Correlation of propagated sensation along meridian and TCM constitution / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between propagated sensation along meridian (PSM) and TCM constitution at different age stages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to age, 840 participants were divided into a youth group (326 cases), a middle aged group (243 cases) and an elderly group (271 cases). The TCM constitution of all the participants was evaluated, and the PSM test was performed. The distribution of TCM constitution, the occurring rate and transmission of PSM in each group were observed and compared; the correlation between PSM and the TCM constitution was preliminary investigated by Logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The distribution of nine types of TCM constitution in three groups:the proportion of normal constitution and partial constitution were significantly different (all<0.05); the occurring rate and transmission of PSM in three groups were not significantly different (all>0.05); the proportion of occurring rate for nine types of TCM constitutions in the whole population, from high to low, presented special intrinsic quality, neutral quality,-deficiency quality,-deficiency quality,-deficiency quality, damp-heat quality, phlegm-dampness quality,-stagnation quality and blood-stasis quality; besides, the proportion of occurring rate for different TCM constitutions in the youth group, middle aged group and elderly group was similar to that of whole population. The Logistic regression analysis results indicated the neutral quality (=0.025) and special intrinsic quality (=0.018) were positively while blood-stasis quality (=0.043) was negatively related with PSM in all subjects; the-deficiency quality (=0.025), phlegm-dampness quality (=0.019), blood-stasis quality (=0.012) and-stagnation quality (=0.035) were negatively related with PSM in youth group; the neutral quality (=0.001) was positively related with PSM inthe middle aged group; the neutral quality (=0.006) anddeficiency quality (=0.004) were positively related with PSM in the elderly group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The occurrence of PSM in different age stages is related with TCM constitution, which could be increased in clinical treatment to improve acupuncture efficacy.</p>

Ginkgolide B promotes axonal growth of retina ganglion cells by anti-apoptosis in vitro / 生理学报

One common feature of glaucoma, optic neuritis and some other optic nerve diseases is sustained and irreversible apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Ginkgolide B is believed to protect neurons in brain and contribute to neurite outgrowth and synapse formation. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB761) and ginkgolide B on axonal growth of RCGs. Retina explants were cultured in three-dimensional tissue culture system, and the number and length of neurites were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to confirm that the neurite observed was axon of RGCs. TUNEL and activated caspase-3 staining were also applied to observe RGCs apoptosis. The result shows that neurites of RGCs treated with EGB761 or ginkgolide B were more and longer than those in control. The neurite is proved to be the axon of RGCs by immunostaining. Furthermore, compared with control group, RGCs treated with ginkgolide B showed decreased cellular apoptosis and inhibited caspase-3 activation. These results suggest ginkgolide B can promote RGCs axon growth by protecting RGCs against apoptosis.