Research progress on in vitro models of cardiomyocyte injury / 中国中药杂志

Cardiovascular diseases seriously endanger human health and life. The accompanying myocardial injury has been a focus of attention in society. Chinese medicine,serving as a natural and precious reservoir for the research and development of new drugs,is advantageous in resisting myocardial injury due to its multi-component,multi-pathway,and multi-target characteristics. In recent years,with the extensive application of culture method for isolated cardiomyocytes,a cost-effective,controllable in vitro model of cardiomyocyte injury with uniform samples is becoming a key tool for mechanism research on cardiomyocyte injury and drug development.A good in vitro model can reduce experimental and manpower cost,and also accurately stimulate clinical changes to reveal the mechanism. Therefore,the selection and establishment of in vitro model are crucial for the in-depth research. This study summarized the modeling principles,evaluation indicators,and application of more than ten models reflecting different clinical conditions,such as injuries induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation,hypertrophy,oxidative stress,inflammation,internal environmental disturbance,and toxicity. Furthermore,we analyzed advantages and technical difficulties,aiming to provide a reference for in-depth research on myocardial injury mechanism and drug development.

Efficacy and mechanism of fire needling bloodletting for lower extremity varicose veins / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical effect of lower extremity varicose veins between fire needling bloodletting and operation, and to explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group，the operation was adopted. The fire needling bloodletting was applied in the observation group, twice a week for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and venous disability score (VDS) were recorded, the hemorheological indexes [blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)], immune inflammatory response indexes[serum C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)], vascular endothelial cell function indexes [the number of circulatingendothelial cell (CEC), plasma endothelin (ET-1) and NO)] and apoptosis indexes (Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3) were detected in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the scores of VCSS and VDS, hemorheological indexes, immune inflammatory response indexes and levels of plasma NO after treatment were reduced in the two groups (<0.05). The level of serum Bax after treatment was reduced in the observation group (<0.05). The number of CEC and levels of plasma ET-1 after treatment were increased in the two groups (<0.05). The levels of serum Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 after treatment were increased in the observation group (<0.05). In the observation group, the scores of VCSS and VDS, hemorheological indexes，immune inflammatory response indexes, vascular endothelial cell function indexes and level of serum Bax after treatment were lower than the control group (<0.05), and the levels of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were higher than the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Fire needling bloodletting could effectively treat lower extremity varicose veins, and the mechanism may be related to the improvement of hemorheology, downregulation of immune inflammatory response, improvement of vascular endothelial cell function and inhibition of apoptosis.

Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation-assisted Cycling on Motor Function and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Subacute Stroke Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To explore the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted rehabilitation cycling on motor function, cardiopulmonary fitness and activities of daily living in patients with subacute stroke. Methods:From January, 2016 to April, 2019, 60 patients with first-onset stroke at subacute stage were divided into control group (n = 30) and experimental group (n = 30). The experimental group and the control group received cycling training with or without FES based on the routine treatment for four weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and modified Barthel Index (MBI), and measured peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) before and after treatment. Results:The scores of FMA and MBI, and VO2peak increased in both groups after treatment (|t| > 7.889, P < 0.001), and the scores of FMA and VO2peak increased more in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 3.332, P < 0.01). Conclusion:FES-assisted rehabilitation cycling could promote the recovery of motor function, cardiopulmonary fitness and activities of daily living in subacute stroke patients.

Research Progress in TCM Promoting the Development of Cerebral Ischemia Angiogenesis / 中国中医药信息杂志

The promotion or inhibition of blood vessels by TCM, active ingredients of TCM, TCM compounds, and Chinese patent drugs is currently a research hotspot, with relatively abundant research. However, the study of the role and profound mechanism of TCM on angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia is relatively rare. Therefore, this article reviewed theories, in vitro studies and in vivo studies on the promotion of cerebral angiogenesis by TCM, and summarized the studies on TCM regulation of angiogenesis through Notch and Wnt signaling pathway mechanisms, with a purpose to provide references for resarch on related mechanisms and development of new deugs.

Effects of the Effective Constituents of Min Angelicae Sinensis Radix on Hyperhomocysteinemia Induced Rabbit Atherosclerotic Lesions / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the effects of three effective constituents of Min Angelicae Sinensis Radix on hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) induced rabbit atherosclerotic lesions (AS).Methods Forty eight Japanese big ear rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatile oil group, Angelicae Sinensis Radix polysaccharide group, ferulic acid group and folic acid group, with 8 rabbits in each group. The HHcy rabbit model induced AS was duplicated by injected DL-methionine. After 8 weeks, each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage. After 12 weeks, Hcy, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C level in serum were detected, and abdominal aorta vascular ultrasound were observed.Results The model group was higher than the normal group in the level of Hcy (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of Hcy in Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatileoil group, the ferulic acid group and the folic acid group decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C in AngelicaeSinensis Radix volatile oil group, ferulic acid group and folic acid group decreased (P<0.05). Abdominal aorta ultrasonography showed that the degree of AS was significantly attenuated in folic acid group, Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatile oil group and ferulic acid group.Conclusion Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatile oil and ferulic acid in Min Angelicae Sinensis Radix can reduce the harm to endothelium and can prevent and treat HHcy caused by rabbit AS.

Test-retest reliability of Mandarin monosyllable lists: a multi-center study in Chinese dialectal regions / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop 22 Chinese Mandarin monosyllable lists with good psychometrical equivalence. This study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of these lists when it was used in speech recognition test in normal hearing dialectal speakers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven cities including Dalian, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Xiamen were selected as testing centers which contain 6 typical Chinese dialectal regions including north of China, East of China, north of Fujian, south of Fujian, Guangdong and mid-south of China. At each center, 22 local normal hearing people were selected to join this study. Every participant was tested by each recognition test of all 22 lists twice in two sessions and same test order respectively. The second run of testing was carried out within 10 days-1 month since first run of testing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant correlations between scores obtained at the two sessions (r = 0.682, P < 0.01). Paired student-t test had shown that a gross score of all dialectal participants was significantly higher than that of initial test to retest (P < 0.01). The mean increment of score was (2.7 +/- 10.1)%. A significant difference of test-retest score in 7 sites was 19.8% and it was equal to 5 test items. A one way ANOVA analysis had indicated that there were statistically significant difference between the score improvement of 7 test sites (P < 0.01). Another analysis had shown that there was no significant correlation between test-retest score improvement and intra-session intervals (P = 0.947).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Mandarin monosyllabic recognition test seems to be more stable, and the present study has indicated a systematic differences in Chinese Mandarin monosyllable recognition scores between test and retest. Monosyllable recognition test is not susceptible to memory effect. Pearson's correction analysis is not suitable to evaluation for test-retest reliability.</p>