation of HBV DNA at codon 552 and 528 which are the principal site of HBV DNA resistant to lamivudine. The specific PCR method for HBV DNA mutation is rapid, simple and specific.

Drug Resistance, Viral ; Gene Products, pol ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo improve the outcome of the face-lift with a craniofacial contouring procedure.

METHODSThirty-seven patients aged 29-53 years (31 in female, 6 in male) were treated through a bicoronal incision. The facial tissue was lifted through a subperiosteal procedure and the facial skeleton was remodeled in three dimensions by osteotomies.

RESULTSThe results were satisfactory after the 3-12 months of the follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONSThe Face-lift combined with the facial aesthetic sculpturing may be more effective for the aging-face rejuvenating.

Adult ; Esthetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhytidoplasty ; methods

OBJECTIVESTo examine the gene expression profile of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during entochondrostosis of mice and explore the expression rules and effects between BMP-2 and VEGF, and to detect the expression of VEGF in BMP-2 induced entochondrostosis in vivo.

METHODScDNA microarray technique with 34,000 genes was used to analyze the gene expression profiles during entochondrostosis in the limbs of mice embryo from E10 to E14. Pathway analysis of BMP-2 and VEGF was performed with GCOS1.2 software. An experimental model of femoral muscular pouch in 20 mice was adopted. The expression of VEGF was examined by in situ hybridization method and immunohistochemical method in BMP-2 induced entochondrostosis in vivo.

RESULTSThe expression signals of VEGF mRNA and VEGF appeared in cytoplasm during condensation of mesenchymal cell. As the mesenchymal cells differentiated into precartilage, the expression signals decreased in mesenchymal cells, but increased in chondrocytes and kept getting denser in the process of cartilage maturity. The peak expression of VEGF mRNA and VEGF in the experimental group appeared on the 14th day, accompanied by numerous hypertrophic chondrocytes. When mature cartilage calcified and new bone trabecula formed, the expression of VEGF mRNA and VEGF decreased in chondrocytes, but still expressed moderately in the osteoblasts and osteocytes.

CONCLUSIONSThe finding reveals a complex pattern of gene coexpression of BMP-2 and VEGF during the critical period of entochondrostosis. It's feasible for the clinical application of BMP-2 in orthopedics.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mice ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the infection status and epidemiological characteristics of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in influenza-like illness (ILI) of children ( ≤ 14 years) in Wuhan area from 2008 to 2012.

METHODSA total of 2854 cases of ILI patients ( ≤ 14 years) in a hospital of Wuhan were recruited in the study from July 2008 to June 2012. The sample of pharyngeal swab was collected from each patient, to extract the virus nucleic acids. Real-time fluorescent quantitation reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method was applied to detect the subtypes of influenza virus and RSV, and then analyzed the time and age characteristics.

RESULTSOut of the 2854 cases, 758 (26.6%) were positive for influenza virus,including 547 (19.2%) influenza A virus positive samples and 211 (7.4%) influenza B virus positive samples. Usually, there were two peaks present in the annual curve of influenza virus, namely summer peak and winter/spring peak. The positive rate of influenza virus in 6-14 years old children (48.0%, 275/573) was significantly higher than that in 3-5 years old children (26.6%, 213/801) and that under 3 years old children (18.3%, 270/1480). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 187.432, P < 0.01). A total of 219 (7.7%) cases were positive for RSV,including 108 RSV-A positive samples and 112 RSV-B positive samples (1 co-infection). The epidemic of RSV showed an obvious seasonal pattern with peaks in autumn,winter and spring,which accounted for 96.8% (212/219) of all the cases; however, the annual incidence of RSV fluctuated greatly. The predominant subtype shifted every 2 years. RSV-B predominated during September 2008 and May 2009, December 2009 and March 2010, accounting for 76.6% (36/47) and 96.9% (62/64) respectively. RSV-A predominated during November 2010 and March 2011, September 2011 and April 2012, accounting for 92.5% (37/40) and 100.0% (48/48) respectively. With the increase of the age, the positive rate of RSV-A and RSV-B decreased gradually (RSV-A: χ(2) = 36.223, P < 0.01; RSV-B: χ(2) = 36.281, P < 0.01). The positive rates of RSV-A in children < 1,1,2,3,4,5-9 and 10-14 years old were 7.0% (26/373), 5.9% (39/662), 4.0% (18/445), 3.2% (13/406), 1.3% (3/236), 1.4% (7/517) and 0.9% (2/215) respectively; while, the positive rates of RSV-B in each age group were 6.4% (24/373), 6.0% (40/662), 4.5% (20/445), 4.4% (18/406), 1.3% (3/236), 1.0% (5/517) and 0.9% (2/215) respectively. The children aged 0-3 years old were more susceptible for RSV infection,accounting for 90.0% (197/219) of the total positive samples. During the outbreak of influenza A H1N1 in November 2009, the positive rate of RSW was 3.0% (3/100), lower than that in the same month of 2008, 2010 and 2011,which were separately 18.2% (6/33), 10.8% (10/93) and 10.0% (4/40). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 8.450, P < 0.05). During the outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) in January 2011,the positive rate of RSV was 5.7% (3/53), lower than those in the same month of 2009, 2010 and 2012, which was separately 21.7% (5/23), 28.6% (22/77) and 16.0% (8/50). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 11.233,P < 0.05). During the period of less influenza happened in September 2011, the RSV positive rate was 25.0% (10/40), higher than those in the same month of 2008, 2009 and 2010, which was separately 11.4% (4/35), 1.7% (2/118) and 0.0% (0/109). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 32.521, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth influenza virus and RSV were important etiological agents of ILI of children in Wuhan. The characteristics of seasonal and age distributions of the two viruses were notably different; meanwhile, a certain inhibitional effect of influenza virus on RSV could be observed.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Male ; Orthomyxoviridae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; classification ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap with partial preservation of abdominal rectus muscle based on the anatomic study in cadavers.

METHODS5 adult female cadavers which provided by department of anatomy of Fujian Medical University were dissected after injection with medical red latex from the starting point of the inferior epigastric artery and superior epigastric artery. The TRAM flap with partial preservation of lateral abdominal rectus muscle were dissected for breast reconstruction. The location, route, branches and anastomosis of inferior and superior epigastric arteries were observed. Based on the anatomic study, breast reconstruction were performed in 8 cases with muscle-sparing TRAM flaps.

RESULTSThe inferior epigastric artery arises from external iliac artery (9/10, 90%) or femoral artery (1/10, 10%) at the joint point between the internal third and lateral two third. There are extensive anastomoses between superior and inferior epigastric arteries above the umbilicus, mostly between the 2cm below the first tendinous intersection and umbilical level. From Sept. 2009 to Sept. 2010, 8 cases received breast reconstruction with muscle-sparing TRAM flap. The patients were followed up for 3 months to one year. Fibrosis happened in subcutaneous fat at flap IV zone in 2 cases, borderline necrosis and subcutaneous fat liquefaction occurred in some areas of flap IV zone in 2 cases, which healed after debridement. The other 4 cases healed with no complication. Except for unsatisfied shape in one case, good result achieved in 7 cases. There was no abdominal weakness, hemia or other complication.

CONCLUSIONSIt is an effective and safe method in breast reconstruction with muscle-sparing TRAM flap. It is practical with comparatively short operation time and less morbidity in donor site.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Rectus Abdominis ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of the island flap based on the postfemur neurocutaneous nutrient vessel.

METHODSThe flap was designed and applied to repair the defects in the gluteal, popliteal fossa or the bilateral postfemur areas. A total of 11 cases (12 defects) were treated with this method. The size of the defects ranged from 4.0 cm x 7.8 cm to 8.3 cm x 16.6 cm.

RESULTSOf the 12 defects, 9 achieved complete success. Epidermal necrosis occurred in the distal part of the flap in 3 defects owing to venous stasis, which were cured with skin grafting. Postoperative follow-up for 8-19 months showed that the appearance, texture, and function of the flap were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSThe advantages of the flap lie in the reliable blood supply, constant anatomy, and without sacrificing a major artery. The key points for the flap survival are utilizing the "Superficial vein-nutrient vessel of the cutaneous nerve system" and retaining a comet tail-shaped soft-tissue pedicle in the flap creation.

Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Necrosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Skin ; injuries ; pathology ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; pathology ; transplantation ; Thigh ; Wound Healing