Experimental research on characteristics of temperature field distribution of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the temperature field distribution and variation rules during treatment with mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion of TCM.@*METHODS@#Six healthy subjects were selected. Mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion were exerted at Zusanli (ST 36) respectively, for 25 min. Using infrared thermal imaging instrument, the temperature field distribution was measured during moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The simulated thermometer was adopted to measure the temperature field distribution during moxibustion at the imitated cortex. At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the temperature field distribution generated by moxibustion was observed at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36) separately. The temperature values were collected at the sites 0.7, 2.1 and 3.5 cm far from the center of the moxibustion-exerted places successively, and then the characteristics of temperature field distribution and variation rules were compared between different moxibustion methods at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36).@*RESULTS@#At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), the temperature field distribution focused on the center of moxibustion-exerted site and the temperature was reduced to all directions and illustrated as a curved surface graph, whereas, the temperature field distribution at the imitated cortex was consistent with that at Zusanli (ST 36). With mild moxibustion, the temperature field was distributed uniformly along the longitudinal temperature gradient; whereas, with sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the longitudinal temperature of the temperature field was greatly different, in which, the maximum temperature and the average temperature were higher than those with mild moxibustion respectively and the first time up to the peak value of sparrow-pecking moxibustion was shorter than that with mild moxibustion. The thermal transfer was presented at the non-moxibustion exerted areas during the moxibustion experiment at Zusanli (ST 36).@*CONCLUSION@#A distance feature is presented in the temperature field measured by simulated thermometer and generated under suspension moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The warm stimulation effect of sparrow-pecking moxibustion is much more obvious at the moxibustion-exerted center as compared with mild moxibustion and the area of warm stimulation generated by sparrow-pecking moxibustion is more concentrated as compared with mild moxibustion. The radiation energy produced by suspension moxibustion is scattered and attenuated in skin tissue, resulting in a certain temperature gradient in the temperature field. The warm stimulation generated at skin surface by moxibustion has a warming-dredging effect.

In vivo noninvasive detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque by (99)Tc(m)-Annexin V imaging in an atherosclerotic rabbit model / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Apoptosis contributes to the instability of the atherosclerotic (AS) lesions. The vulnerable plaque was identified in vivo by detecting the apoptosis with radiolabeled annexin V in an atherosclerotic rabbit model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight male New Zealand white rabbits on 2% cholesterol diet for 2 weeks had abdominal aortic balloon injury and fed a 2% cholesterol diet for another 15 weeks (AS group), 3 rabbits fed a normal rabbit chow for 17 weeks without balloon injury served as controls. Annexin V labeled with (99)Tc(m) was then intravenously administered and planar whole-body images were captured using a gamma camera in the left lateral position. The entire length of the abdominal aorta was explanted for ex vivo imaging with gamma camera. The aorta then was divided into several segments according to the severity of AS. The segments were separated weighted and counted in an gamma counter for the absorptive dose of annexin per gram of tissue. Histology examinations were made on specimens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 2 hours post annexin V injection, clear delineation of radiolabel within the abdominal aorta could be evidenced in vivo gamma imaging. After explanation of the aorta, ex vivo imaging showed a robust uptake of radiotracer in the infradiaphragmatic aorta corresponding to the in vivo images and conforming to the macroscopic distribution of atherosclerotic lesions. The uptake of radiolabel was absent in areas without grossly visible atherosclerotic lesions. The in vivo and ex vivo images identified plaque areas were identical and corresponded histological results on the explanted specimen. The aortic specimen was divided into 18 segments on lesions. The magority of the lesions (14/18) manifested as type IV or type V lesions of AHA classification (vulnerable lesions), except segments 1 - 4, which manifested as type I or type II lesions. The thickness of fibrous cap (TFC) and the ratio of cap and lipid nuclear (RCN) were significantly reversely correlated to the unit radioactivity counts, and the correlation between RCN and the unit radioactivity counts was more significant than that between TFC and the unit radioactivity counts (r = -0.904, P < 0.01, and r = -0.8, P < 0.01). Apoptosis detection (TUNEL): annexin V intake in plaques was positively correlated to apoptotic index(r = 0.651, P = 0.012).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Noninvasive Annexin V imaging could be used to detect vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in vivo.</p>

Rosiglitazone inhibits atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of rosiglitazone on atherosclerosis and potential mechanism in ApoE-knockout mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two 6-week-old ApoE-knockout mice were used as atherosclerosis model in two groups: rosiglitazone group (n = 18) and control group (n = 14). Each group contained equal numbers of male and female mice. All mice were fed with normal chow diet. In addition to normal diet, rosiglitazone group received rosiglitazone 17 mg/kg of body weight/day. Venous bloods were collected for plasma glucose and lipid analysis, and aorta were prepared for morphologic and immunohistochemical analysis after 14 weeks. Aortic root (1 cm) was cut and prepared for paraffin slice. The histomorphometric analysis of atherosclerotic lesion was performed by means of HE; positive percentage of macrophage cell and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured by means of immunohistochemistry in cross section. The ratio of lesion/aortic wall surface in the rest aorta was measured by means of Sudan IV staining in longitudinal section.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The amount of fatty streak in rosiglitazone group was significantly greater than that of control group; the gross number of lesions and the number of fibrous plaque and atheromatous plaque were similar in two groups. There were no differences in percentage of lesions in cross section in two groups. Rosiglitazone could significantly reduce the extend of atherosclerosis of longitudinal section, decrease the amount of macrophage cell and the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lesions. The plasma glucose was normal and similar in two groups, and total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly higher in rosiglitazone group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rosiglitazone suppresses the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, reduces the number of macrophage cell in lesion, and inhibits the development of atherosclerosis.</p>

Rosiglitazone promotes atherosclerotic plaque stability in apolipoprotein e-knockout mice / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To study the effect of rosiglitazone on plaque stability in ApoE-knockout mice. Methods Thirty-two 6-week-old ApoE knockout mice were used as atherosclerosis models in two groups: rosiglitazonegroup (n=18) and control group (n=14). Male and female mice were half separated into two groups. All mice were fed normal chow diet. Rosiglitazone group received rosiglitazone 17 mg/kg of body weight/day. The animals were sacrificed and aortae were prepared for analysis after fourteen weeks. Aortic root were cutted and prepared for paraffin section. The positive percentage of macrophage cells, smooth muscle cells, tumor necrosis factor-? and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in aortic lesions were measured by immunohistochemistry. The changes of grey gradient of collagen in lesion of both groups were measured by Masson stain. Results The positive percentage of smooth muscle cells [(38.5?7.2)%vs(18.6?6.7)%,P