Preliminary observation on imbalance degree of impedance in extracellular fluid of cells in the twelve meridians in healthy subjects / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To calculate the imbalance degree (IBD) of left-right meridian (IBD-LRM), IBD of exterior-interior meridian (IBD-EIM) and IBD of hand-foot meridians (IBD-HFM) of impedance in extracellular fluid of cells in twelve meridians of healthy subjects, so as to provide foundation for meridian diagnosis.@*METHODS@#A total of 31 healthy volunteers were enrolled and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) was applied. The constant current (from 1 to 100 kHz, 200 μA) was connected into the bilateral twelve meridians through two excitation electrodes with a distance of 10 cm. Two measuring electrodes, with an interval of 5 cm, were set in between the two excitation electrodes to collect the voltage amplitude and phase. The Cole-Cole curve fitting was used to calculate the impedance of extracellular fluid of cells in the twelve meridians; the IBD-LRM, IBD-EIM and IBD-HFM as well as their absolute values were calculated.@*RESULTS@#The impedance of extracellular fluid in the left side was higher than that in right side in the large intestine meridian, the small intestine meridian and the bladder meridian (<0.05, <0.01). The mean value of IBD-LRM of extracellular fluid was (4.0±1.4) %; the mean value of absolute value of IBD-LRM was (15.0±1.1) %; the maximum absolute value of IBD-LRM was the bladder meridian. The mean value of IBD-EIM was (3.3±1.0) %; the mean value of absolute value of IBD-EIM was (17.9±1.6) %; the maximum absolute value of IBD-EIM was the bladder meridian and the kidney meridian. The impedance of extracellular fluid of hand meridian, hand meridian and hand meridian were lower than those of foot meridians. The mean value of IBD-HFM was (-2.6±1.1) %; the mean value of absolute value of IBD-HFM was (19.7±1.7) %; the maximum absolute value of IBD-HFM was meridian; the imbalance of meridians was greater than meridians. There were significant differences in impedance of extracellular fluid between left and right and between hands and feet (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#The extracellular fluid of left-right meridians of healthy subjects is different, but the absolute value of IBD is low; the mean value of exterior meridian and interior meridian is very close, and the absolute value of IBD is medium; the impedance of the foot meridians are greater than the hand meridians, and the absolute value of IBD is relatively high.

Understanding Qi Running in the Meridians as Interstitial Fluid Flowing via Interstitial Space of Low Hydraulic Resistance / 中国结合医学杂志

Qi, blood and the meridians are fundamental concepts in Chinese medicine (CM), which are components of the human body and maintain physiological function. Pathological changes of qi, blood and meridians may lead to discomfort and disease. Treatment with acupuncture or herbal medicine aims to regulate qi and blood so as to recover normal function of the meridians. This paper explores the nature of qi as well as compares and correlates them with the structures of the human body. We propose a conceptualization of qi as being similar to the interstitial fluid, and the meridians as being similar to interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance in the body. Hence, qi running in the meridians can be understood as interstitial fluid flowing via interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance.

Fractionation, structural characterization, and immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharide isolated from Ganoderma lucidum / 中草药

Objective To extract, separate, and purify polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum with alkali from the residue after water extraction, characterize the basic physicochemical properties and structural features in detail, and study the immunomodulatory activity in vitro. Methods The polysaccharide LZJ-015 was isolated and purified from the dry fruiting bodies of G. lucidum by alkaline extraction and ethanol precipitation following Q-Sepharose Fast Flow ion exchange chromatography column. Monosaccharide composition and molecular weight of LZJ-0.15 was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with PMP precolumn derivatization and high performance gel permeation chromatography-multiple angle laser (HPGPC-MALLS), respectively. The detailed structure of polysaccharide LZJ-0.15 was characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 1H-1H COSY, and 1H-13C HSQC spectrum. The immunomodulatory activity of G. lucidum polysaccharide was test by RAW264.7 cells phagocytose neutral red experiment. Results The molecular weight, molecular radius, and Mw/Mn of LZJ-0.15 were determined to be 24 700, 46.6 nm, and 1.019, respectively. The monosaccharide composition was confirmed to be mainly composed of glucose (92.3%). LZJ-0.15 was →3) Glc (β1→and→6) Glc (β1→linked glucan indicated by NMR spectrum. Moreover, G. lucidum polysaccharide exhibited good immunomodulatory activity in our study. Conclusion G. lucidum polysaccharide LZJ-0.15 from alkaline extraction showed better immune activity than the polysaccharide extracted from water, which would be potentially developed as an effective immunomodulatory agent.

Comparison of Extracellular and Intracellular Fluid Distribution Between Stomach Meridian or Gallbladder Meridian and Their Neighboring Tissues of Lower Leg in Healthy Volunteers / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To compare differences of extracellular fluid impedance (Re) and intracellular fluid impedance (Ri) between the Stomach(ST) Meridian or Gallbladder(GB) Meridian and their neighboring non-meridian sites of the left lower leg at the same level, so as to explore the distribution characteristics of body fluid in the meridian. METHODS: Sixteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in the present study. The Re and Ri were detected by using Ag/AgCl electrodes and a digital lock-in amplifier. The measuring electrodes (at an interval of about 3 cm) were separately fixed to the skin sites covering the running courses of the ST Meridian (in the lateral interspace of the anterior tibial muscle)and the GB Meridian (in the interspace of the anterior edge of the fibula), and the excitation electrodes (at an interval of about 9 cm) respectively fixed to the skin sites covering the anterior tibial muscle and the interspace between the anterior tibial muscle and the tibia (about 2 cm and 5 cm lateral to the ST and GB meridians, and about 3－4 cm and 6－8 cm lateral to the ST and GB meridians, respectively). A 100 µA constant current with frequencies from 1 kHz to 100 kHz delivered via an excitation electrode was applied to the site (control spots of the ST Meridian), and signals of the voltage amplitude and phase difference of the tissues fed to the lock-in amplifier via the measuring electrode were collected, followed by measuring those of the GB Meridian and control sites. The circumference of the lower leg around the two excitation and measuring electrodes was measured. Then the cole-cole curve fitting was performed to calculate the Ri and Re, as well as the intracellular fluid resistivity (ρi) and extracellular fluid resistivity (ρe) of the ST and GB meridians, the related muscles and interspace lateral to ST or GB (ST/GB) meridians at the same level. RESULTS: The Ri and Re (Ω) values of the ST, GB, the muscle lateral to ST/GB and the interspace lateral to ST/GB were 19.1±1.3 and 28.3±1.4, 15.8±1.9 and 25.7±2.0, 19.6±1.3 and 31.3±1.6, and 19.4±1.2 and 32.4±1.6, respectively. The Re values were significantly lower at the ST and GB meridians than at the muscle lateral to and the interspace lateral to both meridians (P<0.05). The ρi and ρe values (Ω•cm) of the ST, GB, the muscle lateral to and the interspace lateral to ST/GB were 658.9±78.5 and 953.8±75.3, 528.0±90.1 and 833.9±101.7, 669.9±71.8 and 1 059.8±86.0, 655.9±64.8 and 1 099.3±93.3, respectively. The ρi and ρe values were significantly lower at the GB Meridian Than at the other three locntions, and the ρe value of ST Meridian was significantly lower than those of the muscle lateral to and the interspace lateral to ST/GB meridians (P<0.01)．. CONCLUSION: The Ri, Re, ρi and ρe values of the ST and GB meridians are significantly lower than those of their neighboring tissues at the same levels of the lower leg, suggesting a more extracellular fluid in the meridian running course and providing evidence for our speculation that the meridian is a hydraulic resistance channel.

Molecular Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus among Patients with Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Two Chinese Hospitals / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Staphylococcus aureus is one of the predominant causes of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), but limited data were available regarding the characterization of S. aureus from SSTIs patients in Jiangsu Province in China. We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of S. aureus among SSTIs patients in two hospitals of Jiangsu Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-two patients with SSTIs from two Chinese hospitals in Jiangsu Province were enrolled in this study, and 62 S. aureus isolates were collected from February 2014 to January 2015. S. aureus isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, toxin gene detection, and molecular typing with sequence type, Staphylococcus protein A gene type, accessory gene regulator (agr) group, and Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec t ype.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixteen (25.8%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were detected, and there was no isolate found resistant to vancomycin, teicoplanin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and linezolid. The sei was the toxin gene most frequently found, and no lukS/F-PV-positive isolates were detected among the SSTIs' patients. Molecular analysis revealed that ST398 (10/62, 16.1%; 2 MRSA and 8 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus) to be the dominant clone, followed by ST5 (8/62, 12.9%) and ST7 (8/62, 12.9%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The livestock ST398 was the most common clone among patients with S. aureus SSTIs in Jiangsu Province, China. Surveillance and further studies on the important livestock ST398 clone in human infections are necessarily requested.</p>

Relationship between plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C levels and coronary plaque morphology of mild to moderate lesions: an in vivo study using intravascular ultrasound / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cathepsin S and its endogenous inhibitor cystatin C are implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, especially in the plaque destabilization and rupture leading to acute coronary syndrome. However, whether circulating cathepsin S and cystatin C also change in association with coronary plaque morphology is unknown yet.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We recruited 98 patients with unstable angina (UA, n = 6) or stable angina (SA, n = 2) who had a segmental stenosis resulting in > 20% and < 70% diameter reduction in one major coronary artery on coronary angiography. Thirty-one healthy subjects served as controls. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to evaluate plaque morphology. Plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C were measured as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the culprit lesion site, plaque area ((7.85 +/- 2.83) mm(2) vs (6.53 +/- 2.92) mm(2), P = 0.027), plaque burden ((60.92 +/- 11.04)% vs (53.87 +/- 17.52)%, P = 0.025), remodeling index (0.93 +/- 0.16 vs 0.86 +/- 0.10, P = 0.004) and eccentricity index (0.74 +/- 0.17 vs 0.66 +/- 0.21, P = 0.038) were bigger in UA group than in SA group. Plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.01). Plasma cathepsin S was higher in UA group ((0.411 +/- 0.121) nmol/L) than in SA group ((0.355 +/- 0.099) nmol/L, P = 0.007), so did the plasma cystatin C ((0.95 +/- 0.23) mg/L in UA group, (0.84 +/- 0.22) mg/L in SA group; P = 0.009). Plasma cathepsin S positively correlated with remodeling index (r = 0.402, P = 0.002) and eccentricity index (r = 0.441, P = 0.001), and plasma cystatin C positively correlated with plaque area (r = 0.467, P < 0.001) and plaque burden (r = 0.395, P = 0.003) in UA group but not in SA group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C increased significantly in UA patients. In angina patients, higher plasma cathepsin S may suggest the presence of vulnerable plaque, and higher plasma cystatin C may be a clue for larger atherosclerotic coronary plaque.</p>