MedChatZH: A tuning LLM for traditional Chinese medicine consultations.

Generative Large Language Models (LLMs) have achieved significant success in various natural language processing tasks, including Question-Answering (QA) and dialogue systems. However, most models are trained on English data and lack strong generalization in providing answers in Chinese. This limitation is especially evident in specialized domains like traditional Chinese medical QA, where performance suffers due to the absence of fine-tuning and high-quality datasets. To address this, we introduce MedChatZH, a dialogue model optimized for Chinese medical QA based on transformer decoder with LLaMA architecture. Continued pre-training on a curated corpus of Chinese medical books is followed by fine-tuning with a carefully selected medical instruction dataset, resulting in MedChatZH outperforming several Chinese dialogue baselines on a real-world medical dialogue dataset. Our model, code, and dataset are publicly available on GitHub (https://github.com/tyang816/MedChatZH) to encourage further research in traditional Chinese medicine and LLMs.

[Output Characteristics and Driving Mechanism of Agricultural Non-point Source (AGNPS) Pollutant in Plain and Valley Region of Upper Yangtze River, China].

Research on the pattern and mechanism of agricultural non-point source (AGNPS) pollution in rural areas is of great significance to the governance of the regional ecological environment. This study took the plain and hilly area of the upper Yangtze River as the research area, relied on multivariate data, and used a pollutant measurement method based on spatial distance correction, and Kriging interpolation and logistic regression methods (LR) were used to study the emission pattern and impact mechanism of AGNPS pollutants. The results showed that the total emissions of COD, BOD5, NH4+-N, TN, and TP increased by 15.46×104, 25.66×104, 3.49×104, 1.26×104, and 0.38×104 t, respectively, and the emissions of these five pollutants had strong spatial regularity from 2005 to 2015. The Chengdu Plain, the hills in central Sichuan, and the parallel ridge valley farming areas in eastern Sichuan were the high-value areas, whereas urban areas and hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGRA) were low-value areas. The risk levels of COD, BOD5, and NH4+-N increased; TN pollution was more serious; and the emission risk level was gradually increasing. The emission risk of TP was high and had a tendency to continue to deteriorate. The overall risk level was in a spatial pattern of "high in the middle and low in the surrounding area," with extremely high and second-highest risk levels in a mosaic distribution. The Chengdu Plain and the Parallel Ridge and Valley areas in eastern Sichuan were high-risk clusters. The main driving factors of non-point source pollution from 2005 to 2010 were grain output, livestock and poultry production, and the number of rural populations, which were categorized as "production-driven" GDP and annual average precipitation were the main driving factors, which were categorized as "production and life synergy-driven." These results can provide a basis for analyzing the driving mechanism and prevention and control of NPSP in the hilly area of the upper Yangtze River.

Relationship between the distribution of left atrial low-voltage zones and post-ablation atrial arrhythmia recurrence in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Low-voltage zones (LVZ) are surrogate markers for cardiac fibrosis, which contribute to the maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the distribution of left atrial (LA) LVZ on the outcome following catheter ablation. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled patients with AF who underwent initial catheter ablation. LVZ were defined as areas with bipolar voltage amplitude <0.5 mV. The left atrium was divided into six regions (anterior wall, roof, posterior wall, lateral wall, septum, and inferior wall) to describe the distribution of LVZ. The primary endpoint was atrial arrhythmia (AA) recurrence lasting >30 s after the initial catheter ablation. RESULTS: Altogether, 148 patients were included, with a mean age of 61 ± 11 years, of which 53 (35.8%) had persistent AF. During a mean follow-up of 14 ± 3 months post-ablation, AA recurrence occurred in 25 (16.9%) patients after the initial catheter ablation. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients without roof LVZ had a higher AA-free survival rate than those with roof LVZ (P = 0.047). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, the proportion of LA LVZ ≥6% [hazard ratio (HR) 2.315, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.048-5.114; P = 0.038] and a longer AF duration (HR 1.008, 95% CI 1.002-1.014; P = 0.006) were independent predictors of AA recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AF, LA roof LVZ may increase the risk of AA recurrence after initial catheter ablation.

Mechanisms and molecular targets of the Yu-Ping-Feng powder for allergic rhinitis, based on network pharmacology.

ABSTRACT: In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Yu-Ping-Feng powder (YPFP) has been used to treat allergic rhinitis (AR) for centuries. However, the mechanisms underlying its effects or its molecular targets in AR treatment are yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the active compounds of YPFP and their targets were collected and identified from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. Moreover, AR-associated targets were acquired from the GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database. Proteins interactions network of YPFP presumed targets and AR-associated targets were examined and merged to reveal the candidate YPFP targets against AR.Cytoscape software and BisoGenet Database were employed to perform the Visualization and Integrated Discovery (Cluster Profiler R package, version: 3.8.1). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and genome pathway analyses. To identify the key target genes, a gene-pathway network has been constructed.We identified 44 effective active compounds and 622 YPFP targets. Also 1324 target genes related to AR were identified. Twenty pathways, including those of AGE-RAGE signaling, fluid shear stress, atherosclerosis, PI3K-Akt signaling, and tumor necrosis factor signaling was enriched significantly. MAPK1 was identified as the core gene, while others including RELA, AKT1, NFKBIA, IL6, and JUN, were also important in the gene-pathway network. Clearly, network pharmacology can be applied in revealing the molecular targets and mechanisms of action of complex herbal preparations.These findings suggested that YPFP could treat AR by regulating immunological functions, diminishing inflammation, and improving immunity through different pathways.

Efficacy and Safety of Guizhi Decoction AssociatedFormulas for Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review.

In this study, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Guizhi Decoction associated formulas for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. A total of seven online databases were searched to collect studies published up to Feb 23rd, 2020. Study quality of each included article was evaluated by the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. Systematic reviews were conducted based on the Cochrane systematic review method by using RevMan 5.3 Software. Among the included trials, Guizhi Decoction associated formulas alone (or plus Western medicine, or acupoint-based therapy) were main therapies in experimental groups. Interventions in control groups include Western medicine, Guizhi Decoction associated formulas alone, Chinese patent medicine, and placebo control. Primary outcomes in this study include recovery rate, accumulative marked effective rate, accumulative effective rate, and recurrence rate. Finally, 23 trials involving 2281 participants were included. Results of systematic reviews show that Guizhi Decoction and associated formulas alone, plus Western medicine or plus acupoint-based therapies, were significantly better compared with using Western medicine alone in terms of efficacy. In addition, the formulas plus nasal TCM fumigation therapy could improve effective rate for AR treatment compared to using the formulas alone. More types and cases of adverse events were reported in the control groups (Western medicine alone), but events of included trials were all mild and did not need specific medical intervention. More RCTs of high quality, and large sample size, with appropriate blinding methods or nonblinded pragmatic trials of Guizhi Decoction and associated formulas for AR are needed.

Selective recognition of c-MYC Pu22 G-quadruplex by a fluorescent probe.

Nucleic acid mimics of fluorescent proteins can be valuable tools to locate and image functional biomolecules in cells. Stacking between the internal G-quartet, formed in the mimics, and the exogenous fluorophore probes constitutes the basis for fluorescence emission. The precision of recognition depends upon probes selectively targeting the specific G-quadruplex in the mimics. However, the design of probes recognizing a G-quadruplex with high selectivity in vitro and in vivo remains a challenge. Through structure-based screening and optimization, we identified a light-up fluorescent probe, 9CI that selectively recognizes c-MYC Pu22 G-quadruplex both in vitro and ex vivo. Upon binding, the biocompatible probe emits both blue and green fluorescence with the excitation at 405 nm. With 9CI and c-MYC Pu22 G-quadruplex complex as the fluorescent response core, a DNA mimic of fluorescent proteins was constructed, which succeeded in locating a functional aptamer on the cellular periphery. The recognition mechanism analysis suggested the high selectivity and strong fluorescence response was attributed to the entire recognition process consisting of the kinetic match, dynamic interaction, and the final stacking. This study implies both the single stacking state and the dynamic recognition process are crucial for designing fluorescent probes or ligands with high selectivity for a specific G-quadruplex structure.

Characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus adsorption by Mg-loaded biochar from different feedstocks.

Herein, biochars from 6 different feedstocks (taro straw, corn straw, cassava straw, Chinese fir straw, banana straw, and Camellia oleifera shell) were produced using magnesium chloride (MgCl2) as a modifier due to their sorption behavior toward NH4+-N and phosphorus in an aqueous solution. The biochar characteristics were evaluated, including pH, pHPZC, biochar magnesium content, and total pore volume (PVtot). The experimental results in terms of the kinetics and equilibrium isotherms showed that the cassava straw and banana straw biochars exhibited the theoretical maximum saturated adsorption capacities of 24.04 mg·g-1 (NH4+-N) and 31.15 mg·g-1 (TP), respectively. Biochar produced from these feedstocks had higher magnesium contents and greater total pore volumes, reflecting the significant contributions from magnesium and steric effects. FTIR, XRD, and SEM/EDS analyses demonstrated that NH4+-N and TP sorption mechanisms predominantly involved surface electrostatic attraction, Mg2+ precipitates and complexation with surface hydroxyl functional groups.

[Influence of Spatial Pattern of Paddy Field on the Losses of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Three Gorges Reservoir Area].

This paper used three plots of paddy field in Wangjiagou small catchment in Fuling District, Chongqing Municipality as a case study. Wangjiagou, located in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, provided a good case in terms of its closeness of surface runoff. The samples of individual rainfall of twelve times and process of two typical individual rainfalls on three plots of sloping paddy field were collected from 2014 to 2015. These samples were used to analyze the influence of spatial pattern of sloping paddy field on the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in the surface runoff. The samples of daily runoff in subcatchments in 2010 and 2015 were used to analyze the influence of spatial pattern change of subcatchments' paddy field on the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in the surface runoff. The results indicated that the removal rates of TN, NO3--N and TP of paddy field at the valley bottom were higher than those in the mid-slopes. The removal rate of TP would be higher if plot size of paddy field at the bottom got bigger. During individual rainfall event, the losses concentration of TN, NO3--N and TP in the paddy fields was significantly different among three different spatial patterns during the previous period of heavy rain event, but it became different during the next period of moderate rain event. The two subcatchments' spatial pattern change of paddy field had weakened the intercepting purification ability of nitrogen and phosphorus losses of paddy field in 2015, compared with that in 2010. TN's losses concentration increased significantly during the periods of light and moderate rain event and base flow. TP's losses concentration fluctuated during the event from moderate rain to heavy rain. Hence, increasing the area of paddy field of catchment and optimizing its spatial pattern reasonably were found as effective measures to control agricultural non-point source pollution in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region.

[Nitrogen Losses Under the Action of Different Land Use Types of Small Catchment in Three Gorges Region].

As an independent water-collecting area, small catchment is the source of non-point source pollution in Three Gorges Region. Choosing 3 kinds of the most representative land-use types and using them to lay monitoring points of overland runoff within the small catchment of Wangjiagou in Fuling of Three Gorges Region, the author used the samples of surface runoff collected through the twelve natural rainfalls from May to December to analyze the feature of spatial-temporal change of Nitrogen's losses concentrations under the influence of different land use types and the hillslopes and small catchments composed by those land use types, revealing the relation between different land-use types and Nitrogen's losses of small catchments in Three Gorges Region. The result showed: the average losses concentration of TN showed the biggest difference for different land use types during the period of spring crops, and the average value of dry land was 1. 61 times and 6.73 times of the values of interplanting field of mulberry and paddy field, respectively; the change of the losses concentration of TN was most conspicuous in the 3 periods of paddy field. The main element was NO3⁻-N, and the relation between TN and NO3⁻-N showed a significant linear correlation. TN's and NO3⁻-N's losses concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with the area ratio of corn and mustard, but got a significant negative correlation with the area ratio of paddy and mulberry; NH4⁺-N's losses concentrations got a significant positive correlation with the area ratio of mustard. Among all the hillslopes composed by different land use types, TN's average losses concentration of surface runoff of the hillslope composed by interplantating field of mulberry and paddy land during the three periods was the lowest, and the values were 2.55, 11.52, 8.58 mg · L⁻¹, respectively; the hillslope of rotation plough land of corn and mustard had the maximum value, and the values were 27.51, 25.11, 27.11 mg · L⁻¹, respectively; different land use types and spatial combination ways of subcatchment had a greater influence on TN's losses concentrations, so using a reasonable way to adjust land use structure and spatial arrangement of whole catchment was an effective measure to control the source of non-point source pollution of Three Gorges Region.

Multifunctional aptamer-based nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to circumvent cancer resistance.

By its unique advantages over traditional medicine, nanomedicine has offered new strategies for cancer treatment. In particular, the development of drug delivery strategies has focused on nanoscale particles to improve bioavailability. However, many of these nanoparticles are unable to overcome tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, new opportunities for drug delivery have been provided by oligonucleotides that can self-assemble into three-dimensional nanostructures. In this work, we have designed and developed functional DNA nanostructures to deliver the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (Dox) to resistant cancer cells. These nanostructures have two components. The first component is a DNA aptamer, which forms a dimeric G-quadruplex nanostructure to target cancer cells by binding with nucleolin. The second component is double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which is rich in -GC- base pairs that can be applied for Dox delivery. We demonstrated that Dox was able to efficiently intercalate into dsDNA and this intercalation did not affect the aptamer's three-dimensional structure. In addition, the Aptamer-dsDNA (ApS) nanoparticle showed good stability and protected the dsDNA from degradation in bovine serum. More importantly, the ApS&Dox nanoparticle efficiently reversed the resistance of human breast cancer cells to Dox. The mechanism circumventing doxorubicin resistance by ApS&Dox nanoparticles may be predominantly by cell cycle arrest in S phase, effectively increased cell uptake and decreased cell efflux of doxorubicin. Furthermore, the ApS&Dox nanoparticles could effectively inhibit tumor growth, while less cardiotoxicity was observed. Overall, this functional DNA nanostructure provides new insights into the design of nanocarriers to overcome multidrug resistance through targeted drug delivery.

Promotion effect of H2 on ethanol oxidation and NOx reduction with ethanol over Ag/Al2O3 catalyst.

The catalytic partial oxidation of ethanol and selective catalytic reduction of NOx with ethanol (ethanol-SCR) over Ag/Al2O3 were studied using synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS). The intermediates were identified by PIMS and their photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectra. The results indicate that H2 promotes the partial oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde over Ag/Al2O3, while the simultaneously occurring processes of dehydration and dehydrogenation were inhibited. H2 addition favors the formation of ammonia during ethanol-SCR over Ag/Al2O3, the occurrence of which creates an effective pathway for NOx reduction by direct reaction with NH3. Simultaneously, the enhancement of the formation of ammonia benefits its reaction with surface enolic species, resulting in producing -NCO species again, leading to enhancement of ethanol-SCR over Ag/Al2O3 by H2. Using VUV-PIMS, the reactive vinyloxy radical was observed in the gas phase during the NOx reduction by ethanol for the first time, particularly in the presence of H2. Identification of such a reaction occurring in the gas phase may be crucial for understanding the reaction pathway of HC-SCR over Ag/Al2O3.

Analysis on the Chinese medicine syndromes and demographic characteristics of patients with influenza-like illness in clinics of China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate Chinese medicine (CM) patterns and epidemiological characters of patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) syndromes in clinics in China. METHODS: A prospective multi-center observational epidemiology survey on the clinical CM patterns of ILI and its prevalence was conducted from September 2009 to April 2010. A unified survey questionnaire was developed for data collection of ILI symptoms and CM patterns. Totally 45 hospitals from 22 provinces, municipality cities and autonomous regions of China participated this study. The collected data were input by EPI-data v3.1 and analyzed by SPSS 18.0, which included descriptive analysis and Chi-square test for group comparison. RESULTS: A total of 5,967 ILI patients were included in the study. The proportion of the 18-34 aged group (56.2%) was the largest; students (41.0%) were more than other occupations. Majority of the patients had the wind-heat invading Lung (Fei) syndrome (76%), while in Southwest China mainly wind-heat invading Lung syndrome and wind-cold tightening the exterior syndrome occurred. The typical symptoms of ILI were ranked as fatigue (80.9%), cough (72.2%), sore throat (67.2%), muscular soreness (67.1%), headache (65.4%), aversion to cold (60.1%), thirst (55.1%) and nasal obstruction (48.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The ILI patients in clinics were mainly teenagers and young adults. In regard to CM syndrome, wind-heat invading Lung syndrome prevailed in all regions except the Southwest China. The characteristics of CM syndrome of ILI patients may be relevant to age and region distribution.

[Effects of low temperature stress during flowering period on pollen characters and flag leaf physiological and biochemical characteristics of rice].

Taking cold-tolerant rice cultivar 996 and cold-sensitive rice cultivar 4628 as test materials, a growth chamber experiment was conducted to investigate their pollen characters and flag leaf physiological and biochemical characteristics under the effects of low temperature stress. The plants were respectively treated with low temperature [ 19 degrees C (06:00-8:00; 19:00-23:00 )/21 degrees C (08:00-10:00; 16:00-19:00)/23 degrees C (10:00-16:00)/17 degrees C (23:00-06:00)] and optimal temperature [24 degrees C (06:00-8:00; 19:00-23:00)/26 degrees C (08:00-10:00; 16:00-19:00)/30 degrees C (10:00-16:00)/22 degrees C (23:00-06:00)] for seven days after heading. Low temperature stress decreased the anther dehiscence coefficient and pollen germination rate, as well as the sterile pollen rate of spikelets on middle and lower parts of panicles, with the anther dehiscence coefficient and pollen germination rate of cultivar 996 being significantly higher than those of cultivar 4628, indicating that cold-tolerant cultivar 996 had the capability to keep better pollination and pollen germination. Under low temperature stress, the flag leaf soluble protein and free proline contents and their increments of cultivar 996 were significantly higher than those of cultivar 4628, while the MDA content and relative conductivity and their increment were in adverse, indicating that cold-tolerant cultivar 996 had more quick and strong protective responses, and was able to keep stable membrane structure and function.

[Effect of mild hypothermia in combination of acupuncture on Bcl-2 and Bax protein expressions of local cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe and compare the effects of acupuncture in combination of mild hypothermia therapy on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax. METHODS: Fifty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the control group, the model group, the acupuncture group, the mild hypothermia group, and the combination group (acupuncture in combination of mild hypothermia therapy), 10 in each group. Focal cerebral ischemia model was prepared with modified Longa's suture method. The effects of acupuncture, the mild hypothermia, and the acupuncture in combination of mild hypothermia therapy on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were observed. The indices were detected using immunohistochemical assay. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the expression of Bcl-2 in the model groups significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the expression of Bax significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of Bcl-2 in the three treatment groups significantly increased (P < 0.01) and the expression of Bax significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the acupuncture group and the mild hypothermia group, the expression of Bcl-2 significantly increased and the expression of Bax significantly decreased in the combination group (both P < 0.01). Compared with the mild hypothermia group, increased expression of Bcl-2 and decreased expression of Bax in the acupuncture group were not obvious (P > 0.05). There was insignificant difference in the therapeutic efficacy between the acupuncture group and the mild hypothermia group. CONCLUSIONS: Both acupuncture and the mild hypothermia therapy could increase the expression of Bcl-2 and decrease the expression of Bax, intervene cerebral ischemia, and protect neurons. In the early cerebral ischemia/reperfusion stage, it is necessary to perform acupuncture and mild hypothermia therapy as soon as possible.

Effect of mild hypothermia in combination of acupuncture on Bcl-2 and Bax protein expressions of local cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe and compare the effects of acupuncture in combination of mild hypothermia therapy on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the control group, the model group, the acupuncture group, the mild hypothermia group, and the combination group (acupuncture in combination of mild hypothermia therapy), 10 in each group. Focal cerebral ischemia model was prepared with modified Longa's suture method. The effects of acupuncture, the mild hypothermia, and the acupuncture in combination of mild hypothermia therapy on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were observed. The indices were detected using immunohistochemical assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the expression of Bcl-2 in the model groups significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the expression of Bax significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of Bcl-2 in the three treatment groups significantly increased (P < 0.01) and the expression of Bax significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the acupuncture group and the mild hypothermia group, the expression of Bcl-2 significantly increased and the expression of Bax significantly decreased in the combination group (both P < 0.01). Compared with the mild hypothermia group, increased expression of Bcl-2 and decreased expression of Bax in the acupuncture group were not obvious (P > 0.05). There was insignificant difference in the therapeutic efficacy between the acupuncture group and the mild hypothermia group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both acupuncture and the mild hypothermia therapy could increase the expression of Bcl-2 and decrease the expression of Bax, intervene cerebral ischemia, and protect neurons. In the early cerebral ischemia/reperfusion stage, it is necessary to perform acupuncture and mild hypothermia therapy as soon as possible.</p>

[Common syndrome factors of traditional Chinese medicine in chronic renal failure based on the questionnaire investigation among experts].

OBJECTIVE: To screen common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome factors of chronic renal failure (CRF) via questionnaire investigation among experts. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed based on the results of our previous researches. The investigation was carried out with the questionnaire among experts who are engaged in clinical research and treatment of nephrosis with the title of chief or associate chief physician from 15 hospitals in China. Common TCM syndrome factors of CRF were obtained based on the data analysis of the mean value on general evaluation, cumulative percentage and coefficient of variation. RESULTS: A total of 114 sets of the questionnaire were sent out and all of them were returned back, 113 of which were effective. The recovery rate is 100%. The TCM syndrome factors were regarded as common factors of CRF syndrome if the cumulative percentage was more than or equal to 60% and the coefficient of variation was less than or equal to 0.35. The syndrome factors related to the disease location were the kidney, spleen, stomach, heart, and lung; the syndrome factors related to the disease type were dampness, turbid toxin, blood stasis, water retention, and phlegm which belong to excess type, and qi deficiency, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, blood deficiency, and essence deficiency which belong to deficiency type. CONCLUSION: The common TCM syndrome factors of CRF were obtained from the representative experts through the questionnaire investigation among the experts. The results enable us to have a deeper understanding of the disease in view of TCM compared with the previous literature data and may contribute to the establishment of TCM syndrome diagnosis criteria of the disease in the future.

A preliminary study on the medical expenditure of Chinese medicine and integrative medicine treatment for influenza A (H1N1) in the fever clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of Chinese medicine and integrated Chinese and Western medicine for influenza A (H1N1) in the fever clinics and its relevant expenditure. METHODS: A prospective survey on the clinical epidemic observation and follow-up was conducted from July 2009 to October 2009 with a self-developed questionnaire whose contents including the clinical data of the confirmed 149 H1N1 cases and their relevant therapeutic expenditure. The patients were assigned to the Chinese medicine group (22 cases treated by Chinese medicine alone) and integrative medicine group (124 cases treated by both Chinese medicine and Western medicine). The data were processed with descriptive analysis, t test and χ (2), and sum-rank test. RESULTS: The proportion of clinical recovery of Chinese medicine group (81.8%) was higher than that of integrative medicine group (54.8%) with statistical significance (P=0.02). The average fever durations in both groups were 3.5 to 4 days, showing no significant difference (P=0.86). In the comparisons of average cost of Chinese herbs, drugs, therapies, and total cost, those of the Chinese medicine group were lower than those in the integrative group (P=0.01, P=0.00, P=0.00, P=0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The H1N1 patients in the fever clinic who received Chinese medicine treatment had a higher clinical recovery proportion than those who received integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment with lower medical cost. However, due to small sample size of the Chinese medicine group in the study, the conclusion needs further confirmation by studies with large sample size.

[A perspective of developing syndrome diagnostic criteria based on syndrome factors and combination of disease in modern medicine system and syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine system].

Syndrome differentiation treatment is the traditional model of diagnosis and treatment of diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). To establish scientific diagnostic criteria of TCM syndrome is one of the key points in TCM study. In this paper, the basic models of the relevant diagnostic criteria of TCM syndrome and existed problems were reviewed. The authors pointed out the advantages of establishing diagnostic criteria of TCM syndrome based on TCM syndrome factors and combination of disease in Western medicine system and TCM syndrome, in which not only the characteristics of the disease in Western medicine were considered, but also the complexity and flexibility of syndrome identification and convenient application in clinical practice were resolved. The basic model and frame of the above diagnostic criteria and the procedures and methods used in developing the diagnostic criteria were also described and discussed.

[Anther development and sperm isolation of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.)].

Anther wall is general and tapetum is glandular. The process of meiosis of microspore mother cells is simultaneous and the tetrads are tetrahedral. The mature pollen of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) is tree-celled. There are 22-30 germ pores on the pollen wall. Many pollen grains could burst in 10% mannitol or 15% sucrose solution and release a pair of sperm cells which could keep alive for 25-50 min by FDA fluorescence. Using micromanipulator the released sperm cells could be collected. When pollen grains were put into a solution containing 0.03% CaCl2, 0.01% H3BO3, 0.01% KH2PO4 and 20% PEG for 2-5 min, they would germinate and the pollen tubes would reach 815 microm at 2h after cultured. A pair of sperms would enter into pollen tube when it grew to 500-600 microm. The fluorescence of both sperms would be observed clearly in pollen tube after DAPI staining. When the pollen tubes were burst in a bursting solution, a pair of sperms would be released from pollen tube.

[Cytochemical observation on the developing anthers of Allium cepa L].

Polysaccharides was detected using the periodic-acid-Schiff's (PAS) technique and lipid detected using Sudan black during the anther development of Allium cepa L. Before the meiosis of microspore mother cells there were a few lipid drops in endothecium cells and little polysaccharides in tapetal cells which did not differentiate completely in young anthers. At the stage of tetrad there were still few polysaccharides and lipid material in young anther, and only cell wall of anther wall and callose wall of tetrads displayed the feature of polysaccharids. The size of tapetal cells began to increase at this stage. During microspore development the tapetal cells reached its maximal size, and many lipid drops were accumulated in the cells. However, few lipid drops and starches appeared in microspores. At early stage of 2-celled pollen, the vegetative cell of 2-celled pollen began to accumulate starches. Tapetal cells degenerated at this stage and its lipid drops concentrated to form lipid block. Then the starches in 2-celled pollen disappeared with pollen development, and many lipid drops were accumulated in vegetative cell of nearly mature pollen.