Because of the close relationship with stomach cancer and higher rates of carcinoma, gastric epithelial dysplasia associated with chronic atrophic gastritis is considered the most important precancerous lesion of stomach cancer. Due to the absence of recognized treatment methods, periodical follow-up and monitoring were considered an effective method to prevent the occurrence of gastric cancer. Currently, there are numerous areas requiring attention; the authors provide some suggestions on the recognition and key technologies for follow-up and re-examination.

Pathogenic dampness can cause many diseases, and that is why traditional Chinese medicine pays close attention to pathogenic dampness. In recent years many researches discovered that dampness diseases and aquaporin have close correlation. By analyzing the progress in research on correlation between dampness diseases and aquaporin, it is discovered that aquaporin has close correlation with urinary system, digestive system, respiratory system and central nervous system. Normal expression of aquaporin may be the molecular biological basis of dispelling dampness, while abnormal expression may be one of the main causes for dampness diseases. Studying the correlation between dampness diseases and aquaporin has quite important significance in understanding mechanism of dampness diseases and formulating treatment protocols.

There lack scientific methods for evaluating the treatment of cancer pain with external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The level of clinical study in this field needs to be improved. The authors assert that when external therapies of TCM are applied to treat cancer pain, different types of cancer pain should be distinguished and treatment should be applied according to such a differentiation. Under this framework scientific evaluation can be conducted. The authors also assert that the findings of randomized, blinded and controlled trials should be given particular attention, and it is necessary to include titration of morphine into clinical trails of external therapies for the treatment of cancer pain, not only complying with the three-ladder principle for treating cancer pain suggested by the World Health Organization, but also not influencing the effect evaluation of external therapies of TCM on cancer pain. Patient diaries recording pain were revised as observation indexes. The primary indicator of efficacy was the pain intensity score and the secondary indicators were the equivalent of morphine and the remission rate of pain. The time to onset, remission duration and comparison of assessment of pain influence can mirror the characteristics of external therapies of TCM on cancer pain.

Objective: Based on information entropy theory, this study analyzes the experimental indicators of glucocorticoid-induced traditional Chinese medicine yang deficiency or yin deficiency syndrome in animal models, thus laying the foundation of defining and interpreting the model state.
Methods: Data of biochemical indicators from 24 groups of animal models with different modeling conditions (type of modeling agent, dosage of modeling agent and modeling time) were collected. Information gain values for three study objects (type of modeling agent, dosage of modeling agent and modeling time) were calculated respectively after standardization, and then characteristics of yang deficiency or yin deficiency syndrome models were interpreted with these values and ranking map.
Results: Greatest information gain values of most indicators were got when the study object was the type of modeling agent, which is the most important factor in the differentiation of model state. With this study object, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and corticosteroid (CS) got larger information gain values than testosterone (T), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). This indicated that the former seven indicators may be significantly different between the two animal models induced by hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, respectively. In the study of the modeling time, AST may be affected more than others. In the study of the dosage of modeling agent, TC and ALB may be affected more in the model of hydrocortisone and no indicators were significantly affected by the dosage of modeling agent in the dexamethasone model.
Conclusion: Mathematical method based on information entropy theory allows researchers to analyze experimental data in several experiments at the same time and to interpret the trend and stability of indicators. Based on this study and by analyzing the impacts of different modeling conditions on the indicators, elucidations of the characteristics of glucocorticoid-induced yang deficiency or yin deficiency syndrome in animal models and some biochemical indicators for model comparison are in need.

Objective: Traditional Chinese medicine stagnation syndrome is a prevalent syndrome characterized by mind-body obsession-like symptoms. To standardize the evaluation of this syndrome, previous studies have developed and validated a 3-factor, 16-item Stagnation Scale with good psychometric properties. The current study aimed to survey stagnation syndrome among adults in community.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 755 adults recruited by cluster sampling in Hong Kong.
Results: Using self-appraisal of symptom severity as reference, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis suggested an optimized cut-off point of 50 on the Stagnation Scale, with false positive and negative rates at 25.8% and 23.3%, respectively. Prevalence of stagnation syndrome was revealed at 6.2%. It is more prevalent in women, with a male to female ratio of 1∶2.8 (P=0.02). Stagnation showed significant negative correlation with age (r=–0.22, P<0.01). It showed non-significant correlation with marital status and education level. Among people with stagnation syndrome, 30.4% showed substantial intention to seek treatment (male: 25.0%; female: 32.4%).
Conclusion: Stagnation syndrome seems to be prevalent among adults and shows a fairly high rate of motivation for people to seek treatment. The construct can be a useful entry point for healthcare interventions and warrants further in-depth studies. Limitations of using a structured questionnaire for epidemiological studies and corresponding remedies are discussed.

Objective: In this study, optical data on color of tongue tips were collected by using a visible reflection spectrum system. Quantitative method of tongue inspection and classification of tongue states including pale, pale red, red and crimson manifestations were investigated.
Methods: Chromaticity coordinates of the tongue tips from 98 subjects were calculated on the basis of the visible reflection spectrum. The tongue color was quantified and classified by the visible reflection spectrum in the range from 590 nm to 780 nm, based on the higher red-band energy distribution on the tongue tip color.
Results: It was found that comparison and analysis of tongue tip color from different samples would be well-suited after spectrum vector normalization, and the difference of tongue tip color between different samples could be observed easily when the tongue tip optical data were sited in CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram. The tongue tip colors were analyzed quantitatively and classified by the spectral energy intensity at the wavelength of 670 nm and (or) spectral energy ratio of red bank from 590 nm to 780 nm. The results of classification showed that there was sound corresponding accuracy with the clinical diagnosis of pale tongue, pale red tongue, red tongue and crimson tongue.
Conclusion: In this study, based on the collection of the information data on tongue tip characteristics with the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 780 nm, the quantitative analysis of tongue inspection for pale tongue, pale red tongue, red tongue and crimson tongue was established. The quantitative value for tongue tip color is an effective method for classification of the condition of the tongue tip, which provides a useful tool for the modernization of tongue inspection in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective: In the present study, the efficacy of Naoxintong capsule (NXT), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, combined with dual antiplatelet therapy (DA) in a rat model of coronary microembolization (CME) was evaluated.
Methods: CME in rats was developed by injecting a suspension of microthrombotic particles into the left ventricle when the ascending aorta was obstructed. Microthrombotic particles were generated from the clots of rats sized by filtration through a screen (aperture diameter, 38 μm). A total of 95 rats were randomly divided into six groups, including control group, sham-operation (sham) group, CME model (CME) group, and NXT, DA, and NDA (NXT plus DA) groups. Rats in treatment groups were administered intragastrically with NXT, DA, and NDA, respectively, from 3 d before to 7 d after operation. All rats were sacrificed on day 7 post-operationally, and samples of blood and heart were collected. The complete data of 69 rats were obtained. The incidence of CME (CME%) was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Bleeding time (BT) and clotting time (CT) were measured by means of tail cutting and glass slide methods, respectively. Adenosine diphosphate-induced maximum platelet aggregation rate (PAR) was assessed with turbidimetry. Platelet counts were examined by an automated hematology analyzer. The levels of serum P-selectin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, endothelin (ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were all detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Compared with control and sham groups, CME group had an increase in CME%, PAR, P-selectin, IL-6 and ET-1 (P<0.01, P<0.01), and a decrease in BT, CT, IL-10 and eNOS (P<0.01, P<0.01); compared with CME group, the groups receiving medications had an increase in BT, CT, IL-10 and eNOS (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and a decrease in CME%, PAR, P-selectin, IL-6 and ET-1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), with DA group increasing most in BT and CT and decreasing most in PAR and P-selectin, and with NDA group increasing most in IL-10 and eNOS and decreasing most in CME%, IL-6 and ET-1. In terms of platelet counts, there was no statistically significant difference among groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion: NXT combined with DA can decrease CME%. The probable mechanism is that this therapy can appropriately inhibit platelet aggregation, balance the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as serum ET-1 and eNOS. This therapy can also reduce risk of intraoperative bleeding during DA therapy.

Objective: The present study was undertaken with a view to validate the traditional use of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels fruit as a hepatoprotective agent.
Methods: The 70% ethanolic extract of P. acidus fruit (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.), and reference drug silymarin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) were given to rats of different groups respectively once a day for 5 d and the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (2 mL/kg, subcutaneously) was given on days 2 and 3. Serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) and total protein (TP) were assessed along with liver histopathological examination. The effects on oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also assessed in liver tissue homogenate to evaluate in vivo antioxidant activity. In addition, the effects on hexobarbitone-induced sleeping time were observed and the free radical-scavenging potential was determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) in mice.
Results: P. acidus extracts and silymarin exhibited a significant hepatoprotective effect as evident from the decreases of serum AST, ALT and ALP levels and LPO and increases in the levels of TP, GSH, SOD, CAT, and GPx compared with control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The biochemical results were supplemented with results of histopathological sections of the liver tissues. P. acidus extracts considerably shortened the duration of hexobarbitone-induced sleeping time in mice compared with control group (P<0.01) and showed remarkable DPPH-scavenging activity.
Conclusion: The present findings suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of P. acidus against CCl4-induced oxidative damage may be related to its antioxidant and free radical-scavenging potentials.

Objective: To investigate the effects and characteristics of Fuzheng Huayu recipe, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, and its decomposed therapies against hepatocyte apoptosis in mice with hepatic injury.
Methods: A total of 50 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, untreated group, Fuzheng Huayu recipe group, Fuzheng recipe group and Huayu recipe group. Hepatocyte apoptosis in mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (10 μg/kg) and galactosamine (900 mg/kg). The mice in drug-treated groups were administered with Fuzheng Huayu recipe, Fuzheng recipe and Huayu recipe by garvage respectively 3 days before injection of lipopolysaccharide and galactosamine. The mice were sacrificed 6 hours after the administration of lipopolysaccharide and galactosamine. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and superoxide dimutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined by colorimetric method. Inflammation and necrosis in liver tissue were observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Hepatocyte apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining. Protein expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor type Ⅰ (TNFR1) was analyzed with Western blotting. Expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA was analyzed with real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Compared with the untreated group, Fuzheng Huayu recipe, Fuzheng recipe and Huayu recipe attenuated hepatocyte apoptosis, decreased the serum ALT and AST activities and MDA content, and improved the SOD activity in liver tissues. Of the three groups, the effect of Fuzheng Huayu recipe group was the best, Fuzheng recipe group was better than Huayu recipe group. Compared with the untreated group, all drugs exerted good effects in decreasing TNF-α mRNA expression, and Fuzheng Huyu recipe was better than the others. The expression of TNFR1 protein in the untreated group was increased with the occurrence of hepatocyte apoptosis, however, only Fuzheng Huayu recipe decreased the elevated TNFR1 protein expression.
Conclusion: Fuzheng recipe exerts a good effect in attenuating hepatocyte apoptosis in vivo, which has synergistic effects with Huayu recipe in attenuating hepatocyte apoptosis, and the potential mechanism is partially due to their different effects in alleviating oxidative stress in liver and down-regulating the expression of TNFR1 protein.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Sangen Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption function of osteoclasts induced by polymethylmethacrylate particles in vitro.
Methods: Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were used to induce differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) towards osteoclasts. BMMs and polymethylmethacrylate particles with ratio of 1︰3 were added to the 24-well plate and 96-well plate with bone slices respectively. A total of 50 male SD rats were divided into 5 groups randomly with each group containing 10 rats. After being treated with different drugs, serum samples of rats in each group were extracted, i.e., the blank serum, Western medicine (ibandronate) serum and high-, medium-, and low-dose Sangen Decoction serum and were added to the medium respectively. The tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to identify the differentiation of BMMs and for counting of osteoclasts. Area of lacuna induced by osteoclast bone resorption on the bone slices was measured by computer image processing.
Results: Numbers of osteoclasts of treatment groups were less than that of blank group by TRAP staining (P<0.05); numbers of osteoclasts of positive control group and high-dose Sangen Decoction group were much lower than those of medium- and low-dose Sangen Decoction groups (P<0.05), and no difference was found between Western medicine group and high-dose Sangen Decoction group (P>0.05). In bone resorption assay, area of lacuna of blank group was larger than those of treatment groups (P<0.05); areas of lacuna of Western medicine group and high-dose Sangen Decoction group were much smaller than those of medium- and low-dose Sangen Decoction groups (P<0.05), and no difference was found between Western medicine group and high-dose Sangen Decoction group (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Sangen Decoction can inhibit osteoclastogenesis induced by polymethylmethacrylate particles as well as bone resorption function of osteoclasts.

Objective: To explore the protective effects of Huqi extractum, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on salivary glands against radiation in Wistar rats.
Methods: One hundred Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-exposure group, untreated group, and low-, medium- and high-dose Huqi groups. Local irradiation of ⁶⁰Co gamma-rays with a single dose of 15 Gy was applied to the salivary glands of the Wistar rats except the sham-exposure group. After 3- and 40-day treatment, saliva was collected. Colorimetric method, iodine-amylase colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect concentrations of sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and activity of salivary amylase. Pathological changes of salivary gland tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin straining.
Results: After 3-day administration, radiation-induced salivary gland injuries were obvious and prevalent in irradiated rats. Comparing with the sham-exposure group, saliva concentration of sIgA and body weight were reduced in other irradiated groups, except those in the high-dose Huqi group, while salivary amylase level was increased. At 3-day phase, pathologic changes of the salivary glands were featured as swelling acinus plasm and vacuolation. At 40-day phase, atrophy of gland cells was dominant. After 40-day administration, there were no significant differences between the high-dose Huqi group and sham-exposure group in sIgA and amylase levels and body weight, and according to the histological examination, no significant difference was revealed under the optical microscope.
Conclusion: Chinese herbal medicine is helpful for the recovery of the salivary glands from the radiation injury, morphologically and functionally in rats.

Objective: To study biomarkers and their diversification in healthy people’s urine before and after oral administration of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, and to investigate the influence of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on urine metabonomics of healthy people.
Methods: Ten healthy volunteers joined in this experiment and signed informed consent. They were given oral administration of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction for 3 days, and their urine was collected every morning. The samples were centrifuged at 13 000 ×g for 10 min at 4 ℃, and the supernatant was stored at –75 ℃. The samples were examined by a core technology called ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadruple time of flight/mass spectrometry and then the data were analyzed by principal components analysis and partial least square-discriminant analysis to investigate trajectory diversification and corresponding relations of the time and amount of urine metabonomics before and after oral administration of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction.
Results: Evident variance of urine metabonomics took place after oral administration of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction, which showed that the metabolism of healthy people had been visibly affected. Seven potential biomarkers which play a role in healthy people on behalf of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction were preliminarily found, and one biomarker which had biological significance was identified as 2-(formylamino)-benzoic acid.
Conclusion: The effects of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on urine metabonomics in healthy people investigated at the level of metabolism can provide theoretical and technical support for the study of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction’s influence on heat syndrome.

Objective: To study the protective mechanism of Dusuqing Granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on the senile multiple organ injury caused by bacterial pneumonia by observing the expression changes of molecules related to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling.
Methods: A total of 55 male Sprague-Dawley aged rats were divided into control group, untreated group, Dusuqing group and lomefloxacin group. There were 25 rats in the untreated group and 10 rats in each of the other three groups. Multiple organ injury in a rat model of pneumonia was induced by injection of Klebsiella pneumoniae through tracheal intubation. By means of immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), examinations were made on mRNA expressions of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), CD14, TLR4 and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1) in the tissues of the lung, heart and small intestine, and also on the protein expressions of TLR4, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) .
Results: Expressions of LBP, CD14, TLR4 and IRAK-1 mRNAs in the tissues of the lung, heart and small intestine in the untreated group were stronger than those in the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The protein expressions of TLR4, TRAF6 and NF-κB were increased dramatically in the untreated group as compared with the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with the untreated group, the expressions of LBP, CD14, TLR4 and IRAK-1 mRNAs in the tissues of the lung, heart and small intestine in the Dusuqing group were weakened significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Meanwhile, the protein expressions of TLR4, TRAF6 and NF-κB were decreased markedly in the Dusuqing group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).
Conclusion: Dusuqing Granule is effective in suppressing toll-like receptor signal transduction activation and reducing the secretion of cytokines and inflammatory mediators, which can further reduce the organ tissue injury. Dusuqing Granule can decrease the levels of TLR signal transduction activation including the targets LBP, CD-14, TLR4, IRAK-1, TRAF6 and NF-κB, which is different from the special inhibitor that acts only on some segments.

Objective: To select the most effective parameters of electroacupuncture (EA) at Hegu (LI4) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), a traditional acupuncture formula that induces labor, by comparing its effects on uterine contraction in late-stage pregnant rats, so as to improve the effects of acupuncture on induction of labor and its clinical maneuverability and provide the basis for further mechanism research.
Methods: One hundred and eight female healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups including one non-pregnancy control group (normal control group) and seven pregnant groups. Pregnant rats were prepared by free mating and vaginal plugs observation method and were randomly divided into six EA groups and one no EA group (model group) according to the requirements of a 2×3 factorial design. EA parameters included 2 types of waves (continuous wave and sparse-dense wave) and 3 types of frequency (15, 30 and 50 Hz). Rats in treatment groups received EA on bilateral LI4 for 20 min and then bilateral SP6 for 5 min with certain parameters accordingly. Each acupoint and a nearby non-acupoint at the proximal end (2 to 3 mm from the acupoint) were connected with two leads of one EA line. The current intensity of EA was 0.2 to 0.3 mA. A muscle tension transducer and the BL-420 Biological Experimental System were placed on the lower uterine segment of rats for detecting contractility, frequency and lasting-time of contraction wave.
Results: Compared with non-pregnancy control group, the amplitude, frequency and lasting time of contraction waves of uterine contraction in all EA groups and model group were significantly increased. Compared with control group, amplitudes of contraction waves of uterine contraction of both EA1 group (15 Hz continuous wave) and EA6 group (2/50 Hz sparse-dense wave) were significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05); frequency of contraction waves of uterine contraction of EA6 group was significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05); lasting time of contraction waves of uterine contraction of EA1 group, EA5 group (2/30 Hz sparse-dense wave) and EA6 group were significantly increased (P<0.01 orP<0.05). Comparisons between EA6 group and the other EA groups showed that, EA6 group had significantly higher levels of amplitude and frequency of contraction waves of uterine contraction than the other EA groups (P<0.01 orP<0.05) except EA1 group, there was no significant difference between EA1 group and EA6 group (P>0.05), but the mean value of EA6 group was higher than that of EA1 group; EA6 group had significantly higher levels of lasting time of contraction waves of uterine contraction than the other EA groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05) except EA1 group and EA5 group, there was no significant difference between EA6 group and EA1 group or EA5 group (P>0.05), but the mean value of EA6 group was higher than EA1 group and EA5 group.
Conclusion: EA with sparse-dense wave (2 Hz sparse wave and 50 Hz dense wave, alternately) at LI4 and SP6 was more effective than other EA parameters for increasing uterine contraction amplitude, frequency, and lasting-time of contraction waves in late-stage pregnant rats. This combination of electric wave and frequency for EA at LI4 and SP6, a traditional acupuncture formula for inducing labor, is recommended to be applied in clinical practice for parturition as well as for treatment of uterine atony.

Objective: To evaluate the analgesic effect of extracts of Alpinia galanga (AG) rhizome in mice and elucidate the possible mechanism for its analgesic action.
Methods: Analgesic action of extracts of AG rhizome was studied in three experimental models of nociception. Albino mice of both sexes weighing 25 to 30 g were used in this study. For the hot-plate test, mice in the five groups with six in each received three different doses of ethanolic extracts of dried rhizome of AG suspended in 2% gum acacia orally, morphine subcutaneously and 2% gum acacia orally, respectively. Reaction time was observed after administration of vehicle or drugs. For the hot-plate test after naloxone pretreatment, mice in the five groups received naloxone subcutaneously 30 min prior to the administration of vehicle or drugs and reaction time was observed as explained above. In the writhing test, writhes were induced by injecting acetic acid intraperitoneally in another 30 mice which were randomly allocated to five groups of six in each and received three different doses of ethanolic extracts of dried rhizome of AG suspended in 2% gum acacia, aspirin suspended in 2% gum acacia and 2% gum acacia orally, respectively. The mice were observed individually for a period of 15 min and the number of writhes was recorded for each animal.
Results: AG treatment significantly increased the latency period in the hot-plate test at all three doses at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min time intervals compared with control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Naloxone pretreatment significantly reduced the latency period in hot-plate test for both AG and morphine groups as compared with corresponding groups that did not receive naloxone pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). AG at all doses significantly reduced the number of writhes compared with control group (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The study confirmed the analgesic effect of AG rhizome and hence justified its use in ethnomedicine for the treatment of pain due to various causes. The probable mechanism of its analgesic action may be central as well as peripheral.