Objective To detect the presence of the apoptotic sensory neurons in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) following non-freezing cold injury of the sciatic nerve.Methods Thirty three male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (7 d group, 14 d group, 21 d group; n=11 each).The sciatic nerves were cooled to 4 ℃ for 2 hours and the control side underwent sham operation.The pathological examination was performed on L4-6 DRGs at 7, 14, and 21 d post operation.The apoptotic sensory neurons of L4-6 DRGs were detected using FCM (Annexin /PI) and TUNEL staining.Results The apoptotic sensory neurons of L4-6 DRGs were revealed after non-freezing cold injury of the rat sciatic nerve.FCM (Annexin /PI) and TUNEL quantitative analysis indicated that the apoptotic neurons significantly increased in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) at 7 d, 14 d, and 21 d post operation following non-freezing cold injury of the sciatic nerve.TUNEL qualitative analysis further confirmed pathological characters of neuron apoptosis in L4-6 DRGs.The apoptotic neurons began to increase from 7~(th) day, reached peak at 14~(th) day, and then decreased slightly at 21 d following operation.Conclusions Non-freezing cold injury on sciatic nerves can cause the sensory neurons apoptosis of L4-6 DRGs.

Objective To investigate the morphological changes in the sciatic nerve and the dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) and also gene expression in DRGs after non-freezing cold injury, and to explore the molecular mechanism of peripheral nerve cold injury and regeneration. Methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats were used. The sciatic nerve on one side was cooled to 4℃ for 2 h, and the sciatic nerve on the opposite side was exposed, but without cooling. Sciatic nerves and L4, L5 and L6 DRGs from both sides were harvested at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd week after cooling. Any pathological changes were observed using light and electron microscopy. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to investigate the DRG neurons' gene expression. The array result was verified with RT-PCR for eight genes. Results Large fiber degeneration was obvious by the 7th day after cooling. Myelinated fiber regeneration had begun by the 14th day, so this time was chosen to explore the neurons' gene expression. Ninety-six genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were up-regulated greater than 2 fold. Their proteins' functions were classified as adaptive response to external stimulus, apoptosis regulation, cell adhesion, immune and inflammation response,nerve regeneration, pain associated molecules, microtubule cytoskeleton, ion-channels, neurotransmitters and receptors, and neuropeptides. Conclusions A complex molecular mechanism is involved in cold injury and regeneration of the sciatic nerve, and many genes are involved. Large scale microarray analysis is a potent means to screen out related genes, thus suggesting future repair strategies.

Objective To investigate the pathological features of sural nerve biopsy in patients with motor neuron disease （MND）. Methods 22 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) underwent sural nerve biopsy and routine electrophysiological examination. The transected images were captured and morphometrically analyzed.Results The myelinated fiber density decreased in ALS patients' sural nerves, and larger fibers were involved mostly. The thinly myelinated fibers increased. Conclusion The sural nerves of ALS patients shows mild but definite pathological changes.

Presently the four high characteristics and rejuvenation trends of cerebrovascular diseases are still the main problems that endanger the health of our people. Accordingly, Professor Gao Li has been committed to the discussion of risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases and the practice of using integration of traditional Chinese and western medicine for diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. In order to enable the majority of western medicine doctors to understand and accept his idea, Professor Gao Li combines traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes with modern etiology and pathology, classification of stages and types of cerebral infarction by Chinese and western medicine, the acute cerebral infarction patients are simplified innovatively into four TCM syndromes and appropriate treatments are given to them, so that the majority of traditional Chinese and western medicine doctors can comprehensively recognize the condition of this disease from macroscopic to microscopic points of view. By his above combination of traditional Chinese and western medicine reasoning, the patients obtained better curative effect. After multiple years of summary and accumulation of his experiences, Professor Gao Li has developed the distinct clinical and academic characteristics for the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral infarction.

Cerebral hemorrhage has been regarded as a complex and refractory disease in neuroscience due to its diversification of etiology and complexity of pathophysiology. At present, the conservative treatment of Western medicine is only symptomatic treatment. There is no specific treatment for hematoma and local circulation disorders after cerebral hemorrhage. Surgical treatment, the effect has not been significantly improved. Cerebral hemorrhage belongs to the category of apoplexy in traditional Chinese medicine, which is also called hemorrhagic apoplexy in modern Chinese medicine. Although modern Chinese medicine treatment is based on differentiation of symptoms and signs, it has no obvious advantage over western medicine treatment. After years of clinical exploration and practice, Professor Gao Li has achieved good clinical efficacy in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral hemorrhage with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, showing a good prospect of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment.

It is the current confusion encountered by integrated Chinese and Western medicine that how to find the breakthrough direction of integrating Chinese and Western medicine， from crossover to integration to innovation， and open up a new horizon of integrated Chinese and Western medicine. The progress of Chinese medicine lay in expanding the scope of diagnosis and treatment with the help of modern diagnostic and therapeutic equipments and developing “micro” identification， while the progress of Western medicine lay in looking at “macro” and developing systemic medicine and integrated medicine， both of which are in the direction of each other. The “state-target identification and treatment” may become an important way to build a modern diagnosis and treatment system of integrated Chinese and Western medicine， and the thinking mode of “from target to state” is a further refinement and development on the basis of the theoretical system of “state-target identification and treatment”， which provided a clearer solution for the current stage of the integrated Chinese and Western medicine model， and pointed out the important development direction for the future integrated Chinese and Western medicine. From the perspective of strategic level and diagnosis and treatment practice， it integrated the “target-state” thinking mode into the modern diagnosis and treatment model of the integrated Chinese and Western medicine， i.e.， “Western medicine as the basis and treating with Chinese medicine； Chinese medicine as the basis and treating with Western medicine”. On the one hand， Western medicine should strengthen the reference to the traditional theories and holism of Chinese medicine， and advocate a higher level of education on the integrated Chinese and Western medicine under the guidance of the traditional theories of Chinese medicine. On the other hand， the “from target to state” mode of thinking should be applied to guide the establishment of diagnostic and treatment strategies and clinical selection of medicines in clinical practice， so as to locate the target and adjust the body state in a gradual and orderly manner， and to provide practical methods for the modern clinical work of the integrated Chinese and Western medicines. Chinese and Western medicine systems can learn from each other， combine organically， give full play to their respective strengths， and form an internal law， so as to make breakthroughs and innovations in the integrated Chinese and Western medicine model.