Recently many researches have demonstrated that insulin resistant (IR), as an important pathologic process, is increasingly involved with a series of diseases such as central obesity and diabetes. Hypertension is highly associated with IR. The relationships between IR and glucose or lipid metabolism disorders are well established. However, association of IR with hypertension is less covered. Current researches on insulin resistance and pathogenesis of hypertension are reviewed in this paper, which holds that traditional Chinese medicine treatment on IR in patients with hypertension has a good prospect.

To evaluate the effects of Shenmai Huoxue Decoction (SMHXD) on early diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in rats.

Objective To study the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on free radical metabolism of different fiber types of quadriceps in exercised rats and its mechanism. Method Increasing load exercised rat model was selected. The test rats were orally given GBE aqueous suspension (100 mg/ kg?d), and the controls with water. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of red muscle, white muscle and whole quadriceps of exercised rats were examined before exhaustive exercise, at instant,24h and 48h after strenuous exhaustive exercise. Results Compared with the controls,MDA contents were 49.69% higher in white muscle (P

Objective To investigate the relationship between the nerve function and the sorbitol concentrations of erythrocyte and sciatic nerve, and to evaluate the effects and mechanism of a formulae of Chinese medicine, Shen Mai Huo Xue Yin (a decoction, it ingredients including ginseng, tuber of dwarf lilyturf and safflower) on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods The rats were divided into 3 groups: normal rats, diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated with Shen Mai Huo Xue Yin. The diabetes of rats was induced by streptozotocin intraperitoneally. Motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of sciatic, sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of caudal nerve and the H reflex were detected with evoked electromyogram; The sorbitol concentrations of erythrocyte and sciatic nerve was measured by spectrophotography. Results The sorbitol concentration of erythrocyte was positively correlated with that in the sciatic nerve, and the sorbitol concentration of erythocyte and sciatic nerve were negatively correlated with SNCV and positively with H reflex. The SNCV reduced significantly and the sorbitol concentration of both erythrocyte and sciatic nerve increased significantly in diabetic group as compared with those in normal group. The SNCV and sorbitol concentrations of sorbitol both erythrocyte and sciatic nerve in diabetic group were significantly improved after treated with Shen Mai Huo Xue Yin. Conclusion The sorbitol concentration in erythrocyte reflects the level of that in sciatic nerve and the lesion degrees of DPN. Shen Mai Huo Xue Yin alleviates the lesion of DPN in the early stage.

BACKGROUND:Labeling was commonly used to further trace bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).OBJECTIVE:To label rabbit BMSCs by green fluorescent protein,and then to observe the potency of multi-directional differentiation by osteoblast and lipoblast formation induction.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:Cell observational study was performed at the Laboratory of the Department of Orthopaedics,Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology from December 2007 to October 2008.MATERIALS:Totally 6 healthy New Zealand rabbits aged 4 months were purchased from the Animal Experimental Center,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology.METHODS:BMSCs were isolated from the femurs of rabbits,purified and cultured in vitro by density gradient centrifugation and adherent culture.BMSCs at the third passage were obtained.Green fluorescent protein plasmid was transfected into BMSCs using Lipofectamine.The stable transfection cells were obtained using G418 selection after transfection.The stable transfected BMSCs were induced to osteoblasts and lipoblasts by osteogenic inductor and adipogenic inductor.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The following parameters were measured:BMSC morphology,surface marker expression,green fluorescent protein labeling,the differentiation potential of BMSCs into osteoblasts and lipoblasts.RESULTS:The BMSCs were mostly fusiform in shape,to be similar to fibroblast cell after cultivation of primary and subculture.The flow cytometer analysis showed that the membrane mark CD44 was positive,CD34 was negative.Following G418 screening,BMSCs labeled by green fluorescent protein were apparent calcium mineralization after 21 days osteogenic induction.Alizarin red staining showed positive with red.Intra-cellular lipid droplet appeared after 3 days adipogenic induction.2 weeks later,oil red O staining showed a great quantity lipid deposition.CONCLUSION:Rabbit BMSCs labeled by green fluorescent protein using Upofectamine have the potency of multi-directional differentiation after induction.

Objective: To investigate the curative effects of Shuanghongtong Decoction (Flos carthami, Radix Ginseng Rubra and Radix Ophiopogonis) diabetic neuropathy peripheral (DPN) and its mechanism.Methods:28 DPN patients were treated with Shuanghongtong Decoction for 3 weeks. The symptom and the peroneal nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) were observed before and after the experiments respectively. The diabetic rats reduced by STZ were treated with the same decoction for 4 weeks, at the end of the experiments the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and the activity of aldose reductase (AR) were measured.Results: Some symptoms such as acra pain, numbness, asthenia and the peroneal SNCV were significantly improved after treatment with decoction. The animal experiments showed that the NCV were significantly increased and the activity of AR significantly decreased in diabetic rats as compared with the normal rats.Conclusion: Shuanghongtong Decoction could improve the symptom and increase the NCV of DPN. It's mechanism may be through inhibiting the activity of AR then improving the diabetic metabolism disorder.

Objective To explore the protective effect of hesperidin pretreatment on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute liver injury and the effect on expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ. Methods Seventy-two SPF C57BL/ 6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, model control group and hesperidin group. Acute liver injury model was established by injected with Con A. The hesperidin group was treated intragastrically with 1 000 mg·kg-1 hesperidin for 10 days. Model control group was treated intragastrically with the same volume of 0. 5% of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase ( AST) were measured. Pathological changes in hepatic tissue were observed under microscope. The expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNAs in hepatic tissue was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR). The contents of TNF-α and IFN-γ in serum were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with model control group, the contents of ALT and AST in serum were significantly decreased (P<0. 01) in hesperidin group. Pathological changes in hepatic tissue were markedly improved. The expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the hepatic tissues and serum were significantly downregulated (P<0. 01). The concentrations of TNF-α and IFN-γ in hesperidin group were (717. 05±205. 22) and(611. 06±92. 82)pg·mL-1 in 2 h,(811. 56±167. 47)and(786. 19±215. 44)pg·mL-1 in 6 h. Compared with model control group, the expressions of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the hesperidin group were significantly downregulated (P<0. 01). But there was no significant difference between hesperidin group and model control group in 6 h after treated with Con A(P>0. 05). Conclusion Hesperidin pretreatment protects mice from Con A-induced acute liver injury possibly by inhibiting the expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the liver of mice.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of combined needle-embedding and SSRIs for depressive sleep disorder. Method: Upon admission, 71 depression cases were randomized into needle-embedding group of 24 cases, using combined needle-embedding and SSRIs, acupuncture group of 21 cases, using combined acupuncture and SSRIs, and medication group of 26 cases, using SSRIs alone. After 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the HAMD sleep scores were compared. Result: The HAMD sleep scores in the needle-embedding and acupuncture group were remarkably superior to the medication group and there was significant statistical difference after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.01). However, there was no statistical difference after 6 weeks of treatment. Conclusion: SSRIs can improve HAMD sleep scores. The combined needle-embedding or acupuncture with SSRIs can work faster and better than medication alone. There was no statistical difference between needle-embedding and acupuncture group, however, needle-embedding can reduce the treatment frequencies and therefore has more active clinical meaning.

To investigate the effects of traditional Chinese compound recipe Yiqi Zengmin (YQZM) formula on expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle of rats with type 2 diabetes induced by high-fat diet combined with low-dose-streptozotocin injection.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Pollen Typhae total flavones (PTF) on the mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) alpha,gamma, beta/delta so as to analyze its possible mechanism in improving the insulin sensitivity of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. METHODS: Adipocytes were treated with PTF, and expressions of PPARalpha, PPARgamma, PPARbeta/delta mRNAs relating to the adipocyte glucose and lipid metabolism were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: PTF obviously up-regulated the expressions of PPARalpha and PPARgamma mRNAs, all showing significant differences as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: With its function as an insulin sensitizer, PTF may enhance the PPARalpha and PPARgamma mRNA expressions in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.