The concept, connotation and extension of "similar-indication acupoints" which is proposed by Professor WANG Fuchun are introduced in this paper. It is noted that "similar-indication acupoints" is one category of acupoints that hass similar effects for one symptom or disease, which is the basic element for acupoints compatibility, while acupoint compatibility is the foundation of acupuncture acupoints prescription. The proposal and application of "similar-indication acupoints" has provided a new method for the transition from specificity study to generality study, also lay a solid theoretical foundation for acupoints compatibility search.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meridians

Objective To investigate the protective effect of extracellular ATP on motoneurons of spinal anterior horn from spinal root avulsion induced cell injurey. Methods Thirty-six Wister rats were randomized into 2 groups: single root avulsion and root avulsion with ATP. The left C5-C8 nerve roots were avulsed, the experiment group was gioven extracellular ATP (2 mg/kg) 0.4 ml by intraperitoneal injection and control group physiological saline water was gioven 0.4ml as the same method, all one time daily, contin-ue injection ATP or saline water 2 weeks. At 2,4 and 6 week postoperatively, C5-C8 spinal cord was har-vested after the rats were executed. The change of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and neurofilament protein (NF-200) were observed after histochemistrical examination. Results At 2、4 and 6 week postoperatively, the survival of motorneurons in the spinal anterior was 80.48%, 73.55% and 53.43% in experiment group, was 68.90%、63.58% and 37.72% in control group;compare experiment group with control group, the le-don-induced motomeurons death in the spinal anterior bern was decreased by 11.58%、9.78% and 15.71% respectively (P < 0.01) ; the activity changes of NOS expression rate was 17.85% ,40.20% and 18.03% in experiment group, was 25.53%,53.88% and 25.58% in control group, compare experiment group with con-trol group, the activity changes of NOS expression rate was decreased by 7.68% (P < 0.01), 13.68% and 7.55% (P < 0.05) respectively. The motoneurons expressed NF-200 in the experiment group was larger than the control group, there was significant difference was found between the control group and the experiment group. Conclusion ATP might play certain protective role in survival of motoneurous after spinal root avulsion.

In this paper, from the concept of acupoint compatibility, it is proposed that acupoint selection is a key factor to influence the compatibility of acupoint, and the nature of acupoint is closely related with the location and dominant meridian of acupoints. Acupoint selection according to the location and meridians is the basic method of acupoint compatibility, while acupoint selection based on the syndrome differentiation and the symptoms is the fundamental requirement of acupoint compatibility. Therefore, understanding the nature of acupoint, knowing the method of acupoint compatibility and selecting analogous acupoint that have identical or similar indications are the keys to improve the clinical efficacy.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Knowledge ; Meridians

Objective To summarize the theoretic evidence of Shenmen (HT7) Point in the treatment of insomnia and its action mechanism, for guiding clinical application. Method The reasons and evidences for using acupuncture at Shenmen to treat insomnia were summarized from the following 3 aspects: records in the ancient literatures, clinical application, and modern medical studies. Result Acupuncture at Shenmen can produce a calming and sedative effect, and it should be one of the optimal choices for treating insomnia due to its significant efficacy; it calms the mind and improves sleep quality via activating the nervous center for regulating sleep and promoting the secretion of neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in brain. Conclusion Acupuncture at Shenmen is an effective method is treating insomnia.

The newly-formed TCM medical group is characteristic of innovative management,diversified medical service provision,integration of medical resources,building of urban/rural medical service systems,promoting medical resources availability to primary care,perfecting hierarchical medical service mechanism,leveraging advantages of traditional Chinese medicine and its primary care capabilities,centralizing human,financial,and material resources management.

Objective To observe the effect of Anshenbunao Syrup on learning and memory capability in mice. Methods The learning and memory capability of mice was investigated by Y-water maze test and step-down test. The contents of protein, DNA and RNA were investigated by Lowry methods, the diphenylamine reagent method and Oricinol reagent method. Result Anshenbunao Syrup could enhance the memory capability of normal mice and improve the memory emersion disorder of mice induced by ethanol. In addition, it could increase the contents of protein and DNA in brain of mice. Conclusion Anshenbunao Syrup could improve the learning and memory capability of normal and memory emersion disorder mice, and its mechanism may be related to promoting protein synthesis in brain.

Objective To analyze regularities in selection of analogous points for acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of restless legs syndrome in modern Chinese literature. Three large Chinese databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang database (Wanfang) and VIP Database (VIP), were searched by computer to retrieve literature on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of restless legs syndrome. A database of acupuncture and moxibustion prescriptions was set up. The characteristics of and regularities in selection of analogous points for acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of restless legs syndrome were analyzed by use of data mining techniques. Results A total of 107 related articles were included, involving 105 selected acupoints. The main analogous points for modern acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of restless legs syndrome are Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Chengshan and Yanglingquan. The main meridians that the analogous points belong to are the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang and the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin. Most of these acupoints are distributed on the lower limb and the lumbodorsal region. The most frequently used specific points that the analogous points belong to are Five Shu points and lower He-Sea point. Association rule analysis shows that the points that are most highly correlated are Yanglingquan and Zusanli. Attention is paid to acupoint selection based on syndrome differentiation and compatible application of local acupoints.Conclusions Selection of analogous points that have the same or similar indications for modern acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of restless legs syndrome makes acupoint combinations produce a synergistic effect and can improve the clinical therapeutic effect.

Objective To investigate the effects of GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) as an immune adjuvant on the anti-fertility efficacy of canine zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 (CZP3) DNA vaccine.Methods RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to analyze the effects of GM-CSF on the maturation of antigen presenting cells (APCs) and the enrichment of APCs at injection site.Female BALB/c mice were immunized with CZP3 DNA vaccine pcDNA3-CZP3 alone or in combination with genetic adjuvant pcDNA3-GM-CSF by using the method of electrical impulses.ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was used to detect the levels of IgG and sIgA (secretory IgA) antibodies in serum samples and genital tracts and the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in serum samples.MTT method was used to analyze the proliferation of spleen T cells in mice.The binding ability of serum anti-CZP3 antibody to native mouse oocytes was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay.All of the female BALB/c mice were coupled with male mice of the same age six weeks after the first-dose vaccination.Litter size at birth in each group was counted and the differences between different groups were comparatively analyzed.ResultsImmunizing the mice with pcDNA3-CZP3 and GM-CSF significantly promoted the expression of CD80, CD83 and CD86 (P<0.05) and increased the sIgA antibody level in genital tract and IgG level in serum (P<0.01).Moreover, the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in serum samples were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05) and the proliferation of spleen T cells was significantly enhanced (P<0.05).Results of the indirect immunofluorescence assay showed that the fluorescence intensity and density on mouse egg surface were positively correlated with the level of antibody in serum.Results of the anti-fertility test suggested that GM-CSF significantly reduced the litter size in mice immunized with pcDNA3-CZP3 vaccine (P<0.05).Conclusion GM-CSF could be used as an effective adjuvant to enhance the anti-fertility efficacy of CZP3 DNA vaccine.

Objective To investigate an effective method for detecting lymphatic micrometastasis in gastric carcinoma.Methods RT-PCR technique was applied to examine MMP-7 mRNA in 94 lymph nodes in 24 cases of gastric carcinoma.Results Routine pathological method detected lymphatic metastasis in 54 lymph nodes,while MMP-7 mRNA RT-PCR showed positive in 78 lymph nodes. When re-examination for the 28 negative lymph nodes in the initial pathological examination and positive in RT-PCR, 8 lymph nodes with metastasis were found by routine pathological method.2 of 5 patients whose lymph nodes were negitive in pathological examination,but positive in MMP-7mRNA were found liver metastasis 16 and 22 months after radical gastrectomy. Conclusions MMP-7 mRNA RT-PCR is a sensitive method for detecting lymphatic micrometastasis for patients with gastric carcinoma. It is a great help for eluvating the postoperative prognosis and supplemental treatmemt.

ObjectiveTo evaluate arterial stiffness and its influencing factors in the elderly patients with hypertension and (or) type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsTotally 320 elderly patients were divided into four groups: control,diabetes mellitus,hypertension,coexisting hypertension and diabetes mellitus.Arterial stiffness in ankle and brachial artery was determined by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).Other factors affecting baPWV were also collected and measured,including age,body mass index (BMI),sex,smoking,blood pressure,pulse pressure,mean arterial pressure,serum fasting blood glucose,lipid profile,glycosylated hemoglobin and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP).ResultsbaPWV in the four groups were ( 1667.2 ± 279.3 )cm/s,(2158.6 ±386.9)cm/s,(1881.2±383.8) cm/s and (2165.9± 479.9)cm/s,respectively.The baPWV value was higher in groups of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,and the coexisting diseases than in controls (F=8.473,P＜0.05).Diabctic patients had a higher baPWV levels than those without diabetes.There was no difference in baPWV levels between diabetic patients with or without hypertension.Pulse pressure and hsCRP were higher in coexisting diseases group than in control group (P＜0.05).Stepwise backward regression analysis showed that fasting blood glucose,pulse pressure,mean blood pressure,hsCRP and low density lipoprotein cholesterin (LDL-C) were positively related to baPWV P ＜0.05). ConclusionsHypertension and (or) type 2 diabetes mellitus are important influencing factors for higher arterial stiffness. Hyperglycemia might play more important role in the elderly arterial stiffness.Serum fasting blood glucose,pulse pressure,mean blood pressure,hsCRP,LDL-C may be the independent risk factors of arterial stiffness.