Therapeutic Efficacy of Shexiang Baoxin Pill Combined with Exercise in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Single-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Shexiang Baoxin Pill combined with exercise in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS: Sixty patients with HFpEF were randomly divided into group A (n=20), receiving Shexiang Baoxin Pill combined with home-based exercise training based on conventional drugs for 12 weeks; group B (n=20), receiving conventional drugs combined with home-based exercise training for 12 weeks; and group C (n=20), receiving conventional drug treatment only. Peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2), anaerobic threshold (AT), 6-min walking test (6MWT), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and SF-36 questionnaire (SF-36) results before and after treatment were compared among groups. RESULTS: After the 12-week intervention, patients in group C showed significant declines in peakVO2, AT, 6MWT, PSQI, and SF-36 compared with pre-treatment (P<0.01), while groups A and B both showed significant improvements in peakVO2, AT, 6MWT, PSQI, and SF-36 results compared with pre-treatment (P<0.01). Compared with group C, patients in groups A and B showed significant improvements in peakVO2, AT, 6MWT, PSQI, and SF-36 (P<0.01). In addition, patients in group A showed more significant improvements in physical function, role-physical, vitality, and mental health scores on the SF-36 questionnaire, and PSQI scores than those in group B (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training improved exercise tolerance, sleep quality and quality of life (QoL) in patients with HFpEF. Notably, Shexiang Baoxin Pill played an active role in sleep quality and QoL of patients with HFpEF. (The trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2100054322)).

Role of OXCT1 in ovine adipose and preadipocyte differentiation.

3-oxoacid CoA-transferase 1 (OXCT1) is a key enzyme in ketone body metabolism that is expressed in adipose and other tissues. The present study addressed the function of OXCT1 in adipose tissue from Tan sheep. The 1563 bp ovine OXCT1 coding sequence was cloned from ovine adipose tissue. The OXCT1 protein sequence was highly homologous to OXCT1 from other species. OXCT1 was highly expressed in kidney and at lower levels in small intestine, lung, spleen, heart, stomach, liver, tail adipose, and cartilage, but not in longissimus muscle. OXCT1 was expressed at higher levels in perirenal and tail adipose tissues than in subcutaneous adipose tissue. OXCT1 expression levels increased during the in vitro differentiation of adipocytes, but decreased dramatically at day 8. OXCT1 knockdown in ovine adipocytes promoted lipid accumulation, whereas overexpression did the converse. This study demonstrates that OXCT1 may play a role in adipogenesis and provides new insight on adipose deposition in sheep.

Liraglutide reduces lipid accumulation in steatotic L­02 cells by enhancing autophagy.

Simple hepatic steatosis is the early stage of non­alcoholic fatty liver disease and is recognized as a benign process. Previous studies show that glucagon­like peptide­1 has great potential in improving hepatic steatosis. Recent data have revealed that inhibiting autophagy exacerbates lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effects of liraglutide (LG) on simple hepatic steatosis and the possible role of autophagy. Firstly, steatotic L­02 cells were induced by incubating L­02 cells with 1 mmol/l free fatty acid (FFA) mixture (oleic acid and palmitic acid at a molar ratio of 2:1) for 24 h. Intracellular lipid accumulation, cell viability, oxidative stress and apoptosis were evaluated. Secondly, steatotic L­02 cells were treated with 10 or 100 nmol/l LG, 100 nmol/l LG plus 3­methyladenine (3­MA), or rapamycin for 24 h, and then lipid accumulation was measured. Next, the degree of lipid accumulation and the intensity of autophagy were assessed. Oil red O staining and triglyceride quantification demonstrated notable steatosis in L­02 cells following exposure to 1 mmol/l FFA mixture for 24 h. There was no significant cytotoxicity, oxidative stress or apoptosis in steatotic L­02 cells. Treatment with 100 nmol/l LG reduced lipid accumulation in steatotic L­02 cells and increased the mRNA levels of microtubule­associated protein 1 light chain 3B. Additionally, it enhanced the autophagic flux in steatotic L­02 cells, as measured by western blot analysis and shown by electron microscopy. Additionally, 3­MA weakened the ability of LG to improve hepatic steatosis and enhance autophagy. Our data indicate that LG reduces the lipid accumulation in steatotic L­02 cells, and the activation of autophagy plays a significant role in this process.

[Aging characteristics of copper and zinc added to typical soils of China].

The aging processes of copper and zinc in single and combined metal-contaminated typical soils of China, red soil, paddy soil and cinnamon soil, were studied. The results showed that available copper and zinc (metals extracted by 0.01 mol x L(-1) CaCl2 ) decreased rapidly at initial stages, and then reduced slowly, where the turning point occurred at about 90 d. The difference in aging of copper and zinc was insignificant whether in single metal-contaminated soils or in combined metal-contaminated soils, suggested there were similar chemical behaviors between copper and zinc. The aging processes of copper and zinc in red soil, paddy soil and cinnamon soil fitted best a second-order equation (R2 = 0.9940-0.9999, p < 0.0001), whereas parabolic diffusion equation has less goodness of fit. It indicated that the transformation from availability to unavailability of metals, i.e. aging, was not completely controlled by diffusion, but controlled by the interactions from surface nucleation/precipitation, occlusion by organic matter, and diffusion, etc. The aging of copper and zinc in soils was significantly affected by pH. In soils with low pH such as red soil, the ratio of available metals was higher and the aging rate was slower [constant of rate, k2 4.36x10(-3)-7.05x10(-3) kg x (mg x d)(-1)]; whereas in soils with high pH, for example in cinnamon soil, the ratio of available metals was lower and the aging rate was faster [k2 1.095x10(-2)-1.377x10(-2) kg x (mg x d)(-1)]. That is, the aging rate of metals in soils increased obviously with increasing pH.

[Effect of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) on serum leptin in the child of anorexia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effect of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) on serum leptin level in the child of anorexia, so as to reveal relation between changes of blood leptin level and anorexia of child. METHODS: Forty-two cases were randomly divided into 3 groups. The treatment group A (n = 15) were treated with acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10), once each week, 3 consecutive sessions constituting one course; the treatment group B (n = 15) were treated with acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10), once two weeks, 3 consecutive sessions constituting one course; the medication group (n = 12) were treated with oral administration of Lactein tablets, 1 - 2 tablets each time, 3 times each day, 4 weeks constituting one course. RESULTS: The effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group A and 93.3% in the treatment group B, which were higher than that in the medication group, with a very significant differences (P < 0.01); after treatment, the serum leptin levels in the 3 groups had very significant changes (P < 0.01); the improvement of serum leptin levels in the treatment group A and B were better than that in the medication group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) can promote secretion of serum leptin in the child of anorexia, and improve anorexia.

[Effects of acupuncture at "Sifeng" (EX-UE 10) on serum zinc and gastric emptying rate in the rat of experimental spleen deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the mechanism of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) for treatment of infant anorexia. METHODS: Healthy rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an acupuncture group. The model rats were made by intramuscular injection of Reserpine. The acupuncture group were treated with pricking at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) once daily for 2 weeks. After that, the gastric emptying rate and contents of Zn in the red cell and serum were observed in all the groups. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the gastric emptying rate was accelarated, and the serum Zn content was increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE 10) has significant therapeutic effect on the rat with spleen deficiency, accelerating the gastric emptying rate and increasing the serum Zn content.