ObjectiveTo investigate the laws of distribution and combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF); To research the relevance between TCM syndromes and DHF.Methods A four diagnostic information survey was conducted among 124 DHF patients in order to analyze their basic information and information about TCM four diagnostic methods. Statistical analysis method was used to determine the syndrome types of the DHF patients and the features of syndrome combination.ResultsMost DHF patients were in their sixties or seventies, the number of female patients was larger than that of male patients, and their heart function was in II or III grade. Qi deficiency, phlegm turbidity, Qi stagnation, blood stasis, water stagnation, Yang deficiency and Yin deficiency were the common syndromes. Two-card combination and three-card combination were more common, mainly with Qi deficiency, phlegm turbidity or blood stasis as the main patterns of manifestation. Conclusion This research could provide a clinical basis for the establishment of the standard for the TCM syndromes DHF.

OBJECTIVETo study pathological and therapeutical problems concerning myocardial cell mitochondria changes during myocardial cell hypertrophy by culturing rat primary myocardial cells.

METHODPrimary myocardial cells were seperated and cultured together with angiotensin II (Ang II) for 72 or 96 hours. The total protein content with the BCA method and the photography and measurement of cell diameter with inverted microscope reflected myocardial cell proliferation. The mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psi m) with fluorescence microscope, the mitochondrial single amine oxidase (MAO) activity with spectrophotometer, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COX) activity and the injury percentage of mitochondrial outer membrane with microplate reader and the contents of ATP, ADP, AMP with high performance liquid chromatography reflected the injury and energy metabolism of myocardial cell mitochondrial structure and function when being cultured together with Ang II. On that basis, cells were treated with Astragali Radix injection and valsartan for observing pharmacological effects on mitochondrial structure and function in restructured myocardial cells.

RESULTIn 72 h and 96 h, compare with the control group, the model group showed significantly increased total protein content and enlarged myocardial cell diameter. During the course of proliferation, the myocardial cell MAO activity and the injury percentage of mitochondrial outer membrane were significantly increased, with significant decrease in mitochondrial COX activity, mitochondrial Delta Psi m and the content of ATP, ADP and rise in the content of AMP. Astragali Radix injection and valsartan reduced myocardial cell total protein content and cell diameter caused by Ang II, decreased myocardial cell MAO activity, significantly increased mitochondrial COX activity and the content of ATP and ADP, and decreased the content of AMP.

CONCLUSIONDuring the process of myocardial hypertrophy, the injury of mitochondrial structure and function and the changes in myocardial cell energy metabolism injury occurred after the injury of mitochondria. Astragali Radix injection and valsartan can reverse myocardial cell mitochondrial structure and function during myocardial cell hypertrophy caused by Ang II. Reversion of myocardial cell hypertrophy and restructuring of myocardial cells helps improve energy metabolism of the myocardial cells.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hypertrophy ; drug therapy ; Injections ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To explore the effects of Shengmai injection and Xuesaitong injection, compound Chinese herbal medicines for replenishing qi and activating blood, on ventricular fibrillation threshold, heart structure and connexin 43 (Cx43) expression in rats with myocardial infarction (MI).

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells are few in human bone marrow, and their number will decrease with aging or body weakening, so a large amount of amplification is necessary. However, the biological characteristics of human mesenchymal stem cells of each passage remain poorly understood.OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the biological characteristics of each passage of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) so as to provide a basis for clinical demands of tissue engineering.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING: Cytological observation in vitro. The experiment was performed at the Department of Orthopedics and Central Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from March to October 2008.MATERIALS: From bone marrow of patients with non-hematopoietic disease, MSCs were provided by Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.METHODS: Bone marrow was collected form posterior superior iliac spine of patient, MSCs were isolated and cultured by Percoll method. When the cells were confluent at 90%, they were trypsinized and observed by inverted miscroscopy. The second passage of cells were collected for index detection.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cell morphological characteristics and immunophenotype; cell activity was detected by MTT; cell division and apoptosis in the proportion of necrosis were analyzed by flow cytometry analysis.RESULTS: The passaged MSCs exhibited uniform appearance in fusiform shape, and their growth was slowed down after 9 passages, exhibiting cytoplasm vacuolization and body enlarging. The second passage of MSCs was positive for CD44, CD106,and CD105, but negative for CD34 and CD45. MTT values peaked at passage 9, and gradually decreased since passage 10. At passage 11, the number of MSCs at division stage was increased, but from the sixth passage, the number of apoptotic cells increased significantly, reaching more than 60% at passage 8.CONCLUSION: According to biological characteristics analysis of MSCs at each passage, the third to the sixth passage cells are recommend for clinical therapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of shensongyangxin capsule on myocardial remodeling and ventricular fibrillation characteristics in rat with coronary artery ligation.

METHODTwenty-three male rats were randomly divided into sham-group (n = 5), model group (n = 6), anmiodarone group (n = 6) and shensongyangxin capsule group (n = 6). Drugs were administrated after modeling of 2 days, lasting four weeks. Two dimensional and Doppler images were acquired by a 15 MHz high-frequency linear ultrasound transducer at 4 weeks after operation, and chest was opened to detect ventricular fibrillation threshold value and persistent time.

RESULTAfter administration of four weeks, echocardiogram was detected. Compared with model group, shensongyangxin capsule group diastasis interventricular septum thickness (IVSTd) and left ventricle diameter (LVDd) were significiently different between them (1.20 +/- 0.49) vs (0.78 +/- 0.08) mm and (6.77 +/- 1.34) vs (7.95 +/- 0.92) mm, (P < 0.01 and 0.05); echocardiogram result had no difference in amiodarone and model groups (P > 0.05). LVMI measured by practicion was different between shensongyangxin capsule and model groups: (17.12 +/- 1.91) vs (18.95 +/- 1.41) g x m(-2), (P < 0.05), while amiodarone group had no difference compared with model group. Electrophysiology was used to detect ventricular fibrillation threshold value and 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 V three stages' ventricular fibrillation threshold persistent time were significiently different among each group (P < 0.01), 16-20 V stage's ventricular fibrillation persistent time were also different among each group (P <0.05). Sample "average ranks" showed ventricular fibrillation threshold value of amiodarone group and shensongyangxin capsule group were four times than model group; and amiodaron group had best effect of holding-back ventricular fibrillation persistent time.

CONCLUSIONThe coronary artery ligation can result in myocardial remodeling by increasing volume load, and at the same time influencing electrophysiology function of heart. Amiodaron elevated ventricular fibrillation threshold of heart, this effect maybe relate to influencing many ion channels of myocardial cellular membrane; shensongyangxin capsule also elevate ventricular fibrillation threshold of heart, this effect maybe also relate to influencing many ion channels of myocardial cellular membrane, and on the other hand this effect maybe relate to hold-back ventricular remodeling after coronary artery was ligated, accordingly improve electrophysiological base material of heart.

Animals ; Capsules ; therapeutic use ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

To establish an ischemia-reperfusion injury model of rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) in vitro, and to explore the relationship between nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and the protective effects of Qingkailing effective components (hyocholic acid, taurocholic acid, baicalin, jasminoidin, Pinctada martensii) on MVECs.

To observe the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on the proliferation and type I collagen synthesis of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFBs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II), and to explore the mechanism of TMP in treating myocardial fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic congestive heart failure occurs at the late stage of many heart diseases. Cognitive disability exists in chronic congestive heart failure which has been reported in most clinical studies, and measures that can successfully improve heart function can improve cognitive function.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effect of chronic congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction on spatial learning and memory ability,and to observe the correlation between heart failure and cognitive function.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education.MATERIALS: This experiment was performed at the Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine),Ministry of Education. in November 2001. Totally 100 healthy male rats aged 10 to 12 weeks, weighing 200 g to 220 g purchased from Beijing Weitong Lihua Experimental animal Technical Co. Ltd were enrolled and randomly divided into the operation group (n=60) and sham-operation group (n=40).METHODS: Model rats in the operation group were infarcted by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary arteries to produce acute myocardial infarction models. Those in the sham-operation group left a loose tie without ligation. The rats that showed myocardial infarction-like changes through electrocardiogram were taken as the rats for operation (n=38), and those survived rats without abnormal changes and without ligation were taken as the sham-operation group (n=25). The two groups were subdivided into 10-day gro up, 30-day group and 60-day group. Morris water maze test was performed 10, 30 and 60 days after the operation followed by hemodynamic monitoring. Among the 10-day group, 30-day group and 60-day group, rats that did not complete the whole Morris swimming test due to heart failure with poor power and died 2 days after the operation or after hemodynamic monitoring were set as heart failure end period group.Rats in the same group as those died with similar body mass were set as the control group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Escape logarithm latency and the good rate if cognitive ability; ② stroke volume, cardiac output per minute,heart rate and cardiac index of hemodynamics, in which cardiac index was the main index for responding heart functionRESULTS: Totally 33 rats met the criteria in the operation group and 25rats in the sham-operation group. All the animals entered the stage of result analysis. ①Results of hymodynamic index: Stroke volume, cardiac output per minute and cardiac index of the rats in the 10-day group, 30-day group and 60-day group were significantly lower than those of the homochronous sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.01), and those indexes were significantly lower in the heart failure end period group than in the end period control group and each period of the operation (P ＜ 0.01-0.05). As compared with homochronous control group, the cardiac index in 10-day group, 30-day group, 60-day group and end period group was 51.21%,50.58%,55.84% and 33.91% respectively, and all were 60% lower than the normal value. ② Results of Morris water maze: Logarithm latency of 10-day operation group after training of 8 times was obviously longer than that of the 10-day sham-operation group [F(1,28) =5.997,P=0.021]. As for cognitive function, it was obviously worse in the 10-day operation group than that of the 10-day sham-operation group (x2=8.142 ,P ＜ 0.005). There was no significant difference between the 30-day operation group and the 30-day sham-operation group, and there was no significant difference in the logarithm latency as well between the 60-day operation group and the 60-day sham-operation group. As for searching strategies, the good rate of general cognitive ability in the 60-day operation group was worse than that in the 60-day sham-operation group (x2=4.988 ,P ＜ 0.05). Logarithm latency prolonged significantly in the heart failure end period group than in the end period control group [F( 1,6)=19.567 ,P=0.004], and the good rate of general cognitive ability was worse in the heart failure end period than that in the end period control group(x=1 1.82,P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Spatial learning and memory ability after heart failure in rats with myocardial infarction was injured obviously 10 days after the operation, and it recovered to the normal level 30 days after the operation.Cognitive injury occurred to some extent 60 days after the operation, and the cognitive function was obviously worse at the end period of congestive heart failure.

0.05).Conclusion: Three-stage sequential method could recover the functions of HPA axis of asthmatic rat models with steroid intervention.

Objective: To observe the expression of cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1of cultured rat brain microvascular endothelial cells(MVEC),expecting to explore the mechanisms of new QingKaiLing injection protecting brain from injury of inflammatory cascade in cerebral ischemia diseases.Methods: Rat cerebral MVEC were extracted by separating microvessel sections and collagenase enzymatic digesting,an in vitro ischemia reperfusion model was established(Kreb,95%N2+5%CO2),the protein and mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were detected by using immunocytochemical stain and RT-PCR method.Results:The expression of adhesion molecules of model group were significantly higher than those of noral group(P