Any method that deforms the skin of the extremities may increase lymphatic flow rate, and may be applied to treat peripheral lymphedema. This study was undertaken to investigate whether or not elastic adhesive tape with passive exercise can increase lymph flow in the rabbit hind leg by effective and periodic skin deformation. Cannulation into a pre-popliteal afferent lymphatic vessel in the lower left leg of 22 male New Zealand White rabbits was performed under a stereomicroscope. After stabilization, lymph was collected at rest or during passive exercise with an electric motor at 60 r.p.m. for 15 minutes and was then measured. Lymph flow rate was calculated and expressed as g/hour. Increase of lymph flow rate due to taping was significant only for passive exercise (p=0.0317). The lymph flow rate increased linearly as the area of tape was increased (p=0.0011), and lymph flow rates were significantly different according to site (p=0.0017). Tape on the anterior aspect of the ankle caused salient deformation and tended to increase the lymph flow rate more so than tape on the dorsum of the foot (p=0.0831). Taping with elastic adhesive tape in passive exercise increased the lymph flow rate in the rabbit hind leg by deforming the skin, which suggests a novel therapeutic method in cases of peripheral lymphedema.
Animals ; *Bandages ; Elasticity ; Hindlimb/*physiology ; Lymph/*physiology ; Male ; Motion ; Rabbits ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

This paper makes persuasive demonstrations on some problems about the human ear sound transmission principle in existing physiological textbooks and reference books, and puts forward the authors' view to make up for its literature. Exerting the knowledge of lever in physics and the acoustics theory, we come up with an equivalent simplified model of manubrium mallei which is to meet the requirements as the long arm of the lever. We also set up an equivalent simplified model of ossicular chain--a combination of levers of ossicular chain. We disassemble the model into two simple levers, and make full analysis and demonstration on them. Through the calculation and comparison of displacement amplitudes in both external auditory canal air and internal ear lymph, we may draw a conclusion that the key reason, which the sound displacement amplitude is to be decreased to adapt to the endurance limit of the basement membrane, is that the density and sound speed in lymph is much higher than those in the air.
Acoustics ; Ear Canal ; Ear Ossicles ; physiology ; Ear, Inner ; physiology ; Humans ; Lymph ; Models, Anatomic ; Sound

To study the cell signal transduction mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) on the peritoneal lymphatic stomata and lymph drainage in the rat, cGMP content were measured by a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit, and the [Ca(2+)](i) were observed by a confocal laser scanning microscope in the cultured peritoneal mesothelial cell. Animal experiment was practiced to study the effect of NO-cGMP-Ca(2+) pathway on the lymphatic stomata and lymph absorption. The results showed that: (1) Sper/NO increased cGMP of the rat peritoneal mesothelial cell (RPMC) in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01) compared to the control group. This effect was blocked by 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo [4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) (P<0.05), a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). The level of [Ca(2+)](i) in single RPMC decreased by adding Sper/NO (P<0.05). Pretreatment with ODQ for 10 min blocked the Sper/NO-induced decrease in [Ca(2+)](i). L-typed calcium channel blocker nifedipine induced an immediate and marked decrease in [Ca(2+)](i) (P<0.05).. After [Ca(2+)](i) reached a balance again, adding Sper/NO could not change [Ca(2+)](i) (P>0.05). (2) Sper/NO increased the area of the stomata (P<0.01) and the quantity of the tracer in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) compared to the control group. Pretreatment with ODQ significantly inhibited Sper/NO-induced change of lymphatic stomata and lymph drainage (P<0.01). Nifedipine increased the opening area of the lymphatic stomata (P< 0.01) and the concentration of absorbed trypan blue of the diaphragm (P<0.05). Sper/NO could not make a further change in the samples pretreated by nifedipine (P> 0.05). The results indicate that NO can decrease [Ca(2+)](i) in the RPMC through the NO-cGMP pathway. This procession is related with the L- type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel. NO enlarges the opening area of the lymphatic stomata and enhances the lymph drainage of tracer by NO-cGMP-[Ca(2+)](i) pathway.
Animals ; Calcium Signaling ; physiology ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Female ; Lymph ; physiology ; Lymphatic Vessels ; physiology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Peritoneal Stomata ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Based on the morphology and function of lymphatic vessel, and on the achievements of researches in the regulatory mechanism of lymphatic circulation, we fully considered the dynamic interaction of blood, interstitial fluid and lymph fluid; then we imitated and used Sungawa's method of analyzing the heart output, and finally set up a dynamic model for describing lymphatic circulation. Comparison of our calculating results with the data from Ikomi's experiment showed that they were identical, thus indicating that our model is of value in explaining the dynamic mechanism of lymphatic circulation. In this paper is especially calculated the relationship between lymph flow and massage frequency, which is useful for analyzing the effect of massage on the lymph flow rate with respect to this model.
Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Endothelium, Lymphatic ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Lymph ; physiology ; Lymphatic Vessels ; physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Pressure ; Rabbits ; Rheology

OBJECTIVETo study the roles of platelet (PLT) and its regulating factors, megakaryocyte, thrombopoietin (TPO) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), in immune vasculitis in young rabbits.

METHODSAn experimental model of Kawasaki disease (KD) of weanling rabbits was reproduced by bovine serum. PLT count, total number and differentiating count of megakaryocyte, and serum TPO and TGF-beta1 levels were measured 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days after KD induction. Pathological analysis of coronary artery, liver, spleen, kidney and brain was performed 17 and 28 days after KD induction.

RESULTSIn the KD group, PLT count, the total number of megakaryocyte, and the middle board megakaryocyte percentage increased 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days; serum TPO level increased 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days; serum TGF-beta1 level increased 16, 20, 24 and 28 days after KD induction compared with those in the normal control group (p<0.05). The pathological examinations of coronary artery, liver, spleen, kidney and brain showed severe inflammatory injuries of tiny arteries and small/medium-sized arteries 17 and 28 days after KD induction, respectively in the KD group. The aortas were showed as mild inflammatory injuries.

CONCLUSIONSPLT, megakaryocyte, TPO and TGF-beta1 participate in the pathogenesis of KD, and they may play an important role in the injuries of immune vasculitis. This suggests that they may serve as markers for the assessment of severity in KD.

Animals ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; physiology ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; etiology ; Rabbits ; Thrombopoietin ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; physiology ; Vasculitis ; etiology ; immunology ; pathology

The apoptosis in primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) without lymph node (IN) metastases and its relation with clinical stages and pathological grades was investigated. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl trasferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect the apoptotic cells in 15 cases of OSCCs. The percentage of apoptotic cells among tumor cells were calculated as apoptotic index (AI). The results showed that in all 15 cases of OSCCs, apoptotic cells could be visualized by TUNEL with AI ranging from 0.03 to 0.92 (average 0.32). AI was significantly negatively correlated with pathological grades (P < 0.05). It was concluded that the apoptotic rate was related to the malignant degree of OSCCs without LN metastases.
Apoptosis/*physiology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*pathology ; Lymph Nodes/pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mouth Neoplasms/*pathology

Vitamin D is an important steroid hormone, which has a wide biological effect and is the protective factor against cardiovascular disease and other diseases. At present, the etiology and pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) remain unknown, but recent studies have shown that vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is associated with KD. Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency may affect KD via its influence on inflammatory response, adipokine, endothelial function, platelet function, and DNA methylation and increase the risk of coronary artery lesions. This article reviews the research advances in the association between vitamin D and KD and possible mechanisms of action.
Adipokines ; physiology ; Animals ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; DNA Methylation ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; etiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; complications

Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Blood Circulation ; physiology ; Blood Physiological Phenomena ; Lymph ; chemistry ; physiology ; Lymphatic System ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rheology

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether protein kinase C (PKC) was involved in the effect of mesenteric lymph duct ligation or mesenteric lymph drainage on vascular calcium sensitivity in hemorrhagic shock rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into Sham, Shock (hemorrhagic shock), Shock+Ligation (mesenteric lymph duct ligation plus shock) and Shock+Drainage (mesenteric lymph drainage plus shock) groups. After being in shock (hypotension 40 mmHg) for 3 h, the tissue of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was taken out for detecting the PKC expression and phospho-PKC (p-PKC) activity, and the vascular rings of SMA were prepared and used to measure the response to gradient calcium concentration for assaying the calcium sensitivity, the parameters of which including tension, maximum tension (E(max)) and negative logarithm of EC(50), called the pD(2). Other vascular rings from Shock+Ligation and Shock+Drainage groups were incubated with PKC regulator PMA or Staurosporine before the measurement of calcium sensitivity. The results showed that, PKC expression, p-PKC activity and calcium sensitivity of SMA in Shock group was significantly lower than that of Sham group, whereas the above-mentioned indexes were significantly elevated in Shock+Ligation and Shock+Drainage groups compared with those in Shock group. PKC agonist PMA enhanced the contractile activity of vascular rings to gradient calcium ions, and increased E(max) of SMA in Shock+Ligation and Shock+Drainage groups. On the contrary, PKC inhibitor Staurosporine significantly decreased the response to gradient calcium ions and E(max) of SMA in Shock+Ligation and Shock+Drainage groups. These results suggest that PKC plays a role in the improvement of vascular calcium sensitivity by blockade of mesenteric lymph return in hemorrhagic shock rats.
Animals ; Calcium ; pharmacology ; Drainage ; Ligation ; Lymph ; physiology ; Lymphatic Vessels ; physiology ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mesentery ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; physiopathology ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interference effects of lymph plasma on endotoxic shock and its mechanism.

METHODSSixty Wistar male rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group and lymph plasma group. The endotoxic shock model of rats were duplicated by jugular intravenous injection with LPS (15 mg/kg), and after 15 minutes the normal lymph plasma was infused in lymph plasma group rats, which amount of lymph plasma was one fifteenth of whole blood volume. The effects of lymph plasma on the mean arterial pressure (MAP), microcirculation of mesentery near the ileum lower, the numbers of leukocytes adherent to the venular wall, the P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in plasma were observed.

RESULTSThe normal lymph plasma might be prevent from progressive decreased of MAP, depress the pathologic diameter constriction of mesenteric microvessels, reduce leukocytes adherent to the venular wall, improve blood flow condition of microcirculation, and decrease the level of P-selectin and ICAM-1 in plasma (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONA little of normal lymph plasma plays a positive interference effect on microcirculatory dysfunction and hypotension with endotoxic shock induced by LPS challenge. Those mechanisms may be concerned with decreasing the production of cell adhesion molecules.

Animals ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lymph ; physiology ; Male ; Mesentery ; blood supply ; Microcirculation ; physiology ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Septic ; chemically induced ; physiopathology