[The Textual Relationship between Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian and YiJi ZhiJin].

Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian(The Dictionary of Chinese Medicine,«¼) is the first comprehensive dictionary of traditional Chinese medicine in China. The dictionary, edited by Xie Guan()and compiled for several years by the teachers and students of Shanghai Special School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was first published by The Commercial Press in 1921. In 1919, Lu Simian() joined The Commercial Press to assist Xie Guan who is his old friend in compiling the contents on medical books for the dictionary . In the same year, Lu Simian wrote a book called YiJi ZhiJin(«¼). Recently, some scholars believe that Xie Guan disassembled YiJi ZhiJin and compiled it into Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian. Through a comparative study of these two, it can be seen that YiJi ZhiJin and Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian do use homologous materials in the interpretation of some medical books, but YiJi ZhiJin as a whole is not compiled into Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian, and the idea of there is a plagiarism relationship between them is incorrect.

[The skin diagnosis methods constructed by Liao Ping].

Liao Ping, a famous scholar for Confucian classics in modern times has made great contributions to the field of Confucian classics. In particular, he interpreted Chinese medicine with the thinking of Confucian Classics. He delved into Inner Canon of Huangdi (Huang Di Nei Jing) and focused on recovering the methods of ancient diagnosis in this publication. He believed that the diagnostic measurement in Inner Canon of Huangdi were taken "to diagnose through cubit skin" and he then created such a diagnose method as his own. He put forward the theory of "Pi Luo Tong Zhen" which means "to diagnose diseases through cubit skin and what was shown on the skin holistically" and the theoretical framework of "Wu Zhen Fa" which means "to diagnose diseases by examining the skin, flesh, tendons, bones and veins comprehensively". While some contradictions and mistakes existed in terms of constructing the theories about the 'diagnosis through skin', Liao Ping interpreted the significance of cubit skin examination in Inner Canon of Huangdi and provided methodological enlightenment for later scholars to trace back to the origin of medical classics, and further explore the diagnosis and treatment system in Inner Canon of Huangdi.

[The sources of the attached drawings to Tanksuqnameh].

Tanksuqnameh (Yi Li Han) as the earliest Persian transcription of traditional Chinese medicine for the west, has great value in the history of Sino-Iranian medical cultural exchanges. The eleven drawings attached to Tanksuqnameh concerning meridians and pulse diagnosis were compared to relative paintings attached to some ancient Chinese medical books. It was found that eight of the drawings attached to Tanksuqnameh came from the paintings attached to The Zhuan Tu Ju Jie of the Yellow Emperor Eighty-One Nan Jing by Li Jiong. The sources of the three paintings have not been identified. However, based on the comparison between the three paintings attached to Tanksuqnameh and the paintings in the medical books in the Ming Dynasty in terms of outlines, names and the content, they might come from the same medical book as a reference.

Odontogenesis by Endocytosis of Peptide Embedding Bioactive Glass Composite.

Limited therapeutic options are available for treating deep caries. Those materials with potential of a dual effect to remineralize hard tissue and regenerate defective dentin tissues could be used as a new strategy for deep caries treatment. However, the application of the single component remains a challenge mainly because they lack calcium and phosphorus, are easily degraded, and are difficult to retain in the intricate body fluid environment. Considering the abundant source of calcium and phosphorus as well as the delivery performance of mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG), an amelogenin-derived peptide (QP5), which has a significant role in hard tissue remineralization, was loaded to fabricate a novel composite. After the synthesis of highly ordered MBG using a sol-gel method, the QP5 peptide was loaded increasingly by its extensive porous structure and enhanced electrostatic absorption. When used in an acidic environment, the MBG/QP5 composite presented pH-responsiveness, releasing therapeutic ions and functional peptides in a sequential cascade, and eventually adjusted the pH to a neutral state. The composite was internalized by dental pulp cells through a clathrin-mediated pathway and influenced by cell membrane lipid raft regulation. It could be also transported through the macro-pinocytotic pathway. Compared to the single treatment of peptide QP5 in 48 h, the composite facilitated a higher level of retention of the intracellular peptides. The composite further promoted migration and odontogenesis of dental pulp cells, including the improved activity of alkaline phosphatase, increased formation of mineralized nodules, and upregulated expression of mineralization-related genes compared to using MBG or QP5 alone. The composite further induced the dentin-like layer in a rat pulp capping model. The results suggested that this intelligent material with pH-responsiveness provides a promising alternative treatment method for biomimetic restoration of deep caries.

[The relationship between early Dao Yin, Qi and meridian theory].

This paper introduced and summarized the ways and skills of promoting the circulation of air in the human body (Dao Yin Xing Qi) in Dao Yin Tu and Yin Shu and compared them with the way of breathing in Qu Gu Shi Qi. It was found that early Dao Yin drew on breathing thinking (Qi theory) and was meaningful for human health and helpful in examining how Qi theory was shaped and developed. It was also found that Dao Yin treated diseases based on meridian theories because Dao Yin for disease treatment in Dao Yin Tu and Yin Shu was related with the eleven meridians and their main symptoms in Mai Shu. The methods of practicing Dao Yin were likely to take references from the transmission routes of human meridians. The relationship between Dao Yin, Qi and meridians indicated that Qi and meridians were taken as the focus for people to understand the human body. Qi and meridians theories, widely accepted in ancient times, were taken as theoretical guidelines by stone needle, moxibustion and Dao Yin to maintain health and disease treatment.

[Interpretation of "View of Xing & Shen" of TCM by four scholastic sects of Jin-Yuan dynasties and its background].

The concept of "Xing & Shen"(Body and spirit) and their relationship are important philosophical categories and basic issues in life cognition. The view of "body and spirit" in Chinese medicine is the inheritance and development of the concept of "form and spirit" in ancient Chinese philosophy; the view of body-spirit syncretism is one of the elements of the original thinking mode in traditional Chinese medicine, which reflects the holism of TCM. This article selects interpretations of "body and spirit" form the works of the four great physicians of the Jin and Yuan period as the starting point to find out the internal connection between their academic innovation and their identities of Confucian physician, as well as their classic study, based on the social background of the Jin and Yuan Period.

[The study on relationship of Shennong and Jingchu culture from unearthed literature].

Shennong is the founder of cultivation, inventor of medicine. There are various recordation and legends about Shennong regional culture around the whole Chinese nation. The author studied the source of Shennong and Jingchu culture by comprehensively sorting relative literature recordation, citing unearthed materials in recent years as evidence, and found that the legends of Shennong is wide-spread in both western and southern China which corresponding to the origin of farming. What is more, a lot of delicate cultural relics and bambooslip and silk manuscripts have been found in Hubei and Hunan in recent years, which proved that Chu was not a land of barbarians in traditional view but an area with developed culture, and Shennong had a deep historic relation with Jingchu culture.

[An interpretation of drug Fei Lian() in the Prescription for Nurturing Vitality and the culture connotation of Fei Lian()].

The drug Fei Lian() in the unearthed medical book the Prescription for Nurturing Vitality () has been interpreted as Fei Lian(, an insect medicine) in Shennong Bencao Jing(, Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica). This article interprets it as herbal medicine Fei Lian(), not insect medicine Fei Lian() in Shennong Bencao Jing, based on the mutual evidence of unearthed documents and handed down documents, also the methods of phonology and exegesis. The word "Fei Lian" has rich cultural connotations, its etymology is related to "wind" , its semantics has the meaning of "light and fast speed" . It is used as the name of related totem image, legendary figures, historical figures, medicines, architecture and so on.

[Interpretation of the connotation of the colored drawing of Neijing Tu in the Museum of Chinese Medical History].

Neijing Tu(, Chart of Inner Landscape), collected by the Museum of Chinese Medical History, is a colored drawing which is used to guide Taoist internal alchemy training pattern. It belongs to the inheritance of the immortals in the Tao Yin(physical and breathing exercise) of traditional Chinese medicine in folk. It is the essence for nurturing vitality of the traditional Chinese medicine. Its core tenet is that one practices with both Shen(spirit) and Qi(pneuma) and makes both to fuse in perfect harmony way. The specific practice process includes four phases: refining Jing and converting it into Qi, refining Qi and converting it into Shen, extracting and then restoring Xu(void)from Shen, purifying Xu to fit Dao. This process contains the contents of the Secret Alchemy such as sub-Meridian Circle Vessel, overcoming the roadblock and entering Primary Meridian Circle Vessel, getting Yangshen (highest level spirit) and harmonizing the body and spirit. Its important value lies in being able to treat the disease which has not yet completely developed and the disease developed already.

[Research on the life of Zhang Ji].

Zhang Ji was a famous Chinese medical scholar, medical historian and medical educator in Sichuan province during the Republic of China. His book Jigu Yixue Congshu (, the Series of Collecting Ancient Medical Books) was an anthology of his experience and writings on medical research. After his middle age, he opened the pharmacy called Yisheng Tang, and the charitable institution called Guji Yuan in Chengdu. And then, he founded a medical school called Jigu with Sun Zifang to teach their students. During his old age, he devoted himself to Sichuan medical college. Zhang Ji was very knowledgeable, and he was also good at doing textual research. Besides, Zhang Ji was rich in clinical experience. In a word, his medical achievements were mainly in writing books and education. And he also contributed to local history recorder studies.

[Discrimination on a disease of Foot-Taiyang Meridian named "Chong head()" or "Chong headache()"].

In various versions of Mai Shu(), "Chong head()" or "Chong headache()" is a disease of Foot-Taiyang Meridian. "Chong()" cannot be interchanged with "swell()" , and it does not have the meaning of "upward" . In ancient medical records, the headache due to "reversing Qi uprush" has nothing to do with Foot-Taiyang Meridian. The word "Chong()" is commonly used before the Han Dynasty as "collide" or "strike" . "Chong head()" or "Chong headache()" can be interpreted as a striking pain in head. which can reasonably solve the problems of disparate explanations in all versions of Mai Shu(), as well as the some internal problems of traditional medical principles.

Pharmacokinetics and ex-vivo pharmacodynamics of cefquinome against Klebsiella pneumonia in healthy dogs.

A two-period cross-over study was carried to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and ex-vivo pharmacodynamics (PD) of cefquinome when administrated intravenously (IV) and intramuscularly (IM) in seven healthy dogs at a dose of 2 mg/kg of body weight. Serum concentrations were determined by HPLC-MS/MS assay and cefquinome concentration vs. time data after IV and IM were best fit to a two-compartment open model. Cefquinome mean values of area under concentration-time curve (AUC) were 5.15 µg · h/mL for IV dose and 4.59 µg · h/mL for IM dose. Distribution half-lives and elimination half-lives after IV dose and IM dose were 0.27 and 0.44 h, 1.53 and 1.94 h, respectively. Values of total body clearance (ClB ) and volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss ) were 0.49 L · kg/h and 0.81 L/kg, respectively. After IM dose, Cmax was 2.53 µg/mL and the bioavailability was 89.13%. For PD profile, the determined MIC and MBC values against K. pneumonia were 0.030 and 0.060 µg/mL in MHB and 0.032 and 0.064 µg/mL in serum. The ex vivo time-kill curves also were established in serum. In conjunction with the data on MIC, MBC values and the ex vivo bactericidal activity in serum, the present results allowed prediction that a single cefquinome dosage of 2 mg/kg may be effective in dogs against K. pneumonia infection.

One-step purification of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, salvianolic acid B, and protocatechualdehyde from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by isocratic stepwise hydrogen bond adsorption chromatography on cross-linked 12% agarose.

Three major active components of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, salvianolic acid B, and protocatechualdehyde, are separated and purified from a crude water extract in one step by isocratic hydrogen bond adsorption chromatography on cross-linked 12% agarose (Superose 12 HR 10/30). Separation is achieved by stepwise elution with mobile phases composed of mixtures of ethanol and acetic acid: 0-50 mL, 5% ethanol, 5% acetic acid; 50-100 mL, 20% ethanol, 20% acetic acid; and 100-200 mL, 30% ethanol, 30% acetic acid. The 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid is obtained with a purity of 97.3% and with a recovery of 88.1%. The corresponding figures for protocatechualdehyde are a purity of 99.4% with a recovery of 90.7%, and for salvianolic acid B a purity of 90.4% with a recovery of 50.3%, respectively. At a sample load of 40 mg crude extract dissolved in 0.5 mL mobile phase (corresponding to a load of 1.6 mg/mL gel), a 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid purity of approximately 94% with a recovery of 80.2% is obtained.

Ginseng berry reduces blood glucose and body weight in db/db mice.

In this study, we observed anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of Panax ginseng berry in adult C57BL/Ks db/db mice and their lean littermates. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Panax ginseng berry extract at 150 mg/kg body wt. for 12 consecutive days. On Day 5, the extract-treated db/db mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels as compared to vehicle-treated mice (180.5+/-10.2 mg/dl vs. 226.0+/-15.3 mg/dl, P < 0.01). On day 12, the extract-treated db/db mice were normoglycemic (134.3+/-7.3 mg/dl) as compared to vehicle-treated mice (254.8+/-24.1 mg/dl; P < 0.01). Fasting blood glucose levels of lean mice did not decrease significantly after treatment with extract. After 12 days of treatment with the extract, glucose tolerance increased significantly, and overall blood glucose exposure calculated as area under the curve (AUC) decreased 53.4% (P < 0.01) in db/db mice. Furthermore, db/db mice treated with extract (150 mg/kg body wt.) showed weight loss from 51.0+/-1.9 g on Day 0, to 46.6+/-1.7 g on Day 5, and to 45.2+/-1.4 g on Day 12 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 compared to Day 0, respectively). The body weight of lean littermates also decreased at the same dose of extract. These data suggest that Panax ginseng berry extract may have therapeutic value in treating diabetic and obese patients.

Effects of Panax quinquefolius L. on brainstem neuronal activities: comparison between Wisconsin-cultivated and Illinois-cultivated roots.

Brainstem neurons receiving subdiaphragmatic vagal inputs were recorded in an in vitro neonatal rat brainstem-gastric preparation. Aqueous extracts of American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius L.) from Wisconsin and Illinois were applied to the gastric compartment or the brainstem compartment of the bath chamber to evaluate the peripheral gut or central brain effects of the extracts on brainstem unitary activity. After P. quinquefolius extract application to the gastric or brainstem compartment, a concentration-related inhibition in neuronal discharge frequency in brainstem unitary activity was observed, suggesting that P. quinquefolius plays an important role in regulating the digestive process and modulating the brain function in the rat. In this study, pharmacological effects of Wisconsin-cultivated P. quinquefolius and Illinois-cultivated P. quinquefolius were compared. Our results showed that Illinois-cultivated P. quinquefolius possesses a significantly stronger peripheral gastric as well as central brain modulating effect on brainstem neuronal activity. Data from our high performance liquid chromatography ginsenoside analysis suggest that this increase in inhibitory effects by Illinois-cultivated P. quinquefolius may be due to its different ginsenoside profile.

Effects of Erkang, a modified formulation of Chinese folk medicine Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang, on mice.

Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula used to increase vital energy, and strengthen health and immunity. Data from previous studies demonstrated that this formula also has the ability to attack tumor tissue. The Erkang capsule is a modified formula of Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang, with the addition of four other herbs to increase the adaptogen effects and ergogenic properties. Results from this study in mice indicated that the Erkang treated group had significant differences in mortality, body weight change, fatigue, cold temperature endurance, and immune function related organ weight change, compared to the control animals.

Gut and brain effects of American ginseng root on brainstem neuronal activities in rats.

Brainstem neurons receiving subdiaphragmatic vagal inputs were recorded in an in vitro neonatal rat brainstem-gastric preparation. Aqueous extracts of American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolium L.) were applied to the gastric compartment or the brainstem compartment of the bath chamber to evaluate the peripheral gut and central brain effects of the extracts on brainstem unitary activity. After Panax quinquefolium L. application to the gastric or brainstem compartment, a concentration-related inhibition in neuronal discharge frequency in the brainstem unitary activity was observed, suggesting that Panax quinquefolium L. may play an important role in regulating the digestive process and modulating brain function. In this study, pharmacological effects of American-cultivated Panax quinquefolium L. and Chinese-cultivated Panax quinquefolium L. were also compared. Our results suggest that American-cultivated Panax quinquefolium L. possesses a significantly stronger gastric modulating effect on brain neuronal activity.

[Prevention of toxicity of cyclosporine A on rat pancreatic islet beta-cells by Ligustrazine].

The toxic effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) on pancreatic islet beta-cells and the preventive effect of ligustrazine (LIG) on CsA-associated beta-cell toxicity in SD rats were investigated. The oral administration of CsA 50 mg/kg/day for ten days caused hyperglycaemia and lowering of plasma and pancreatic insulin levels that were prevented and/or minimized by the combined intra-peritoneal administration of LIG 50 mg/kg/day. An increase of urinary thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and urinary TXB2/6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-k-PGF1 alpha) ratio in CsA-treated rats could also be prevented and/or minimized by the administration of LIG. The results suggested that the preventive effect of LIG on CsA-associated islet beta-cell toxicity was relevant to the improvement of prostacyclin-thromboxane A2 imbalance.

Plant regeneration from cultured immature embryos of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Immature embryos of 20 sorghum genotypes were cultured on MS 5 medium containing MS mineral salts supplemented with 2,4-D, zeatin, glycine, niacinamide, Ca-pantothenate, L-asparagine, and vitamins. For regeneration, calli were transferred onto the same medium with the exception that IAA was substituted for 2,4-D. In general, immature embryos obtained 9-12 days after pollination resulted in the best redifferentiation. Ability of calli to regenerate varied among genotypes; cultivars C401-1 and C625 had the highest redifferentiation frequencies. Ability to redifferentiate was heritable and acted as a dominant trait. At least two gene pairs were involved. Regenerated R0 plants were planted in a greenhouse and their selfed (R1 and R2) progenies were planted in the field and examined for morphological and cytological variations. The majority of the phenotypic variations noted in R0 were not transmitted to later generations. However, variants for plant height, degree of fertility, and midrib color persisted in R1 and R2 generations. A variation in tallness was attributable to one dominant mutant gene. Short stature and male sterility variants appeared to be consequences of recessive mutant genes controlling those traits. Minor variations in peroxidase banding patterns were found among R0 plants.