The academic thoughts of Lingnan acupuncture and moxibustion have been an essential part of Lingnan medicine. By exploration and arrangement of Lingnan medicine and books, journals and literatures regarding acupuncture and moxibustion, the ancient and modern acupuncturists and their academic contributions in Lingnan area were reviewed. As a result, the number of Lingnan acupuncturists and their works was low before Qing Dynasty, while from the Republic of China era to People's Republic of China, a considerable amount of acupuncturists emerged with quite a lot of works. By exploration and arrangement of Lingnan acupuncturists and their works and academic opinion, the acupuncture-moxibustion school characterized by Lingnan could be formed and developed.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; manpower ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history ; Physicians ; history

[Objective] To investigate the effects of the bioactive constituents of green tea polyphenols epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) function of HepG2 cells.[Methods] The optimal concentration and cell proliferation of HepG2 cells were determined by CCK8 assay,and Western blotting was used to determine LDLR and PCSK9 protein levels,respectively,and LDL uptake in HepG2 cells was detected by fluorescence microscope.[Results] EGCG elevated LDLR protein expression,reduced PCSK9 protein expression and promoted LDL uptake in HepG2 cells.[Conclusion] EGCG may increase LDLR abundance by down-regulating PCSK9 protein and attenuating LDLR protein degradation,which providing a new approach for lipid lowering therapy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of the acupoint catgut implantation on postpartum pain of uterine contraction with qi and blood deficiency.

METHODSOne hundred and ten primiparas of natural delivery differentiated as qi and blood deficiency pattern in TCM were selected as the subjects. They were randomized into an acupoint catgut implantation group (55 cases) and a routine nursing group (55 cases). In the acupoint catgut implantation group, the catgut was implanted in Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Pishu (BL 20) and Geshu (BL 17) in 6 h after delivery; additionally, the routine post-delivery nursing was adopted. In the routine nursing group, the routine post-delivery nursing was applied simply. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and the pain relief time of uterine contraction were compared in 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after acupoint catgut implantation between the two groups.

RESULTSVAS Scores in 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after acupoint catgut implantation in the acupoint catgut implantation group were lower apparently than those in the routine nursing group (3.31 +/- 0.39 vs 4.31 +/- 0.29, 1.86 +/- 0.29 vs 2.66 +/- 0.25, 0.89 +/- 0.21 vs 1.59 +/- 0.24, 0.35 +/- 0.10 vs 0.69 +/- 0.13, all P < 0.05). The pain relief was achieved in (72.06 +/- 6.83) h in the acupoint catgut implantation group and was (123.42 +/- 11.12) h in the routine nursing group. The pain relief in the acupoint catgut implantation group was achieved more quickly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe intervention of acupoint catgut implantation in 6 h after natural delivery in primiparas prevents effectively postpartum pain of uterine contraction.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; therapy ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Postpartum Period ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Qi ; Uterine Contraction ; Uterus ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

3 month),fluid sign was observed in 2(3 vertebrae,3/26,11.5%). Conclusion Fluid sign is characteristic in acute,subacute and early chronic trauma vertebral compression fracture for bone marrow edema,while it is rare in metastatic tumor vertebral compression fracture.It may paly a role in the differentiation of benign and malignant vertebral compression fracture.

Objective To explore the expression of protease activated receptors (PARs) on human monocytes. Methods Flow cytometry and RT - PCR was used to detect the expressions of PARs on human monocytes that purified by MACS. Results FACS analysis showed that monocytes expressed PAR - 1 , PAR - 3 , PAR - 4, but not PAR - 2.RT - PCR revealed that monocytes expressed PAR - 1 and PAR -3, but not PAR -2 and PAR -4 mRNA. Conclusion PARs is expressed on human monocyte cells,which may facilitate further investigation of the potential functions of PARs on monocytes.

The biotransformation, CYP reaction phenotyping, the impact of CYP inhibitors and enzyme kinetics of 3-cyanomethyl-4-methyl-DCK (CMDCK), a new anti-HIV preclinical candidate belonging to DCK analogs, were investigated in human intestinal microsomes and recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. CMDCK (4 micromol L(-1)) was incubated with a panel of rCYP enzymes (CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4) in vitro. The remaining parent drug in incubates was quantitatively analyzed by a LC-MS method. CYP3A4 was identified as the principal CYP isoenzyme responsible for its metabolism in intestinal microsomes. The major metabolic pathway of CMDCK was oxidation and a number of oxidative metabolites were screened with LC-MS. The Km, Vmax, CLint and T1/2 of CMDCK obtained from human intestinal microsome were 45.6 micromol L(-1), 0.33 micromol L(-1) min(-1), 12.1 mL min(-1) kg(-1) and 25.7 min, respectively. Intestinal clearance of CMDCK was estimated from in vitro data to be 3.3 mL min(-1) kg(-1), and was almost equal to the intestinal blood flow rate (4.6 mL min(-1) kg(-1)). The selective CYP3A4 inhibitors, ketoconazole, troleandomycin and ritonavir demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on CMDCK intestinal metabolism, which suggested that co-administration of CMDCK with potent CYP3A inhibitors, such as ritonavir, might decrease its intestinal metabolic clearance and subsequently improve its bioavailability in body.

Objective To explore the characteristics of calf muscle movement of the normal volunteer in vivo by velocity encoded phase contrast MRI (VE-PC MRI ).MethodsTwenty four healthy subjects were divided into the young group (30-40 years) and the elderly group (60—78 years).All subjects were positioned on the scanner table and did ankles flexion-extension voluntary movement,the moving images of tibialis anterior muscles (TA),medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus muscle (SOL)on the left were scanned with VE-PC MRI.The calf muscles contraction velocity were analyzed by software.The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of calf muscles contraction velocity in vivo between the young group and the elderly group. Results During cyclic ankle flexion-extension,dorsiflexion phase (1—10 phases)in the two groups,TA showed concentric contraction,plantar flexion phase (11—20 phases),MG and SOL did concentric contraction. At 3-6 phases during dorsiflexion,velocity of TA (M value:-37.66,-53.00, -60.66, -56.00 mm/s) in the young group is higher than in the elderly group (M-value:- 30.33, - 42.49, - 53.00, - 48.67 mm/s),at 13—15 phases during plantar flexion,velocity of MG (M-value:- 47.66, - 60.00, - 66.33 mm/s) in the young group showed higher velocity than in the elderly group (M-value:-25.17,-37.99,-50.98 mm/s),at 12—14 phases during plantarflexion,SOL showed higher velocity in the young group (M-value:-27.21, -40.10, -49.13 mm/s) than in the elderly group (M-value:- 20.66,- 29.61,- 37.16 mm/s) ( all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions During active ankle cyclic flexion-extension movement,velocity of TA,MG and SOL in the elderly group are decreased as compared to the young group. VE-PC MRI can reflect biomechanical characteristics of calf muscle in vivo,and provide a new kind of measurement for lower extremities.

Objective To assess the effects of rehabilitation training on lower extremity muscle function in stroke patients using velocity-encoded phase-contrast MRI ( VE-PC MRI). Methods Twenty-nine stroke patients at the convalescence stage were divided into a treatment group (14 cases) and a control group (13 cases).The subjects performed calf muscles stretches supine in a scanner bed with voluntary ankle flexion-extension movements.Imaging data were collected from the tibialis anterior muscle (TA),the medial head of the gastrocnemius (MG) and the soleus muscle (SOL) of the affected side.The treatment group also underwent rehabilitation including treadmill training,while the control group received only walking training without the treadmill.Barthel index (BI) and Berg balance scale (BBS) scores were measured after rehabilitation. Results Compared with baseline,the contraction velocity of the TA (phases 2 to 7),the MG (phases 12 to 18 ) and the SOL (phases 13 to 16) on the affected side increased significantly in the treatment group.In the control group,the contraction velocity of the calf muscles on the affected side improved,but fewer phases were significant-for the TA phase 4,for the MG phases 13 to 15 and for the SOL phase 15.In both groups,BBS and BI scores improved significantly compared with baseline.The average improvement in the treatment group was significantly greater than that in the control group. Conclusions Rehabilitation including treadmill training can improve calf muscle contraction function on stroke patients' affected side,and also their ADL performance and balance.VE-PC MR1 can provide quantitative in vivo measurements of the contraction function of stroke patients' calf muscles.

Objective To evaluate the predicting value of the marker of endothelial injury: plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9( MMP-9) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein( hsCRP) level on the progression of acute anterior circulating territory infarction progressing to malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (m-MCAI). Methods 90 patients with acute anterior circulating territory infarction, in which 46 patients progressed to m-MCAI, were collected and sampled consecutively. The plasma MMP-9 and hsCRP of all patients were determined by ELISA and immunotur-bidimetry,respectively,at admission. And the clinical characters and cranial CT features of the patients were analyzed. Results At admission,the plasma MMP-9 level in the patients with m-MCAI(242.0 ±58.0)ng/ml was significantly higher than that in the patients with non m-MCAI( 169.0 ± 50.0) ng/ml( P < 0. 01) ,the plasma hsCRP level in the patients with m-MCAI(6.25 ±1.2) ng/ml was significantly higher than that in the patients with non m-MCAI( 1.55 ± 0.9) mg/ml( P <0. 01).Conclusion The increased level of plasma MMP-9 and hsCRP could be predictors for the m-MCAI proceeding.

Objective To investigate the clinical and neuroimage characteristics of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) in Chinese elderly patients. Methods The characteristic clinical presentation and neuroimaging of 5 elderly patients with RPLS were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were one male and four females in this study, with the average age of (63.0±2.4) years, all combined with hypertension. The most common clinical presentations were abnormality of visual perception (5 cases), headache (4 cases), epileptic seizure (4 cases), disturbance of consciousness (3 cases), pathological reflex (2 cases) and hemiplegia (2 cases). CT scan showed 4 cases with low density lesions. MR1 scan showed 5 cases with occipital lobe lesions, 2 with parietal lobe lesions and 1 with temporal lobe lesions. Re-examination of CT scans showed that 4 survived patients became normal at mean (48.8±29.2) days after discharging from hospital. Conclusions The etiologies of RPLS are diverse. The vasogenic theory is supported by neuroimage of RPLS. Neuroimage may be very important for the diagnosis of RPLS. Diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient map may be helpful for differential diagnosis between RPLS and cerebral infarct.