耐力训练过程中大鼠体内糖储备及胰岛激素变化与黄芪、生脉穴位注射的干预效应

目的:穴位注射疗法在临床应用较多,但在运动医学领域研究不多。观察穴位注射黄芪、生脉对耐力训练大鼠糖储备和运动能力的影响。方法:实验于2004-07在陕西师范大学完成。①实验分组:健康雄性SD大鼠32只,体质量180～220g,随机抽签法分为安静对照组、训练对照组、生理盐水组、药物注射组,每组8只。②实验方法:建立穴位注射黄芪、生脉大鼠的耐力跑台训练实验模型,安静对照组安静笼饲养。训练对照组、生理盐水组、药物注射组先于动物跑台上进行5周适应性训练,之后跑速每周递增,5d/周,共5周;然后进行2周的大强度耐力训练,30min/d,7d/周,共2周。训练对照组、生理盐水组、药物注射组第8周第1天以速度为35m/min运动至力竭。③实验评估:7周后取材测定肝糖原、肌糖原、血清胰岛素、胰高血糖素的变化。实验中对动物处置符合动物伦理学标准。结果:纳入大鼠32只,均进入结果分析。①通过大强度耐力训练,药物注射组与其他3组相比,肝糖原含量均升高(P<0.05);训练对照组肌糖原比安静对照组降低(P<0.05),生理盐水组与训练对照组相比则显著性升高(P<0.01)。②训练对照组胰岛素比安静对照组明显降低(P<0.01);生理盐水组及药物注射组都能抑制这种降低的趋势(P<0.01);药物注射组胰高血糖素较安静对照组、训练对照组要高,且有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论:穴位注射黄芪、生脉使大强度耐力训练大鼠体内糖储备显著增加,同时可以提高胰岛激素水平,从而提高了大鼠的运动能力。     

Flavocoxid,a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase,blunts pro-inflammatory phenotype activation in endotoxin-stimulated macrophages

Background and purpose:

The flavonoids, baicalin and catechin, from Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu, respectively, have been used for various clinical applications. Flavocoxid is a mixed extract containing baicalin and catechin, and acts as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes. The anti-inflammatory activity, measured by protein and gene expression of inflammatory markers, of flavocoxid in rat peritoneal macrophages stimulated with Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated.

Experimental approach:

LPS-stimulated (1 µg·mL⁻¹) peritoneal rat macrophages were co-incubated with different concentrations of flavocoxid (32–128 µg·mL⁻¹) or RPMI medium for different incubation times. Inducible COX-2, 5-LOX, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and inhibitory protein κB-α (IκB-α) levels were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) binding activity was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene and protein expression were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. Finally, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels in macrophage supernatants were evaluated.

Key results:

LPS stimulation induced a pro-inflammatory phenotype in rat peritoneal macrophages. Flavocoxid (128 µg·mL⁻¹) significantly inhibited COX-2 (LPS = 18 ± 2.1; flavocoxid = 3.8 ± 0.9 integrated intensity), 5-LOX (LPS = 20 ± 3.8; flavocoxid = 3.1 ± 0.8 integrated intensity) and iNOS expression (LPS = 15 ± 1.1; flavocoxid = 4.1 ± 0.4 integrated intensity), but did not modify COX-1 expression. PGE₂ and LTB₄ levels in culture supernatants were consequently decreased. Flavocoxid also prevented the loss of IκB-α protein (LPS = 1.9 ± 0.2; flavocoxid = 7.2 ± 1.6 integrated intensity), blunted increased NF-κB binding activity (LPS = 9.2 ± 2; flavocoxid = 2.4 ± 0.7 integrated intensity) and the enhanced TNF-α mRNA levels (LPS = 8 ± 0.9; flavocoxid = 1.9 ± 0.8 n-fold/β-actin) induced by LPS. Finally, flavocoxid decreased MDA, TNF and nitrite levels from LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Conclusion and implications:

Flavocoxid might be useful as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, acting at the level of gene and protein expression.     

Streamlined flow in the portal vein: demonstration with MR angiography

PURPOSE: To demonstrate whether streamlining of the portal vein flow exists by evaluating the relative distribution of blood flowing from the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and splenic vein (SV) into the portal venous system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy adult volunteers underwent MR angiography of the main portal vein (PV) and portal vein branches after an overnight fast. Transverse two dimension time-of-flight gradient echo sequences were obtained three times, in suspended expiration and inspiration, respectively, as follows: 1) No presaturation slab, 2) presaturation slab across the SMV, 3) presaturation slab across the SV. Signal intensity (SI) measurements were obtained for all acquisitions. using regions of interest traced manually within the PV and portal branches. RESULTS: After presaturation of the SMV and SV during expiration, the overall SI average in the PV decreased by 47% +/- 8 (mean +/- SD) and 17% +/- 9, respectively. Right to left portal branch SI ratio and right-anterior to left-posterior SI ratio in the PV were 0.91 +/- 0.09 and 1.02 +/- 0.08 at baseline, respectively. They decreased significantly (P < 0.05) to 0.87 +/- 0.09 and to 0.95 +/- 0.09 after saturation of the SMV, and increased significantly to 0.95 +/- 0.08 and to 1.07 +/- 0.10 after saturation of the SV. CONCLUSION: MR angiography with selective saturation of the SMV and SV provided reproducible assessment of the respective contributions of the SMV and SV to portal flow, and allows demonstration that streamlining of splanchnic blood occurs in the portal vein of normal subjects.     

Role of negative pressure wound therapy in total hip and knee arthroplasty

Negative-pressure wound therapy(NPWT) has been a successful modality of wound management which is in widespread use in several surgical fields. The main mechanisms of action thought to play a role in enhancing wound healing and preventing surgical site infection are macrodeformation and microdeformation of the wound bed, fluid removal, and stabilization of the wound environment. Due to the devastating consequences of infection in the setting of joint arthroplasty, there has been some interest in the use of NPWT following total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty. However, there is still a scarcity of data reporting on the use of NPWT within this field and most studies are limited by small sample sizes, high variability of clinical settings and end-points. There is little evidence to support the use of NPWT as an adjunctive treatment for surgical wound drainage, and for this reason surgical intervention should not be delayed when indicated. The prophylactic use of NPWT after arthroplasty in patients that are at high risk for postoperative wound drainage appears to have the strongest clinical evidence. Several clinical trialsincluding single-use NPWT devices for this purpose are currently in progress and this may soon be incorporated in clinical guidelines as a mean to prevent periprosthetic joint infections.     

Morphological survey of a new pericardial valve prosthesis (Pericarbon): long-term animal experimental model

A long-term experimental morphological study was carried out in 22 adult sheep to evaluate a new pericardial valve prosthesis (Pericarbon), which had been implanted in the tricuspid or mitral position. This prosthetic device differs substantially from others in that its construction design consists of two sheets of glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium and a low-profile flexible plastic stent (Delrin) covered by a pyrolytic carbon coated dacron fabric; one pericardium sheet forms the three cusp valve and is sutured to the second, which lines the inner surface of the plastic stent. Twenty animals were sacrificed at fixed intervals, while 2 are still living at about 3 years post-surgery. Tricuspid explants (mean duration, 295 days) showed significant fibrous sheathing and a mean calcium X-ray score of 1.75. Mitral medium-term explants (mean duration, 325 days) had fairly well preserved pliability and a mean calcium X-ray score of 2.5. Long-term explants (mean duration, 467 days) were all stiffened by calcification (mean score, 3.75). None of the explants had tears or perforations. Medium or long-term mechanical failure was not observed. A significant host tissue reaction took place in the tricuspid but not in the mitral position. Calcification mainly involved the collagen fibres and increased progressively with time. Ultrastructural studies invariably disclosed fair preservation of graft tissue structures, surface reendothelization and initial nuclei of calcification within the collagen fibres. These morphological findings confirm the potential advantages of this new prosthetic device and warrant long-term clinical trials to test its actual durability.