AIM: To investigate the effect of the heat shock response on the reperfusion arrhythmias(RAs) and the possible mechanism involved. METHODS: Fifty-five Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: the heat shock group (group H, n=29 ) and the control group (group C, n=26 ). The rats in group H were preconditioned with heat shock 24 hours before, and that in group C were not. The hearts of 16 rats in group H and 16 in group C were exercised and mounted on a non-circulating Langendorff perfusion apparatus and perfused retrogradely with modified K-H buffer and mimic ischemia/reperfusion was applied. Additionally, conventional intracellular microelectrode techniques were used for recording such electrophysiological parameters as resting potential(RP), action potential amplitude(APA), over shot(OS), maximum depolarization velocity(Vmax) of the hearts of other 13 rats in group H and 10 in group C. RESULTS: ①Prior heat stress significantly decreased reperfusion arrhythmia. ②The amount of CK release in the effluent in group H was much less than that in group C. ③Myocardial HSP70 content was elevated significantly in group H. ④Heat stress significantly increased myocardial anti-oxydases activity and decreased lipid peroxydative products. Additionally, heat stress significantly reduced the Vmax of action potential. It indicated that rapid Na + channel of papillary muscles may be inhibited by heat shock. The degree of change of Vmax after ischemia in H group was significantly less than that in group C. And the time of reperfusoin with Tyrode's solution till the action potential appeared as large as that before perfusion with mimic ischemic solution is shorter in group H than in group C. CONCLUSION: Heat shock pretreatment markedly reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury of heart and ventricular arrhythmias in rats and this effect may be associated with the inhibition of rapid Na + channel of papillary muscles by heat shock and the increase in myocardial HSP70 and anti-oxydase activity.

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference of clinical effects of acupoints selected based on meridian differen-tiation and conventional method for cervical spondylosis radiculopathy(CSR) treated with acupuncture and moxibustion.

METHODSSixty patients with CSR were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,30 cases in each one.points of the injured meridians in the neck,namely six-points,were selected in the observation group,matched with-connecting points of the injured meridians on the same side and the interiorly-exteriorly correlated meridians on the opposite side. Conventional acupuncture was used on Fengchi(GB 20),Jiaji(EX-B 2) of the neck,Tianzhu(BL 10),Jianjing(GB 21),Houxi(SI 3),Hegu(LI 4) and Waiguan(TE 5) on the affected side in the control group. Treatment was given once every other day,three times a week and total 12 times in the two groups. Twenty subscales for CSR and visual analogue scale(VAS) were observed before and after treatment,and total effects were evaluated after treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate of the observation group was 93.3%(28/30),which was better than 66.7%(20/30) of the control group(<0.05). The scores of 20 subscales and VAS after treatment were all improved compared with those before treatment in the two groups(all<0.01),with more apparent change in the observation group(both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe effect of acupuncture and moxibustion based on meridian differentiation is obvious,and superior to that of conventional acupoints selection.