After analyzing current different understandings on the theory of spleen taking charge of energy of long summer, the author put forward the essential connotation that the spleen is a self-balanced regulation system based on time, and the spleen mainly regulates the body in long summer. The spleen is exteriorly-interiorly related to the stomach. The spleen governs ascending and the stomach governs descending, which actually summarizes the function of the whole digestive system. The spleen and stomach co-keep the self-balanced condition for the body, through the coordination of receiving and transportation, ascending and descending, dryness and dampness. The spleen is respon-sible for transportation and transformation, ascending of the clear, with a preference for dryness and aversion to dampness, which is regarded as Taiyin wet earth, corresponding with dampness in the long summer. The stomach governs receiving and descending, with a preference for moistness and aversion to dryness, which is considered to be the Y angming dry earth. In the long summer, spleen deficiency due to dampness retention may lead to hypo-func-tions of transporting and transforming, ascending of the clear; stomach excess thanks to the help of moistness and heat may lead to relative hyper-functions of receiving and decomposing food, as well as descending. The functional condition of spleen deficiency and stomach excess duo to abundant dampness in the long summer plays a dominant role in regulation on their own system and other four zang-organs; in other seasons, the functions of spleen and stomach are in a subordinate state assisting or inhibiting other four zang-organs, in pace with time, to keep balanced condition for the body, through their characteristics of nourishing and transforming. Due to spleen deficiency and stomach excess in the long summer, manifestations of the body are hyper-function of digestion and hypo-function of absorption, and may easily lead to problems in the digestive system, such as abdominal distension and loose stool. Correct understanding on the essential connotation of spleen taking charge of energy of long summer has an impor-tant significance on the pathology, diagnosis, prevention, healthcare and treatment of seasonal attacks in the digestive system.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Qingxin Yangshen Chinese herbs on ?-adrenoceptor in cardiocytes of stress rats.Methods:Adopting the method of radoligand binding,the affinity of ?-adrenoceptor of experimental myocardium cells and density were analyzed.Meanwhile,RT-PCR was used to test mRNA of ?-adrenoceptor of myocardium cells.To observe the effect of Qingxin Yangshen Fang on ?-adrenoceptor of myocardium cells of stress rats,and the Zhusha Anshen Pills and Propranololas the control groups.Results:All the three groups above can increase the affinity of ?-adrenoceptor of experimental myocardium cells,promote its sensitivity and notably inhibit the decrease of density of receptors and control down-regulation of expression of ?1-ARmRNA induced by stress,and regulate up the expression of ?2-ARmRNA.Conclusion:The Chinese herbs of Qingxin Yangshen had the effect of acceptor inhibiting and can regulate the changes of ?-adrenoceptor of myocardium cells induced by stress.

Objective Through testing the immune functions of SD rats in spring and autumn, the internal mechanisms that lung corresponding with the autumn of TCM were explored, in order to provide the experimental evidence for the pathological and physiological mechanisms of respiratory system seasonal diseases. Method The pineal extirpating rat model was employed, and the indexes of spleen and thymus gland and the phagocytosis function of alveolar macrophage were observed at vernal equinox and autumnal equinox respectively. Result The indexes of spleen and thymus in the normal group and the false operation group at autumnal equinox were significantly lower than those at vernal equinox (P

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of seasonal variation on neurotransmitter release in the hippocampus of normal rats and rats with pineal excision. Methods: Two time points, the summer and winter solstice, which are the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively, were selected. Male Sprague-Dawley rats that underwent a sham operation without pineal excision were included as a control group. The concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were determined by radioimmunoassays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Results: In the winter, the 5-HT and GABA levels in normal rats exhibited a significant difference compared with those in the operation group (P < .01). A difference was also noted in GABA levels be-tween the normal group and the sham operation group (P<.05). The concentrations of 5-HT and GABA in the hippocampal tissues of the normal group exhibited a seasonal rhythm consisting of elevation during the summer and reduction during the winter (P < .01), while the GABA levels in the sham operation group exhibited a significant difference, with elevation during the summer and reduction during the winter (P<.01). In the operation group, GABA showed the same trend (P<.01). Conclusion: The seasonal rhythm of neurotransmitter secretion by the hippocampus (5-HT and GABA) consisted of elevation during the summer and reduction during the winter. During the winter, the pineal gland exhibited a reverse regulatory effect on the secretion of 5-HT and GABA in the hippocampus, and it exhibited seasonal selectivity with regard to the regulation of 5-HT.

Objective: In this study,we examined the effects of Shizhenqing granule(SZQG)on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis and serum inflammatory factors in a rat model of chronic eczema,in or-der to explore the mechanism of action of SZQG in treatment of this disease.Methods: Sixty Sprague—Dawley male rats were randomly divided into six groups(with 10 rats per group): blank group; model group; positive control group(prednisone); and the low-,medium-,and high-dose SZQG groups.Except for the blank group,rats in all other groups were treated with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene to induce chronic eczema.These rats were administered prednisone or SZQG for 7 consecutive days after successful establishment of the chronic eczema model,and samples were collected 12 h after the last administration.The degree of skin lesions and the changes in serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),cortisol(CORT),inter-leukin(IL)-4,interferon(IFN)-γ,IL-25,and IL-31 among the groups were compared.Results: SZQG effectively increased the levels of CRH,ACTH,and CORT,which decreased in the serum of rats with chronic eczema,stimulated the function of the HPA axis,and promoted the expression of glucocorticoids.SZQG reduced the serum levels of inflammatory factors including IL-4,IL-25 and IL-31,which were overexpressed in rats with chronic eczema,and increased those of anti-inflammatory factor IFN-γ,thereby alleviating the inflammatory symptoms and itching,and ameliorating the clinical symptoms of chronic eczema.Conclusion: SZQG effectively alleviates skin lesions in the chronic eczema rat model by stimulating the function of the HPA axis.

Background:Based on the effect of seasonal changes on human visceral function,this study investigated the impact of seasonal photoperiod of the pineal body on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-hippo-campal-receptor in rats,aiming to reveal the mechanism by which pineal gland melatonin regulates the seasonal secretion of hippocampal neurotransmitters.Methods:Vernal equinox,summer solstice,autumn equinox,and winter solstice were selected as four experimental time points,and rats were randomly divided into normal control group,sham operation group,and pinealectomized group.The seasonal changes in corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),corticosterone,hypothalamic melatonin receptor(MTR),and hippocampal corticosterone receptor(CORTR)were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Comparing the same group between different seasons,we showed that in the normal control group,CRH,ACTH,corticosterone,and MTR were higher,while CORTR was lower in autumn and winter than in spring(all P＜.05).Compared with the normal control group,the pinealectomized group showed higher levels of corticosterone(P=.01),MTR(P=.01),and CORTR(P=.03)during spring;reduced levels of MTR and CORTR(both P＜.001)during summer;higher levels of ACTH(P=.001)and MTR(P＜.001),and lower levels of CRH(P=.001),corticosterone(P＜.001),and CORTR(P=.003)during autumn;and lower levels of CRH(P＜.001)and MTR(P=.004),and higher level of ACTH(P＜.001)in winter.Conclusions:Seasonal photoperiod acts on the pineal gland to secrete different levels of melatonin,resulting in seasonal changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-hippocampal-receptor,which may be the pathophysiological basis for the onset of seasonal affective disorder.

Objective To explore how leptin affects RA,especially those with joint erosion.Methods The study recruited 48 consecutive patients with RA (14 patients with knee joint effusion) and 23 age and sex matched healthy people.RA patients were grouped into low and moderate activity group [2.6＜28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) ≤5.1,n =5] and high activity group (DAS28 ＞5.1,n =43) according DAS28-ESR;Meanwhile,they were grouped into bone erosive group (n=20) and non-erosive group (n=28) according to X-ray of both hands.Demographic data of RA patients were recorded.ELISA was applied to assess leptin and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin-like motifs (ADAMTS4) in serum and synovial fluid of RA group.Sharp/van der Heijde scores were used to assess bone erosion and joint space narrowing.Leptin and ADAMTS4 from serum and synovial fluid were compared between different groups using t test,Rank sum test,Chi-square test and Analysis of Variance,and we did Pearson and Spearman's Corre-lation analyses between these values and clinical features,lab indicators and radiological scores.Moreover,we did single factor and logistic regression analyses,which facilitated screening risk factors of joint destruction.Results Serum leptin in RA group was significantly higher than that of the control group [8.06(6.24) ng/ml vs 4.62(7.13),Z=-2.113,P=0.035],and leptin was positively correlated with Shar/van der Heijde score (r=0.347,P=0.016).Serum leptin in erosive RA patients was higher than that of the non-erosive patients (Z=-2.070,P=0.038),and there was a positive correlation between leptin and ADAMTS4 only in synovial fluid of RA patients with erosion (r=0.900,P=0.037).It was found in logistic regression results that RA patients with more tender joint counts and elevated leptin were more likely to develop bone erosion [OR=1.229,95％CI (1.007,1.500),P=0.043;OR=1.159,95％CI (1.015,1.324),P=0.030].Conclusion Leptin participates RA joint destruction probably by modulating expression of ADAMTS4.Leptin and tender joint count are independent risk factors for RA with joint destruction.

Background: Based on the theory of"five Zang-organs corresponding to the seasons"in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), physiological functions including emotions vary with the seasons. We aimed to investigate the seasonal photoperiod effects of melatonin (MT) released from the pineal gland on the MT receptor (MTR)-Gs/Gi-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway in the hippocampus.Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: control, operation (surgery with pineal gland removal), and pseudo-operation groups (same surgery as operation group but without removing pineal gland), and fed at specific time across the four seasons. The levels of MTR, adenylate cyclase (AC), cAMP, PKA, and CREB in the hippocampus were analyzed using ELISA. The concentrations of Gs and Gi were analyzed using Western blot. The expression of CREB mRNA was detected by PCR. Results: For intragroup comparisons, compared with spring, the levels of Gs/Gi in the control group were higher in summer, autumn, and winter (P=.009 in summer;P<.001 in autumn and winter);the levels of MTR, cAMP, PKA, and CREB in the control group were significantly higher in autumn and winter than in spring (all P<.001). The levels of MTR, cAMP, PKA, and CREB in each season were significantly lower in the operation group than in the control group (all P < .05). Significant differences were noted in Gs/Gi levels between the operation group and control group in spring, autumn, and winter (all P<.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that MTR-Gs/Gi-cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway is involved in the seasonal photoperiod effects of the pineal gland on the hippocampus and may underpin seasonal changes in emotions. It can support the prevention and treatment of the seasonal onset of mental dis-orders, and enrich the theory of"five Zang-organs corresponding to the seasons".

This paper systematically analyzed the understanding of qi from the perspectives of matter， energy， information and relationship reality， introduced the original holistic principle of systematic traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， and considered the latest research results of qi （three-layer material theory）， trying to optimize the structure framework of the qi theoretical system and exhibit the occurrence and development rules of original qi. It emphasizes the hierarchical order of qi transformation following the original holistic principle， and takes this to guide the clinical understanding of “qi diseases”， helping doctors grasp the basic pathogenesis of the disease， that is abnormal qi movement， and helping them establish the awareness of providing systematic TCM treatment to patients by taking qi regulation as the key. At the same time， it discusses people within the structure of time and space， and points out that the treatment of diseases must comply with the principle of “the harmony of heaven， earth， and human beings”.

The seventy-two grid palm technique is an important theoretical source of traditional Chinese medicine hand diagnosis. Starting from the ecological medical model， we analyse the seventy-two grid palm technique， and believe that its diagnosis of human body integrates biological， ecological， psychological， social and other factors， and each factor is based on physiological and pathological theories， and its external social interpretation of the nature of the human body is inseparable from health state. It is proposed that the seventy-two grid palm technique should be integrated with the ecological and natural viewpoints based on the biomedical models or bio-psycho-social medical models， and the research should be conducted from the perspective of the ecological medical model， in order to promote the development of hand diagnosis.