Pineal arteries and veins of 46 adult human brains were observed and measured with stero-microscope and light microscope.According to the number of branches, the pineal arteries may be classified into four types: single branched, double branched, three branched and multiple branched types. Among them the single and double branched type occur most frequently. (in 54.55% and 34.09％ respectively), the artery originates mainly from the postcromedial choroidal artery (in 69.72％), and the next more frequent origin is the the quadrigeminal artery (in 28.87%). Some pineal arteries have double origins from abovementioned arteries.Most of the starting points of pineal arteries situate in the recess between the superior colliculus and the pineal body, and less of them on the lateral side of the colliculus or beneath the splenium of the corpus callosum. The artery runs frequently forwards or medially towards the gland and enters it at the middle part of its side. Then it gives branches out of or in the capsule to the surface the gland. The branching patterns may be classified into four types and ten subtypes.The arteries vary in length from 0.2～38.4 mm. The mean external diameter of which is 0.30+0.08 mm, and the internal diameter,0.21?0.07mm.On the pineal body there are a pair of venous stems known as choroidal-pineal veins. They begin from the tela choroidea of the third ventricle. After accepting the dorsal and ventral pineal veins on the ventrolateral side of the pineal body, the two venous stems usually unite to form a single vein which converges into the great cerebral vein.

There is an increasing interest and popularity of Chinese herbal medicine worldwide, which is accompanied by increasing concerns about its effectiveness and potential toxicity. Several ingredients, such as polyphenolic compounds berberine, flavonoids, and curcumin, have been studied extensively by using various animal models. Effectiveness of treatment and amelioration of metabolic syndromes, including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, has been demonstrated. This review summarizes the major checkpoints and contributing factors in regulation of exogenous and endogenous lipid metabolism, with particular emphasis centered on triglyceride-rich and cholesterol-rich lipoproteins. Available experimental evidence demonstrating the lipid-lowering effect of berberine, flavonoids and curcumin in cell culture and animal models is compiled, and the strengths and shortcomings of experimental designs in these studies are discussed.

Objective To study the chronology of development within puparia to determine the postmortem interval(PMI).Methods The necrophagous fly Lucilia cuprina was reared successively in constant temperatures(16℃,20℃,24℃,28℃,32℃).Sample,dissecte,and observe the pupal morphologic changes with the stereomicroscope.Results 7 morphological changes within the puparium can be used as age-markers and the pupal period of Lucilia cuprina can be divided into 9 developmental stages.The time required for each pupal stage was inversely proportional to the temperature.Conclusion Pupal developmental stages can be used as reference to the estimation of PMI.

Objective:To probe into the mechanism of the formation of neuroma and stump pai n,and the development of nerve fibres after the proximal ends of peripheral nerv e were bridged by pedicled skeletal muscle.Methods:Forty Wister white rats were randomly divided into experimental group an d control group.The left sciatic nerves of all the rats were transected at the s ame level,and the distal parts of nerves were cut off. The proximal end of the t ransected sciatic nerve in th experimental group was longitudinally divided into two parts,and the two ends were bridged by pedicled skeletal muscle.The proxima l ends of sciatic nerves were left in situ.The sciatic nerves were detected afte r 16 weeks.Results:In experimental group,the regenerated nerve fibres grew into skeletal mu scle bridge via anastomosis and distributed among the skeletal fascicle,and ther e was no formation of neuroma.Conclusion:The pedicled skeletal muscle bridging of the proximal ends of the amp utated peripheral nerves may prevent the formation of neuroma.

0.05).(2) The volume range of 25 hepatocellular tumors was 395.16～2747.7 ml using diameter measurement and 203.10～1463.19 ml using MSCT 3D measurement before the operation.There was significant difference of the data in these two groups using t-test (t=7.689, P

Aim To investigate the molecular mecha-nism for the inhibitory effect of puerarin on IL-6 secre-tion in human osteoblast-likeMG-63 cells. Methods According to our previous studies, human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells containing two estrogen receptor ( ER) isoforms are a suitable model for this study. En-zyme-linked immnosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-PCR, luciferase reporter assay and small interfering RNA were performed to investigate the effect of puerarin on IL-6 expression in osteoblast-derived cells and underly-ing molecular mechanism. Results Puerarin could obviously inhibit IL-6 expression and IL-6 promoter ac-tivity by human osteoblastic MG-63 cells. Treatment with the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 abrogates the a-bove actions of puerarin on osteoblast-derived cells. U-sing siRNA technology, we further demonstrated that the effects of puerarin on IL-6 production were media-ted by ERα. Conclusion The effect of puerarin on IL-6 production in osteoblast is mediated by ERα.

Objective: To explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion in myocardial protection of rats undergoing long-term fatigue exercise based on observing the classical pyroptosis pathway mediated by nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1 (Caspase-1).Methods: A total of 50 specific-pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats were bought. Ten unqualified rats were excluded, and the remaining 40 rats were divided into a normal group, a normal + Shenque (CV8) group, a model group, a model + non-meridian non-point group, and a model + Shenque (CV8) group according to the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Except for rats in the normal group and the normal + Shenque (CV8) group, rats in the other three groups were trained with an incline running table exercise protocol to create a long-term fatigue exercise model, 1 h/time, once a day for 5 d with 2 d off, for a total of 8 weeks. Rats in the normal group received no modeling or intervention. Rats in the normal + Shenque (CV8) group were not modeled but received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV8); those in the model group were modeled only without intervention; those in the model + non-meridian non-point group received moxibustion at non-meridian and non-point spots after the modeling; those in the model + Shenque (CV8) group received moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) after modeling. The above moxibustion interventions were performed for 15 min/time once daily, for 5 d with 2 d off per week and a total of 8 weeks. Blood was collected from the femoral artery 4 h after the last exercise, and the serum interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels were measured. The NF-κB, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), Caspase-1, and gasdermin D (GSDMD) expression levels were detected by Western blotting. Myocardial morphology and pyroptosis were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and electron microscopy. Results: The HE staining results showed that the myocardial cells in the model group and the model + non-meridian non-point group were disorganized with blurred transverse lines, widened interstitial spaces, interstitial edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration. The structure of myocardial cells in the model + Shenque (CV8) group was clearly visible, with slightly widened interstitial spaces and occasional infiltration of inflammatory cells in the interstitium. Compared with the normal group, the serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels were increased, and myocardial NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and GSDMD expression levels were elevated in the model group and the model + non-meridian non-point group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the above indicators did not change significantly in the model + non-meridian non-point group, while all the above indicators were decreased in the model + Shenque (CV8) group (P<0.01). Compared with the model + non-meridian non-point group, all the above biochemical indicators were decreased in the model + Shenque (CV8) group (P<0.01). Transmission electron microscopy showed that the mitochondria number was increased in the model group and the model + non-meridian non-point group, some of the mitochondrial lumen was irregularly enlarged, the cell membrane structure was unclear, and chromatin was aggregated. The mitochondria number was increased, the swelling was reduced, and the nuclear membrane structure was more intact in the model + Shenque (CV8) group. Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) regulates the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway and reduces the pyroptosisin the myocardium of rats with long-term fatigue exercise, thus reducing the myocardial injury caused by long-term fatigue exercise.

Objective To evaluate the potential of interventional regional arterial infusion for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Regional arterial infusion with somatostatin and antibiotic was performed in 20 cases of SAP within 4 hours after diagnosis confirmed,and pressurized infusion lasted for 5 days. Another 28 cases of SAP as control group received drug treatment all over the body. The SAP clinical data such as symptom,mortality,complication rate and stay time in hospital were analysed in two groups. Results There were significant differences in remission,serum amylase,urine amylase and lipase between the regional and total infusion groups. The stay time in hospital,mortality,complication and operation rate were lower in regional infusion group than those of control group(P

Objective To investigate the expression profile of human genes in response to acute sodium arsenite treatment by cDNA microarray. Methods The RNA was purified from the L-02 cells without and with arsenite sodium induction for 2 hours, 15 hours and 24 hours, respectively. Results The hybridization patterns were different between every interval of arsenite induction. Expression of hCYR61 increased after 2 hours' induction, but decreased after 15 hours and 24 hours. Expression of metallothionein Ⅳ and Ⅲ elevated at the whole induction phase. HSP86 was up-regulated after 15 hours and 24 hours' induction, but it did not alter at two hours' induction. Conclusion When exposed to arsenite, the cells are under a meet-an-emergency situation to synthesize the most necessary protein and inhibit synthesis of unessential proteins.

Objective To introduce Curve Harmony Angle (CHA)to quantify the relationship between adjacent curves of the spine and pelvis and evaluate sagittal balance in spinal deformities. Methods Radiographic analysis of 93 asymptomatic vol-unteers and 95 patients including Degenerative Scoliosis(DS), Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis(AIS)and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)was performed by measuring sagittal parameters. Correlation study among parameters was further conducted. Curve Harmony Angles(CHAs)including the following three parameters were measured. Cervical-Thoracic Angle (CTA), Thoracic-Lumbar Angle (TLA) and Lumbar-Sacral Angle (LSA). Comparative study between normal population and different spinal disorders were per-formed in order to describe the characteristic changes of CHAs. Besides, according to Schwab SRS adult deformity classification, comparative study of CHAs in different balance status was performed to test the reliability of CHA on sagittal balance evaluation. Results All subjects showed typical changes of sagittal parameters. Different spinal disorders showed characteristic patterns of CHAs. In Schwab-SRS Adult Deformity Classification, Compensatory Balance group showed smaller LSA compared to Balance group;Imbalance group showed significantly smaller CTA, LSA and significantly greater TLA. Conclusion CHAs are parame-ters used to quantify the relationship between adjacent curves. Comparative study of CHA between normal population and different spinal disorder or among different balance status showed specific characters respectively. It is feasible to use CHA to evaluate the clinical sagittal balance and the results of deformity correction.