The method of decocting and taking medicine can directly influence the efficacy of the Chinese herbal medicine,and is the key to enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity.As the originator of classic books for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)prescriptions,Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases has recorded various specific methods of decocting and taking medicine in details.This paper summarized and sorted out various methods of decocting the same Chinese herbal medicine,re-decocting method with the removal of dregs(for concentrating medicinal solution),method of decocting pills,dosage of medicine,time for taking medicine,and notices and healthcare after medication recorded in Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases.Moreover,the dialectical view in the method of decocting medicine recorded in Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases.was explored.The special method of decocting and taking medicine in Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases included the TCM dialectical view of using the same Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of different diseases,consideration of both Chinese herbal medicine and syndromes,drastic purgatives for chasing long-term efficacy.The method of taking medicine contained the TCM dialectical view of modification of the medicine dosage according to syndrome differentiation,adapting to the general trend,and suspension after medicine starting an effect.It is believed that the method of decocting and taking medicine for the prescriptions in Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases is established according to syndrome differentiation,and the utilization of various methods of decocting and taking medicine as well as notices and healthcare after medication in accordance with the characteristics of diseases and syndromes ensures the prescriptions meeting the pathogenesis,and then enhance the clinical efficacy.

Astragalosides are the main active constituents of traditional Chinese medicine Huang-Qi, of which cycloastragenol-type glycosides are the most typical and major bioactive compounds. This kind of compounds exhibit various biological functions including cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, etc. Owing to the limitations of natural sources and the difficulties encountered in chemical synthesis, re-engineering of biosynthetic machinery will offer an alternative and promising approach to producing astragalosides. However, the biosynthetic pathway for astragalosides remains elusive due to their complex structures and numerous reaction types and steps. Herein, guided by transcriptome and phylogenetic analyses, a cycloartenol synthase and four glycosyltransferases catalyzing the committed steps in the biosynthesis of such bioactive astragalosides were functionally characterized from Astragalus membranaceus. AmCAS1, the first reported cycloartenol synthase from Astragalus genus, is capable of catalyzing the formation of cycloartenol; AmUGT15, AmUGT14, AmUGT13, and AmUGT7 are four glycosyltransferases biochemically characterized to catalyze 3-O-xylosylation, 3-O-glucosylation, 25-O-glucosylation/O-xylosylation and 2'-O-glucosylation of cycloastragenol glycosides, respectively. These findings not only clarified the crucial enzymes for the biosynthesis and the molecular basis for the structural diversity of astragalosides in Astragalus plants, also paved the way for further completely deciphering the biosynthetic pathway and constructing an artificial pathway for their efficient production.

Objective To investigate the sleep quality of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer ( IVF-ET)patients.Methods A total of 92 patients were selected and accepted fertility treatment from October to November, 2012.Then, we investigated their sleep quality using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index ( PSQI) scale.Results Among the 92 IVF-ET patients, 19 patients ( 20.6%) at the first day during period , 43 patients (46.7%) on the day of oocyte retrieval , and 42 patients (45.6%) on the seventh day after embryo transfer got a score of PSQI over 7, which indicated that a number of patients who had experienced sleep disorders and the problem remained at a high level .At the first day during period , IVF-ET patients ’ score of PSQI in sleep quality, the time to fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorders, daytime dysfunction, and the total score were (0.89 ±0.64), (0.96 ±0.75), (0.89 ±0.69), (0.46 ±0.76), (1.08 ±0.60), (1.05 ±0.72) scores, and (4.78 ±2.39), respectively, which were higher than the norm score of (0.63 ±0.68), (0.70 ±0.86), (0.70 ±0.58), (0.15 ±0.47), (0.90 ±0.44), (0.73 ±0.83), and (3.88 ±2.52) scores.The differences were significant (t=2.795 6, 2.274 8, 2.141 8, 3.412 9, 2.424 4, 2.922 3, 2.597 7, respectively;P<0.05).On the day of oocyte retrieval, IVF-ET patients’ score of PSQI in sleep quality, the time to fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorders, daytime dysfunction, and the total score were (1.22 ±0.55), (1.23 ±0.79), (1.17 ±0.72), (0.91 ±0.93), (1.24 ±0.54), (1.38 ±0.72), and (7.23 ±2.07) scores, respectively.On the seventh day after embryo transfer , those scores were (1.08 ±0.58), (1.27 ±0.68), (1.18 ±0.77), (0.90 ±0.88), (1.27 ±0.54), (1.43 ± 0.76), and (7.09 ±1.87) scores, respectively.Compared with the first day during period , the differences of scores were significant (F=7.067, 4.879, 4.829, 8.427, 3.231, 7.232, 38.521, respectively;P<0.05). Conclusions The sleep quality of IVF-ET patients were significantly decreased , so measures should be taken to improve the sleep quality during different stages of treatment .

Objective To evaluate the safety of endoscopic ligation of gastric and colic full-thickness wall with nylon loops.Methods Endoscopic ligation of full gastric and colic wall with detachable nylon loops, assisted by laparotomy, were performed in 4 dogs.Ligation healing was assessed on 3, 7, 10and 17 days after the procedure.Results All animals recovered after the procedure, without any clinical signs of infection or hemorrhage.Postoperative examination did not reveal gastric or colonic perforation, or local abscess.Loop ligature showed ulcer-like lesion.Histopathology revealed muscularis propria disruption, granulation tissue bridging the site of ligation and formation of scar tissue.Regenerative mucosa coyered the surface of the ligature completely 17 days after the operation.Conclusion Endoscopic ligation of gastric and colic full-thickness wall with detachable nylon loops is safe.Its application can be extended to other fields.