[Professor LU Fan's clinical experience in shallow needling technique of acupuncture].

Professor LU Fan adheres to the principle in clinical practice, "the needling principle concentrated on regulating qi ". She takes the advantages of shallow needling technique of acupuncture in treatment of various diseases, e.g. exogenous disease, initial onset of disorder, chronic bi disorder, intractable diseases, disorder of yang nature, disorder of heat nature, thin body, pediatric diseases, disorders on the unilateral side of the body and acute diseases. Besides in compliance with classics, she has broadened the application scope of shallow needling technique of acupuncture and improved the clinical therapeutic effect.

Acupuncture Relieves Stress-Induced Depressive Behavior by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Neuroapoptosis in Rats.

Oxidative stress is closely related to the occurrence of depression. Acupuncture has been proved to be an effective method for treating depression. In order to explore the mechanism of the antidepressant effect of acupuncture, this study performed acupuncture prevention on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model rats, and observed the effect of acupuncture on hippocampal oxidative stress and Nrf2 signaling pathway. Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, CUMS group, acupuncture group, and fluoxetine group (n = 10/group). Fluoxetine, a common antidepressant, was used as a positive control drug in this study. In the fluoxetine group, rats were given fluoxetine (2.1 mg/kg) intragastrically once a day for 28 days. The acupoints of Shangxing (GV23) and Fengfu (GV16) were applied in acupuncture group, once every other day for 14 times in total. Behavioral tests and biological detections were used to evaluate the effects of the interventions and the changes of factors related to oxidative stress, Nrf2 pathway, and neuronal apoptosis. The results showed that both acupuncture and fluoxetine could increase sugar preference rate in SPT and decrease immobility time in FST in depression model rats. It also significantly decreased oxidative stress products such as ROS and H2O2, and elevated the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1. From Nissl's staining, there were more abundant nerve cells in two intervention groups compared with CUMS group. Plus, acupuncture down-regulated the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 and up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2. Our findings indicate that acupuncture improved depression-like behaviors of CUMS rats. And CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors in rats were related to oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus. Acupuncture showed antidepressant effects in reducing oxidative stress products via regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway so that prevented neuronal apoptosis.

Difference of Liver and Kidney Metabolic Profiling in Chronic Atrophic Gastritis Rats between Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment.

Acupuncture and moxibustion proved to be very effective in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). According to the Chinese traditional medicine theory, chronic diseases have an influence on the function of liver and kidney. However, there is little research to demonstrate this theory. This study is aimed at assessing the 1H NMR-based metabolic profiling in liver and kidney of CAG rats and comparing the difference between electroacupuncture and moxibustion treatment. Male SD rats were subjected to CAG modeling by intragastric administration of mixture of 2% sodium salicylate and 30% alcohol coupled with compulsive sporting and irregular fasting for 12 weeks and then treated by electroacupuncture or moxibustion at Liangmen (ST 21) and Zusanli (ST 36) acupoints for 2 weeks. A 1H NMR analysis of liver and kidney samples along with histopathological examination and molecular biological assay was employed to assess and compare the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture and moxibustion. CAG brought characterization of metabolomic signatures in liver and kidney of rats. Both electroacupuncture and moxibustion treatment were found to normalize the CAG-induced changes by restoring energy metabolism, neurotransmitter metabolism, antioxidation metabolism, and other metabolism, while the moxibustion treatment reversed more metabolites related to energy metabolism in liver than electroacupuncture treatment. CAG did have influence on liver and kidney of rats. Both of these treatments had good effects on CAG by reversing the CAG-induced perturbation in liver and kidney. For regulating the energy metabolism in liver, the moxibustion played more important role than electroacupuncture treatment.

[The present situation and development of acupuncture and moxibustion in Portugal].

The development courses of acupuncture and moxibustion as well as the present situation, education and legislation in Portugal were reviewed in this article. Acupuncture and Moxibustion has been developed in Portugal since 1980's. The first acupuncture school appeared in the year of 1992. Until now, courses on Chinese medicine and acupuncture has already been set up in about six universities. Acupuncture legislation started in the year 2003. At present, professional levels of acupuncture practitioners vary a lot. There are over 50 indications currently. And acupuncture treatment is basically at one's own expense.

[Clinical application of the penetrating needling technique from neiguan (PC 6) to waiguan (TE 5) by Professor LIU Kong-teng].

The clinical experience of Professor LIU Kong-teng's needling techniques and methods of the penetrating needling from Neiguan (PC 6) to Waiguan (TE 5) in the treatment of various diseases is introduced in this paper. The acupoints characteristics, penetrating needling techniques and methods and the clinical indications are summarized. Examples of Elbow flaccid paralysis, headache, insomnia, neck contracture, vomiting, hiccups, heart disease, the acute abdominal pain, acute lumbar sprain, acute ankle joint sprain and periarthritis of shoulder are given to explain techniques and methods of the penetrating acupuncture.

[Liu Zhang-Jie's thought of acupuncture education].

Through retrieving of literature relevant to LIU Zhang-jie, his practicing and teaching experience in Quanzhou city are investigated, and his modern education thoughts are summarized in this article as well. It is found that LIU attached great importance on both apprenticeship and classroom teaching; he highlighted the theory of meridians and the classic of Treaties on Febrile Diseases; recommending selection of less points, and focusing on finger force during practice, he prefered to combine acupuncture with materia medica. He was practical and realistic, and never hide his mistakes. He also brought along and passed his ideas of acupuncture teach to his students. The medical ethic of SUN Si-miao was the one he advocated. He also spared no effort to write books and teach materials which played important roles in the spread of Chengjiang Acupuncture School.

[Chengjiang school descendant Mr. Huang Zong-Xu's academic characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion].

HUANG Zong-xu, who studied from Mr. Cheng Dan-an, the founder of Chengjiang acupuncture school, is a famous acupuncturist of Fujian Province. Through collecting and sorting of Mr. Huang's theses and medical records, his academic characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion were summarized as follows. Paying attention to meridians and collaterals and treatment based on syndrome differentiation; valuing the needling sensation as well as being good at reinforcing and reducing methods; thinking highly of taking care of spleen and stomach, ombination of needles and herbal medicine to treat difficult miscellaneous diseases; being adept in externd therapy and penetration needling and diet prescriptions, as well as attaching importance on health preserving.

[A brief analysis of taking off the needle slowly].

The ancients highlight taking off the needle slowly. From aspects of proper timing of withdrawing the needle, the safe treatment, treating and keeping the spirit, dealing with the acupuncture accidents, reinforcing and reducing manipulation and strengthening the post-needling sensation, etc. advantages of taking off the needle slowly are described in this paper. So the taking off the needle slowly is worthwhile in clinic.

[Present situation and development of acupuncture and moxibustion in Singapore].

The development history, education, legislation, charge and institutes of acupuncture and moxibustion in Singapore are introduced in this article. Acupuncture and moxibustion has been developed in Singapore since 1840. Nowadays there are three universities that set up standard Chinese medicine courses and two acupuncture-moxibustion associations. Legislation of acupuncture and moxibustion is published in 2000. The acupuncture and moxibustion is applied for approximately 50 kinds of diseases. The acupuncture and moxibustion is at one's own expense in public or private institutions, but cheap or completely free in charity.

[Analysis of LIU Zhang-jie's acupuncture academic thoughts: an outstanding follower of Chengjiang acupuncture school].

Mr. LIU Zhang-jie, one of the disciples of CHENG Dan-an who is considered as the initiator of the Chengjiang acupuncture school, is a famous acupuncturist in Fujian Province. With the collection and arrangement of Mr. LIU's literatures, medical records, books and interview of his student. ZHANG Yong-shu, Mr. LIU's academic characteristics are analyzed and summarized in this paper, mainly including being focused on finger power and manipulating without pain; being good at direct moxibustion to elevate yang-qi and drive out evil spirits; highlighting meridian syndrome differentiation and combined use of the four diagnostic methods; each disease has its own pathogeny, eliminating pathogen is the key; valuing the curative effect with flexible apply of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. In a word, Mr. LIU, who inherited the school's scholarism and developed it into next level, is one of Chengjiang acupuncture school's representative figures.

[Mr. Chen Ying-long of chengjiang acupuncture school: a brief introduction].

Through consultation of the historical literatures on Mr. CHEN Ying-long, investigating his teaching experiences in Xiamen Hospital of TCM and Xiamen University, the characteristics of his educational idea on acupuncture-moxibustion, are found as follows: great significance is found in the dissemination of Chengjiang acupuncture school in Minnan area of China and abroad through the combination of the succession of education from a masters to disciples and the classroom teaching; importance is attached to medical ethics, and priority is put on building up ethics and teaching by precept and example. In order to inherit the Chengjiang acupuncture school, Mr. CHEN focuses on fostering a proper studying method, emphasizes on the basic skills of acupuncture, reinforces clinical practice and techniques, edits books, and imparts knowledge and solves doubts.

[Academic features of CHEN Ying-long of the Chengjiang acupuncture school].

CHEN Ying-long is a famous acupuncturist in modern China. He is one of the disciples of CHENG Dan-an who is considered as the initiator of the Chengjiang acupuncture school. Through collecting and sorting of CHEN's theses and medical records which carried on and developed the Chengjiang acupuncture school, it is found that his academic features of acupuncture manifested in the following points: attaching importance on prac tice of qi and finger force; valuing the reinforcing and reducing manipulations according to midnight-noon and ebb-flow doctrine; utilizing moxibustion to treat difficult and complicated diseases; applied group points to treat chronic diseases; good at treating manic type of mental disorder with deep acupuncture at Fengfu (GV 16).

[Prokaryotic expression of Drosophila selenoprotein D-SelK and preparation of polyclonal antibody to D-SelK].

AIM: To clone and encode Drosophila selenoprotein D-SelK structure gene, express it in E.coli efficiently, and after purification, to generate its antibody in rabbits. METHODS: D-SelK gene segment amplified from pGM-T-D-SelK plasmid by PCR was inserted into pGEX-6p-1 to construct recombinant plasmid pGEX-6p-1-D-SelK. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into E.coli BL21(DE3) to express the recombinant protein D-SelK in E.coli under IPTG induction. The protein was purified by denaturation and electrophoresis, and then identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Polyclonal antibody to D-SelK was obtained by immunizing rabbits with the protein. Quality and quantity of the antibody was examined. RESULTS: D-SelK gene segment was successfully inserted into pGEX-6p-1 and the positive clones of the recombinant plasmid was identified by PCR screening and restriction endonuclease analysis. The target protein was effectively expressed in E.coli by the IPTG induction. Through immunizing rabbits with the purified target protein, we obtained the specific antibodies to D-SelK, the titer of which was more than 1:51 200. The polyclonal antibody had a good specificity to D-SelK. CONCLUSION: D-SelK recombinant protein and rabbit anti-D-SelK polyclonal antibody with high specificity were obtained, which provides good tools for further research on the functional characterization of D-SelK.

A new triterpenoid saponin from Gynostemma pentaphyllum.

A new dammarane-type triterpene saponin was isolated from the aerial parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino. Its structural elucidation was accomplished mainly on the basis of the interpretation of spectroscopic data, such as IR, HR-TOF-MS and NMR. Its cytotoxic activity was evaluated against one human cancer cell line HL-60 using MTT assay.

[Research on nondestructive measurement of soluble tannin content of astringent persimmon using visible and near infrared diffuse reflection spectroscopy].

The objectives of the present study were to establish the relationships of the visible and near infrared diffuse reflection (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy and the soluble tannin content of internal quality index of astringent persimmon, and to evaluate the value of Vis/NIR spectroscopy in measuring the soluble tannin content of internal quality index of astringent persimmon. In the spectral region between 570 and 1 848 nm, calibration results for the soluble tannin content of astringent persimmon were compared with different regression techniques, different derivative treatments and different scatter and standard treatments. The results showed that the modified partial least squares(MPLS) model, with respect to the first derivative D1 log(1/R) and detrend only, provided better prediction performance for the soluble tannin content of astringent persimmon fruit, with the correlation coefficient of cross validation of calibration (R(cv)) and correlation coefficient of prediction (R(p2)), the root mean square error of cross validation of calibration (RMSECV) and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.722 7, 0.678 5, 0.148, and 0.176 3 respectively. The preliminary research on the built models indicated that nondestructive measurement of the soluble tannin content of astringent persimmon using Vis/NIR spectroscopy technique was feasible, but the precision of the models could be improved further.

[Comprehensive utilization and sustainable development of Chinese herbal medicinal resource].

The issues concerning protection, comprehensive utilization, sustainable development, and quickening up the modernization of Chinese herbal medicinal resource, as well as how to accelerate the international conjunction of Chinese medicinal industry were discussed in this paper.

Relationship between cytokine mRNA expression and organ damage following cecal ligation and puncture.

AIM: To investigate the role of cytokine gene expression in organ damage at different tissue sites during sepsis. METHODS: Male NIH mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham operation (Sham). Pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) gene expression in the liver and lung tissue were assessed by RT-PCR. The permeability of microvascular and water content in the lungs and liver were also examined. RESULTS: Significant increase in TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 gene expression was observed at 3 and 12 h after CLP both in the liver and lungs (P<0.01).The level of IL-4 gene expression was not changed after CLP in the lungs, but increased at 12 h after CLP(P<0.01) in the liver tissue. Both the liver and lungs showed a significant increase in microcirculatory permeability at 12 h after CLP(P<0.01), and the increase in the lungs was higher than that in the liver. The water mass fractions in the liver (P<0.05) and lungs (P<0.01) were increased after CLP, and the increase in the lungs happened earlier and more severely than that in the liver. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory response in the liver and lungs was different during sepsis. At the early stage of sepsis, pro-inflammatory reaction dominates both in the liver and lungs. But at the later stage of sepsis, induction of compensatory anti-inflammatory response was seen in the liver but not in the lungs. This difference in situ activity may contribute to the different vulnerability of organ damage during sepsis. The strategy of systemic administration of anti-inflammatory drugs to sepsis should be reconsidered.