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Objective The aim of this study is to assess the neural interconnection between the acupoint “Chengshān (承山BL57)” and sciatic nerve from the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to the central nervous system (CNS). Methods SD rats were systematically examined from the hip to the hind limb along the route of sciatic nerve with regional anatomical technique, and further traced from the BL57 and the trunk of sciatic nerve by the neural tracing technique with cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) and CTB conjugated Alexa Fluor 488 and 594 (CTB-AF488/594). Results After regional anatomy, it was found that the sciatic nerve ran down from the hip to the hind limb and sequentially sent out the tibial and sural branches respectively to the deep and superficial layers of BL57. The CTB labeling associated with both BL57 and sciatic nerve distributed in the same spinal segments and definite regions, including the sensory neurons in lumber 3 (L3) -lumber 6 (L6) dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), transganglionic axons mainly in the L3-L6 spinal dorsal horn, Clarke's nucleus, and gracile nucleus, as well as motor neurons mainly in the L3-L6 spinal ventral horn. However, the amount of neural labeling was significantly less in the cases of BL57 than that of sciatic nerve. Conclusions These results indicate that there is distinct sensory and motor interconnection between the BL57 and the sciatic nerve, which may potentially serve for the active role of the BL57 playing in meliorating the disorders of sciatic nerve.

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the microstructure of blood vessels and nerve fibers between different acupoints in the rat skin from the perspective of histology. Methods The skin tissue at “Qūze” (曲泽 PC3)” “Daling (大陵 PC7)” and “Zhōngchōng (中冲 PC9)” regions was taken from the rat forelimb along the pericardium meridian, and cut sagittally with a freezing microtome. After that, the skin sections were stained by fluorescent histochemistry and immunohistochemistry with phalloidin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to reveal the microstructure of blood vessels and nerve fibers respectively, and then examined under a laser scanning confocal microscope. Results The microstructure of blood vessels and nerve fibers was clearly labeled with phalloidin and CGRP, respectively. The blood vessels and nerve fibers were observed in the dermis of “PC3” “PC7” and “PC9” regions, where the bundle of nerve fibers distribute in parallel to the blood vessels, and sent out thin branches to surround the wall of the blood vessels. In contrast, the density of blood vessels and nerve fibers in “PC3” “PC7” and “PC9” were presented orderly in an increased tendency. Conclusion The results of present study demonstrate the differences of the neurovascular microstructure among “PC3” “PC7” and “PC9” in the rat, providing a histological view to insight into the specificity of different acupoints.

Objective The innervations in Yīnlingquan (阴陵泉 SP9) and Yanglingquan (阳陵泉 GB34) were investigated to explore the neuroanatomical interconnection of the complementary acupoints in the rat hindlimb. Methods A dual neural tracing technique was used, six male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in experiment. Under anesthesia with isoflurane, cholera toxin subunit B conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 and 594 (CTB-AF488/594) were separately injected into SP9 and GB34 in the same rat. Three days later, the neural labeling was examined in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), spinal cord, and sympathetic chain at lumbar (L) spinal segments under a laser scanning confocal microscope. Results All neural labeling were present on the ipsilateral side of tracer injection, including sensory, motor and sympathetic postganglionic neurons. The sensory neurons associated with SP9 and GB34 were distributed in the DRG from L2 to L6 and concentrated in L3-L4 and L4-L5 respectively, while most of the double labeled sensory neurons were presented in L4. On the other hand, the labeled motor neurons for SP9 and GB34 were observed in the dorsolateral part of spinal ventral horn at L2-L4 and L3-L5 respectively, and some of them were double labeled at L4. In addition, the sympathetic postganglionic neurons related to SP9 and GB34 were found in the lumbar sympathetic chain respectively. Conclusion The similarities of the sensory, motor, and sympathetic innervation of SP9 and GB34 in the rat provide the neuroanatomical evidence to understand the synergetic effect that arise from the stimulation at the complementary acupoints.

Previous studies have shown that the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) are contributed by collagen fibers and mast cells in local acupoints, at which acupuncture stimulation causes various afferent fiber groups to be excited. However what happens in local nerve fibers and mast cells after MA remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the response of cutaneous nerve fibers and mast cells to MA stimulation in acupoint Hegu (LI4). The contralateral LI4 of the same rat was used as a non-stimulated control. Immnohistochemistry analysis were carried out to observe the expression of histamine (HA), serotonin (5-HT) and nociceptive neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP), in the LI4 area. Mast cells were labeled with anti-mast cell tryptase antibody and simultaneously with HA or 5-HT primary antibodies to observe their co-expression. Our results showed that SP and CGRP were expressed more highly on the cutaneous nerve fibers of LI4 after MA stimulation than that of the control. Mast cells aggregated in close proximity to the blood vessels in intra-epidermis and dermis and some of them with degranulation in the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue of LI4. Both mast cells and their granules appeared with HA (+) and 5-HT (+) expression at stimulated L14 sites, while a few intact mast cells with a little expression of 5-HT and HA were distributed in areas of non-stimulated L14. The results indicated that local cutaneous nerve terminals and mast cells responded to MA with higher expression of SP and CGRP in nerve fibers, as well as with aggregation and degranulation of mast cells with HA and 5-HT granules at acupoint LI4. These neuroactive substances may convey signals to certain pathways that contribute to the effects of acupuncture.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study the fracture behaviors of several symmetric tilt grain boundaries in γ -TiAl bicrystals with 〈110〈 misorientation axes. Tensile deformation along direction perpendicular to grain boundary was simulated under various strain rates and temperatures. The results indicate that the relative orientation of the grains and the presence of certain atom units are two critical factors of the interface structure affecting the stress required for dislocation nucleation. Dislocations nucleate and extend at or near the symmetric tilt grain boundaries during the tensile deformation of Σ3 (111) 109.5°, Σ9 (221) 141.1° and Σ27 (552) 148.4° interfaces. For Σ27 (115) 31.6° and Σ11 (113) 50.5° interfaces, the interfaces fractured directly in a cleavage manner due to no dislocation emitted from the boundary. The tensile fracture mechanisms of the bicrystals are that micro-cracks nucleate at the grain boundary and propagate along the interface. The variance of crack propagation is whether there is accommodation of plastic region at the crack tips.

Metal doping and sensitization of photocatalyst have been jointly exploited as a novel strategy to improve photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) porphyrin-Cu (II) (CuPp) is chosen to sensitize La-doped TiO 2 (La–TiO 2 ) nanocrystalline. La doping results in smaller crystallite and larger specific surface area. La doping or sensitization of TiO 2 exhibits higher absorption in visible-light region and photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methyl orange (MO) than pristine TiO 2 . Coupling effect of La doping and CuPp sensitization leads to the excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. A tentative mechanism for the enhancment of photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation is proposed.

The origin of the superior high temperature strength of Ti-rich gamma-TiAl with addition of Nb is a highly controversial issue. In this paper, we calculated the interaction energies between point defects in these alloys using a first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential method. It is found that, the nearest neighbouring Nb atoms on Al-sublattice (Nb(Al)) repel whereas the next nearest neighbouring Nb(Al) atoms attract each other, indicating that Nb(Al) atoms may form short-range ordered structure. Based on this finding, we propose that the short-range order may be responsible for the high strength of the Ti-rich TiAl-Nb alloys. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective To investigate the relationships between L4 and L5 intervertebral foramen (IVF) stenosis (IVFS), as well as the restoration and onset and recovery of behavioral hyperalgesia and alterations in primary sensory neuron excitability. Methods IVFS was produced by surgically implanting stainless steel rods unilaterally into the intervertebral foramen at L4 and L5. The insertion of a stainless steel rod in the IVF caused IVF volume reduction, which mimics IVFS. The rods were kept for up to 14 weeks in 16 rats and 2 to 4 weeks in another 32 rats. Rod withdrawal was expected to restore the IVF volume. The rods were withdrawn in 20 rats on the 7th day and in another 20 rats on the 14th day, postoperatively. Two additional groups of control rats received no surgery or sham operation. Behavioral hyperalgesia was evidenced by the significantly decreased threshold and shortened latency of foot withdrawal to mechanical and thermal stimulation of the plantar surface. Electrophysiological intracellular recordings were obtained in vitro from L4 and/or L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Results The IVFS rats exhibited a rapid-onset (≤1 day), long-lasting (10-11 weeks), mechanical, and thermal hyperalgesia. DRG neurons in each category, large-sized, medium-sized, and small-sized, from IVFS rats were more excitable than those from control rats, evaluated by the significantly decreased threshold current and action potential threshold and increased number of discharges evoked by depolarizing current and incidence of spontaneous activity. IVF volume restoration significantly reduced behavioral hyperalgesia and the increased excitability of DRG neurons. In contrast, sham surgery produced no behavioral or electrophysiological changes in the ganglion neurons. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that hyperalgesia and hyperexcitability of the primary sensory neurons can be induced following the IVF volume reduction produced by insertion of a stainless steel rod and mostly relieved by the rod withdrawal. The recovery of excitability of DRG cells to normal levels is associated with the abatement of hyperalgesia. These results support the hypothesis that increased excitability of DRG neurons is associated with the generation and maintenance of hyperalgesia and suggest that relief of the IVF stenosis, which could compress all of the normal constituents within the IVF (ie, DRG, nerve root, blood and lymph vessels, adipose, etc.), may help to alleviate chronic pain in humans.

1. 1. Several studies on monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia showed that the cerebral ventricle-brain ratio (VBR) was larger in the twins with schizophrenia, as compared with the corresponding normal twins. 2. 2. The results suggest that the difference of the VBR of the discordant twins was larger than that of the concordant twins of schizophrenia. 3. 3. The authors studied the VBR in four monozygotic twin pairs discordant and four monozygotic twin pairs concordant for schizophrenia by computerized tomography. 4. 4. In the discordant twins, all pairs showed that the VBR of the normal twins was smaller than that of the corresponding twins with schizophrenia. 5. 5. The difference of the VBR of the discordant twins and that of the concordant twins of schizophrenia was not statistically different using Mann-Whitney U test. 6. 6. The preliminary results suggest that the VBR enlargement in schizophrenia is not genetically controlled in monozygotic twins either discordant or concordant for schizophrenia. 7. 7. In monozygotic concordant twins, the brain pathology may be heterogeneous.

Anticipation, i.e., a decrease in the age of onset and/or an increase in the severity of a disease in subsequent generations, and imprinting, i.e., different modes of parental transmission, have been suggested in trinucleotide repeat amplification diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine if anticipation and imprinting are associated with familial schizophrenia. Two generations of 49 schizophrenics from 24 families were studied. Ages of onset, numbers hospitalized, diagnostic subclasses of schizophrenia, amounts of antipsychotics, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, treatment resistance, and clinical course ratings, were compared between the two generations. The age of onset was significantly lower in the offspring generation, although there was no difference in the severity between the two generations. The negative symptom scores and clinical course scores in the offspring generation for paternal transmission were significantly higher than those for maternal transmission. Our results suggest the presence of imprinting and anticipation in schizophrenia.