《庄子·养生主》“缘督”之意新释

“缘督”是《庄子·养生主》中通过“缘督”以养生来实现生命价值的具体原则和方法。文章在充分吸取历代学者对“缘督”之意的详实研究成果下,尝试论证将“缘督”作为工夫论的可行性,并以此为切入口,结合对《庄子·养生主》文本的深入解读,着重对“缘督”之意进行新的诠释。文章认为“缘督”工夫落实在体道过程中的“缘督”之意有两大可能性走向,一是以“顺中”为常法,落脚点在主体个人的工夫走向;一是以“循虚”为常法,落脚点在客观世界的工夫走向。并以“缘督”工夫作为理论支撑,认为可能贴合庄子本意的“缘督”之意可解释为“顺己之不化之心,循物之固然之理”。

Relationship between syndrome elements and anterior communicating artery opening in patients with smptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis/occlusion

Objective To study the relationship between syndrome elements and anterior communicating artery(ACoA)opening in patients with symptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis/occlusion.Methods Thirty-six patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis/occlusion were collected,including 26 patients with cerebral infarction and 10 patients with transient ischemic attack(TIA).Syndrome elements at five time points were collected.Computer tomography angiography(CTA)combined with magenic resonance angiograp(MRA)was used to evaluate the primary collateral circulation,and the prognosis and syndrome elements were statistically analyzed according to whether the ACoA was open or not.Results The ACoA was open more in the primary collateral circulation among patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis/occlusion.There was a statistically significant difference in national institute of health stroke scale(NIHSS)score improvement and good prognosis[the modified rankin scale(mRS)≤2]between the ACoA open group and the ACoA nonopen group on the 90th day(P<0.05).The proportion of patients with internal wind syndrome,blood stasis syndrome,Qi deficiency syndrome,and Yin deficiency syndrome in the ACoA non-open group was higher than that in the open group.Conclusion In the patients with severe carotid artery stenosis/occlusion,the group with presence of anterior communicating artery had better prognosis.The syndrome elements are more complex in the group without the presence of anterior communicating artery.The proportion of Qi deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with the non-opening of anterior communicating artery.The imaging evaluation of collateral circulation can provide guidance for syndrome differentiation and treatment.

A new formula of mechanism mobility based on virtual constraint loop

Several important developing phases of the formulas for mobility calculation based on constraints are introduced. The shortcoming of the mobility formulas based on common constraints of loops of a mechanism is that virtual constraints must be calculated before determining the mobility of a mechanism with virtual constraints. In order to avoid the shortcoming, some new concepts including virtual loop, virtual-loop constraint and general-kinematic-pair constraint are used to analyze the relationship between mobility of links and constraint of kinematic pairs and a mobility formula based on common constraints of virtual loops is proposed. The formula is that the number of mobility of a mechanism is the sum of mobility of all links in the mecha-nism minus the sum of constraints of all kinematic pairs plus the sum of the common constraints of all virtual loops. The sum of over constraints of a mechanism is the sum of constraints of all virtual loops in the mechanism. This mobility formula expressed in terms of common constraints of virtual loops in a mechanism can avoid calculating virtual constraints. It is proved that the new formula is correct, simple and effective through the analysis of several different kinds of mechanisms.

Finite Sample Properties of Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning Control

In this paper, finite sample properties of virtual reference feedback tuning control are considered, by using the theory of finite sample properties from system identification. To design a controller in closed loop system structure, the idea of virtual reference feedback tuning is proposed to avoid the identification process corresponding to the plant model. After constructing one identification cost without any knowledge of plant model, the author derives one bound on the difference between the expected identification cost and its sample identification cost under the condition that the number of data points is finite. Also the correlation between the plant input and external noise is considered in the derivation of this bound. Furthermore, the author continues to derive one probability bound to quantify this difference by using some probability inequalities and control theory.

Effects of electroacupuncture at Chize(LU 5) versus Shangjuxu(ST 37) in rats with ulcerative colitis

Objective： To compare the effects between electroacupuncture （EA） at Chize （LU 5, the He-Sea point of the Lung Meridian） and Shangjuxu （ST 37, the lower He-Sea point of the large intestine） in rats with ulcerative colitis （UC） on the variations of mesenteric microcirculation and vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP） in the colon, lung, and hypothalamus. The relative specificity of acupoints was also explored. Methods： A total of 28 male Wistar rats were randomized into a normal group, a model group, a Chize （LU 5） group and a Shangjuxu （ST 37） group, 7 rats in each group. The UC model was established by enema with acetic acid. Since the third day after modeling, rats in the Chize （LU 5） group and Shangjuxu （ST 37） group respectively received EA at Chize （LU 5） and Shangjuxu （ST 37）, 1S min each time for successive 7 d. The variations of mesenteric microvascular calibers and blood flow status were observed by a microcirculation microscopic tester; VIP in the colon, lung and hypothalamus was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results： Compared with the normal group, the mesenteric microvascular calibers were significantly expanded in the model group （P〈0.05）; there was no significant difference between the model group and Chize （LU 5） group （P〉0.05）; compared with the model group and Chize （LU 5） group, the calibers were obviously shrunk in Shangjuxu （ST 37） group （P〈0.05）. The four groups showed no significant inter-group differences in comparing blood flow status （P〉0.05）. The colonic VIP levels in the model group and Chize （LU 5） group were significantly higher than that in the normal group （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）; the VIP level in Shangjuxu （ST 37） group was markedly lower than that in the model group （P〈0.01）. There were no significant differences among the four groups in comparing VIP level in lung and hypothalamus （P〉0.05）. Conclusion： The effects of Chize （LU 5） and Shangjuxu （ST 37） were different in treating UC. Shangjuxu （ST 37） showed a more significant efficacy in down-regulating VIP in the colon and regulating mesenteric microcirculation, while the effects of Chize （LU 5） were not obvious.

Mechanisms of Qi-blood circulation and Qi deficiency syndrome in view of blood and interstitial fluid circulation

OBJECTIVE: Based on comparison between fundamental theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine (WM) and modern scientific research on meridians, we find that "Qi" in TCM is closely related to tissue fluid. In this study, the essence of Qi is explored in the view of circulation of blood and interstitial fluid. METHODS: Because the concept of Qi is complicated, Qi deficiency syndrome (QDS) is chosen to probe the relationship between of Qi deficiency and Qi-blood circulation (QBC). We analyze Qi-blood theory in terms of WM, set up a hemodynamic model to describe QBC, and review clinical research on QDS in the view of blood-interstitial fluid circulation. RESULTS: QDS is caused by imbalances of substance exchanges between blood and interstitial fluid, leading to an increase in the interstitial liquid volume or a decrease in nutrients and retention ofmetabolic wastes in interstitial fluid. CONCLUSION: This study describes the essence of Qi, providing support for further research on theories of Qiand Qi-blood circulation inTCM.