An accurate location of acupoint is one of the key factors for improving clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion. From the theoretical basis, operation method, principle discussion and clinical application, the clinical practicability of the two-step location method of acupoint in Internal Canon of Medicine is discussed. This two-step location method is in accord with the original connotation of acupoint, and focuses on the function state of acupoint. As is suggested in clinical researches, the acupoint location that is acquired by using the two-step location method, as a treated area, could obviously improve the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion. Therefore, the two-step location method of acupoint in Internal Canon of Medicine should be considered as guideline of clinical acupoint location.
Acupuncture ; history ; Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Reference Books, Medical

Small molecule fluorescent probes have gained widespread attention for their advantages of high selectivity, sensitivity, and easy to operate, and have played a critical role in the detection of various species. They have also demonstrated great potential in the field of biomedical research. Iron, as the most abundant transition metal in the human body, plays a vital role in many physiological functions. Due to the influence of the reductive microenvironment of cell, ferrous ion (Fe²⁺) is the main component of labile iron in living cells. Heme, consisting of Fe²⁺ and protoporphyrin IX, is one of the main signaling molecules that wrap biological iron in the human body, and also participates in many physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, the development of small molecule fluorescent probes for detecting Fe²⁺ and heme as effective monitoring tools will help to further understand their pathological and physiological functions, with potential applications in other fields. This review summarizes the research progress of small molecule fluorescent probes for Fe²⁺ and heme detection in recent years, and provides insights into future directions for their development.

Objective To investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway in the protective effect of remifentanil or ischemic preconditioning (IPC) against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods One hundred and forty-four male SD rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly assigned into 6 group ( n =24 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group,remifentanil group (group R),IPC group,SB203580 (a specific p38MAPK inhibitor) + remifentanil group (group SB + R),and SB + IPC group.The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 20％ urethane 1 mg/kg.Partial liver ischemia was produced by clamping the hepatic pedicle supplying left lobe and middle lobe for 30 min,followed by 120 min reperfusion.In group R,remifentanil was infused intravenously at 2μg· kg- 1 · min- 1 starting from 30 min before ischemia until the end of reperfusion.In IPC group,the rats were subjected to 3 episodes of 5 min ischemia at 5 min intervals before I/R.SB203580 0.2 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 5 min before remifentanil infusion or IPC in groups SB + R and SB + IPC,and the equal volume of normal saline was given in the other groups.Six rats in each group were selected at 30,60,90 and 120 min of reperfusion and venous blood samples were taken from inferior vena cava for measurement of serum ALT and AST activities and concentrations of TNF-a and 1L-1β.The rats were then sacrificed and liver tissues were taken for microscopic examination and determination of phosphor-p38MAPK expression by Western blot.Results Compared with group S,serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased at each time point (P ＜ 0.05) and pathological injury was aggravated in group I/R.Compared with group I/R,serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-a and IL-lβ were significantly decreased and phosphor-p38MAPK expression was up-regulated at 90 min of reperfusion in groups R and IPC ( P ＜ 0.05).The serum AST and ALT activities and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased,phosphor-p38MAPK expression was down-regulated at 90 min of reperfusion ( P ＜ 0.05),and pathological injury was aggravated in group SB + R compared with group R,and in group SB + IPC compared with group IPC.Conclusion Activation of p38MAPK pathway and inhibition of inflammatory response may be involved in the mechanism by which remifentanil or IPC reduces the hepatic I/R injury in rats.

Objective To explore the relationship between cat fur or dog fur allergens and clinical presentation, as well as allergenic cross-reactivity between cat fur or dog fur allergens and other allergens. Methods Totally 548 children with allergic disorders were assayed with 13 international standard allergen agents by means of SPT. The results were denominated according to the size of skin areola or welt, reference histamine as positive, isotonic Na chloride as negative. Results In 143 children with cat fur allergenic SPT position, 98 cases were boys and 45 cases were girls with an average age of 5. 84 years. In 96 children with dog fur allergenic SPT positive,60 cases were boys and 36 cases were girls with an average age of 6.06 years. The most had occurred in summer. Of them,a large number of cases presented asthma,secondly presented mild cough. Besides, the cross- reactivity of cat fur and dog fur allergenic SPT positive in 64 cases with acarid was most common, followed by latex, which exceeded animal protein, while the cross - reactivity of mold, plant farina and chomophyte allergens were rare. Conclusions About 20% children with allergic disorders are cat fur or dog fur allergenic SPT positive. Cat fur or dog fur allergenic SPT positive results are significantly correlative to age and season, however they are not relative.to sex. Cat fur or dog fur allergens exist correlations with other allergens.

Objective To study the clinical value of anti-ribosomal P0 protein antibodies (anti-P0). Methods Line immuno-assay and immunoblotting methods were used to detect anti-P0 and rRNP antibodies of 49 SEE patients and 61 patients with other rheumatic diseases.The expressions of anti-P0 were compared with those of rRNP antibodies.Possible relations between anti-P0 and clinical features and other antibodies in SLE were explored.Results 36.7%and 6.1% of SEE patients showed positive anti-P0 and rRNP antibodies respectively.Anti-P0 was always negative in patients with other rheumatic diseases (P＜0.01).Among SLE pa tients,incidence of skin rash was 77.8%(35.5%) ff anti-P0 was found to be positive (negative) (P＜0.05). Besides,for patients with positive and negative anti-P0,the chance of positive anti-SmD1 was 61.1% and 19.4% respectively (P＜0.01).Sensitiviy of anti-P0 for SLE diagnosis was 36.73% with specificity and positive predictive value as high as 100%,and 66.30% as the negative predictive value.Conclusion Sera anti-P0 is highly specific for SLE and it is associated with the occurence of rash and the expression of anti-StuD 1 anti bodies in SEE.

Objective To detect the sperm apoptosis rate and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in seminal plasma and explore their correlation among infertile males. Methods Ninety-two inferitile males were divided into varicocele (VC) group (n=32), leukocytospermia group(n=30) and the other cause group (n=30), and another 24 in vitro fertilization sperm samples were sereved as controls. The routine sperm parameters including seminal pH, sperm viability and sperm density were examined by computer assisted sperm analysis, the sperm apoptosis rate was asseseed using Annexin V/PI staining, and the ROS level in seminal plasma was detected by TBA method. The differences in seminal parameters between three infertile groups and control group were compared, and the correlation of sperm apoptosis rate with level of ROS in seminal plasma was explored in each group. Results The sperm viability of three infertile groups was significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.01). The sperm apoptosis rates and levels of ROS in seminal plasma in VC group and leukocytospermia group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The sperm apoptosis rate was positively correlated with the level of ROS in seminal plasma in leukocytospermia group(r=0. 573, P < 0.05). Conclusion The increased sperm apoptosis rate and level of seminal plasma ROS may be related to the infertility of patients with VC and leukocytospermia. The increased level of seminal plasma ROS may be one of the causes of increased sperm apoptosis rate in patients with leukocytospermia.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; CpG Islands ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Male ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

Aged ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy

A 56-year-old man with 1-year history of palpitation, heat intolerance and sweating, was diagnosed as thyrotropin (TSH) -secreting pituitary adenoma based on the symptoms of hypermetabolism, enlarged thyroid gland, inappropriately increased serum TSH concomitantly elevated plasma thyroid hormones and a pituitary tumor demonstrated on magnetic resonance imaging. Long-acting octreotide formulation was administered at a dose of 20 mg intramuscularly. Tumor volume shrinkage and improvement of thyroid function was achieved after a single drug injection; and the thyroid function returned to normal in 28 days. It is suggested that long-acting octreotide formulation might be used as a routine therapeutic approach prior to pituitary surgery, which may enhance the effectiveness of surgery and postoperative recovery.

ObjectiveTo study the expression of AKT2 gene in liver cancer and its relationship to tumor progression.MethodsThe expression of AKT2 in liver cancer was detected by SP immunohistochemical stainin and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Four patients with benign liver tumors were used as control.ResultsThe positive rates of AKT2 in liver cancer tissue and benign control tissue were 62.5％ (28/32) and 0％ (0/4),respectively.The difference was significant.In addition,a positive expression of AKT2 correlated significantly with poor differentiation,positive lymph node and distant metastasis.The median survival after surgery was significantly shorter in patients with positive than with negative AKT2 (76d vs 463d).ConclusionThe detection of AKT2 was useful in assessing the progression of liver cancer,in determining prognosis and eventually in rendering a possible target for novel therapeutic strategies.