中国近代第一位西医生——关韬

关韬 (关亚杜 ,KuanA -To)是中国近代的第一位西医生和第一位西式军医 ,他出身于广东十三行 (The 13Hong ;ThirteenFactories)商业画家的世家 ,19世纪十三行的文化氛围对他一生有重大的影响。他的叔父关乔昌 (啉呱 )和关联昌 (庭呱 )是著名的广东商业画家 ,关乔昌在十三行建立画室 ,和来自欧美的外国人有着广泛的接触 ,他不断的追随着晚年旅居澳门的英国有名画家乔治·钱纳利的西洋画风格。在关乔昌的指引下 ,1837年关韬随美国第一位来华医药传教士伯驾 ,在十三行的眼科医局学习西医。后来他成为一位具有优良品格、有能力和乐于奉献的医生。

The clinical effects of DC-CIK cells combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced NSCLC

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and therapeutic effects of autologous dendritic cells co-cultured with cytokine-induced killer cells (DC-CIK) combined with chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: Fifty patients with advanced NSCLC (stages III to IV), who had received therapies in our Center (Department of Biotherapy, Affiliated to Cancer Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China) from August 2008 to January 2010, were treated by DC-CIK + chemotherapy as the combined treatment group; fifty advanced NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy at the same time served as controls. The immunologic function, short-term therapeutic effects, the 1-year survival rate, the life quality, the chemotherapy side effects were compared between the two groups, the safety and therapeutic effects of DC-CIK cells therapy were observed too. Results: There was no obvious change of subsets of T cells in peripheral blood before and after therapy in DC-CIK + chemotherapy group, and IFN-γ was improved after therapy in this group (P < 0.05); in chemotherapy alone group, the ratios of CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD3-CD56+ cells and the secretion of IL-2, TNF-α decreased significantly after therapy (P < 0.05); the ratios of CD3+CD8+, CD3+CD56+ were improved after cell culture (P < 0.05). The disease control rate (DCR) of DC-CIK + chemotherapy group was higher than that in the chemotherapy alone group (78.0% vs 56.0%, P < 0.05); the 1-year survival rates of DC-CIK + chemotherapy group and chemotherapy alone group were 50% and 44% respectively, had no significant difference. Compared with chemotherapy alone group, the occurrence of chemotherapy side effects (including bone marrow suppression, nausea and vomiting, peripheral nerve toxicity) was less in the DC-CIK + chemotherapy group (P < 0.05). The physical and appetite were better in DC-CIK + chemotherapy group after therapy. Conclusion: To compare with simple chemotherapy, DC-CIK + chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC is safe and effective, and it can improve patients' life quality and remission rate, and prolong their survival time.

Primary Scientific Project in Evaluating the Quality of Life and Healthy Factors in Medical Students of a Private Brazilian University

Introduction： Limited data are available regarding medical students’ habits related to long duration shifts and graduation classes that could negatively impact on their academic performance. The objective of this study is to identify the profile factors related to life quality and cardiovascular risk on medical students of a private university in Brazil. Methods： This study is based on a descriptive analysis of cross-sectional cohort of a sample of 490 students from the first to sixth year of medical school. The data were collected through an anonymous questionnaire. Results： Some of the data were： 81.6% of students reported alcohol ingestion, 5.9% are smokers and 13.9% reported use of illicit drugs, 27.9% informed adding salt to the food, 78.4% reported stress/anxiety. Conclusion： After observing all the collected data, a project was built for a longitudinal analysis of the influence of life style during the medical school years on mental and cardiovascular health, short and long term.

Medical Virology in Malaysia

Virology is a branch of biological science dealing with the study of viruses,and medical virology focuses on the study and control of diseases due to viruses that is of medical importance. The development of medical virology in Malaysia has its beginning in the Institute for Medical Research(IMR) ,following the establishment of the Division of Medical Zoology and Virus Research in the institute on 23 March 1953. The second institution in the country to establish diagnostic and research work in medical virology was Department of Medical Microbiology,Faculty of Medicine,University Malaya. This was followed by University Kebangsaan Malaysia,University Sains Malaysia and University of Sarawak Malaysia. The National Public Health Laboratory(NPHL) is the latest institution to establish a laboratory in 2003 for virus isolation and services to support country surveillance and outbreak investigation of infectious diseases due to viruses. In the field of medical virology,Malaysia contributed substantially in the areas of virus diagnostic services,development and research ranging from survey and documentation on the existence and prevalence of viruses causing diseases in Malaysia,clinical presentation and epidemiological features of virus diseases,evaluation of new diagnostic tests to pathogenesis of viral diseases. Malaysia contributed to the discoveries of at least 12 new viruses in the world. ASEAN plus Three(China,Japan,Republic of Korea) Emerging Infectious Programme was established to overcome the challenges and impact of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in this region. Malaysia as the co-ordinator of the laboratory component of the programme,contributed to strengthen the regional laboratory capability,capacity,laboratory-based surveillance and networking. The future of medical virology in Malaysia in terms of integration of diagnostic,reference and research to support the country's need will be enhanced and strengthened with the on-going development of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC Malaysia) which also incorporates a futuristic Special Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory.

Integrated Chinese-western therapy versus western therapy alone on survival rate in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer at middlelate stage

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of integrated Chinese-Western therapy versus Western therapy alone on the survival rate of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at middle-late stage and to evaluate prognostic factors. METHODS: We selected 98 inpatients with middle-late stage NSCLC diagnosed from March 2009 to March 2011 and randomly divided them into two groups, with 49 cases in each group, and the clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.The control group was treated by the combined methods of Western Medicine, including chemotherapy, supportive treatment and symptomatic treatment. The observation group was treated by injection and prescriptions of Chinese medicine based on Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation and by the same combined methods of western treatment used in the control group. After treatment, the survival rates of the patients were compared by the stage of cancer and evaluation of 24 prognostic factors analyzed by a Cox regressionmodel, and the clinical data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The survival rates of all patients were over 90.0% at 1 and 3 months after treatment with no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05); In the observation group the survival rates at 6 months and 1 year were 93.4% and 42.8%, respectively, being superior to 85.6% and 18.3% in the control group (P<0.05). The median survival time in the observation group was superior to the control group (P<0.05); The effects of 24 prognostic factors were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Integrated Chinese-western therapy can significantly improve the survival rate in patients with middle-late stage NSCLC and improve prognostic factors compared with western therapy alone.

Modern quantum theories and experimental achievements motivate new exploration of acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）, a theoretical medical system founded about three thousand years ago, originated from the richness of Chinese culture with the support and development of ancient astronomy and philosophy. It has illuminated many mysteries of nature and the human body. This has not always been easy for the layperson to understand. In modern times, some of these processes have been gradually discovered or confirmed by frontier science. The experiments of quantum physics have shaken the fundamental concepts of conventional science, refuting criticism of Chinese culture and TCM theories. The new discoveries have triggered a new understanding of TCM theories. For example, the theory of quantum mechanics interfering with certain human functions helps explain a series of phenomena that were previously difficult to understand. The veil of many wonderful phenomena of Chinese culture and TCM acupuncture has not yet been fully pierced. For example, the body＇s energy system, the invisible qi, and the phenomenon of consciousness and subconscious function remain mysterious. However, quantum theory and numerous scientific experiments can lead to the explanations of difficult problems which were not understood in the past. For example, the nature of the changes in yin and yang, and associated principles; the five-element principles; consciousness and sub-consciousness which might affect scientific experiments and treatment outcomes; the objective existence of qi and qi field; and the essence of the meridian system in the human body and the principles of acupuncture. This article explores the scientific principles of TCM and acupuncture. The unique characteristics of TCM and acupuncture position themselves as Eastern cultural treasures. The authors endeavor to strengthen readers＇ confidence in theoretical TCM and believe that it is a major step in integrating TCM acupuncture into modern science and medicine.

Traditional, But Timeless

When people in the West think about the field of medicine and medical practices,they are often perceived as grim and expensive necessities.Healthcare in the United States,for example,can be frightening for some,as the price tags for pharmaceutical drugs and visits to the doctor are high.Additionally,after obtaining an appointment with a doctor,it can take weeks to be seen.U.S.doctors are harried and overworked,so many are forced to treat

Effect of Chinese herbs on immunoglobulin A nephropathy:a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: The accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) is one of the main causes of renal fibrosis. Emerging evidence suggests that the metabolic enzyme of ECM is associated with renal fibrosis. In this study, we applied randomly controlled trial to check the curative effect of Chinese herbs on patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS: Twenty-six patients were randomly divided into group A (control group) treated with Western Medicine and group B (treatment group) treated with combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine. Blood and urine tests were done before treatment and after 8-week treatment. RESULTS: The levels of the main composition of ex- tracellular matrix (MC-ECM), the metabolic enzyme of ECM (ME-ECM) and some cytokines in group B decreased more obviously than those in group A after 8-week treatment. So did the level of 24-hour urine protein. However, Metal matrix protease (MMP)-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in group B increased more obviously than those in group A after 8-week treatment. No effects on the renal function were found in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our study provided important information on using the combination of TCM with Western Medicine to inhibit the progression of renal fibrosis in patients with IgAN.

Frontier science promotes exploration of principles and methodologies of acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a theoretical medical system founded about three thousand years ago, originated from the richness of Chinese culture with the support and development of ancient astronomy and the Taoist philosophy of heaven and man. It has revealed many mysteries and illuminated interactions between nature and human beings. Those mysteries have not been easily understood by the public because TCM's conceptual system differs in form and essence from modern sciences. In modern times, some of the mysterious processes have been gradually discovered or confirmed by an advanced science: quantum physics. Quantum science is considered to break through basic concepts of mechanistic science, thus providing an entry to understanding of Chinese culture and TCM theories. Some experimental results of contemporary quantum physics shake the foundations of conventional scientific concepts. For example, quantum mechanics theory helps expand the limits of three-dimensional observations. It helps explain the phenomena that the consciousness with certain human functions interfere some experimental results. Viewing new things in a high-dimensional time-space framework helps people understand the real and virtual characteristics and their interaction;this leads to understanding the function of advanced human wisdom and intelligence in dealing with more complex objects (systems) such as the universe, the human body, life itself and consciousness. It may help people in developing simple models of the complex world and is believed more conducive to grasping the essence of human life and gradually removing the veil over many wonderful phenomena of Chinese culture and TCM. For example, TCM's 'Imagery Analogism' is attained in the quiet state of well-trained meditation practitioners. Their intuition and inspiration have significant advantages in understanding complexity of objects such as the universe, human body, life, and consciousness. The methodology of thinking helps to derive simple models so as to better grasp the essence of complex objects. Many phenomena of Chinese culture and TCM acupuncture remain incompletely understood. This paper selects a few examples to discuss, including human consciousness and sub-consciousness, human body's energy system, invisible qi, functional phenomena as well as special functions of the heart and Triple Energizer (Three Jiao) in six Fu organs. The 'new finding of an unrecognized interstitium in human tissues' as declared by a group of Western scholars is actually referring to Triple Energizer that had already been revealed and written in Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine) three thousand years ago. Both the concept and functions of Triple Energizer have been utilized throughout TCM clinical practices. Through the discussion, the authors attempt to explain the superiority of TCM theories, to strengthen the confidence for TCM innovation and Chinese culture because they believe that offering an integration of TCM practice into the public health and life science would advance human wellbeing and pave a right path for TCM mission and development.