ABSTRACT
In oriental medicine, the state in which blood is stagnant is called "oketsu, (Yu xie)"meaning preceding state or symptomatic of sickness. However, the pathological detail and mechanism of "oketsu"is not clear. Therefore we attempt to clarify the meaning of "oketsu"with Western medical knowledge and methods. The relationship between "oketsu"and blood fluidity (BF) was studied in human studies and the influence of several kinds of stress, "anti-oketsu"herbal medicine, electro-acupuncture stimulation (ACU), adrenoceptor agonist and antagonist on BF, platelet aggregation (PA), plasma ATP level, reactive oxygen metabolites level (d-ROM) and biological anti-oxidant potential level (BAP) were studied in animal studies using male Wistar rats. BF and PA were examined using a Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer (MC-FAN) and a laser scattering platelet aggregometer (PA-20), respectively. D-ROM and BAP levels were studied using a Free Radical Elective Evaluator. In ACU study, 1Hz, 3-5 V stimulation was applied to the acupoints for 15 or 60 minutes. Stimulated acupoints were as follows:ZuSanli (ST-36), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), Hegu (L-I4), Neiguan (P-6) and Shenshu (BL-23). A significant decrease of BF was observed in "oketsu"patients compared to the "non-oketsu"patients in human studies. In the animal study, restrained and electrical shock stress applied to rats results in a quick decrease of BF, increase of PA, increase of plasma ATP level, increase of d-ROM level and decrease of BAP level. ACU applied to ST-36, SP-6 and L-14 revealed significant increases in BF, while PA activity decreased. The effect was observed even with 15 min stimulation. However, no significant changes were observed when ACU was applied to P-6 and BL-23. Furthermore, ACU applied to ST-36 represented a significant reduction to the stress induced blood changes such as BF, PA, plasma ATP level, d-ROM, and BAP level. These data suggest the close relation of BF with the "Oketsu"and that sympathetic nervous system activity and plasma ATP level have important roles in the changes of blood fluidity. Acupoints may have some role in the result that ACU affects BF depending on the stimulation loci. ACU has an immediate effect on BF since 15 min stimulation shows a significant effect. PA decrease by ACU suggests that an increase of BF is mainly associated with PA ability. The result that ACU reduced the stress induced BF and other changes of blood properties may imply that ACU has anti-stress activity.
ABSTRACT
Swelling and pain appear when blood flow is delayed in states of “<i>oketsu</i>.” Until now “<i>oketsu</i>” as a circulatory disturbance has been studied from profiles of vascular resistance characteristics and blood fluidity. Blood fluidity is influenced by blood cell function, plasma ingredients and reactive oxygen. In this study, we administered the various Chinese herbal medicines, tokishakuyakusan, saikokaryukotsuboreito, tokakujokito, keishibukuryogan and juzentaihoto to determine the effect of these medicines on “<i>oketsu</i>” by observing reactive oxygen dynamics and blood fluidity in rats.SPF male Wistar rats weighing 200 g were used. Each experimental group was given feed containing 3% extract of one Chinese herbal medicine for1week. Blood samples were mixed with heparin, EDTA-2K or sodium citrate to block coagulation. Blood fluidity was measured with a Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer (MC-FAN). A PA-20 examined platelet aggregation by the reaction to ADP, which activates platelet aggregation. Reactive oxygen dynamics were measured with a Free Radical Elective Evaluator (FREE).As a result, anti-oxidative ability and blood fluidity increased in all Chinese herbal medicine-administered groups. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between the fluidity of erythrocyte suspensions and anti-oxidative ability was shown. We speculate that an anti-oxidative influence of Chinese herbal medicines affected erythroid deformability or stickiness. In addition, tokishakuyakusan, tokakujokito and keishibukuryogan decreased platelet aggregation ability.This study shows that “<i>oketsu</i>” improves blood properties and suggests that Chinese herbal medicine improves decrease in blood fluidity, the causes of conditions such as thrombosis or embolism.
ABSTRACT
[Objective] Perspiration is almost only heat radiation mechanism under high temperature environments. And sudoriferous water is supplied from blood. Blood flow is determined by blood fluidity, blood volume and the cardiovascular system. It was reported that strong stress decreased blood fluidity.In this experiment, we investigated the relation between blood fluidity and water supply in rats loaded with forced exercise in high temperature environment.[Methods] SPF male Wistar rats weighing 250g were used. All animals were put in high temperature environment (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature; WBGT: 28°C) through whole experimental period. The rats were divided into four groups randomly; Suitable temperature environment-Exercise-Non water intake (SEN), High temperature environment-Exercise-Non water intake (HEN), High temperature environment-Exercise-Water intake (HEW) and Baseline (BL). In a group of water supply, distilled water was served before and later exercise by sonde forcibly. The blood was collected before or later of exercise and blood and erythrocyte suspension fluidity were measured.[Results] In the HEN, hydroperoxides, blood sodium, lactic acid and adrenaline increased while blood and erythrocyte suspension fluidity were decreased significantly compared with the BL. In addition, the hematocrit did not increase even if water equivalent to 4% of body weight lost it.[Conclusion] We speculate that exercise in high temperature environment decreases blood fluidity. However, the water supply in exercise that might not be sufficiently improve blood fluidity.
ABSTRACT
[Objective] Physical exercises raise more or less body temperature. A body temperature is regulated constantly generally by homeostasis mechanism. Perspiration is only heat radiation mechanism under high temperature environments. And sudoriferous water is supplied from blood. Blood flow is determined by blood fluidity, blood volume and the cardiovascular system. It was reported that strong stress decreased blood fluidity.In this experiment, we investigated the relation between blood fluidity and water supply in rats loaded with forced exercise in high temperature environment.[Methods] SPF male Wistar rats weighing 150 g were used. All animals were put in high temperature environment (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature; WBGT: 28°C) through whole experimental period. In a group of water supply, distilled water was served before and later exercise by sonde forcibly. The rats were divided into five groups randomly; Rest-Non water intake (RN), Rest-Water intake (RW), Exercise-Non water intake (EN), Exercise-Water intake (EW) and Baseline (B). The blood was collected before or later of exercise and blood fluidity or platelet aggregation was measured.[Results] In the EN, platelet aggregation, lactic acid and corticosterone increased while blood fluidity were decreased significantly compared with the RN, RW and EW. In addition, the hematocrit did not increase even if water equivalent to 8 % of body weight lost it.[Conclusion] We speculate that exercise in high temperature environment decreases blood fluidity. However, the water supply that does not completely make up for quantity of depletion in exercise may improve blood fluidity.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the relationship between diabetic foot(DF)and the change of blood fluidity.Methods The blood viscosity、plasma viscosity、hematocrit、erythrocyte sedimentation rate、fibrinogen were determined in 126 type 2 diabetes cases.They were divided into DF group and non-diabetic foot(NDF)group.Results ①The incidence of DF is higher in older and longer course of diabetes cases with renalpathy、neuropathy、peripheral artery disease and retinopathy.② The blood viscosity、plasma viscosity、hematocrit、erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen are significantly higher in DF group.③ The indexes of blood fluidity are significantly higher in Ankle Brachial Index(ABI)abnormal group than normal group.Conclusions To have the blood fluidity under control effectively is very important for prevention and treatment of DF.
ABSTRACT
Scientific elucidation of “oketsu (blood stasis)” states is very important to understanding the diagnostic methods of oriental medicine. We investigated the correlation of blood fluidity to oketsu states, by micro channel array flow analyzer (MC-FAN). Twenty-seven female patients were divided into three groups: a non-oketsu group, a mildly affected group, and a severely affected group according to the diagnostic criteria of their oketsu syndrome. Immediately after collecting their venous blood, whole blood passage time was measured by MC-FAN. And we compared and investigated the correlation with degree of oketsu state, diagnostic criteria and changes of whole blood passage time after the administration of ku-oketsu drugs. As a result, whole-blood passage time of the mildly affected group and the severely affected group were significantly longer than that of the non-oketsu group, while the [an] improvement of blood fluidity was observed after medication. This study confirms that reduced blood fluidity is seen using MC-FAN in oketsu states, and that ku-oketsu drugs are able to improve these states.
ABSTRACT
We studied the effects of exercise on the blood fluidity. The subjects were 18 healthy males (21.6±0.8 yr, control : 5, soccer : 9, gymnastics : 4) . We measured the filtration time of whole blood by the Nuclepore filtration method as an index of blood fluidity. The filtration time at rest in the control group, soccer group, and gymnastics group was 59.8±11.9s, 42.5±15.1 s, 28.6±6.7s, respec tively. The filtration time at rest in the soccer group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (p<0.001) . There were no significant differences in filtration time at rest between the control and gymnastics groups, and between the soccer and gymnastics groups. The filtration time after single aerobic exercise was significantly prolonged compared with that before (p<0.001) . The filtration time before and after anaerobic exercise and muscular exercise was not significantly changed. The degree of filtration time prolongation was significantly lower in groups who drank water compared to groups who did not (p<0.001) . The effect of taking a sauna on filtration time was not significant. These results indicates the effect of aerobic exercise on blood fluidity, and the importance of water intake during exercise.