Animals ; Dietary Supplements ; Electron Transport ; Hypoxia ; Iron ; pharmacology ; Liver ; Mitochondria, Liver ; drug effects ; Rats

Qi in TCM is the most essential substance that makes up the body and maintains life activities. All vital substances in the body are transformed by constant motion and changes of qi. Qi in TCM mainly means full of functions. What is the basic material attribute of qi? We don't have a systematic study on it. Therefore, we combined the achievement of modern medicine, and explored further from the origin, functions, pathogeneses, and therapies of mitochondria and qi. Surprisingly, we found out that the origin of mitochondria was similar to that of qi. They are tiny substance constituting the human body. Secondly, the function of mitochondria is similar to that of qi. When the disorder of qi and mitochondria occurs, similar vital signs occur or the same reactions occur. These results suggested that the basic material attribute of qi might be mitochondria.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Qi

Objective To investigate the association of fluctuation of anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) levels and clinical manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Anticar-diolipin antibodies were measured sequentially by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 85 SLE patients. Patients were classified into two groups: group A was persistently positive for ACA, group B was transiently positive for ACA, and the clinical features of the two groups were compared. Results There were 37 patients (44%) in group A, and 48 (57%) patients in group B. 41% patients had occurred thromboeytopenia in group A, 19% patients in group B, the difference was significant (P<0.05); platelet accounts were (24±6)×109/L in group A,and (46±10)×109/L in group B, the difference was significant (P< 0.05), too. 11% patients experienced thrombosis in group A, and none in group B, the difference was significant (P<0.05). 19% in group A and 4% in group B had occurred valvular diseases, the difference was significant (P<0.05.). The prevalence of lupus anticoagulant was 32% in group A, 13% in group B and the difference was significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in Raynaud's phenomenon, pulmonary hypertension, and lupus nephritis (P0.05). Conclusion Fluctuations of anticardio-lipin antibodies are asso-ciated with thrombosis, thrombocytopenia vascular disease and lupus anticoagulant however, there is no lack of association with other clinical manifestations in SLE patients.

Objective To explore the efficacy of intratympanic dexamethasone injection in treating acute low-frequency hearing loss(ALHL).Methods Thirty-seven ALHL cases not responsive to intravenous dexamethasone and vasodilator medications were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups.In the treatment group,dexamethasone was injected intratympanically once per day to 18 cases for a seven-day history with unilateral ALHL and 1 case with bilateral ALHL.In the control group,18 cases with unilateral ALHL were given intravenous vasodilator medications for 7 days.All patients were followed up for 1～ 2 years.Results In the treatment group with unilateral ALHL,8 cases achieved complete recovery,7 cases achieved partial recovery and no change was observed in the other 3 cases.The efficiency was 83.3 %.2 cases showed recurrent low-frequency hearing loss during the follow-up period.One case with bilateral ALHL did not respond to the treatment and no recurrence was observed.No side effect was observed in the study.In the control group,3 cases completely recovered,5 cases partially recovered and 10 cases showed no improvement.The efficiency was 44.4%.5 cases recurred and one of them progressed to Meniere's disease.There was a statistically significant difference in efficiency of patients with unilateral ALHL between two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Intratympanic dexamethasone application was an effective and safe treatment option for ALHL.

OBJECTIVE To investigate effects of Wudang cherry on urate excretion and renal function and examined whether renal organic ion transporters were involved in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice. METHODS The model of hyperuricemic mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate (250 mg·kg- 1) for 7 d. Water extracts of Wudang cherry at 500 mg·kg- 1 were orally administered to hyperuricemic mice for 7 d, benzbromarone (20 mg·kg- 1) and allopurinol (20 mg · kg- 1) were given as positive controls, vehicle control group was given equal normal saline. Serum and urine levels of uric acid were measured in hyperuricemic and normal mice. Simultaneously, the mRNA and protein levels of mouse urate transporter 1 (mURAT1), glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9), organic anion transporters (mOAT1 and mOAT3), ATP- binding cassette, subfamily G, membrane 2 (mABCG2) and organic cation/carnitine transporters (mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2) in the kidney were analyzed by Western blot, RT-PCR, immunohistochemical and immuno?fluorescent assay, respectively. RESULTS Wudang cherry significantly reduced serum uric acid levels and increased urine uric acid levels in hyperuricemic mice. And it effectively reversed potassium oxonate-induced alterations in renal mURAT1, mGLUT9, mOAT1, mOAT3 and mABCG2 mRNA and protein levels, resulting in the enhancement of renal urate excretion in mice. Moreover, Wudang Cherry increased renal mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2 mRNA and protein levels, and improved renal impairment in this model. CONCLUSION Wudang cherry processes uricosuric and nephroprotective actions by regulating renal organic ion transporters in hyperuricemic mice.

OBJECTIVE To investigate effects of Wudang cherry on urate excretion and renal function and examined whether renal organic ion transporters were involved in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice. METHODS The model of hyperuricemic mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate (250 mg·kg- 1) for 7 d. Water extracts of Wudang cherry at 500 mg·kg- 1 were orally administered to hyperuricemic mice for 7 d, benzbromarone (20 mg·kg- 1) and allopurinol (20 mg · kg- 1) were given as positive controls, vehicle control group was given equal normal saline.Serum and urine levels of uric acid were measured in hyperuricemic and normal mice. Simultaneously, the mRNA and protein levels of mouse urate transporter 1 (mURAT1), glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9), organic anion transporters (mOAT1 and mOAT3), ATP- binding cassette, subfamily G, membrane 2 (mABCG2) and organic cation/carnitine transporters (mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2) in the kidney were analyzed by Western blot, RT-PCR, immunohistochemical and immuno?fluorescent assay, respectively. RESULTS Wudang cherry significantly reduced serum uric acid levels and increased urine uric acid levels in hyperuricemic mice. And it effectively reversed potassium oxonate-induced alterations in renal mURAT1, mGLUT9, mOAT1, mOAT3 and mABCG2 mRNA and protein levels, resulting in the enhancement of renal urate excretion in mice. Moreover, Wudang cherry increased renal mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2 mRNA and protein levels, and improved renal impairment in this model. CONCLUSION Wudang cherry processes uricosuric and nephroprotective actions by regulating renal organic ion transporters in hyperuricemic mice.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of Yuxingchangzhi Decoction on level of norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxyptamin (5-HT) in serum of patients with post-stroke depression. Methods76 patients with post-stroke depression were treated with Yuxingchangzhi Decoction or placebo for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, all the patients were evaluated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD),while the level of NE and 5-HT in serum of patients were measured.ResultsThe total score of HAMD of the patients of Yuxingchangzhi Decoction group was significantly different before and after treatment (P<0.01),while that of the placebo group was not significantly different (P>0.05). The NE and 5-HT level in serum of patients of the Yuxingchangzhi Decoction group were significantly different before and after treatment (P<0.01),but that of the placebo group was not significantly different (P>0.05). ConclusionYuxingchangzhi decoction can raise NE,5-HT level in patients with post-stroke depression and alleviate symptoms of depression significantly.

Objective To explore the association between DNA methyltrsansferase 3a (DNMT3a) expression and interleukin-4 (IL-4),interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in mononuclear cells of colonic laminapropriamucosae in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.Methods From November 2009 to March 2010,sixty colonic mucosa biopsy specimens through colon scopy were collected,specimens of active UC or normal controls were 30 in each group.The expression of DNMT3a,IL-4,and IFN-γ was detected with immunohistochemical method (SABC) in mononuclear cells of colonic laminapropriamucosae,and their relation with different degrees of colonic inflammatory response was analyzed.Results The positive expression rate of DNMT3a,IL-4,IFN-γ in mononuclear cells of colonic laminapropriamucosae in active UC group was significant higher than that in control group and there were statistically significant differences (x2 =16.596,P=0.000;x2 =42.857,P=0.000;x2 =6.667,P=0.024;).The expression of them was higher in sever inflammatory response than that in mild inflammatory response,and its expression intensity increased as inflammatory activity became more severe.There was positive correlation between IL-4,IFN-γ and DNMT3 expression in UC group (r=0.46,P=0.01 ;r=0.559,P=0.001).Conclusions The expression of DNMT3a,IL-4 and IFN-γ is associated with the degree of colonic inflammatory response.DNA methylation maybe involved in Th1/Th2 immune balance regulation in UC pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Danlou Tablet (DT) on arrhythmia model rats induced by transient myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

METHODSTotally 45 healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-operation group, the model group, and the DT group, 15 in each group. Rats in the sham-operation group and the model group were administered with distilled water by gastrogavage at the daily dose of 0.1 mL/kg. Rats in the DT group was administered with 0.53 g/mL DT suspension by gastrogavage at the daily dose of 0.1 mL/kg. All medication was lasted for 10 successive days. The myocardial I/R experiment was performed at 1 h after the last gastrogavage. ECG was performed before ligation and at I/R. The jugular arterial blood pressure of all rats was measured during the whole course. ST segment changes were observed at each time point of I/R. The ventricular fibrillation, the premature ventricular, the number and the duration of ventricular tachycardia within 30 min reperfusion were also observed. Activities of Na(+)-K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase in the myocardium homogenate were detected as well.

RESULTSThe jugular arterial blood pressure and the heart rate were slightly lower in the DT group than in the model group, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the degree of ST segment was obviously elevated in the model group at 0, 5, and 7 min (P < 0.05). It was significantly lower in the DT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). ST seg ment was more elevated at 5 min than at 0 min in the model group, but the degree of ST segment elevation was still obviously lower in the DT group than in the model group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the degree of ST segment elevation at 7 min between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 0 min when the decrement of ST segment exceeded one half the ischemia, there was no statistical difference in the degree of myocardial ischemia between the model group and the DT group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the incidence of fatal and nonfatal ventricular fibrillation, the frequency and duration of ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular beats were obviously lessened, and activities of Na(+)-K+ ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase increased (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDT could significantly protect arrhythmias induced by transient I/R. Its effect might be related to lowering the degree of myocardial ischemia, and increasing ion transport channel related enzyme activities.

Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of Wells score combined with D-dimer in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism.Methods A total of 540 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism admitted from 2008 to 2011 were enrolled for study.The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) was confirmed by using computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).These patients were divided into two groups:PE group and non-PE group.Comparative analysis was carried out in demographics,underlying diseases,chief complaints,physical signs,venous thrombosis risk factors,laboratory findings and Wells scores between the two groups.Results Of 502 patients selected into this study,there were 246 in PE group and 256 in Non-PE group.The incidence rates of history of recent surgery or bed-ridden,recent fracture of pelvis or lower limb,symptoms of hemoptysis,transient disturbance of consciousness,signs of unilateral lower limb swelling,hypoxia and hypocapnia of arterial blood gas analysis,elevated levels of D dimer,high Wells score in PE group were significantly higher than those in non-PE group (P ＜ 0.05).And there were no statistical difference in other variables found between the two groups.The areas under the ROC curve of Wells score,D-dimer and the combination of the two were 0.775 (95％ CI:0.719-0.831),0.802 (95 ％ CI:0.751-0.853) and 0.899 (95 ％ CI:0.834-0.964),respectively.And the area under the ROC curve of the combination of the two was greater than that of separated application (P ＜ 0.05).When the cut-off value of Wells score was 5 and D-dimer was 1 724 μg/L,the weighted maximum sensitivity and specificity were reached,and these cut-off values were higher than above determined values,the reliability of the diagnosis of PE was obviously increased,and those were lower than these cut-off values,the reliability of excluding PE was also increased.Conclusions Wells score combined with D-dimer showed a higher value in predicting acute pulmonary embolismthan than their separated application.