[Gross conception of anatomical structure of zang-fu viscera in Huangdi Neijing].

The scientificalness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often doubted and criticized for the record in Huangdi Neijing that the liver is located in the left of the human body. The most popular explanation of this criticism is that the conception of zang-fu viscera in TCM is quite different from which defined in Western medicine. It means that the zang-fu viscera in TCM are not exactly the corresponding anatomical organs in modern human anatomy but reflect the functions of some systems in human body. According to the classical theories of TCM in Huangdi Neijing, we consider that the record of liver located in the left of the human body is based on the Ba Gua (Eight Diagrams) of traditional Chinese philosophy, not the human anatomy. In brief, the conception of zang-fu viscera is initially a gross anatomical conception, and in a sense the anatomic sites and functions of which are mostly similar to those described in Western medicine.

[Relationship between female ages and the theory of five tones correlated with five zang viscera in Huangdi Neijing].

OBJECTIVE: To find out some evidence that may indicate the theory of voice pitch of the five tones being correlated with the five zang viscera in Huangdi Neijing, which was lost 2 000 years. METHODS: Eight-four healthy females were divided into younger group (<34 years old) and older group (> or =34 years old) according to their ages. The pronunciations of these females were examined by sono-frequency analysis facility. RESULTS: The frequency of Jiao tone was much higher than those of the other tones in both groups (P<0.01) and the frequency of Jiao tone increased as aging. The frequency of Zhi tone in the younger group was higher than that in the older group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of higher frequency of Jiao tone in females is in accordance with the theory put forward by Ye Gui (a famous doctor in Qing Dynasty of China) that the liver is the congenital base of female life. In traditional Chinese medicine, Jiao tone is correlated with the liver, and Zhi tone is correlated with the heart. The high frequency of Zhi tone in younger females implies that regulating the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang and Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin may be beneficial to the health maintenance of younger female.

[Possibility of applying nanotechnology to research on the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine].

The ancient theory and technology which are related to preventive treatment of disease by dietetic regulation and coordinating meridian according to 25 tones have been developed in the early 21st century. It is proved in sonocytology by nanotechnology that cells are able to produce noise, and the noise will change at first when the cells have any disorders. This theory is in accordance with the one in Huangdi Neijing. The nanotechnology can be introduced into the basic research of traditional Chinese medicine and may contribute to the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.

[Percutaneous hepatic puncture radio frequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of percutaneous radio frequency ablation (PRFA) on hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Under local or epidural anaesthesia, radio frequency electrodes were percutaneously introduced with ultrasound guide into the tumor in the liver for ablation. RESULTS: Among the 96 hepatic cancer lesions in 60 patients, 41 (42.7%) with diameter < 3.5 cm were ablated by one session. The effective rate (CR + PR) was 100% (41/41) with CR 92.6% (38/41) and PR 7.3% (3/41). During the 6 - 24 month follow up of these lesions, 36 (87.8%) of these 41 patients showed no recurrence by CT or MRI. Fifty-five (57.3%) lesions with diameter 3.5 cm < or = Phi < 12 cm were ablated by two or three sessions, with CR 3.6% (2/55), PR 67.3% (37/55) and CR + PR 70.9% (39/55) by CT or MRI in 1 to 3 months after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous radio frequency ablation is effective on liver tumor with Phi < 3.5 cm. It is partly effective on lesions with 3.5 cm < or = Phi < 12 cm.