In vitro Antioxidant, Cytotoxic and Antidiabetic Activities of Protein Hydrolysates Prepared from Chinese Pond Turtle (Chinemys reevesii).

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are the biggest causes of death globally. Bioactive peptides derived from many food proteins using enzymatic proteolysis and food processing have a positive impact on the prevention of these diseases. The bioactivity of Chinese pond turtle muscle proteins and their enzymatic hydrolysates has not received much attention, thus this study aims to investigate their antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Chinese pond turtle muscles were hydrolysed using four proteolytic enzymes (Alcalase, Flavourzyme, trypsin and bromelain) and the degrees of hydrolysis were measured. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was conducted to explore the amino acid profiles and molecular mass distribution of the hydrolysates. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using various in vitro tests, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, reducing capacity, chelating Fe2+ and lipid peroxide inhibition activity. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated using α-amylase inhibition and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Besides, cytotoxic effect of hydrolysates on human colon cancer (HT-29) cells was assessed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The amino acid composition of the hydrolysates revealed higher mass fractions of glutamic, aspartic, lysine, hydroxyproline and hydrophobic amino acids. Significantly highest inhibition of lipid peroxidation was achieved when hydrolysate obtained with Alcalase was used. Protein hydrolysate produced with Flavourzyme had the highest radical scavenging activity measured by DPPH (68.32%), ABTS (74.12%) and FRAP (A 700 nm=0.300) assays, α-glucosidase (61.80%) inhibition and cytotoxic effect (82.26%) on HT-29 cell line at 550 µg/mL. Hydrolysates obtained with trypsin and bromelain had significantly highest (p<0.05) hydroxyl radical scavenging (92.70%) and Fe2+ metal chelating (63.29%) activities, respectively. The highest α-amylase (76.89%) inhibition was recorded when using hydrolysates obtained with bromelain and Flavourzyme. NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: Enzymatic hydrolysates of Chinese pond turtle muscle protein had high antioxidant, cytotoxic and antidiabetic activities. The findings of this study indicated that the bioactive hydrolysates or peptides from Chinese pond turtle muscle protein can be potential ingredients in pharmaceuticals and functional food formulations.

Effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type and the concentrations of plasma NPY and UII in the patients treated with the modified acupuncture at unilateral/bilateral Renying (ST 9) / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) between the modified acupuncture and the routine acupuncture at unilateral/bilateral Renying (ST 9) as well as the impacts on the concentrations of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and urotensinⅡ(UⅡ) in the patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 160 patients were divided into a modified bilateral acupuncture group, a modified unilateral acupuncture group, a routine bilateral acupuncture group and a routine unilateral acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one according to the random number table. In the modified bilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the modified unilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine bilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine unilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). The treatment was given once every day, continuously for 6 days as one course. Two courses of treatment were required at the interval of 1 day. In each group, before and after treatment, we observed the peak systolic blood flow velocity (Vs) of the vertebral artery (VA) and the basilar artery (BA), cervical vertigo symptoms and functional assessment scales (ESCV) and the concentration of plasma NPY and UⅡ. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was 90.0% (36/40), which was better than 80.0% (32/40) in the modified unilateral acupuncture group, 77.5% (35/40) in the routine bilateral acupuncture group and 65.0% (26/40) in the routine unilateral acupuncture group (all <0.05). After treatment, Vs of VA and BA was improved remarkably in every group (all <0.01), and the result in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was higher than those in the other groups (all <0.01). After treatment, ESCV scores were all increased remarkably in every group (all <0.01). ESCV score and improvement index in the modified bilateral acupuncture group were all higher than those in the other groups (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the concentrations of plasma NPY and UⅡ were all reduced remarkably in every group (all <0.01) and the differences were significant among the groups (all <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The modified bilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) effectively regulates the blood supply of the vertebral basilar artery and improves the cerebral circulation. The effects are superior to those of the unilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9).</p>

Effects of motor imagery therapy combined with scalp acupuncture on balance and walking abilities in hemiplegic stroke survivors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of motor imagery therapy combined with scalp acupuncture on balance and walking abilities in hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods A total of 120 patients with post-stroke hemiparesis were randomly divided into 3 groups,each of 40 cases.All patients were given basic medication and conventional rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the motor imagery group accepted motor imagery therapy,the scalp acupuncture group received scalp acupuncture,and the treatment group was provided with the above both for 6 weeks.The 10 m maximum walking speed (10 m MWS),Berg balance scale (BBS),functional ambulation classification (FAC) and timed up and go test (TUGT) were conducted to evaluate balance and gait abilities before and after the intervention.Results There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in any of the assessments (P ＞ 0.05) before intervention (P ＞ 0.05).After six weeks' intervention,all measurements of the 3 groups were significantly better than those before that (P ＜ 0.05),and the effects of the treatment group were significantly better than those of the other 2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Motor imagery therapy combined with scalp acupuncture can distinctly improve the balance and walking abilities in hemiplegic stroke survivors,superior to the effect of solely motor imagery therapy or scalp acupuncture.

Motor imagery therapy supplemented with scalp acupuncture for improving lower limb motor function after stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of motor imagery therapy supplemented with scalp acupuncture for improving the lower limb motor function of stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods A total of 120 hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group with 60 patients in each.All were given routine medical care and scalp acupuncture (stimulating the posterior and anterior oblique line of the parietal-temporal lobe contralateral to the hemiplegic limb).The treatment was given daily for 3 weeks as one session,and 2 sessions were administered to both groups.The experimental group was given motor imagery therapy in addition.Each treatment took about 25 min every day for 3 weeks as one session,and again 2 consecutive sessions were administered.The temporal and spatial gait parameters (10m maximum walking speed,stride length and cadence) of all of the patients were assessed,the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-L) was conducted and functional ambulation classifications (FACs) were assigned before therapy and at the end of the 6 weeks.Results After 6 weeks of treatment,all of the measures had improved significantly for both groups.The experimental group,however,had improved significantly more than the control group.Conclusion Motor imagery therapy can supplement scalp acupuncture to improve lower limb motor function in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Therapeutic effects of scalp-acupuncture in patients with vascular dementia induced by cerebral infarction: a randomized controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of scalp-acupuncture on intelligence in patients with vascular dementia (VaD). METHODS: A total of 108 VaD patients were randomly divided into two groups: scalp-acupuncture group and Western medicine group. The scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Blesse Dementia Scale (BDS), Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS), Abilities of Daily Life (ADL) before and after treatment in the two groups were detected. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients completed the treatment. The scores of MMSE, BDS and HDS in the two groups were significantly increased, and the ADL scores significantly declined (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Scalp-acupuncture therapy could improve the clinical intelligence level of VaD patients.