[Study on mechanism of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata for treatment of osteoarthritis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking].

The mechanism of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata against osteoarthritis was investigated based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments in the present study. Osteoclast models were established via receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand(RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF) inducing RAW264.7 cells. Further, the influence of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata on the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) was evaluated and the efficacy of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata in the treatment of osteoarthritis was verified. The active components of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) and literature, and the potential targets of the components were collected from SwissTargetPrediction. Osteoarthritis disease targets were searched in Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM), Therapeutic Target Database(TTD), GeneCards, and DisGeNET. The intersection targets of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata and osteoarthritis were obtained by Venny platform. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.8.2, and key targets were obtained based on topology algorithm. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery(DAVID) was used to perform Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, the mRNA expression of the key targets was determined by RT-qPCR and the binding activity between the components and key targets was validated by molecular docking. The results showed that Rehmanniae Radix Prae-parata inhibited the TRAP activity, thus inhibiting bone resorption by osteoclasts and treating osteoarthritis. By network pharmacology, 14 active components of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata and 126 intersection targets were obtained. The network pharmacology enrichment results revealed 432 biological processes and 139 signaling pathways. Key targets such as proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src(SRC), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) and transcription factor p65(RELA) were obtained according to the degree in topological analysis. SRC was highly expressed in osteoclasts, which accelerated the development of osteoarthritis. Therefore, SRC was selected for subsequent verification, and Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata decreased the gene expression level of SRC. The molecular docking showed that acteoside, isoacteoside, raffinose had good bonding activity with SRC, suggesting that they might be the critical components in treating osteoarthritis. In conclusion, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata can inhibit bone resorption by osteoclasts and balance the metabolism of articular cartilage and subchondral bone via acting on SRC, thus playing a therapeutic role in osteoarthritis. In addition, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata may exert overall efficacy on osteoarthritis through other targets such as STAT3 and RELA, and other related pathways such as PI3 K-AKT and IL-17 signaling pathways.

Syndrome Differentiation of Chinese Medicine in Mars 500 Long-Term Closed Environment.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and elucidate the characteristics and evolvement of Chinese medicine (CM) patterns reflecting the physical and mental conditions of participants in the Mars 500 long-term closed environment. METHODS: The DS01-T Digital TCM Four-Diagnostic Instrument and CM Inquiring Diagnostic Questionnaire were used to collect information from 6 participants in the Mars 500 International Joint Research Project, through diagnostic methods of observation, palpation and inquiry according to CM theory. During the 520 days of the experiment, data collection was performed 37 times; a total of over 400 digital images of tongues and facial complexion and over 20,000 data were collected. These data were then analyzed by a team of experts in CM, statistics, and data mining. RESULTS: The CM pattern evolvement of participants in the long-term closed environment followed some common trends. Qi deficiency was the main CM pattern observed, with individual features depending on constitutional differences [manifested in varying degrees of accompanying patterns of Gan (Liver) qi stagnation, Pi (Spleen) deficiency, dampness encumbering, or yin deficiency]. CONCLUSION: The research has verified the effectiveness of CM syndrome differentiation based on the four diagnostic methods, which should serve as a solid foundation for observation, monitoring, and intervention in regard to the health conditions of astronauts in long-term space flights in the future.

Evaluation of the health status of six volunteers from the Mars 500 project using pulse analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively evaluate the health status of 6 volunteers from the Mars 500 Project through analyzing their pulse graphs and determining the changes in cardiovascular function, degree of fatigue and autonomic nervous function. METHODS: Six volunteers were recruited; all were male aged 26-38 years (average 31.83±4.96 years). Characteristic parameters reflflecting the status of cardiovascular functions were extracted, which included left ventricular contraction, vascular elasticity and peripheral resistance. The degree of fatigue was determined depending on the difference between the calendar age and biological age, which was calculated through the analysis of blood pressure value and characteristic parameters. Based on the values of pulse height variation and pulse time variation on a 30-s pulse graph, autonomic nervous function was evaluated. All parameters examined were marked on an equilateral polygon to form an irregular polygon of the actual fifigure, then health status was evaluated based on the coverage area of the actual fifigure. RESULTS: The results demonstrated: (1) volunteers developed weakened pulse power, increased vascular tension and peripheral resistance, and slight decreased ventricular systolic function; (2) the degree of fatigue was basically mild or moderate; and (3) autonomic nervous function was excited but generally balanced. CONCLUSIONS: These volunteers were in the state of sub-health. According to Chinese medicine theories, such symptoms are mainly caused by the weakening of healthy qi, Gan (Liver) failing in free coursing, and disharmony between Gan and Wei (Stomach), which manifests as a weak and string-like pulse.

Bone protection effects of a novel Chinese herbal formula, taikong yangxin prescription, in hindlimb unloaded rats against bone deterioration.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of a Chinese herbal formula, taikong yangxin prescription (TKYXP) against bone deterioration in a hindlimb unloaded (tail-suspension) rat model. METHODS: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: tail-suspension group fed with 2.5 g•kg(-1)•day(-1) of TKYXP extract (high dose), tail-suspension group fed with 1.25 g•kg(-1)•day(-1) (low dose), tail-suspended group treated with water placebo (placebo control group) and non tail-suspended group. The effects of TKYXP on bone were assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), microcomputerized tomography (micro-CT) and three-point bending biomechanical test on the femur in vivo. RESULTS: TKYXP had a significant protective effect against bone loss induced by tail-suspension on day 28, as shown in the reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) loss, preservation of bone micro-architecture and biomechanical strength. The administration ofhigh dose TKYXP could significantly reduce the total BMD loss by 4.8% and 8.0% at the femur and tibia regions, respectively, compared with the placebo control group (P<0.01) on day 28. Its bone protective effect on the femur was further substantiated by the increases of the trabecular BMD (by 6.6%), bone volume fraction (by 20.9%), trabecular number (by 9.5%) and thickness (by 11.9%) as compared with the placebo control group. CONCLUSION: TKYXP may protect the bone under weightless influence from gradual structural deterioration in the tail-suspension model.

Syndrome Differentiation Analysis on Mars500 Data of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Mars500 study was a psychological and physiological isolation experiment conducted by Russia, the European Space Agency, and China, in preparation for an unspecified future manned spaceflight to the planet Mars. Its intention was to yield valuable psychological and medical data on the effects of the planned long-term deep space mission. In this paper, we present data mining methods to mine medical data collected from the crew consisting of six spaceman volunteers. The synthesis of the four diagnostic methods of TCM, inspection, listening, inquiry, and palpation, is used in our syndrome differentiation. We adopt statistics method to describe the syndrome factor regular pattern of spaceman volunteers. Hybrid optimization based multilabel (HOML) is used as feature selection method and multilabel k-nearest neighbors (ML-KNN) is applied. According to the syndrome factor statistical result, we find that qi deficiency is a base syndrome pattern throughout the entire experiment process and, at the same time, there are different associated syndromes such as liver depression, spleen deficiency, dampness stagnancy, and yin deficiency, due to differences of individual situation. With feature selection, we screen out ten key factors which are essential to syndrome differentiation in TCM. The average precision of multilabel classification model reaches 80%.

Impact of 60 days of 6° head down bed rest on cardiopulmonary function, and the effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription as a countermeasure.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in cardiopulmonary function induced by mid/long-term simulated microgravity with 6° head down bed rest (HDBR), and the effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription (, TYP) as a countermeasure. METHODS: Fourteen healthy male volunteers were randomly divided into a control group and a Chinese medicine (CM) group (7 in each group) by a random digital table based on their body weight. Both groups underwent 6° HDBR for 60 days. Subjects in the CM group received daily TYP pills and subjects in the control group received daily placebo pills. Cardiac systolic and pumping functions were measured by echocardiography before HDBR; on days 20, 42, and 57 of HDBR; and on day 3 of recovery after HDBR (R+3). Cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity were evaluated before HDBR, on day 29, and on day R+3 by exercise testing. RESULTS: The heart rate (HR) increased gradually during HDBR. The HR was significantly higher on day 57 than before HDBR in the control group (P<0.05), but did not increase significantly in the CM group. The stroke volume/stroke volume index, ejection fraction, and left ventricular fractional shortening tended to decrease over time in the control group, but not in the CM group. These parameters were significantly higher in the CM group than in the control group on day 42 (P<0.05 or <0.01). Exercise testing showed that maximum O2 consumption (VO2max), metabolic equivalents, relative O2 consumption (VO2), O2 pulse, and exercise duration were significantly lower on day 29 than before HDBR in the control group, but not in the CM group. CONCLUSIONS: Sixty days of 6° HDBR induced a reduction in cardiac systolic and pumping functions, and reduced cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity. Administration of TYP significantly improved cardiac systolic and pumping functions, and maintained cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity.

Laser acupuncture and prevention of bone loss in tail-suspended rats.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal unloading during spaceflight results in bone loss. This study investigated whether laser acupuncture could be an effective countermeasure to prevent unloading-induced bone loss in rats. METHODS: There were 18 rats that were randomly assigned into three groups: a control group, a tail-suspended group (TS), and a tail-suspended with laser acupuncture treatment group (TSA). The rats in the TSA group were treated with laser acupuncture at the KI1 (Yong Quan) and ST36 (Zu San Li) acupoints of the left leg for 3 min per day. Bone mineral density (BMD), biomechanical properties, and histomorphometry of both tibiae were determined after the animals were euthanized at the end of week 4. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, BMD in the TS group significantly decreased by 12.3% in cortical bone and 15.1% in cancellous bone, whereas BMD in the TSA group decreased by only 3.1% in cortical bone and 9.0% in cancellous bone. The hardness of cortical bone dropped 44.1% in the TS group and 22.3% in the TSA group compared with the control group. The histomorphometry data were in accordance with BMD measurements. Although acupuncture treatment was applied only to the left side, we observed similar changes between the measurements of both the left and right tibiae. CONCLUSION: Laser acupuncture on KI1 and ST36 can inhibit bone loss in rats subjected to unloading. The fact that similar changes between the right and left sides when only the left limbs were treated suggests that the preventive effect of laser acupuncture occurs via a systemic regulation.

Chinese herbal medicine and cognitive and emotional functions during 60-day head-down bed rest.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to test the efficacy of an oral-intake Chinese herbal medicine in enhancing the cognitive and emotional functions of individuals in a simulated microgravity condition. The herbal medicine consisted of ingredients that may enhance cognitive and emotional functions in an extreme environment. METHODS: There were 14 healthy male subjects who were randomly assigned to a Chinese medicine (CMG) or a control (CG) group and underwent a 60-d 6 degree head-down bed-rest protocol. Testing was conducted before (Day -3), throughout (Days 3, 7, 20, 40, 57), and after (Days +3, +10) the bedrest protocol. The Arrow Test, Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART), Dual Task, and Affect Grid were administered on all testing days. RESULTS: The CMG demonstrated consistently higher scores on the BART (Days 20 to 40; Mean: CMG, 43.0 to 46.2 and CG, 30.2 to 25.5) and lower levels of arousal on the Affect Grid (Days 7 to 40; Mean: CMG, 6.9 to 6.7 and CG, 8.1 to 8.0) than did the CG. The CMG showed significantly higher performance on the Arrow Test (incompatible condition) at the beginning of the bed-rest period (Day 3 to 7; Mean: 799.5 ms and 763.1 ms, respectively) which was not observed in the CG. DISCUSSIONS: Results suggest that the Chinese herbal medicine may calm subjects' emotions by lowering the arousal level. At the same time, it may have produced positive effects in enhancing advantageous risk-taking and to a lesser extent self-regulatory behaviors (in the early phase).

Neural correlates of traditional Chinese medicine induced advantageous risk-taking decision making.

This fMRI study examined the neural correlates of the observed improvement in advantageous risk-taking behavior, as measured by the number of adjusted pumps in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), following a 60-day course of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recipe, specifically designed to regulate impulsiveness in order to modulate risk-taking behavior. The 14 participants recruited for this study were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups and the TCM recipe (Panax, 520 mg; Astragalus membranaceous Bunge, 520 mg; Masnetitum, 840 mg; Ostrea gigas Thumb, 470 mg; Thinleaf Milkwort Root Radix Polygalae, 450 mg; and Os Draconis, 470 mg) was administered, as a diet supplement, to the seven participants in the experimental group. The neural activity of the two groups was monitored by a 3T MRI scanner, before and after the 60-day treatment. Associated with the improved advantageous risk-taking behavior seen in the experimental group, significantly stronger blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) responses were observed in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), left putamen, left thalamus, right insula, and right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), regions which have previously been reported as being involved in risk-taking decision making. The effect of the TCM in improving advantageous risk-taking decision making appears to have been related to the enhanced efficiency of the cognitive affective system, the PFC-ACC-insula-striatum network, which functions to inhibit impulsiveness, to sensitize reward-related information, and to allow the opportunity, during risk estimation, to evaluate potential gains and losses. The findings of this study suggest that interventions acting on factors modulating risk-taking decision making could have a beneficial effect in terms of optimizing risk-taking behavior.

[Regulative effects of Chinese herb-compound on blood rheology and circulatory system of rabbits under simulated weightlessness].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of Chinese herb-compound on blood rheology and circulatory system of rabbits under simulated weightlessness in order to provide bases for protecting against the influence of simulated weightlessness on cardiovascular function. METHOD: Rabbits were exposed to head-down tilt (HDT -20 degrees) for 9 d to simulate weightlessness. The effect of Chinese herb-compound on indices related to blood rheology, blood-fat and orthostatic tolerance in these rabbits were examined. RESULT: After head-down tilt, hematocrit value and red blood cells deformability decreased significantly; cholesterol and low density lipoprotein increased markedly; plasma fibrinogen content and triglyceride showed increasing trend. Administration of the Chinese herb-compound didn't improve the blood rheology indices, but showed a trend to decrease triglyceride and to inhibit the increase of cholesterol. In the head-up tilt (HUT) plus lower body negative pressure (LBNP) experiment, orthostatic tolerance time of the rabbits in the control group decreased, and myocardial ischemic changes in ECG, such as dropped ST segment, inverse T wave, and arrhythmia were observed. While in the Chinese herb-compound group, the heart rate of the rabbits kept smooth, ischemic changes in ECG were not clear, and orthostatic tolerance time increased. CONCLUSION: The Chinese herb-compound shows an effect of preventing orthostatic tolerance from decreasing, and improves blood-fat metabolism. It regulates different human systems on the whole, and increases ability of adaptation to ill environment.

Effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property so as to investigate its mechanism in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. METHOD: The effects of L.F04 (used for treatment for 10 days in different dosages) on deformability, aggregation and membrane liquidity of erythrocytes (MLE) as well as whole blood apparent viscosity (eta(b)) were examined on the basis of rat model of blood-stasis syndrome induced by venous injection of high molecular weight dextran. RESULT: As compared with the normal control group, the model group's RBC deformability and MLE were lower, and the aggregation of erythrocytes and eta(b) were higher. Compared with the model group, both L.F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg showed significant effect in improving deformability and inhibiting aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) and reducing blood viscosity. The trend of improving MLE was also shown. CONCLUSION: L.F04 could significantly improve the abnormal rheological property of erythrocytes.

Effects of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus L. F04 on platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus (L. F04) on platelet aggregation and thrombus formation so as to investigate its mechanism of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. METHOD: The effects of Lycopus lucidus L. F04 on platelet aggregation induced by ADP in vivo, and thrombosis of artery-vein by-pass and thrombus formed in circuitous loop in vitro were examined using the blood stasis animal model of rats made by injecting high molecular weight dextran (HMWD). RESULT: The increase of maximum platelet aggregation rate induced by ADP in vivo in HMWD model was evidently inhibited with 0.408 g/kg or 0.204 g/kg or L. F04, and the effect showed a trend of concentration-dependence. As compared with the control, the thrombus weight in rat model of blood stasis increased clearly and its length showed only a trend of increase. Both 0.408 g/kg and 0.204 g/kg of L. F04 had the effect of resisting the thrombus formation, while 0.408 g/kg showed better effects of reducing the thrombus dry weight and wet weight. Both 0.408 g/kg and 0.204 g/kg of L. F04 could inhibit the thrombosis in artery-vein by-pass; the inhibition rates were 27.41% and 27.14% respectively. CONCLUSION: Lycopus lucidus L. F04 could significantly inhibit platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.

[Effects of Chinese herb compound on myocardial SDH, ATP-ase and energy reserves in tail-suspended rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of Chinese herb compound on myocardial SDH, ATP-ase and energy reserves in tail-suspended rats. METHOD: Male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 each): (A) normal control group; (B) tail-suspended group; (C) tail-suspended + Chinese Medical herb compound group. Rats in group B and C were tail-suspended (-30 degrees) for 5 d to simulate weightlessness. All rats B were decapitated after the experiment. Myocardial SDH (method of Anderson N-BT), ATP-ase (method of Wachstein and Meisel) and energy reserves (method of HPLC) were examined. RESULT: Compared with rats in groups A and C, SDH activity increased, SDH staining deepened, value of OD SDH enhanced, ATP-ase activity and OD value increased and enhanced significantly (P<0.01) but value of myocardial energy reserves decreased in group B rats. CONCLUSION: Tail-suspension strengthens compensatory oxidation metabolism of cardiac muscle and activates SDH and ATP-ase, at the same time decrease, myocardial energy reserves. Normal are maintained the low level of metabolism by the medical herb compound used which shows a protecting effects through mitigation, tranguilization and replenishment of Qi.

[Effects of Qiang Gu Kang Wei prescription on morphology of bone in rats under simulated weightlessness].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of Qiang Gu Kang Wei prescription on bone morphology in tail-suspended rats. METHOD: Rats were tail-suspended (-30 degrees) for 21 d to simulate weightlessness. The effects of this prescription on thickness of periost and cortex at epiphyseal plate of tibial shaft and 3 mm under it were examined. The effects of this prescription on histology and ultrastructure of tibia were also observed. RESULT: Compared with the normal control, cortex at both epiphyseal plate of tibial shaft and 3 mm under it in suspended rats thinned significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Histological observation showed that in bone of suspended rats, uncalcific matrix was more, bone cells' number was lower and their appearance was more infantile, osteoblasts were less and smaller, while osteoclasts were more and larger, haversian system of transection also showed more irregular than in bone of normal control. Ultrastructure observation showed that the function of osteoblasts was inhabited and that of osteoclasts was active. All the three doses groups of the prescription could increase cortex at either epiphyseal plate of tibial shaft or 3 mm under it (P<0.01 or P<0.05) compared with the tail-suspended group. The appearance of bone in the three groups was improved as well under optical or electron microscope. CONCLUSION: This prescription could improve abnormal change in bone morphology resulted from being tail-suspended in rats and make it normal.

[Preliminary (correction of Priliminary) study on effects of "planning treatment according to diagnosis" on physiological changes during simulated weightlessness].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of the planning treatment according to diagnosis on body syndromes caused by simulated weightlessness. METHOD: Ten subjects underwent HDT -6 degrees for 14 d were randomly divided into the traditional Chinese Medicine group (ME) and control group (CON). Differentiation of syndromes were made and parameters related to the differentiation syndromes, including plasma cortisone, blood viscosity, red cell deformation, excretion rate of urine xylose, and amount of urine were surveyed simultaneously. RESULT: Both differentiation of syndromes and the physiological parameters in group ME could be maintained at the pre-bed rest levels or changed only slightly. CONCLUSION: The Chinese herb compound had an adjusting effect on deficiency of kidney-Yin, blood stasis, insufficiency of spleen-Qi and changes of related physiological parameters caused by 14 d bed rest simulated weightlessness, among which the effect on deficiency of kidney-yin and blood stasis were more distinct.

[Effects of "Qiang Gu Kang Wei" compound prescription on biochemical indices of bone and related organs in rats under simulated weightlessness].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of "Qiang Gu Kang Wei" prescription on biochemical indices of bone and related organs in tail-suspended rats. METHOD: Rats were tail-suspended (-30 degrees) for 21 d to simulate weightlessness. The effect of this prescription on biochemical indices such as Ca, P in serum, osteocalcin (BGP) in serum and bone, oxyproline hydroxyproline (Hyp) in bone, alkaliphosphatase (ALP) in serum, small intestine and bone in these rats were examined. RESULT: Comparing with the normal control, serum Ca decreased significantly (P<0.05) while serum P showed only a trend to decrease, at the same time BGP dropped in both serum and bone (P<0.05) and Hyp dropped only in bone (P<0.05). There was significant decrease of ALP activity in serum, small intestine and bone (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in suspended rats. The prescription showed different effects with different doses. In all the three dose groups (30 g/kg, 20 g/kg, 10 g/kg) Ca and P in serum levels increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), BGP in serum and bone improved (P<0.05) or showed only a trend to increase. ALP activity increased in serum, small intestine and bone (P<0.05). Increase of Hyp in bone was found in the middle and the small dose groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This prescription shows an effect of improving biochemical indices in bone and related organs such as serum and small intestine in tail-suspended rats. But no distinct concentration-dependence was found.

[Effects of "Qiang Gu Kang Wei" compound prescription on bone metabolism in rats under simulated weightlessness].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of "Qiang Gu Kang Wei" prescription on bone metabolism in simulated weightless rats. METHOD: Male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: 1) free active control (FAC); 2) tail-suspended control (TS); 3) tail-suspended and treated with large dose of the prescription (TS + L) (30 g/kg); 4) tail-suspended and treated with middle dose of the prescription (TS + M) (20 g/kg); 5) tail suspended and treated with small dose of the prescription (TS + S) (10 g/kg). The experiment lasted 3 weeks. The effect of the prescription on bone biomechanical properties, bone density, bone mineral contents, and bone biochemical markers of bone metabolism were examined. RESULT: Bone biomechanical properties, bone density, total and bound bone gla protein (BGP) of serum all increased significantly in three groups treated with the prescription. CONCLUSION: "Qiang Gu Kang Wei" prescription prevents bone loss, hence maintains bone density and bone biomechanical properties under simulated weightlessness.

[Effects of Qiang Gu Kang Wei compound on hemorheology in tail-suspended rats].

Objective. To investigate the effects of Qiang Gu Kang Wei compound on hemorheology in tail-suspended rats. Method. Rats were tail-suspended (-30 degrees) for 21 d to simulate weightlessness. The effect of the compound on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hematocrit value (HCT), plasma fibrinogen content (PFC), blood viscosity, red blood cells deformability and erythrocytes aggregation were examined. Result. PFC, whole blood reducing viscosity (eta h), whole blood viscosity (eta b), erythrocyte rigid index (IR) and maximum aggregation index (MAXD) increased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05 ) and maximum deformity index (DImax) (P<0.01) decreased significantly in suspended rats as compared with the normal control. Different doses of the compound showed different effects. The small dose group (10 g/kg) inhabited eta h and eta b (P<0.01 or P<0.05) of all shear rates, abnormal IR and MAXD (P<0.01); The middle dose group (20 g/kg) decreased PFC (P<0.01); The big dose group (30 g/kg) inhabited eta h and eta b (P<0.01 or P<0.05) of high shear rates, decreased IR (P<0.01), and improved DImax (P<0.01). Conclusion. This compound could improve hemorheology in tail-suspended rats. But there was no concentration-dependence.

[Effects of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus L. F04 on erythrocyte rheology [correction of erythrocyterheology]].

Objective. To study the effects of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus (L. F04) on erythrocyte rheology so as to investigate its mechanism of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Method. The effects of L. F04 on erythrocytes deformability, aggregation, liquidity of membrane were examined in the present study and the blood stasis animal model of rats made by injecting high molecular weight dextran (HMWD) was used. Result. HMWD injection decreased red blood cells deformability (P<0.05) and liquidity of membrane (P<0.01) and increased erythrocytes aggregation (P<005). Compared with the model, both L. F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg improved red blood cells deformability (P<0.05), inhibited erythrocytes aggregation (P<0.05), and showed the trend of improving liquidity of membrane. But there was no concentration-dependence. Conclusion. L. F04 can significantly improve the deviant erythrocyte rheology characteristics.