OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Guizhi plus Gegen Decoction (GGD) on ultrastructural changes of intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells.

METHODSRats' intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells were isolated and cultured using adherence wall screening method. After annulus fibrosus cells were intervened by GGD, the microstructure and ultrastructural features of untreated annulus fibrosus cells and annulus fibrosus cells treated by GGD containing serum at different concentrations were observed under optical microscope and electron microscope.

RESULTSUnder optical microscope, most annulus fibrosus cells showed irregular polygons and few in star shape with rich superficial ecphyma. The nuclei were oval, large and complete. Under electron microscope, most cells in the blank group were oval after intervened by GGD containing serum at different concentrations. The nucleus was large, deviated, and irregular, the heterochromatin scattered diffusely, partial mitochondria vacuolized, and rough endoplasmic reticulum dilated. In the low dose GGD group, increased mitochondria and condensed density could be seen. The rough endoplasmic reticulum were expanded, lipid drops or glycogen could be occasionally seen. In the middle dose GGD group, increased endoplasmic reticulum expansion and condensed density could be seen. More medium density protein sediment could be seen. Increased mitochondria with condensed density could be seen, showing irregular cystic form with various sizes nucleus. In the high dose GGD group, increased rough endoplasmic reticulum with obvious expansion could be seen. More high density protein sediment could be seen. The nuclei were deviated. More mitochondria could be seen with secretory granules in them.

CONCLUSIONSAfter intervened by GGD containing serum at different concentrations, the ultrastructure of annulus fibrosus cells were manifested as follows: (1) The endoplasmic reticulum increased more in the middle and high dose GGD groups than in the blank group and the low dose GGD group. Greater density protein sediment occurred, especially in the high dose GGD group. (2) GGD played an important role in preventing ultrastructural changes induced by the degeneration of annulus fibrosus cells.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Serum

OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanical virtual reality when acupuncture on Jianliao (TE 14) so as to get perform perceptual knowledge of acupuncture for beginners through studying 3D reconstruction of surrounding tissues of this acupoint.

METHODSRelated tissues were segmented and reconstructed by establishing mathematics model based on the operational platform of VOXEL-MAN (vision reappearance); and mechanical model was constructed and fused with related data of virtual human (touch reappearance); data communication between the force feedback apparatus and the operational platform of virtual human were set up by interchanging vision reappearance module and touch reappearance module.

RESULTSIn Linux system, the operator could experience the mechanical changes while needle-tip passing various tissues of Jianliao (TE 14) as well as lifting and thrusting evenly in needling process through the force feedback apparatus.

CONCLUSIONBased on the platform of VOXEL-MAN, the sensation of needling at jianliao (TE 14) could be reappeared idealy by strength feedback instrument, so that the beginners could imitate, learn and practice the virtual acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Therapy, Computer-Assisted ; User-Computer Interface

OBJECTIVETo observe the anatomic structure of Huantiao (GB 30) visually, to imitate the inserting process of the needle to explore the safty of needle insertion and improve the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in clinic.

METHODSCombined with anatomic structure of acupoint, muscles and other tissues related with Huantiao (GB 30) were interactively segmented in VOXEL-MAN with the computer graphics technology. Nerves and blood vessels were reconstructed by establishing mathematic model, and the needle-inserting animation of Huantiso (GB 30) was obtained by running script file.

RESULTSThe three-dimensional (3-D) visualization of Huantiao (GB 30) on needle-inserting animation was accomplished, the spatial location and expression of Huantiao (GB 30) in the digitized virtual human body were observed, the virtual inserting process was imitated realistically, and the 3-D animation of needle insertion at Huantiao (GB 30) was created.

CONCLUSIONBuilding mathematic model is favorable for expressing the anatomic structure of Huantiao (GB 30) in 3-D space, imitating the process of needle insertion realistically and observing the spatial structure of the point and the around tissues, which can provide a solid foundation for the safety of needle insertion of acupoints and improve therapeutic effect of acupuncture in clinic.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Computer Graphics ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional

OBJECTIVETo study on visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body.

METHODSTube model-building method and computer technique were used, and data came from Voxel-Man dummy human body development platform.

RESULTSThe visual effect of re-building Meridian is very good and it can display the different layers of anatomic structures on the Meridian lines.

CONCLUSIONThe visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body is preliminary realized, which provides data carriers for establishing the platform of Meridian study.

Human Body ; Humans ; Meridians

OBJECTIVEThe expanded programme on immunization (EPI) is an important part of the social commonwealth projects providing health care service by the government, which benefits communities. Government has the responsibility for EPI's financing which should be covered by the national budget. It is essential that the cost of EPI service be scientifically estimated to provide propriety information for policy makers.

METHODSThis study, using the cost accounting theory of health economics, to calculate EPI service cost at different levels. 3 provinces, 3 prefectures, 9 counties, 18 towns and 12 villages were selected from three provinces Guizhou, Heilongjiang and Zhejiang from the western, central and eastern regions of the country.

RESULTSThe average costs for one EPI-targeted child in Guizhou, Heilongjiang and Zhejiang, were 15.68 Yuan, 29.00 Yuan and 31.09 Yuan, and the costs for one dose were 10.99 Yuan, 18.64 Yuan and 16.51 Yuan, respectively. The costs for complete immunization program for one child were 131.88 Yuan, 242.32 Yuan and 280.67 Yuan, respectively. The main factors affecting the cost would include the average personnel cost (salary and benefit cost) by different economic levels of areas, the number of EPI items developed, and the number of total doses for one child.

CONCLUSION(1) Obvious differences were found between different areas. (2) The proportion of the cost was not reasonably set because of the shortage of input. (3) Guideline for different areas to compensate the working item cost according to the number of the items should be formulated.

China ; epidemiology ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Health Expenditures ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; economics ; organization & administration ; Population Surveillance ; methods ; Program Evaluation ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Vaccination ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo discuss the problem difficult to be presented for nerves and blood vessels in the 3D reconstruction of acupoints through studying 3D reconstruction of Jianliao (TE 14).

METHODSMuscles and other tissues were segmented by applying cointeractive segmentation method based on chromatic characteristic space; the nerve and blood vessels can be reconstructed by establishing mathematics model, and the needle-inserting animation of Jianliao (TE 14) could be obtained by running script file.

RESULTSDuring the course of 3D needle-inserting animation of Jianliao (TE 14), the spatial location between all kinds of tissues including the nerve and blood vessels and the needle body could be systematically observed.

CONCLUSIONThe difficulty of presenting the nerve and blood vessels in the study on 3D reconstruction of acupoints can be resolved by establishing mathematics model. The generation of 3D animation for acupoints with the nerve and blood vessels is benefit to acupuncture teaching and study on the essence of acupoints and channels.

Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Muscles ; anatomy & histology ; Nervous System ; anatomy & histology

By comparing and analyzing the similarity among the international scalp acupuncture, JIAO's scalp acupuncture and ZHU's scalp acupuncture, it is believed that the international scalp acupuncture is a combination of traditional acupuncture and other scalp acupuncture on the basis of channel theory of TCM, and this combination is worthy of discussion. However JIAO's scalp acupuncture lacks scientific evidence. So, the international scalp acupuncture following most contents of JIAO's scalp acupuncture is worthy of discussion.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Scalp ; anatomy & histology

Since the beginning of the new century, the artificial cultivation of Dendrobium officinale has made a breakthrough progress. This paper systematically expounds key technologies, main features and cautions of the cultivation modes e.g. bionic-facility cultivation, the original ecological cultivation, and potting cultivation for D. officinale, which can provide useful information for the development and improvement of D. officinale industry.
Animals ; Biomimetics ; Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Pest Control ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the early use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhu-EPO) on neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.

METHODSForty-four preterm infants (30 males and 14 females) were randomly divided into two groups: Rhu-EPO treatment and untreated control (n=22 each). From postnatal day 7, the Rhu-EPO treatment group received intravenous rhu-EPO (250 IU/kg3 times weekly) for 4 weeks. A Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) was performed at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age. A Gesell Development Schedule was used to evaluate neurological development 6 and 12 months after birth.

RESULTSThe NBNA score in the rhu-EPO treatment group (36.20+/-0.75) was significantly higher than that in the control group (34.40+/-1.05) at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age (P<0.05). The developmental quotient of fine motor in the rhu-EPO treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group 6 months after birth (P<0.05). By 12 months after birth, the developmental quotient of gross motor, fine motor and language in the rhu-EPO treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEarly use of Rhu-EPO can promote neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.

Anemia ; prevention & control ; Brain ; drug effects ; physiology ; Child Development ; drug effects ; Erythropoietin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Behavior ; drug effects ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; prevention & control ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins

Objective To analyze the imaging and pathological characteristics, as well as treatment strategies of intracranial hemangioblastomas (HBs),and explore the advancement of diagnosis,etiopathogenisis and treatment of HBs. Methods Thirty-five patients with intracranial HBs,admitted to our hospital and performed tumor resection from January 2005 to January 2010,were chosen in our study; all patients were divided into type of big cystic HBs with a small mural nodule (n=19),type of small cystic HBs with a big nodule (n=9) and type of solid HBs (n=7) by imaging features.The clinical manifestations,imaging findings and surgical methods were retrospectively analyzed; the expressions of NSE and CD34 in these tumor samples were detected by HE staining and immunohistochemical staining.Results All patients were treated by surgery; total resection was achieved in 34 and subtotal resection in 1; no death occurred after the surgery.Twenty-eight patients were followed up for 3 months to 3 years after discharge; recurrence appeared in 1 patient with big cystic HBs with a small mural nodule and Gamma knife treatment was performed.No significant difference was observed in the numbers ofCD34+cells between each 2 types of patients (P＞0.05).The numbers of NSE positive cells between each 2 types were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusion There were no specific clinical manifestations of HBs.Diagnosis was mainly according to imaging features.Treatment of HBs with total resection is just the first selection and the key to reduce palindromia; the formation of HBs cysts is closely related to tumor stromal cells.