National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is an important part of national system for innovation, which provides financial assistance mainly for the basic and applied researches of natural sciences, especially for the researchers who work in the learning institutions and the agencies of scientific research with advanced facilities. This paper summarized the applications and approved projects on traditional Chinese medicine in NFSC in 2005. We initially analyzed the growth, quality, characteristics, tendency and problems of these items.

Objective To explore the clinical pathological features of gastric cancer and to provide a basis for research and treatment of gastric cancer.Methods From 2001 to 2004,a total of 694 cases of gastric cancer with radical gastrectomy were collected.Gender,age,tumor location,tumor size,World Health Organization (WHO) histological type and grade,Lauren type,blood/lymphatic vessel invasion,lymph node metastasis,depth of tumor invasion (pT) and pathological TNM staging (pTNM) were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among 694 gastric cancer cases,male to female ratio was 3.96∶ 1; a total of 644 cases (92.8％) were aged from 41 to 70,and cases aged from 51 to 70 had a high incidence of gastric cancer.The predilection site for gastric cancer was cardia (33.43％),antrum (28.96％) and the body (21.76％) accordingly.The common WHO histological types were tubular adenocarcinoma (70.32 ％) and signet ring cell carcinoma (24.50 ％).The common histological grades were Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅰ.The intestinal type was most common in Lauren classification,accounting for 58.93 ％; followed by the diffuse type,accounting for 22.33 ％.Blood/lymphatic vessel invasion was detected in 438 cases (63.11％),lymphnode metastasis in 504 cases (72.62％).A total of 319 cases (45.97％) were pT3 stage,241 cases (34.73％) were on pTNM Ⅲ stage.Conclusions In recent years,cardia and antrum are the predilection sites of gastric cancer.Tubular adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma are common which indicate that the mechanism of gastric cancer pathogenesis is varied.

L6.A longitudinal column of HRP-labeled motoneurons was found in the dorsolateral and mediolateral portions of the spinal cord,distributing in the lamina Ⅸ from the caudal L4 to the rostral L6.Additionally,the transganglionic HRP-labeled central projection axonal terminals were found to be dense in the central part of laminae Ⅰ-Ⅱ from L4 to the rostral L6,and to scatter in the central part of gracile nucleus.Conclusion HRP-labeled primary afferent and efferent innervating acupoint "Taixi"(KI 3) are DRGs of L4-L6,the dorsolateral and mediolateral motoneuron columns of L4-L6,and the centrally projecting axonal terminals of laminae Ⅰ-Ⅱ of the spinal cord and the gracile nucleus.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal human cancers. Cur-rent studies on the relationship between complicated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and PDAC prognosis have demonstrated inconsis-tent results. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between complicated T2DM and the clinicopathological characteris-tics of PDAC, and evaluate whether complicated T2DM is a significant predictor for overall survival in patients with resectable PDAC. Methods: In this study, clinicopathological characteristics were observed in 136 patients who underwent surgery for PDAC at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between January 2009 and February 2011. The relationship between complicated T2DM and overall survival of PDAC patients was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results:The median age of pa-tients was 60 years (range: 35-80 years). Among the 136 patients, 76(55.9%) were male. The prevalence of complicated T2DM was 27.9%in 136 PDAC cases. Preexisting T2DM was not associated with any of the clinicopathological characteristics (all P>0.05). Uni-variate analysis showed that complicated T2DM (P=0.045), maximum diameter (P=0.011), histological differentiation (P=0.013), pT stage (P=0.034), vessel invasion (P=0.032), and pTNM stage (P=0.030) were significantly associated with the overall survival of PDAC patients. The median overall survival time was 14.2 months for T2DM patients, and 18.8 months for non-T2DM patients. In mul-tivariate analysis, complicated T2DM [hazard ratio (HR), 1.873;95%confidence interval (CI), 1.187-2.954;P=0.007], poorly differenti-ated tumor (HR, 2.647;95%CI, 1.413-4.957;P=0.002), and maximum diameter≥4.0 cm (HR, 1.699;95%CI, 1.094-2.640;P=0.018) were the independent predictors associated with poor overall survival. Conclusion:Complicated T2DM was associated with poor prog-nosis. It could be used as a prognostic predictor in patients with resectable PDAC. If confirmed, these findings may provide a novel ap-proach for individualized adjuvant therapy.

Objective To investigate the nephroprotective effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in the elderly undergoing coronary angiography or intervention. Methods161 patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomly assigned to PGE1 group (n=87 cases) and control group (n=74 cases).10 μg lipo-PGE1 added to 100 ml normal saline were administered intravenously once daily for 5 days before and 2 days after the operation.The serum levels of creatinine (Scr) and cystatin C (Cys C) were measured on admission and 48 h after the procedure.Results After the procedure,the levels of Scr and Cys C were increased (P＜0.01) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) was decreased (P＜0.05) in control group than in PGE1 group.The incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in control group 〔12.2％ (9/74)〕 was higher than in PGE1 group 〔3.4％(3/87)〕 (P＜0.05).The application of P(GE1 decreased CI-AKI,but high basic level of Scr and diabetes mellitus enhanced the incidence of CI-AKI by logistic regression.The serum levels of Cys C had negative correlation with Ccr (r=-0.615,P＜0.01).Conclusions Perioperative application of PGE1 has nephroprotective effects in the elderly undergoing CAG or PCI,and decreases the incidence of CI-AKI.The serum levels of Cys C is one of ideal indexes for auxiliary diagnosis of CI-AKI.

With the wide application of acupuncture in the world, the research results of neurosciences have made scientific approval on some of efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture, and the concept of western medical acupuricture (WMA) is gradually developed. During the spread of Chinese acupuncture into western countries, WMA is an adaptive improvement when facing basic theories of western medicine including anatomy, physiology and pathology as well as evidence-based medicine system. WMA which is based on theory of muscle trigger point has obvious efficacy on muscular fasciae pain, which attracted wide attention. But when Chinese acupuncture spreads into western world, the theories of Chinese acupuncture such as meridian and specificity of acupoint are questioned due to the results of western clinical study. In this paper, the origin, theory development, stimulating location and method, and categories of diseases of WMA are compared with Chinese acupuncture, and the enlightenment of this difference on Chinese acupuncture research is analyzed.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Meridians ; Trigger Points

Objective To observe the dynamic distribution of the extravasated Evans Blue (EB) dye points (neurogenic inflammatory response) at the skin after acute gastric mucosal injury (AGMI) and its relation to the related regular acupoints in the locations in rats. Methods A total of 70 Wistar rats were randomized into normal control (n=10),normal saline (n=10),and AGMI (n=50) groups. The AGMI group was further divided into 5 h,2 d,3 d,4 d and 5 d subgroups with 10 rats in each. AGMI model was duplicated by intragastric perfusion of diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl,0.5 mol/L). Evans Blue Dye (50 mg/kg,50 mg/mL in 0.9% saline) was given to the rats before AGMI modeling. The plasma extravasated EB points at the skin of the whole body were observed after removal of the hair. Results The extravasated EB points presented a nerve-segmental distribution,with the proportion of the points in the location being 47.5% for "Geshu" (BL 17),58.82% for "Jizhong" (GV 6),88.23% for "Pishu" (BL 20),82.35% for "Weishu" (BL 21),17.64% for "Zhongwan" (CV 12),and 5.88% for "Shangwan" (CV 13),respectively. The plasma extravasation of EB seldom appeared in normal rats and only fewer points were found in rats accepted administration of 0.9% saline. Significant differences were found between model and normal control groups,and between model and normal saline groups in the numbers of the extravasated EB points (P

Objective To explore the effects of flunarizine hydrochloride on plasma calcitonin gene-related pep-tide and substance P levels after CSD in a rat migraine model of cortical spreading depression (CSD). Methods Thirty adult rats were randomly and evenly divided into three groups:control Group, CSD group and flunarizine group. The CSD waves were evoked by application of potassium chloride on brain surface with filter paper. Funarizine hydrochloride was intravenously administered to rats five minutes prior to application of potassium chloride. The plasma levels of CGRP and SP were measured by using radioimmunity assay. Statistical analyses were performed using two-sample t test and analy-sis of variance. Results CSD waves were absent in control group whereas CSD waves were induced in CSD and flunari-zine groups. The latency of the first CSD wave was longer in flunarizine group (167.90 ± 25.18 s) than in CSD group (130.90 ± 13.30 s) (P<0.01). The number of CSD waves was smaller in flunarizine group (4.50 ± 1.84) than in CSD group (8.50 ± 2.07) (P<0.01). The amplitude of CSD waves was lower in flunarizine group (11.40 ± 4.12 mv) than in CSD group (24.40±3.57 mv) (P<0.01). The levels of CGRP and SP in both CSD group (CGRP, 32.95±11.61 pg/mL;SP, 27.80±7.51 pg/mL) and flunarizine group (CGRP, 25.13 ± 5.67 pg/mL; SP, 19.45 ± 6.10 pg/mL) were higher than in control group (CGRP, 14.44 ± 6.39 pg/mL; SP, 12.36 ± 4.22 pg/mL) (P<0.01). The levels of CGRP and SP in flunarizine group (CGRP, 25.13±5.67 pg/mL;SP, 19.45±6.10 pg/mL) were lower than those in CSD group (CGRP, 32.95±11.61 pg/mL;SP, 27.80± 7.51 pg/mL) (P<0.05). Conclusions Flunarizine hydrochloride can inhibit CSD and reduce the plama levels of CGRP and SP in the rat model of CSD.

Objective To determine the change and effect of milrinone on the concentration of plasma endothelin(ET)and atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP)in congestive heare failure(CHF)infants.Methods Forty-one CHF infants' plasma ET and ANP concentration were determined before and after having received milrinone intravenously,meanwhile compared with that of 40 healthy infants as control.Results The concentration of plasma ET and ANP in CHF infants were obviously increased,which has greatly decreased after intravenous dripping of milrinone.The difference has statistic significance.Conclusion The concentration of plasma ET and ANP in CHF infants are greatly increased and could be lowered by treating with milrinone.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the evaluation of lymphatic emboli by D2-40/CKpan dual immunostain and its prognostic significance in advanced primary gastric adenocarcinoma.

METHODSTissue samples of 108 cases of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma with radical gastrectomy were collected from Chinese PLA General Hospital in 2001. Lymphatic emboli were evaluated by D2-40/CKpan dual immunostain on consecutive sections, and compared with routine HE staining. The correlation of lymphatic emboli with lymph node metastasis and overall survival was analyzed by Pearson Chi-squared test and univariate survival analysis, respectively.

RESULTSLymphatic emboli were detected in 73/108 (67.6%) cases by D2-40/CKpan staining, compared to 57/108 (52.8%) by HE staining. There was significant difference (P=0.007). Lymphatic emboli on HE staining revealed false negative in 24/108 cases and false positive in 8/108 cases. A significant correlation was found between lymphatic emboli and lymph node metastasis on HE staining (P=0.024), while it was not found on D2-40/CKpan staining (P=0.422). The overall survival rate was significantly different between lymphatic emboli positive and negative cases on HE staining (P=0.043). The overall survival rate was lower in lymphatic emboli positive cases on HE staining. Lymphatic emboli evaluated on D2-40/CKpan staining had no prognostic value (P=0.402).

CONCLUSIOND2-40/Ckpan dual immunostaining is more sensitive for lymphatic emboli in gastric adenocarcinoma but may not predict lymph node metastasis and survival, while HE staining may.