The association between disruption of the circadian rhythm and aggravation of colitis in mice.

Delayed recovery from ulcerative colitis is mainly due to impaired healing of the intestinal epithelium after inflammation. The circadian rhythm controls cell proliferation and energy metabolism. However, the role of circadian genes in inflammatory bowel disease is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether disrupting the circadian rhythm in mice can worsen colitis by altering mitochondrial energy metabolism. Mice in the experimental groups were under physiologic stress with an 8-h light shift jet-lag schedule every 3 days, whereas those in the control group were not. Subsequently, half of the mice in the control and jet-lagged groups were given dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to induce colitis. Mice in each group were euthanized at zeitgeber time (ZT)0, ZT4, ZT8, ZT12, ZT16, and ZT20. To investigate the effects of jet lag on the mice, colon specimens were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining to analyse mRNA and protein expression of core circadian clock genes (Bmal1, Clock, Per1, Per2, Cry1, Cry2, and Nr1d1). We analysed the mitochondrial morphology, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, and the expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and ser637-phosphorylated (p)-Drp1, which are closely related to ATP production. We further investigated the effect of PER2 knock-down in the colon epithelial cells (CCD 841 CoN) by measuring ATP and cell proliferation levels. Disrupting the circadian rhythm changed the oscillation of clock genes in the colon of mice, altered the mitochondrial morphology of the colon specimens, decreased the expression of p-Drp1, reduced ATP production, and exacerbated inflammatory responses in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Additionally, silencing of PER2 in the colon epithelial cells reduced ATP production and cell proliferation. Disrupting the circadian rhythm in mice decreases mitochondrial energy metabolism in the colon and exacerbates symptoms of colitis.

Temporal alterations in pericytes at the acute phase of ischemia/reperfusion in the mouse brain.

Pericytes, as the mural cells surrounding the microvasculature, play a critical role in the regulation of microcirculation; however, how these cells respond to ischemic stroke remains unclear. To determine the temporal alterations in pericytes after ischemia/reperfusion, we used the 1-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion model, which was examined at 2, 12, and 24 hours after reperfusion. Our results showed that in the reperfused regions, the cerebral blood flow decreased and the infarct volume increased with time. Furthermore, the pericytes in the infarct regions contracted and acted on the vascular endothelial cells within 24 hours after reperfusion. These effects may result in incomplete microcirculation reperfusion and a gradual worsening trend with time in the acute phase. These findings provide strong evidence for explaining the "no-reflow" phenomenon that occurs after recanalization in clinical practice.

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Analysis for Steaming Times-dependent Profiling of Steamed Panax quinquefolius and Its Ginsenosides Transformations Induced by Repetitious Steaming.

The metabolic profiles of Panax quinquefolius and its associated therapeutic values are critically affected by the repetitious steaming times. The times-dependent steaming effect of P. quinquefolius is not well-characterized and there is also no official guideline on its times of steaming. In this paper, a UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method was developed for the qualitative profiling of multi-parametric metabolic changes of raw P. quinquefolius during the repetitious steaming process. Our method was successful in discriminating the differentially multi-steamed herbs. Meantime, the repetitious steaming-inducing chemical transformations in the preparation of black American ginseng (American ginseng that was subjected to 9 cycles of steaming treatment) were evaluated by this UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS based chemical profiling method. Under the optimized UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS conditions, 29 major ginsenosides were unambiguously identified and/or tentatively assigned in both raw and multi-steamed P. quinquefolius within 19 min, among them 18 ginsenosides were detected to be newly generated during the preparatory process of black American ginseng. The mechanisms involved were further deduced to be hydrolysis, dehydration, decarboxylation and addition reactions of the original ginsenosides in raw P. quinquefolius through analyzing mimic 9 cycles of steaming extracts of 14 pure reference ginsenosides. Our novel steaming times-dependent metabolic profiling approach represents the paradigm shift in the global quality control of multi-steamed P. quinquefolius products.

Effects of docosahexaenoic acid on ion channels of rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels and voltage-dependent K(+) (K(V)) channels in rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs), and evaluate the vasorelaxation mechanisms of DHA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BK(Ca) and K(V) currents in individual CASMC were recorded by patch-clamp technique in whole-cell configuration. Effects of DHA at various concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L) on BK(Ca) and K(V) channels were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) DHA enhanced IBK(Ca) and BK(Ca) tail currents in a concentration-dependent manner while did not affect the stably activated curves of IBK(Ca). IBK(Ca) current densities were (68.2 ± 22.8), (72.4 ± 24.5), (120.4 ± 37.9), (237.5 ± 53.2), (323.6 ± 74.8) and (370.6 ± 88.2)pA/pF respectively (P < 0.05, n = 30) with the addition of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L DHA concentration, and half-effect concentration (EC(50)) of DHA was (36.22 ± 2.17)µmol/L. (2) IK(V) and K(V) tail currents were gradually reduced, stably activated curves of IK(V) were shift to the right, and stably inactivated curves were shifted to the left in the presence of DHA. IK(V) current densities were (43.9 ± 2.3), (43.8 ± 2.3), (42.9 ± 2.0), (32.3 ± 1.9), (11.7 ± 1.5) and (9.6 ± 1.2)pA/pF respectively(P < 0.05, n = 30)post treatment with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L DHA under manding potential equal to +50 mV, and EC(50) of DHA was (44.19 ± 0.63)µmol/L.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DHA can activate BK(Ca) channels and block K(V) channels in rat CASMCs, the combined effects on BK(Ca) and K(V) channels lead to the vasodilation effects of DHA on vascular smooth muscle cells.</p>

Echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation features in patients with left ventricular noncompaction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation features in patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Echocardiographic characteristics of 9 patients with LVNC were analyzed and the localization of lesions were determined according to the standardized myocardial segmentation (SMS) recommended by American Heart Association (AHA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Loose trabeculation in the myocardial lesions were evidenced in all LVNC patients. Communication between deep intertrabecular recess and LV cavity was evident with color flow imaging. According to SMS of AHA, noncompaction of ventricular myocardium was localized in apical segment in all 9 patients, in apical segment of the inferior wall (IW) in 9 patients, in apical segment of the lateral wall (LW) in 7 patients, in middle segment (MS) of IW in 7 patients, in MS of LW in 6 patients. One NC segment was also evidenced in apical segment and MS of septal ventricular wall, basal segment of IW and LW and right ventricular apex, respectively. NC was not found in left ventricular anterior wall.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation is helpful to diagnose LVNC and NC was mostly localized in the apical segments of LVNC patients.</p>

Effect of acupuncture on regulating skeletal muscle endurance in rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of acupuncture on skeletal muscle endurance in rats as a pre-games assistant training.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, model and acupuncture group. Acupuncture group was treated at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Housanli" (ST 36) by twisting mild reinforcing-reducing method for 20 min, no interventions were added on control and model group. Muscle strength was detected in three groups under anaesthetic (after model established in model group, after model established and treated in acupuncture group). Averaged change percentage of mean skeletal muscle endurance (P(m)) and averaged maximum percentage of skeletal muscle endurance (P(max)) were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) 10P(m) in model group decreased more than acupuncture group statistically (P < 0.05); 20P(m), 30P(m) and 40P(m) in model group decreased significantly compared to those in control group and acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Changes of 10P(max) in acupuncture group was much less than in model group (P < 0.05); changes of 20P(max), 30P(max), 40P(max) and 50P(max) decreased more in model group than in acupuncture group and control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As an assistant training method, acupuncture can postpone descending point of muscle strength endurance to delay sport fatigue.</p>

Research on compound electroacupuncture waveforms by microcomputer control / 中国针灸

Reviewing the development and the current situation of electroacupuncture, the deficiencies and shortcomings of electroacupuncture instrument applied in clinic and laboratory are analyzed. It is proposed that compound electroacupuncture waveform is an inevitable trend for electroacupuncture technique development. Based on the clinic and experiment needs, three different waveforms are taken as the model of compound electroacupuncture waveforms. Controlled by the microcomputer technique, the compound electroacupuncture waveforms are more multiple and precise, which will expand the range of application of electroacupuncture.