[Problems and countermeasures in clinical studies on acupuncture and moxibustion in course of developing Guideline for Clinical Practice of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Insomnia].

To explore the problems and countermeasures existing in acupuncture and moxibustion clinical studies, in the perspective of the key steps of Guideline for Clinical Practice of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Insomnia. The problems include: confusion of disease names and disunity of diagnostic criteria, inadequate refined clinical problems that need to be addressed, lack of targeted analysis of efficacy evaluation index, lack of adequate research on common acupuncture, difficulty to balance innovation and universality, lack of emphasis on the importance of timing for acupuncture, lack of attention to healthy lifestyles and self-care. We suggests that the disease name and diagnostic criteria should refer to the authoritative standards; the clinical study design should based on the realistic clinical problems; the efficacy evaluation index should based on the clinical needs and be analyzed targetedly; further research on common acupuncture or therapy should be carried out.

Leaf cDNA-AFLP analysis reveals novel mechanisms for boron-induced alleviation of aluminum-toxicity in Citrus grandis seedlings.

Little information is available on the molecular mechanisms of boron (B)-induced alleviation of aluminum (Al)-toxicity. 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) seedlings were irrigated for 18 weeks with nutrient solution containing different concentrations of B (2.5 or 20µM H3BO3) and Al (0 or 1.2mM AlCl3·6H2O). B alleviated Al-induced inhibition in plant growth accompanied by lower leaf Al. We used cDNA-AFLP to isolate 127 differentially expressed genes from leaves subjected to B and Al interactions. These genes were related to signal transduction, transport, cell wall modification, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, amino acid and protein metabolism, lipid metabolism and stress responses. The ameliorative mechanisms of B on Al-toxicity might be related to: (a) triggering multiple signal transduction pathways; (b) improving the expression levels of genes related to transport; (c) activating genes involved in energy production; and (d) increasing amino acid accumulation and protein degradation. Also, genes involved in nucleic acid metabolism, cell wall modification and stress responses might play a role in B-induced alleviation of Al-toxicity. To conclude, our findings reveal some novel mechanisms on B-induced alleviation of Al-toxicity at the transcriptional level in C. grandis leaves.

Effects of granulation on organic acid metabolism and its relation to mineral elements in Citrus grandis juice sacs.

We investigated the effects of granulation on organic acid metabolism and its relation to mineral elements in 'Guanximiyou' pummelo (Citrus grandis) juice sacs. Granulated juice sacs had decreased concentrations of citrate and isocitrate, thus lowering juice sac acidity. By contrast, malate concentration was higher in granulated juice sacs than in normal ones. The reduction in citrate concentration might be caused by increased degradation, as indicated by enhanced aconitase activity, whilst the increase in malate concentration might be caused by increased biosynthesis, as indicated by enhanced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC). Real time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the activities of most acid-metabolizing enzymes were regulated at the transcriptional level, whilst post-translational modifications might influence the PEPC activity. Granulation led to increased accumulation of mineral elements (especially phosphorus, magnesium, sulphur, zinc and copper) in juice sacs, which might be involved in the incidence of granulation in pummelo fruits.

Clinical trial on the characteristics of zheng classification of pulmonary diseases based on infrared thermal imaging technology.

Zheng classification study based on infrared thermal imaging technology has not been reported before. To detect the relative temperature of viscera and bowels of different syndromes patients with pulmonary disease and to summarize the characteristics of different Zheng classifications, the infrared thermal imaging technology was used in the clinical trial. The results showed that the infrared thermal images characteristics of different Zheng classifications of pulmonary disease were distinctly different. The influence on viscera and bowels was deeper in phlegm-heat obstructing lung syndrome group than in cold-phlegm obstructing lung syndrome group. It is helpful to diagnose Zheng classification and to improve the diagnosis rate by analyzing the infrared thermal images of patients. The application of infrared thermal imaging technology provided objective measures for medical diagnosis and treatment in the field of Zheng studies and provided a new methodology for Zheng classification.

[The characteristics of the insidious pathogen doctrine of Wu You-xing].

The concept of insidious pathogen originated in Nei jing ( Yellow Emperors Inner Classic). Wu You-xing put forward the concept of an epidemic noxious factor on the basis of predecessors' work and gave a new connotation to insidious pathogen in the late Ming dynasty. Wu You-xing held that the cold pathogen was invisible while the epidemic noxious factor was tangible and concrete; the hidden location of the pathogen is Mo yuan, and the pathogen concealed in Mo yuan is the elementary process of epidemic disease, not hidden and not attacking. It can be treated by Da yuan yin.