Objective To observe changes of the partial oxygen pressure in the deep tissues along the Large Intestine Meridian (LIM) during acupuncture stimulation,so as to reveal the characteristics of energy metabolism in the tissues along the LIM. Methods Thirty-one healthy volunteer subjects were enlisted in the present study. Partial oxygen pressure (POP) in the tissues (at a depth of about 1.5 cm) of acupoints Binao (LI 14),Shouwuli (LI 13),Shousanli (LI 10),2 non-acupoints [the midpoints between Quchi (LI 11) and LI 14,and between Yangxi (LI 5) and LI 11) of the LIM,and 10 non-meridian points,1.5-2.0 cm lateral and medial to each of the tested points of the LIM was detected before,during and after electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of Hegu (LI 4) by using a tissue oxygen tension needle-like sensor. Results In normal condition,the POP values in the deep tissues along the LIM were significantly higher than those of the non-meridian control points on its bilateral sides. During and after EA of Hegu (LI 4),the POP levels decreased significantly in the deep tissues along the LIM in comparison with pre-EA (P0.05). Conclusion POP is significantly higher in the deep tissues along the LIM of healthy subjects under normal conditions,which can be downregulated by EA of Hegu (LI 4),suggesting an increase of both the utilization rate of oxygen and energy metabolism after EA.

Objective: The topographical mapping technique of brain evoked potential was used to observe the changes of the functional activities in the cortical somatosensory area I (SⅠ) during imitating the sensation conduction along the Meridian (SCM). The formation mechanism of sensation conduction was discussed here. Method: 26 healthy adult volunteers were chosen as observe object. Cerebral electric signal processing system was used to record topographical mapping of evoked potential in SⅠ outside the skull. Soft paintbrush was used to slightly brush the Gall Bladder Meridian (GBM) to imitate the sensation conduction. Result: Evoking responses appeared in both foot and face representation areas in SⅠ of 11 healthy volunteers without conduction sensation during imitation of sensation conduction along the GBM (SCGBM), which coincided with the distribution of responses evoked in SI during sensation conduction along Meridian . 15 healthy volunteers were offered imitation of SCGBM as well as brushing through the upper arm additionally, while, the results showed that the evoking responses appeared in the foot, the upper arm and the face representation area of SⅠ. So, it formed a high potential response belt that was similar to the course occurred during the imitation of SCM. Conclusion: The external stimulation along the meridian course can change the distribution of evoking responses in SⅠduring stimulating point. The results provide experimental evidence for the supposition that “activation in sequence in periphery” is the decisive factor for the formation of SCM.

BACKGROUND: Without any external stimuli in natural environment, it is applicable to observe the infrared radiant track over human body surface that is in conformity basically with the running courses of ancient fourteen meridians.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the influence of electroacupuncture on infrared radiant track along meridian courses over human body surface.DESIGN: Self-controlled opening experiment.SETTING: Department of Meridian Research of Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Fujian Province.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was performed in Key Laboratory of Meridian Research of Fujian Province from January 2000 to December 2002. Totally 53 students from Department of Acupuncture and Massage of Fujian College of Chinese Medicine were observation, of which, 38 students were males, 15 students were females, aged varied from 19 to 23years.METHODS: The receptors exposed completely the body areas required and sat quietly for 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the environmental temperature. In natural state, 6T67 infrared thermo tracer produced by Japanese San-Ei Company was used to observe 1 to 2 infrared radiant tracks in advance as the control before acupuncture (scanned once per second). Afterwards, acupuncture was done on Guangming (GB 37), Neiguan (PC 6) and Dazhui (GV 14). The stimulation was given by a pair of stainless filiform needles, 6.6 cm long. The frequency of effectric pulse was 2 Hz, and 0.2 ms in duration. The video record was taken once every 5 to 10 minutes during stimulation. After acupuncture, 1 to 2 infrared radiant tracks were scanned.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tracks of isothermal display and whole thermal display on infrared thermography.infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface high basic temperature, acupuncture decreased skin temperature on infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface in a part of subjects. The skin temperature of a part of subjects was decreased acupuncture increased skin temperature on infrared radiant track along though it did not great affect the skin temperature on infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface in a part of subjects,acupuncture induced infrared radiant track to be more continuous and human body surface, acupuncture stimulates the infrared radiant track displayed along the meridians over human body surface, too.CONCLUSION: Infrared radiant track along meridian courses over the human body surface is a kind of normal life phenomenon existed commonly among peoples. Acupuncture not only induces the infrared radiant track of the related meridian, but also alters the skin temperature of the displayed infrared radiant track along meridian courses and makes it become more continuous and regular. Changes in tissue temperature are relevant necessarily with altered energetic metabolism. It is suggested that infrared radiant track along meridian courses is closely contributed to functional regulation of the human body.

Objective: To investigate the distribution features of somatosensory cortical evoked potential map with augmented blocking of the sensation transmission along meridians.Method: The EEG-4400 electro-encephalogram (EEG) and ND-1 brain electrical activity mapping were adopted on 11 volunteers with remarkable sensation transmission along meridians, showing that the sensation can transmit to head and face after stimulating the points below the knee joints. Also, special observation was made on accurate location of somatosensory cortical evoked potential map in 10 people without sensation transmission.Result: Observation on 11 volunteers with remarkable transmission along the Three Foot-yang Meridians showed that they presented with concurrent high potential reactions in somatosensory cortical lower limbs and face without blocking the augmented sensation transmission along the meridians; however, when mechanical pressure was exerted to block the sensation transmission,only one reaction in the lower limbs occurred in the somatosensory cortical evoked map and the other one in the face disappeared. Conclusion: Peripheral tissue evoking is the decisive factor for transmission along the meridians.

Objective:The topographical mapping technique of cortical evoked potential was used to observe the changes of the functional activities in the primary somatosensory area of cortex (SI) during external stimulation,the immanent relation between external stimulation and topographical mapping of cortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP). Methods:33 healthy adult volunteers were under observation. Cerebral electric signal processing system was used to lead CSEP on the scalp. The external stimulation was applied as following:①A soft paintbrush was used to slightly brush the face only. ②Paintbrush was used to slightly brush the lower limb only. ③Paintbrush was used to slightly brush the trunk only. ④Paintbrush was used to slightly brush the lower limb or the trunk or the Gallbladder Meridian (GBM) and passing the upper arm by imitating the speed of meridian transmission phenomenon respectively. Results:①Evoking responses appeared in the foot areas in SI,without meridian transmission phenomenon when brushing the face,lower limb or trunk only. ②Healthy volunteers were offered imitation of sensation conduction along the GBM as well as brushing through the upper arm in addition,while,the results showed that the evoking responses appeared in the foot,the upper arm and the face representation area of SI simultaneously. Conclusion:The external stimulation along the meridian course was able to change the distribution of evoking responses in SI during stimulating acupoint. But the local stimulating on face,lower limb or trunk can not change the distribution of CSEP. The results provided experimental evidence for the supposition that 'activation in sequence in periphery'was the decisive factor for the formation of meridian transmission phenomenon.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of different acupoints on electroretinogram(ERG) and cerebral visual evoked potentials(VEP) in healthy subjects so as to evaluate the relative specificity of the function of acupoints.Methods A total of 33 healthy adult volunteers were observed in the present study.The subject was asked to lie on a testing bed for a while,two disk electrodes were respectively fixed to the suborbital region and the occiput(the crossing point,5cm apart from the right median line of the head and 5cm above the ear),and the reference electrode was fixed to the medial side of the earlobe for recording ERG and cerebral VEP separately.The testing room was asked to keep faint light during the whole recording process.A flash stimulation(frequency 1 Hz) was applied to the subject's eye(with a distance of about 50 cm between the light source and the tested eye,and the other eye was covered by an eyepatch).EA(0.5 Hz,0.2 ms and 3-4 V) was applied to Guangming(GB 37),Neiguan(PC 6) and Zusanli(ST 36) for 30 min respectively in different testing days(with the interval being 3 days at least).ERG and cerebral VEP were recorded by using Polygraphy(RM-6200).Results Following EA of Guangming(GB 37),Neiguan(PC 6) and Zusanli(ST 36),the changing values(increase and decrease) of the amplitude of b waves of ERG and P100 waves of cerebral VEP were(19.68?12.61)% and(12.84?14.08)%,(6.09?14.06)% and(5.61?8.01)%,(2.39?3.52)% and(5.43?8.22)%,respectively,while those of b waves of ERG and P100 waves of cerebral VEP of GB 37 were significantly bigger than those of PC 6 and ST 36(P

Objective To study the test-retest reliability in quantitative measurement of proprioception using Tecnobody rehabilitation system.Methods Nine healthy volunteers [4 males,5 females,averaged age (22.8 ±0.68) years] participated in three consecutive measurements on both feet by using Tecnobody rehabilitation system for computerized proprioceptive assessment.Standard error of measurement(SEM),correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) obtained from the three consecutive measurements were used to analyze the Timeused in each measuring session,and the average track error (ATE) of the measurements.ResultsSEM values of Time in left foot and right foot were 3.07 ～ 3.83 and 6.65 ～ 8.44 respectively.ATE values in left foot and right foot were 1.33 ～ 1.97 and 1.39 ～ 1.91 respectively.The Time and ATE correlation coefficients of left foot / right foot were 0.919/0.6 and 0.808/0.831,respectively.The Time ICC values were 0.893/0.639 for left foot / right foot,respectively ; and the ATE ICC values were 0.716/0.734 for left foot / right foot,respectively. Conclusion The Tecnobody rehabilitation system provided a fairly good reliability in both relative andabsolute values in quantitative evaluation of proprioception in the feet.These data in a larger amount may be useful for setting up variables and the standard values of the local population for reference in proprioceptive rehabilitation.

Objective To study the clinical value of using a four-point method (FP) in measuring joint angles.Method Methods Twenty-five subjects without knee dysfunction were studied.Every knee joint was tested in extension,below 90° of flexion and above 90° of flexion with the traditional three-point method (TP) and the new four-point method.X-rays were taken as a gold standard measurement.The reliability and validity were analyzed using Bland-Altman plots,which can yield 95% limits of agreement (LOA).Results (1) The joint axis centers moved with changes in joint angle.(2) The 95% LOA of inter-tester reliability was (-5.0,2.7) with the FP and (-6.5,4.4) with the TP.The 95% LOAs of intra-tester reliability were (-3.6,4.0) for tester A and (-4.1,4.8) for tester B with the FP,while (-5.0,6.4) for tester A and (-6.1,5.8) for tester B with the TP.(3) The 95% LOAs in the three positions were (3.5,2.6) in extension,(-3.3,3.6) in mild flexion and (-1.9,5.7) in greater flexion with the FP,and ( 6.8,1.1),(-4.0,7.1) and (0,8.5) with the TP.Conclusions The FP gives better reliability and validity than the TP in joint angle measurement.

Objective To analyze the results of the final aviation medical examination of 1281 students recruited into Air Force youth aviation schools in Hunan and Hubei provinces in order to provide reference for establishing the items and standards of medical selection .Methods The data of 1281 students who participated in final aviation medical examination of Air Force youth aviation schools in 2016 were collected , who came from 28 cities in the above two provinces .The disqualification rate and related unqualified medical items were calculated , and the differences of the disqualification rate and medical geographical areas in the 28 cities were analyzed .Results According to the disqualification rate , the top five departments were ophthalmology , otolaryngology, surgery, radiology and ultrasonic departments .The top 10 unqualified items were the lack of distant vision , fundus diseases , nasal anomaly , ametropia and strabismus , spine abnormality , audition abnormality, vestibular function badness , vitreous opacity, and lens abnormalities.There was no significant difference between the 28 cities in the disqualification rate (P >0.05) or between the two provinces (P >0.05). Conclusion The results of the final aviation medical examination reflect the quality and efficiency of the initial aviation medical examination .To improve the quality of medical selection , further research is needed to set a scientific standard for the initial aviation medical examination while strengthening the scientific protection and intervention of distant vision .The efficiency of selection depends on improving the accuracy of initial aviation medical examination in nasal cavity structure, body shape ,and lens opacity .With a better understanding of the disqualification rate and abnormal items in different cities , a scientific arrangement of professional staff and technical force can make the initial aviation medical examination better, thus effectively reducing the rate of false elimination rate and misdiagnosis .

AIM:To explore the influences of semaphorin 3A (Sema 3A) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).METHODS:Sema 3A over-expression vectors were constructed and transfected into the HUVECs by Lipofectamine 2000, and the over-expression effect was verified by qPCR and Western blot.The HUVECs in different groups were treated with or without 200 μmol/L H2O2 for 4 h.The levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured by qPCR.The levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by corresponding colorimetry.The cell viability was measured by MTT assay.The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The levels of apoptosis-related proteins cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS:H2O2 induced inflammatory cytokine secretion, increased the levels of LDH and MDA, decreased SOD activity and cell viability, and increased cell apoptosis in the HUVECs.Over-expression of Sema 3A enhanced the above processes.No injury effect of Sema 3A over-expression on HUVECs without H2O2 treatment was observed, indicating that the injury effects of Sema 3A on HUVECs depended on H2O2.CONCLUSION:Sema 3A markedly enhances H2O2-induced injury in the HUVECs, which depends on H2O2.Sema 3A may promote oxidative stress-caused endothelial cell injury.