OBJECTIVETo study the changes and significance of serum hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels in children with benign infantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (BICE).

METHODSForty-two hospitalized children diagnosed with BICE were recruited to the observation group, and 46 children admitted due to acute gastroenteritis alone were recruited to the control group. Serum H2S levels were measured by a spectrophotometer.

RESULTSThe serum H2S level in the observation group was significantly lower than in the control group (28±12 μmol/L vs 45±10 μmol/L; P<0.01). The patients with a number of convulsions greater than or equal to two had significantly lower serum H2S levels than those with a number less than two (P<0.05). The number of convulsions was negatively correlated with serum H2S level in BICE patients (r=-0.485, P=0.001). When a convulsion exceeded 5 minues in duration, the duration was negatively correlated with serum H2S level (r=-0.736, P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONSThe reduction in endogenous H2S level might be one of the causes of convulsions in BICE patients. The degree of reduction in H2S level is associated with the number of convulsions and the duration of convulsion (when it exceeds 5 minues). Further investigation is needed to determine the clinical significance of these results.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gastroenteritis ; blood ; complications ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Seizures ; blood ; etiology

"Qi" and "blood" are two essential concepts in Chinese medicine (CM). As qi is intangible, the concept of qi is still controversial between CM and Western medicine. However, the endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other gaseous signaling molecules provides a new approach for understanding the essence of qi in CM. Blood stasis syndrome is a common syndrome in CM. According to the CM theory, the incidence of blood stasis syndrome is closely correlated to the reckless movement of qi, as qi and blood are inseparable in regulating physiological functions. In recent years, more and more evidences suggest a close correlation between blood stasis syndrome and microcirculation dysfunction. In this paper, we discuss the relationship between endogenous H2S and blood stasis syndrome based on qi-blood theory of CM. We found that endogenous H2S maybe a material basis in concept of qi in CM, while dysfunctional microcirculation is the pathological basis of the blood stasis syndrome. As qi is closely associated with incidence and progression of blood stasis syndrome, endogenous H2S may play an important role in preventing and treating the blood stasis syndrome by improving the function of microcirculation.
Blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microcirculation ; Qi ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To establish a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） method for the determination of sulfide ion in blood and apply it to the practical cases. METHODS: The 1, 3, 5-tribromobenzene was selected as an internal standard, and 0.2 mL blood sample was collected and analyzed using GC-MS after α-Bromo-2, 3, 4, 5, 6-pentafluorobenzyl bromide derivatization. RESULTS: The mass concentration of sulfide ion in blood had good linearity in the range of 0.2-40 μg/mL with a limit of detection （LOD） of 0.05 μg/mL. The mass concentration of sulfide ion was less than 0.05 μg/mL in blank blood from different sources such as healthy subjects and dead cases. In 3 sulfide poisoning cases, sulfide ion was detected in the blood samples of 6 victims, and the mass concentration range was 1.02-3.13 μg/mL. CONCLUSIONS This study establishes a method for investigation of sulfide ion in blood which has been applied successfully to the cases of fatal sulfide poisonings.
Fluorobenzenes ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide/blood* ; Limit of Detection ; Sulfides

BACKGROUNDCardiac involvement is the most common complication of Kawasaki disease (KD); however, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. The present study was designed to investigate changes in plasma hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the acute and recovery stages of KD children and to examine their clinical significance.

METHODSThirty-five KD patients and 32 healthy children were enrolled in the study. KD patients were divided into two subgroups: a non-cardiac involvement group and a cardiac involvement group. Plasma H(2)S levels were measured using the sulfur-sensitive electrode method and plasma NO levels and NO synthase activity were determined using the nitrate reductase method both before and after intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy.

RESULTSPlasma H(2)S levels significantly decreased in KD patients during the acute phase of the disease and NO levels were significantly increased, compared with the control group (P < 0.01). After treatment with IVIG, both plasma H(2)S and NO levels significantly increased (P < 0.01). The plasma levels of H(2)S were significantly lower in the cardiac involvement group compared with the non-cardiac involvement group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONH(2)S and NO may play a role in the pathophysiological process of inflammation during the acute phase of KD. Endogenous H(2)S may exert protective effects with respect to cardiac complications in KD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; Nitric Oxide ; blood

BACKGROUNDEndogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) plays an important role in hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of erythrocyte and serum H(2)S in patients with untreated essential hypertension.

METHODSWe recruited 62 patients (age 22 - 74 years) with untreated prehypertension or hypertension, and 64 normotensive subjects (age 18 - 64 years). We assessed the 3-mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase (MPST) protein expression in erythrocytes and measured the H(2)S production from erythrocytes and serum H(2)S levels, then analyzed the association of erythrocytic or serum H(2)S content and blood pressure or cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., age, body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia). A stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate the possible relationship of erythrocytic H(2)S in hypertension.

RESULTSIn hypertensive patients, erythrocyte H(2)S production ((111.04 ± 29.20) nmol/min per 10(8) erythrocytes) was higher than that in controls ((78.85 ± 19.38) nmol/min per 10(8) erythrocytes), and serum H(2)S was also higher. The erythrocytic H(2)S production was associated with increased systolic blood pressure (sBP), diastolic blood pressure (dBP), age, BMI, level of C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Serum H(2)S was not associated with age or CRP. Stepwise regression analysis showed that erythrocytic H(2)S production was correlated with sBP, TG, HDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum H(2)S was correlated with dBP and TG. Results of receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that erythrocytic H(2)S production was a more sensitive predictor of hypertension development than serum H(2)S.

CONCLUSIONErythrocytic or serum H(2)S production is sensitive predictor of hypertension.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Hypertension ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo measure the range of plasma hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in children.

METHODSTotally 200 healthy children were classified into 4 groups based on age and sex: 7-14 years old group (n = 75, 43 boys and 32 girls), 15-19 years old group (n = 125, 64 boys and 61 girls). Plasma H2S level was detected by a modified sulfide electrode-based method.

RESULTSPlasma H2 S levels were (52.2181 +/- 17.9400) micromol/L in 7-14 years old boys, (51.9441 +/- 16.5448) micromol/L in 7-14 years old girls, (52.8771 +/- 14.1444) micromol/L in 15-19 years old boys, and (53.6551 +/- 14.5563) micromol/L in 15-19 years old girls (P > 0.05). In summary, the range of plasma H2S in children was about (52.8234 +/- 15.4339) micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONThe range of plasma H2S in children is about (52.8234 +/- 15.4339) micromol/L.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Blood Gas Analysis ; methods ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Male ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors

The finding of gaseous signaling molecule NO, CO and H2S, and the advocacy of "gas biology" concept have provided a novel thinking for the study of Huoxue Huayu (HXHY, a traditional Chinese medicine method of promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis). The concept "Qi" in TCM and gaseous signaling molecule are correlated in respects of their source and mesomeric function. Study of HXHY could only be deepened through an overall cognition on blood stasis syndrome with the view of Qi-blood correlation.
Blood Circulation ; Blood Viscosity ; Carbon Monoxide ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nitric Oxide ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVEThe present study was designed to observe the plasma concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and homocysteine (HCY) in hypertensive patients with different blood pressure levels and complications.

METHODSA total of 165 outpatients with essential hypertension were involved in this study (84 males, 81 females, mean age 59.81 +/- 10.60 years old). There were 28 new-onset untreated, 137 ever-treated patients. Among ever-treated patients, blood pressure was normal in 38, grade 1 hypertension in 43, grade 2 and 3 hypertension in 56 patients. Thirty-two patients were accompanied with coronary heart disease (CAD), and 42 patients were accompanied with stroke. A total of 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (18 males) were also recruited. Plasma H(2)S and HCY concentrations were determined in all patients and controls.

RESULTS(1) Plasma H(2)S levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and HCY levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in ever-treated hypertensive patients compared with controls. (2) Plasma HCY levels were significantly higher in patients with hypertension history > 6 months and complicated with CAD compared to patients without CAD. (3) Plasma H(2)S concentrations in patients with stroke history > 5 years were significantly lower than that in patients without stroke (P < 0.01). Plasma HCY concentrations were increased in proportion to stroke history. (4) In ever-treated hypertensive patients, plasma H(2)S concentrations in patients with grade 2 and 3 hypertension were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and HCY levels significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that in patients with well-controlled blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONHyperhomocysteinemia and the novel signaling gasotransmitter H(2)S might play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gases ; blood ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Hypertension ; blood ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEHydrogen sulfide, a well known toxic gas, has been found to play important roles in many organs and tissues, especially in cardiovascular system recently. The aim of this study was to explore the producing rate of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in aorta and the level of H(2)S in plasma of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), and to study the role of H(2)S on the development of hypertension.

METHODSTwenty-four male SHR rats at the age of 4 weeks were randomly divided into SHR control group, SHR + NaHS (H(2)S donor) group and SHR + DL-propargylglycine (PPG) group, respectively. Another twenty-four male WKY rats were also divided into WKY control group, WKY + NaHS group and WKY + PPG group. SHR control and WKY control rats were injected with water. Rats of SHR + NaHS group and WKY + NaHS group were injected with NaHS, and rats of SHR + PPG group and WKY + PPG group were injected with PPG every day. Five weeks later, the blood pressure and the left-to-whole heart weight ratio were determined. The producing rate of H(2)S in aorta and the H(2)S level in plasma were also detected.

RESULTSThe producing rate of H(2)S in aorta and the plasma level of H(2)S in SHR groups were all less than those of the corresponding WKY groups, however, the differences between SHR + PPG group and WKY + PPG group were not significant (P > 0.05). The producing rate of H(2)S and the plasma level of H(2)S in SHR + PPG group were similar to those of SHR control group. The producing rate of H(2)S and the plasma level of H(2)S in SHR + NaHS group were higher than those of SHR control. Both the producing rate and the plasma level of H(2)S in WKY + PPG group were less than those of WKY control. The producing rate of H(2)S in aorta of WKY + NaHS group was higher than that of WKY controls, while the plasma level of H(2)S in WKY + NaHS group was not different from that of WKY controls significantly. The blood pressure of SHR groups increased compared with that of WKY groups (P < 0.05). The blood pressure of SHR + PPG group was similar to that of SHR controls, while the blood pressure of SHR + NaHS reduced significantly compared with that of SHR controls. The blood pressure of WKY + PPG group was higher than that of WKY controls while the blood pressure of WKY + NaHS was similar to that of WKY controsl.

CONCLUSIONSH(2)S plays an important role in maintaining normal pressure and the reduced production of endogenous H(2)S is an essential factor in the development of spontaneous hypertension. Exogenous H(2)S provides a new way for interfering with the progression of hypertension.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Sulfides ; administration & dosage ; metabolism

To investigate the changes and role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in myocardial damage in endotoxemic rats, a rat model of endotoxemia induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was developed. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group, LPS group, LPS + propargylglycine (PPG, a metabolic enzyme inhibitor of H2S) group and LPS + NaHS (H2S donor) group. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) of rats within 4 h was observed, TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma, TNF-alpha and H2S contents, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in cardiac muscles were determined. The morphological structure of cardiac muscle was observed. Administration of LPS caused a sustained fall in MAP within 4 h, and significant increases in TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma (P<0.05). Plasmic H2S content was negatively correlated with MAP (r = -0.936, -0.913 and -0.908 at 1, 2 and 4 h, respectively, P<0.05). LPS also induced increases in TNF-alpha and H2S contents, LDH and MPO activity in cardiac muscles and myocardial damage. Treatment with PPG reduced the increases in TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma, TNF-alpha and H2S contents, LDH and MPO activity in cardiac muscles, ameliorated the hypotensive effect and myocardial damage caused by LPS administration (P<0.05). However, treatment with NaHS increased TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma, TNF-alpha and H2S contents, LDH and MPO activity in cardiac muscles, and aggravated the hypotensive action and tissue injuries caused by LPS administration (P<0.05). It is suggested that hypotension and myocardial damage in endotoxemic rats are partly induced by increase in H2S content.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Endotoxemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Myocardium ; chemistry ; pathology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood