[Discussion on Classical Morphological View of Acupoints: Taking Book A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion as An Example].

After analyzing the contents of Volume Ⅲ of A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, we propose a concept of classical morphological view about acupoints in terms of their superficial signs and structure in Chinese ancient times. That is to say that the ancient medical experts' understanding about acupoints contain locality, layers and variability. These 3 aspects were applied to the classification and location of acupoints, as well as to the clinical treatment in the ancient times. Furthermore, the classical view about acupoints also contains the ideas of Shou-Xing (, keeping paying attention to needling the local acupoints only in the light of the focus) and Shou-Shen (, keeping paying attention to both the related acupoints and appropriate manipulations in the light of pattern identification of symptoms and signs as well as the patients' physical constitutions) in performing acupuncture treatment. Owing to the influence of the idea of Shou-Shen, the classical view about the signs and structure of acupoints presented a weakening trend gradually in ancient Chinese medical circle.

Berberine targets epidermal growth factor receptor signaling to suppress prostate cancer proliferation in vitro.

Berberine is a well­known component of the Chinese herbal medicine Huanglian (Coptis chinensis), and is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of multiple cancer cell lines. However, information available regarding the effect of berberine on prostate cancer cell growth is limited. In the present study, LnCaP and PC­3 human prostate cancer cell lines were selected as in vitro models in order to assess the efficacy of berberine as an anticancer agent. A cell proliferation assay demonstrated that berberine inhibited cell growth in a dose­and time­dependent manner. Further investigation revealed berberine significantly accumulated inside cells that were in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and enhanced apoptosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that berberine inhibited the expression of prostate­specific antigen and the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and it attenuated EGFR activation following EGF treatment in vitro. In conclusion, the results indicate that berberine inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells through apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest by inactivation of the EGFR signaling pathway.

[Location of disease: acupoint view from the angle of clinic].

Doctor WANG Zhi-zhong in the Southern Song Dynasty proposed the acupoint view of "location of disease", which explained the connotation of acupoints from the angle of clinic. Its meaning included two levels, one level meant pathological change on the body surface, that was the location of acupuncture diagnosis-treatment, and the other one indicated that the body surface which was the reflecting point of pathological change on the distal area or inside the body was the location of acupuncture diagnosis-treatment. The specific connotations of clinical acupoints were: location of pathogenic factors or reflection of pathogenic factors, regularity between acupoints un- der disease and specific organ, morphological differences and positioning variability after acupoints under disease, and acupoints examination, diagnosis and treatment.

[The relationship of telomere and telomerase activity with outcome of aplastic anemia after immunosuppressive therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of telomere length and telomerase activity in patients with aplastic anemia (AA), and relationship with immunosuppressive therapy (IST) efficacy, to explore the pathogenesis of AA and the role of telomere length in evaluating immunosuppressive therapy efficacy. METHODS: 71 cases of AA patients between September 2010 and March 2013 were enrolled into this study. 3 ml peripheral blood specimens from this cohort of patients were collected to test the telomere length in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC) with flow-FISH and detect telomerase activity with TRAP-PCR-ELISA method. RESULTS: Telomere length and age showed negative correlation (b=-0.387, P=0.001) in normal control, NSAA and SAA + VSAA groups, telomere length became shorter with the growth of age, and normal control group telomere length decreased along with the age growth slightly greater than the other two groups (NSAA, SAA+VSAA). Besides the effect of age on telomere length, no significant difference was observed between NSAA and SAA+VSAA groups (P=0.573), and NSAA, SAA+VSAA (30.957 ± 4.502,29.510 ± 5.911)groups were significantly shorter than normal control group (51.086±10.844) (P<0.01). Telomere length in NR group (25.357±4.848)was significantly lower than normal control group (51.086 ± 10.844) (P=0.005), telomere length in CR(32.808 ± 4.685)/PR groups (30.334±4.464) compared with normal control group had no significant difference (P=0.517, P=0.254). Telomere length below 29.21% obviously decreased outcomes of IST. Telomerase activity had significant difference (χ²=20.385, P<0.01). The telomerase activity had no significant difference in terms of age and gender in three groups, multiple comparison found that telomerase activities in SAA + VSAA (0.324±0.178) (P<0.01), and NSAA (0.234±0.175) groups (P=0.002) were significantly higher than normal control group (0.107±0.083). CONCLUSION: Telomere length of PBMNC in AA patients was significantly shortened than normal control group with telomerase activity increased, and telomere shorted more apparently in NR group, these patients should adjust the treatment as early as possible. Telomeres could predict the curative effect of IST.