[On acupoints].

Acupoint is the basis of acupuncture. To elaborate the theory of acupuncture, the structure and function of acupoint should be clarified in advance. By exploring the discussion upon the classification, distribution and structure of acupoint in Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor), qi zheng lun (on meridian points and extra points), jie jiao lun (on convergence of joints) and guan ji lun (on three-dimensional structure of acupoint) are extracted. Based on whether located on the fixed sites, acupoints are classified into meridian points and extra points, while the meridian points are divided into 4 categories, i.e maishu, gukong, qixue and muxue. The convergence of joints illustrates the principal rule of acupoint distribution. The density of the major and key acupoints is proportional to the size and the complexity of function of joints. Acupoint is recognized as a three-dimensional structure in consideration of its external distribution on the body surface and the substances inside the body, which can be explored and examined. In addition, the relationship between meridian points and extra points, the significance of meridian points in different conditions, and the approaches to acupoint study are deeply discussed and analyzed. The crucial problems and the way for solving them are proposed for the future study to provide the references to the inheritance and innovation of acupuncture.

Evaluation of trabecular meshwork-specific promoters in vitro and in vivo using scAAV2 vectors expressing C3 transferase.

AIM: To evaluate the potential of two trabecular meshwork (TM)-specific promoters, Chitinase 3-like 1 (Ch3L1) and matrix gla protein (MGP), for improving specificity and safety in glaucoma gene therapy based on self-complementary AAV2 (scAAV2) vector technologies. METHODS: An scAAV2 vector with C3 transferase (C3) as the reporter gene (scAAV2-C3) was selected. The scAAV2-C3 vectors were driven by Ch3L1 (scAAV2-Ch3L1-C3), MGP (scAAV2-MGP-C3), enhanced MGP (scAAV2-eMGP-C3) and cytomegalovirus (scAAV2-CMV-C3), respectively. The cultured primary human TM cells were treated with each vector at different multiplicities of infections. Changes in cell morphology were observed by phase contrast microscopy. Actin stress fibers and Rho GTPases/Rho-associated protein kinase pathway-related molecules were assessed by immunofluorescence staining, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Each vector was injected intracamerally into the one eye of each rat at low and high doses respectively. In vivo green fluorescence was visualized by a Micron III Retinal Imaging Microscope. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was monitored using a rebound tonometer. Ocular responses were evaluated by slit-lamp microscopy. Ocular histopathology analysis was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS: In TM cell culture studies, the vector-mediated C3 expression induced morphologic changes, disruption of actin cytoskeleton and reduction of fibronectin expression in TM cells by inhibiting the Rho GTPases/Rho-associated protein kinase signaling pathway. At the same dose, these changes were significant in TM cells treated with scAAV2-CMV-C3 or scAAV2-Ch3L1-C3, but not in cells treated with scAAV2-eMGP-C3 or scAAV2-MGP-C3. At low-injected dose, the IOP was significantly decreased in the scAAV2-Ch3L1-C3-injected eyes but not in scAAV2-MGP-C3-injected and scAAV2-eMGP-C3-injected eyes. At high-injected dose, significant IOP reduction was observed in the scAAV2-eMGP-C3-injected eyes but not in scAAV2-MGP-C3-injected eyes. Similar to scAAV2-CMV-C3, scAAV2-Ch3L1-C3 vector showed efficient transduction both in the TM and corneal endothelium. In anterior segment tissues of scAAV2-eMGP-C3-injected eyes, no obvious morphological changes were found except for the TM. Inflammation was absent. CONCLUSION: In scAAV2-transduced TM cells, the promoter-driven efficiency of Ch3L1 is close to that of cytomegalovirus, but obviously higher than that of MGP. In the anterior chamber of rat eye, the transgene expression pattern of scAAV2 vector is presumably affected by MGP promoter, but not by Ch3L1 promoter. These findings would provide a useful reference for improvement of specificity and safety in glaucoma gene therapy using scAAV2 vector.

[Evolution of acupuncture techniques for jin diseases and the rise and fall of jingjin doctrine].

It has the important enlightenment and reference significance for the inheritance and innovation of jin (sinew/fascia) diseases and its theoretic basis, jingjin (muscle region of meridian) doctrine by sorting out the origin of the acupuncture techniques for jin diseases and exploring the root of its rise and fall. Using context analysis, overall investigation and practice test, the paper elaborates the basic concepts, e.g. needling techniques for jin, jingjin, jinji (muscular contracture) and jiejin (knotted tendon), and jingjin doctrine. In particular, the three key concepts, i.e. fanzhen jieci (heating after needling), yizhi weishu (feelings from patients and acupuncture operators) and yitong weishu (the worst painful sites of muscle spasm) are deeply investigated. These three concepts, involved in the treatment of jingjin disorders, treatment principles and methods, are of a great controversy in the current academic circle. The author clarified the category of needling for jin disease and main needling techniques, investigated specially the origin of fanzhen jieci and guancifa (repeated needling directly on the foci), and explored the evolution of the needling methods that had been controversial or neglected for a long time, i.e. neire cifa (technique for inducing heat inside for cold obstruction), guancifa, tiaocifa (inserting the needles around the foci), fencifa (intramuscular needling) and mucifa (deep puncturing to the peritoneum or on front-mu points). Finally, from the relationship between jin and mai (meridian), and the differences between dry needling and acupuncture technique for jin diseases, the author explored the crucial problems and countermeasures urgently required in the future development of jingjin doctrine so as to provide the references for the theoretical innovation of acupuncture- moxibustion science.

[Interpretation of China national standard Nomenclature and Location of Meridian Points (GB/T 12346-2021)].

To cooperate with the popularization and application of the China national standard Nomenclature and Location of Meridian Points (GB/T 12346 -2021), this study introduced the differences between the 2021 version and the 2006 version, and explained the principles of the revision and the changes in the standard name, terminology, definition and the expression of meridian points' body regions. In addition, the revision of the specific contents, including the adjustment of "bone proportional cun" of several meridian points and the revision basis of location of some meridian points were explained.

[The ancient literature source and flow of the point to point penetration acupuncture method].

It has been the consensus of the academic community that the doctor DOU Han-qing in Jin-Yuan Dynasty was the pioneer of point to point penetration acupuncture method.The contents of several texts in Yuan-Ming-Qing Dynasties were combed on the basis of Dou Taishi Zhenjing(《》).The paradigm,the acupoints,basic elements and the characteristics of the main treatment of diseases were discussed,and the relationship between the point to point penetration acupuncture method with the penetration acupuncture method has been tried to distinguish from the perspective of technical philosophy. It was found that the specifications and quantity of the 28 "penetration and to" cases in Dou Taishi Zhenjing(《》)were sufficiently exemplary for future generations, and were the source documents of Yuan-Ming-Qing's texts,which basically followed its specifications and content and developed.For example,the Yulong Poetries(《》)in the books of Bianque Shenying Zhenjiu Yulong Jing(《》),Zhenjiu Dacheng(《》),Zhenfang Liuji(《》).The 37 cases in Zhenfang Liuji(《》) were the most in several texts.The 31 cases in Xunjing Kaoxue Bian(《》)had the characteristics of DOU Han-qing, YANG Ji-zhou and LING Yun, who developed the opposite direction penetration method with two or more needles on DOU Han-qing's one needle.There were five basic elements in the point to point penetration acupuncture method:the needle pri-cking inch(depth), the needle pricking angle, the needle pricking direction, the starting acupoint, the end acupoint.This method in Dou Taishi Zhenjing(《》)mostly treated local diseases and symptoms,some acupoints below the elbows and knees also treated far-end diseases.The point to point penetration acupuncture method has a specific intention structure, which cannot be confused with the penetration acupuncture method.

[Footprints on the foundation road of Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in seventy years].

The exploration and representative achievements of Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences are reviewed during the past 70 years since its foundation in the basic research field, e.g. theoretic innovation, literature research, cultural relic study and museum construction, as well as acupuncture-moxibustion standardization. Besides, the analysis is conducted on the relevant aspects that needs to be improved or enhanced. Facing the future and reviewing the original aspiration, the approaches to the new journey of inheritance and innovation in Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion have been explored, i.e. discovering rules, creating innovation methods, constructing platform and refining essence.

[Masterpiece of reconstruction of theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine-revelation of LOU Ying's Yi Xue Gang Mu (An Outline of Medicine)].

For the first time, at the early Ming Dynasty, the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are integrated with clinical diagnosis and treatment system in Yi Xue Gang Mu (An Outline of Medicine) written by LOU Ying. Under this unified theoretical framework, the integration of acupuncture prescription with herbal medicine formula is achieved, thus, a complete reconstruction of theoretic system of TCM is accomplished. Such reconstruction brings an extensive and profound impact on the development of medicine in the Ming and Qing dynasties, even influences implicitly the compilation of modern TCM textbooks. Through in-depth study of the theoretical innovation mode of An Outline of Medicine, the valuable revelation is provided for the inheritance and innovation of TCM in modern times.

[Evolution of the concept of extra ordinary point and standardization of related terms].

Through an analysis of the historical development of the concept of extra ordinary point, it is found that the terms of "Qi point" "extra ordinary point" "Loujing point" "extra meridian point" and "Bie point" used in the ancient medical books in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties actually expressed two different concepts of "extra ordinary points with the magical effects" and "extra points other than the meridian points". The standardized term for the former concept should be "extra ordinary point" (Qi point for short), and the standardized term for the latter concept should be "extra meridian point", which is also called "Loujing point" and "Bie point". Since these two different concepts are not clarified in modern acupuncture textbooks, especially the misreading of "Jing Wai", no consensus has been reached on the definition of "extra ordinary point" and "extra meridian point", and the standardized terms have not been decided, which changed from "extra ordinary point" to "Qi point" and "extra point" and recently returned to "extra ordinary point". These confusions in textbooks have a direct impact on the determination of the related acupuncture terms used in national and international standards.

[Objective, approach and symbolic achievement of the standardization on extraordinary points].

Through sorting out the development of meridian points and the standardization of extraordinary points in dynasties, two objectives are discovered in the standardization of extraordinary points starting from the Tang Dynasty. The points with extraordinary effect are selected points and transferred to meridian points and the commonly-used key points are selected and developed to be standardized acupoints. Hence, 3 approaches are summarized. Approach No.1: a large number of "meridian-outside" points that are the potential supplementation but not included yet in meridian points are supplemented to meridian points. Approach No.2: based on the specified requirement, the key points are selected from the acupoints with determined locations and names, which is developed to be the standard of acupoints. Approach No.3: the acupoints with extraordinary effect are selected from the "meridian-outside" points and these points are collected for the formulation of the standard of extraordinary points. The latter two approaches provide for the development direction of teaching and standardization in the future.

[Study on the biceps brachii microcirculation blood flow reserve capacity of the Chinese rowers].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of chronic endurance exercise on microcirculatory reserve capacity of biceps brachii in Chinese rowers and provide a certain basis for the date standard foundation of monitoring of functional status and the foundation of database of reserve capacity of blood of Chinese rowers. METHODS: Empty stomach in the morning, 77 rowers from different groups and 24 common health people were noninvasive tested by using PeriFlux System 5000, the test indexes include the microcirculatory reserve capacity and other related indexes of biceps brachii. The test sites of all athletes were the same space in biceps brachii of the right side of body, there was no space differences of all athletes . All athletes were tested in the relatively stable functional status, common people were healthy. The test value included basic values and heating values, put the before and after heating of microcirculatory blood perfusion (MBP) as the microcirculatory reserve capacity. RESULTS: Heavyweight female (198. 97 ± 98. 81) > heavyweight male (183. 45 ± 64. 31) > lightweight male (151. 01 ± 65. 96) > lightweight female(140.53 ± 43.22) > common male people(127.21 ± 56.38) > common female people(103.54 ± 33.41), the microcirculatory reserve capacity of each group athletes were higher than common people, except the comparison between lightweight female and common male people, and there was no significant difference among the different group athletes. CONCLUSION: Chronic endurance exercise can improve the microcirculatory reserve capacity of rowers, especially the heavyweight rowers; the normal value of microcirculatory reserve capacity of heavy weight rowers should be more than 160, and lightweight rowers should be more than 120. There was no significant difference among different sex athletes, if the value of microcirculatory reserve capacity is significant lower than normal, it shows that athletes are in the state of fatigue.

[On mistakes in contemporary literatures of extra points in China].

Contemporary literatures which are taken as the base of literature study of extra points are insufficient and lack of reliability. The foundation of study is very weak. Based on abundant firsthand materials, analyses are made on the major problems of confounded names and locations, unclear quotation and source of reference in the study of contemporary literatures of extra points. Meanwhile, methods and way of thinking for solving the above mentioned problems are discussed in this article as well.

[Study on the title of Chongbian Yijingxiaoxue].

Chongbian Yijingxiaoxue was compiled by Jitian Zongxun in 1590 - 1610. The existing editions included a carved edition and copied edition, then came the photocopy. There was a chapter entitled 'Loujing Xuefa' which recorded 29 extrameridian points. This chapter was compiled into a verse in Volume 3 of Chongbian Yijingxiaoxue. As the book had always been confused with Yijing Xiaoxue, written by Liu Chun in the Ming Dynasty, its literature value increased and became necessary in literature research on extrameridian points. This kind of error was related to people's credulity and blindness on the authority of classical books and 'momentum of literature error'.

[False dissemination of "treatment of hemorrhoids by acupuncture of Kongzui (LU 6)" and its unfavorable influence on modern acupuncture].

"Treatment of hemorrhoids by acupuncture of Kongzui (LU 6)" has been considered to be an example of new discovery in current clinical acupuncture practice and has produced a significant influence on domestic and foreign textbooks of acupuncturology and the health care of the people. After comprehensively analyzing this known saying, it was found that the so-called "new discovery" which has been inherited for decades of years is in fact derived from incorrect dissemination, being lack of evidence of both literature and clinical practice.

[Analysis of the nominations of acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity].

The definition of intangible cultural heritage and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is discussed. Nominations of elements should be prepared in accordence with the Guidelines provided in each section. The explaination methods and the determining process of the Nominations for Acupuncture and Moxibustion on the Representative List are analyzed, such as the name of the element, characteristics, identification and definition, value and safeguarding measures, photos and video of the element. The Nominations should be prepared according to the Convention and Guidelines closedly and focus on discussing the cultural, the content, the communities and individuals, safeguarding measures of element.

[Editorial explanation on the state standard The Name and Location of Acupoints (2006, edition)].

To tie in with extension and application of The Name and Location of Acupoints (GB 12346-2006), the present paper introduces the difference between The Name and Location of Acupoints (GB 12346-2006) and Location of Points (GB 12346-90), and expounds the changes of standard name, body position and term of direction when locating the acupoint and stylistic rules, and introduces the revision of concrete contents which include setting of primary standard acupoints, regulation of bone-length measurement, regulation of the nomenclature of some meridians and meridian acupoints, the location of some meridian acupoints and regulation of some acupoints, some main problems which needed to be further studied are also explores.

[Texture research on the circulating editions and it's composition of Dou tai shi zhen jing (the acupuncture canon of Dou tai shi)].

Dou tai shi zhen jing (the acupuncture canon of Dou tai shi) was an ancient book of acupuncture and moxibustion of Yuan dynasty which had two kinds of transcript of Qing dynasty and the Republic of China. The transcript of Qing dynasty entitled "Mi chao yang shi jia chuan zhen jing tu" (The secret note of acupuncture canon picture of Yang's family heritage). The transcript of the Republic of China was copied together with Yu long ge, so entitled Yu long ge. By making texture research, the two kinds of transcripts were actually different circulating editions of Dou tai shi zhen jing, but the exact title was still uncertain. The author of this book was not Dou Han-qing himself. It should be arranged by Dou's successor and annotated by his descendants. The transcript of Qing dynasty consisted of text, annotation, variorum and headnote. Because Dou tai shi zhen jing was a single conclusion based on clinical practice of acupoint after Zhen quan zhen jing (the acupuncture canon of Zhen quan), so it had high documentary and practical values.

[Identification and analysis on the error of Guanyuan (CV 4) point in Yulong Ge (Jade Dragon Verse)].

After investigation on the contents about Yulong Ge (Jade Dragon Verse) and Guanyuan (CV 4) in Chinese ancient medical works of the successive dynasties, the authors of the present paper found some errors of recording on CV4. In fact, Guanyuan (CV 4) in the current edition Yulong Ge should be the extra point Lanmen. The author hold that this error mainly results from similar writing in Chinese character, repeated copy, such as [Chinese characters: see text] etc.

[Introduction to Mr CHENG Dan-An and his works].

Mr CHENG Dan-an is a famous educationist and acupuncturist in modern China. He established the earliest acupuncture correspondence institution named Chinese Research Society of Acu-moxibustion. Meanwhile he founded the earliest professional magazine, Journal of Acu-moxibustion which played an important role in promoting redevelopment of acu-moxibustion. Mr CHENG Dan-an wrote many famous works. Research on CHENG's academic thoughts and works will help a lot in knowing the development and evolution of modern acupuncturology in the period of the Republic of China. The present paper introduces it by the help of 7 books including Zhenjiu Zhiliao Xue (Chinese Acu-moxibustion Therapeutics).

[Discussion on the citation of acu-moxibustion treatment verses in textbook acupuncturology].

Verses on Acu-moxibustion Treatment have played an important role in the pervasion and spread of indications of acupoints. Abundant verses are widely cited in different versions of the textbook Acupuncturology for university and college students in China. Some contents about clinical indications of acupoints are even listed in partial verses. However, one important issue should be noted that the source of some indications of acupoints summarized in these verses needs being investigated, and the indications of some acupoints have been seldom mentioned in literature. For example, Sizhukong (TE 23) is used to treat toothache, Diwuhui (GB 42) used to treat tinnitus, Shangqiu (SP 5) used to treat jaundice, Chongmen (SP 12) selected to treat metrorrhagia, metrostaxis and abnormal vaginal discharge, Sanjiaoshu (BL 22) chosen to treat dysentery, etc. These descriptions (indications of these acupoints) need being verified in clinical practice, and thus should be used cautiously. Moreover, the verse is a type of barriers of literature in which some errors may occur in the course of spread from generation to generation and are also inherited in verses. For instance, Fubai (GB 10) is employed to treat scrofula, Yanggang (BL 48) employed to treat jaundice, Yishe (BL 49) used to treat vomiting and difficulty in swallowing, Shiguan (KI 18) taken to treat sterility, Yamen (GV 15) taken to treat epilepsy, etc. Therefore, the editors of teaching materials for acu-moxibustion should take a very cautious attitude when using such kinds of contents in verses.

[Basic factors for inducing divarication about the location of some acupoints].

The curative effect of acupuncture depends much on accurate location of acupoints. But, in the developmental course of Chinese acu-moxibustion medicine, some divarications about the location of acupoints have occurred for ages. In the process of formulating international standard of acupoint location, experts from China, Japan and Korea had different viewpoints about the location of 92 acupoints. After reviewing Chinese ancient and modern literatures, authors of the present paper sum up five basic factors influencing the location of acupoints: (1) different understandings about the bone-length; (2) changes of bone-length; (3) faults during copying literature; (4) different understandings on the location in the text of books; (5) evolvement of concepts. These viewpoints may be helpful to solve the divarication of acupoints' location.