Chinese medicinal bath on athletes' sport muscle fatigue / Efeitos do banho medicinal chinês na fadiga muscular esportiva dos atletas / Efectos del baño medicinal chino en la fatiga muscular deportiva de los atletas

ABSTRACT Introduction: The Fifth International Conference on Sports Biochemistry defines sports fatigue as the physiological process of dysfunction at a certain level or inability to maintain predetermined exercise intensity. When left untreated, it can cause adverse effects to the musculoskeletal system. Natural alternatives for controlling sports fatigue exist in Chinese culture, but scientific research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these treatments. Objective: This study aimed to verify the effect of traditional Chinese medicinal baths on athletes' muscle fatigue. Methods: 100 athletes with exercise-induced muscle fatigue were randomly divided into two groups. The control group received ganglioside injection combined with therapeutic exercise protocols, while the experimental group received the medicinal bath based on traditional Chinese medicine. Tonus of adductors, ischiotibials, gastrocnemius, in addition to lower limb motor function, was evaluated. Results: The total effective rate (90.8%) of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (72.3%), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, adductor, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscle tension in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). Gross motor function assessment score (GMFM-88), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 10m walking speed on a 20cm wide walkway (MWS) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Chinese herbal lavender lotion combined with suspension exercise can effectively improve the body's muscle strength after exercises, accelerate the recovery of muscle strength, and significantly reduce exercise-induced muscle fatigue. Evidence Level II; Therapeutic Studies - Investigating the result.

RESUMO Introdução: A Quinta Conferência Internacional de Bioquímica Esportiva, define a fadiga esportiva como o processo fisiológico de disfunção em um determinado nível ou incapacidade de manter uma intensidade de exercício predeterminada. Quando não tratada, pode causar efeitos adversos ao sistema musculoesquelético. Há alternativas naturais para o controle da fadiga esportiva na cultura chinesa, mas pesquisas científicas são necessárias afim de descobrir a real efetividade desses tratamentos. Objetivo: Verificar o efeito do banho medicinal tradicional da medicina chinesa na fadiga muscular de atletas. Métodos: 100 atletas com fadiga muscular induzida por exercícios foram aleatoriamente divididos em dois grupos. O grupo controle recebeu injeção de gangliosideo combinada com protocolos de exercícios terapêuticos enquanto o grupo experimental recebeu o banho medicinal baseado na medicina tradicional chinesa. Foi avaliado o tônus de adutores, isquiotibiais, gastrocnêmios além da função motora dos membros inferiores. Resultados: A taxa efetiva total (90,8%) do grupo de observação foi superior à do grupo controle (72,3%) e a diferença foi estatisticamente significante (P<0,05). Após o tratamento, a tensão muscular adutores, jarrete e gastrocnêmio no grupo de observação foi menor que o grupo controle (P<0,05). O escore bruto de avaliação da função motora (GMFM-88), escore de escala de balanço de Berg (BBS), velocidade de caminhada de 10m em uma passarela de 20cm de largura (MWS) no grupo de observação foram maiores do que os do grupo controle (P<0,05). Conclusão: A loção de lavanda de ervas chinesas combinada com o exercício de suspensão pode melhorar efetivamente a força muscular do corpo após os exercícios, acelerar a recuperação da força muscular e reduzir significativamente a fadiga muscular induzida pelo exercício. Nível de evidência II; Estudos Terapêuticos - Investigação de Resultados.

RESUMEN Introducción: La Quinta Conferencia Internacional de Bioquímica del Deporte, define la fatiga deportiva como el proceso fisiológico de disfunción a un determinado nivel o incapacidad para mantener una intensidad de ejercicio predeterminada. Si no se trata, puede causar efectos adversos en el sistema musculoesquelético. Existen alternativas naturales para el control de la fatiga deportiva en la cultura china, pero se necesita una investigación científica para descubrir la eficacia real de estos tratamientos. Objetivo: Verificar el efecto del baño medicinal tradicional de la medicina china sobre la fatiga muscular de los atletas. Métodos: 100 atletas con fatiga muscular inducida por el ejercicio fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos. El grupo de control recibió una inyección de gangliósidos combinada con protocolos de ejercicio terapéutico, mientras que el grupo experimental recibió el baño medicinal basado en la medicina tradicional china. Se evaluó el tono de los aductores, los isquiotibiales y los gastrocnemios, además de la función motora de los miembros inferiores. Resultados: La tasa efectiva total (90,8%) del grupo de observación fue superior a la del grupo de control (72,3%) y la diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa (P<0,05). Tras el tratamiento, la tensión de los músculos aductores, jarretes y gastrocnemios en el grupo de observación fue inferior a la del grupo de control (P<0,05). La puntuación de la evaluación de la función motora gruesa (GMFM-88), la puntuación de la Escala de Equilibrio de Berg (BBS) y la velocidad de marcha de 10 m en una pasarela de 20 cm de ancho (MWS) en el grupo de observación fueron mayores que las del grupo de control (P<0,05). Conclusión: La loción de hierbas chinas de lavanda combinada con el ejercicio de suspensión puede mejorar eficazmente la fuerza muscular del cuerpo después de los ejercicios, acelerar la recuperación de la fuerza muscular y reducir significativamente la fatiga muscular inducida por el ejercicio. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - Investigación de resultados.

The value of oxygen index and base excess in predicting the outcome of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract Objective This study aimed to identify the predictors and threshold of failure in neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome. Methods Newborns with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome aged 0-28 days and gestational age ≥36 weeks were included in the study if their cases were managed with non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation treatments. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they died before discharge. Predictors of non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation treatment failure were sought, and the threshold of predictors was calculated. Results A total of 103 patients were included in the study. A total of 77 (74.8%) survived hospitalization and were discharged, whereas 26 (25.2%) died. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of oxygen index, pH, base excess, and combinations of these indicators demonstrated the advantage of the combination of oxygen index and base excess over the others variables regarding their predictive ability. The area under the curve for the combination of oxygen index and base excess was 0.865. When the cut-off values of oxygen index and base excess were 30.0 and −7.4, respectively, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting death were 77.0% and 84.0%, respectively. The model with base excess added a net reclassification improvement of 0.090 to the model without base excess. Conclusion The combination of oxygen index and base excess can be used as a predictor of outcomes in neonates receiving non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome. In neonates with acute respiratory distress syndrome, if oxygen index >30 and base excess <−7.4, non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation therapy is likely to lead to death.

Preventive effect of low-dose carvedilol combined with candesartan on the cardiotoxicity of anthracycline drugs in the adjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of low-dose carvedilol combined with candesartan in the prevention of acute and chronic cardiotoxicity of anthracycline drugs in adjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group with chemotherapy plus low-dose carvedilol combined with candesartan (20 cases) and control group with chemotherapy alone (20 cases). The same chemotherapy was given to the two groups. All the 40 patients had no contraindication for carvedilol and candesartan. Patients of the experimental group received low-dose carvedilol from 2.5 mg orally twice a day at first cycle to 5 mg twice a day gradually if no side reactions, and candesartan 2.5 mg orally once a day. Electrocardiogram, ultrasonic cardiogram, arrhythmia, troponin and non-hematologic toxicity were recorded and compared after the second, forth and sixth cycle of chemotherapy. Each cycle included 21 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LVEF was decreased along with the prolongation of chemotherapy in the experimental group and control group. LVEDD and LVESD showed no significant changes in the experimental group, but gradually increased in the control group. After four and six cycles of chemotherapy, LVEF were (57.00 ± 5.13)% and (45.95 ± 3.68)%, respectively, in the control group, significantly lower than that of (67.00 ± 5.13)% and (57.50 ± 2.57)%, respectively, in the experimental group (P < 0.05). After six cycles of chemotherapy, LVEDD and LVESD were (50.00 ± 10.48) mm and (35.01 ± 2.99) mm, respectively, in the control group, significantly higher than those before chemotherapy (P < 0.05) and experimental group (P < 0.001). The rate of ST segment and T wave abnormalities was 80.0% in the control group after six cycles of chemotherapy, significantly higher than that of 25.0% after four cycles of chemotherapy (P = 0.001) and 10.0% after two cycles of chemotherapy (P < 0.001). The reduction of QRS voltage, arrhythmia and abnormal troponin were 55.0%, 45.0% and 45.0%, respectively, in the control group, significantly higher than those in the experimental group (20.0%, P < 0.05), (10.0%, P = 0.010) and (10.0%, P < 0.05), respectively. The rate of abnormal expression of troponin was 45.0% in the control group, significantly higher than the 10.0% in the experimental group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The use of low-dose carvedilol combined with candesartan can reduce the acute and chronic cardiotoxicity of anthracycline drugs, and with tolerable toxicities. This may provide a new approach to prevent cardiotoxicity of anthracycline drugs in adjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer.</p>

Autologous cytokine-induced killer cells therapy on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy: a prospective study / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of autologous cytokine-induced killer cells on the quality of life in patient with breast cancer who have already finished the adjuvant chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-eight postoperative patients with breast cancer who underwent anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this prospective study, and they were randomized into 2 groups, i.e., treatment group, which received the therapy of CIK cells transfusion, and control group, which was given regular follow-up. Meanwhile, patients with positive hormone receptor in the two groups were given endocrine therapy, and the patients with positive axillary lymph nodes were given radiotherapy to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes. The difference of quality of life between the two groups was analyzed according to the EORTC QLQ-BR53 quality of life questionnaire, and the adverse reactions were monitored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As regarding the functional evaluation, the physical function scores of patients of the treatment group were (83.43 ± 14.87) and (88.55 ± 11.62) at 3 and 6 months after the CIK cell therapy, respectively, significantly higher than the baseline value [(74.83 ± 13.82), P < 0.05)]. Global health status/QOL scores were (83.30 ± 19.09) and (89.68 ± 10.81), significantly higher than the baseline value [(77.72 ± 21.05), P < 0.05]. As regarding symptoms, the scores of fatigue, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite of patients in the treatment group were higher than the baseline value, with significant differences (P < 0.05). The nausea and vomiting scores in the control group at 3 and 6 months of followed-up were (26.67 ± 22.56) and (21.47 ± 21.06), significantly lower than the baseline values [(33.31 ± 27.07), P < 0.05]. The scores of worrying about the future in the patients of treatment group were (47.56 ± 30.84) and (42.33 ± 26.95) after 3 and 6 months, significantly better than the baseline value [(57.41 ± 30.63), P < 0.05]. The systematic therapy side effects scores were (31.95 ± 27.52) and (23.72 ± 22.87), significantly better than the baseline value [(40.56 ± 26.28), P < 0.05]. The scores of arm edema were (45.26 ± 25.42) and (36.61 ± 20.51), significantly milder than the baseline value [(55.11 ± 22.82), P < 0.05]. In the control group, the scores of arm edema were (44.85 ± 28.94) and (38.64 ± 23.68), significantly lower than the baseline values [(53.26 ± 23.84) points, P < 0.05]. Alopecia scores were (29.93 ± 24.72) and (24.18 ± 22.66), significantly lower than the baseline values [(35.92 ± 22.08), P < 0.05]. In the treatment group, the patients' physical function, social function and global health status/QOL, fatigue, insomnia, and worrying about the future rates were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05 for all). Three patients after CIK reinfusion had transient fever, and 6 cases felt pain in the lower limb, but the symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Therapy of autologous CIK cells transfusion can significantly improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients, and the adverse reactions during the treatment can be alleviated by symptomatic treatment.</p>

Apoptosis-inducing effect of alternol on mouse lymphocyte leukemia cells and its mechanism / 药学学报

Alternol is purified from fermentation productions of microorganisms named as Alternaria alternata var. monosporus. The research is to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of alternol on mouse lymphocyte leukemia (L1210) cells and the possible mechanisms. MTT method was used to evaluate the viability of L1210 cells. Apoptosis of L1210 cells was detected by morphological assessment, DNA electrophoresis assay and flow cytometry. Western blotting analysis was carried out to determine the apoptosis-related proteins. Proliferation inhibition of L1210 cells by alternol was found remarkably in a dose-dependent manner. When treated with alternol, apoptotic morphological features of L1210 cells were observed by fluorescent microscopy (AO/EB) and the apoptosis rate was also elevated in a time-dependent manner. After treatments with various concentrations of alternol for 48 h, DNA laddering appeared. The increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was found after cells were exposed to alternol for 6 h, while the decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi m) was not found until cells were exposed to alternol for 24 h. Furthermore, the level of Bcel-2 and Bcl-2/Bax was down-regulated, while the level of caspase-3 and caspase-9 but not caspase-8 was up-regulated when alternol was added for 72 h. In summary, the results suggested that alternol could inhibit the proliferation of L1210 cells and induce apoptosis of L1210 cells, which was mediated by mitochondria-dependent pathway.