Objective To investigate the optimal initial timing of Qingyi Decoction and clyster with rhubarb in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Patients with SAP were randomly divided into 2 groups. The group A (n = 34) received clyster with rhubarb and Qingyi Decoction after 12 h of SAP onset and the group B (n = 27) received samel therapy after 72 h of onset of SAP. The serum levels of TNF-α, CRP and APACHE Ⅱ scores, time to abdominal pain cessation, length of hospital stay and medical costs were compared. Results The serum levels of TNF-α and CRP of patients in group A were (265±66)U/ml, (32.1 ±7.1) mg/L, and the score of APACHEⅡ were 6. 3±2.0, time to abdominal pain cessation was (4±2) d, length of hospital stay was (18±5)d, medical costs was (42 000±18 000) yuan; while the corresponding values in the group B were (491±81)U/ml, (43.5±11.0) mg/L, 9.1±1.8, (8±3)d, (34±8)d, (71 000±26 000)yuan, and the difference was statistically significantly (P<0.05). Conclusions Qingyi Decoction and clyster with rhubarb should be given in the early phase of SAP in order to achieve better outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of somatostatin(SST)on expression of NO,TNF? and 5-lipoxygenase(5-LO)in primary cultured rat Kupffer cells induced by LPS.METHODS Kupffer cells isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in the presence of LPS added alone or with SST for 12,24 and 48 h,and the production of TNF? was assessed in culture supernatants by ELISA and that of nitric oxide(NO)by nitrate reductase method.5-LO mRNA expression was assessed by semiquantitative RT-PCR.RESULTS Vehicle-stimulated Kupffer cells produced a basal amount of NO,TNF? and expressed 5-LO mRNA.Kupffer cells stimulated by LPS secreted significantly increased amounts of NO and TNF?(P0.05).CONCLUSIONS SST modulates NO,TNF? production and 5-LO mRNA expression by LPS-stlimulated Kupffer cells.

The arterial supply of the human scaphoid was studied in 166 specimens ofhands from fresh cadavers of different ages ranging from 6(1/2)months of gestationto 89 years old by injection and clearing techniques.The scaphoid receives its bloodsupply mainly from the radial artery and its superficial palmar branch.There aretwo groups of nutrient arteries,the dorsal and the volar nutrient arteries,enteringthe scaphoid.The dorsal group of arteries which supplies the proximal 70% to 80%of the scaphoid is the main contributor to the intraosseous blood supply.The volargroup of arteries only supplies the distal 20% to 30% of the bone.An explanationfor the cause of scaphoid necrosis following fracture on the basis of the vascularitywas proposed.

Objective To investigate epidemiological and clinical features of human ehrlichiosis.Methods The epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic and prognostic data of 21 clinically diagnosed cases of human ehrlichiosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results The epidemic regions where the ticks' activity was high located at the boundary between Hubei and Henan Provinces. All cases were farmers. The median age was 50 years ranged from 19 to 69 years. The male female ratio evident history of tick bite 1 week before the onset. The common symptoms included fever, diarrhea,cough, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and expectoration. The complications included hemorrhage, toxic encephalopathy, acute renal insufficiency, secondary infection and respiratory failure. The common abnormalities of routine lab data were thrombocytopenia, hypoeosinophilia,elevated lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and aminotransferases, leucopenia and proteinuria.Nine cases were tested with peripheral blood smear and intracytoplasmic inclusions in neutrophils were found in one case. Seventeen cases were tested with serological assay and antibodies against Ehrlichia were positive in five cases. After doxycycline, symptomatic and supportive treatments, 14 cases were recovered and seven died. The average age of the deaths was 56 years. Conclusions Human ehrlichiosis is an acute tick-borne zoonosis and multiorgan could be involved. The older cases prone to develop complications and the prognosis is poor.

This study was aimed to discuss the connotation of congenital constitution in medical books before Qing dynasty. By searching the character Bing as a keyword in the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 6 480 articles were retrieved. Through reading each of the articles, 9 congenital constitution terms were con-cluded. A total of 1 041 valid entries involved in 165 medical books were retrieved. The results showed that congen-ital constitution was affected by parent heredity and region factors. Parent heredity factor includes the influence of both parents and the influence of mother during pregnancy where the influence of both parents includes both parents' habits and conditions when having sex; the influence from the mother includes habits and medication during her pregnancy. Congenital constitution embodiment includes the body's growth and development, body structure and vis-cera, qi and blood, pulse and forefinger blood vessels (of young children), mental state and life span. In three other factors of congenital constitution (i.e. qi and blood, body structure and life span), both body structure and life span depend on the endowment of qi and blood. It was concluded that TCM practitioners before Qing dynasty judged one's congenital constitution through observing the speed of its growth and development, appearance, mental state, strength of visceral functions, condition of its mind, forefinger blood vessels, pulse, susceptible to types of disease and etc. Therefore, body structure is an important factor of congenital constitution judgment. TCM practitioners before Qing dynasty paid attention to the effect on mother to her offspring's health.

This study was aimed to investigate the congenital constitution terms consist of Bing and connotation in medical books before Qing dynasty. By searching the character Bing as a keyword in the Encyclopedia of Tradi-tional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 6480 articles were retrieved. Through reading each of the articles, 9 congenital con-stitution terms were concluded. The results showed that Sui dynasty recorded the earliest congenital constitution term. And till the end of Ming dynasty, altogether 9 terms, which were Bing Qi, Bing Zhi, Bing Shou, Bing Fu, Suo Bing, Fu Bing, Qi Bing, Bing Ti and Su Bing, appeared in sequence. The terms appeared with high frequency were Bing Shou ( 33 . 27%) and Bing Fu ( 32 . 99%) . There were 5 congenital constitution relat-ed factors altogether , which were physique , parental heredity , life span , qi and blood as well as region , ap-peared in sequence . And the term appeared with high frequency was physique ( 32.11%) . It was concluded that before Qing dynasty, all congenital constitution terms occurred with the character of Bing (endowment). The usage of different terms to state congenital constitution was intended to describe different associated factors . It reflected the understanding of congenital constitution process. The first known congenital constitution factor was not parental heredity but physique . Qi and blood was the second most appeared factor . This indicated that con-genital constitution does not only involve the structure of the body ( physique ) , but also the function of the body (qi and blood). The investigation about congenital constitution of ancient TCM brings a positive practical signifi-cance for the modern health cognition and health maintenance .

This study was aimed to discuss the diagnosis significance of the diseased tongue demonstration in Shanghuo (heatiness) people. Based on 303Shanghuo cases, the relevance of diseased tongue demonstration and inquiry data were analyzed. The results showed that 53.14%Shanghuo cases had at least more than 2Shanghuo inducing causes. The most common inducing cause combinations were pathogenic factors neither endogenous nor exogenous (unbalanced diet, overworked) and internal factors (over stressed, emotional). When there were several Shanghuo causes occurred at the same time, the probability of appearing diseased tongue demonstration increased significantly. There were 29.95%Shanghuo cases occurredShanghuo experience frequently. And in these cases, the probability of appearing diseased tongue demonstration increased significantly. It was concluded that when Shanghuo people had diseased tongue demonstration appeared, it was not merely just“is going to get ill”, but was already suffering from heat syndrome. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physical examination, to effectively differentiate“is going to get ill” and“being ill” was initially important. And the diseased tongue demonstration was a crucial diagnostic basis.

Objective To measure the chromatic differences of the tongue tip and tongue side and provide quantitative evidence for tongue color diagnosis. Methods Totally 683 healthy people were recruited, and their tongue photos were taken. Then ICC specific documents were used for the correction of all tongue photos, and chromatic values (L*, a*, b*, C*and h°) of tongue tip and tongue side were obtained for further statistical analysis. CIEDE2000 was used for calculating the color differences. Results The average color difference of tongue tip and tongue side in normal pink tongue was 5.4. When pink tongue has abnormal red tongue tip, the average color difference of tongue tip and tongue side was 10.85. Compared with normal tongue tip, the average color difference of tongue tip and tongue side in abnormal color tongue with abnormal red tongue tip increased from 5.4-7.0 to 11.23. Conclusion Red tongue tip is a sensitive sign indicating abnormal heat in the body. Tongue tip quantitative diagnosis is valuable in the determination of heat sign in TCM preventive treatment of disease, and reveal the diagnosis meaning and scientific connotation of red tongue tip.

Objective To study the metabolic parameters in health checkup people with dark red tongue and light red tongue,with different coating nature,coating color or liguliform,to understand the relationship between dark red tongue and human metabolic state.Methods Clinical data of 2 891 individuals who underwent health checkup in our center between Dec.2013 and Aug.2014 were collected,including body mass index,blood pressure,blood glucose,lipid and uric acid.Tongue diagnosis was made by Chinese Medicine practitioners.Results The dark red tongue was more common in males,it was found in 61.58％ males and 38.42％ females in the dark red tongue group.The average level including body mass index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,blood glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood uric acid in dark red tongue group were higher than those in light red tongue group (P＜0.01).When the dark red tongue had yellow fur-like or thick and greasy coat,the average level of body mass index,blood glucose,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood uric acid were higher than those of the normal dark red tongue group,the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower than that of the normal dark red tongue group.Conclusions Dark red tongue has homogeneous relations with abnormal metabolic parameters,it may be the external expression of metabolic abnormalities;tongue is the external macro manifestation of human body health state.

The plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy),vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured in a total of 101 patients with herpes zoster (observation group) before treatment and 100 healthy controls (control group).And the plasma level of Hcy was also measured in observation group after treatment.There was a significant increase of Hcy level in observation group versus control group (P ＜0.01).And the levels of VitB12 and folic acid did not fluctuate (P ＞ 0.05).The occurrence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia and the level of Hcy differed in age group,onset site and pain severity (P ＜ 0.05).No significant differences existed between gender or onset site (P ＞ 0.05).The level of Hcy significantly decreased after treatment versus before treatment (P ＜0.01).Plasma Hcy significantly increased in patients with herpes zoster.And it was correlated with age,lesion extent and pain severity.However,there was no correlation with gender,onset site or levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid.