Regular Tai Chi Chuan exercise improves T cell helper function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an increase in T-bet transcription factor and IL-12 production.

BACKGROUND: Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM); its benefit to immune function, however, remains to be determined. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of a 12-week course of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise on T cell helper (Th) reaction in patients with type 2 DM. METHODS: A case-control study was performed in 30 pairs of patients with type 2 DM and normal age-matched adults. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, mediators (interleukin (IL)-12, IL-4 and transforming growth factor (TGF)beta) and transcription factors (T-bet, GATA-3 and FoxP3) of Th1/Th2/T regulatory (Treg) reaction were measured before and after a 12-week TCC exercise programme. RESULTS: Fasting glucose and HbA1c levels in the patients with type 2 DM were significantly higher than in age-matched controls before exercise. After TCC exercise, HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 DM significantly decreased (7.59 (0.32)% vs 7.16 (0.22)%; p = 0.047) and blood levels of IL-12 increased significantly (5.96 (1.10) vs 12.96 (3.07); p = 0.035). To study the molecular Th1/Th2/Treg reaction, patients with type 2 DM were found to have lower T-bet but not GATA-3 or FoxP3 expression than normal controls before TCC exercise. After the 12-week TCC exercise T-bet expression significantly increased in patients with type 2 DM. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week TCC exercise programme decreases HbA1c levels along with an increase in the Th1 reaction. A combination of TCC with medication may provide an even better improvement in both metabolism and immunity of patients with type 2 DM.

[Effect of electro-acupuncture on the segment length of the myocardium and the left intraventricular pressure-length vector loop during experimental acute myocardial ischemic damage].

In order to explore the effect of electroacupuncture on myocardial contractibility in the ischemic area, a medical Silicon tube with Saturated Copper Sulfate was used as length gauge and set at 5mm below the ligated marginalis and paralleled with blood vessel. The signals of the length and the pumping function were transmitted into the polygraph and the signals of the left intraventricular pressure (LVP) and the segment length (L) were conveyed into the oscilloscope to display the LVP-L vector loop. Electroacupuncture was applied bilaterally on Neiguan points with electrical impulses of strength 5 volts. The coronary artery was ligated for 20 min and then loosened. electro-acupuncture was performed and lasted 20 min. Imbedded the needle for 30 min, then ligated at the original position and never loosened again; 15 min later, the electroacupuncture was performed for the second time, lasting 20 min, then the needle was with drawn and observed for 15 min. The Epicardial ECG was used as the standard to judge the degree of the myocardial ischemic injury. A comparison was made between the parameters determined 15 min after ligation and all the procedures after electroacupuncture. There were 15 dogs in the electroacupuncture group and 15 in the control group. 1. The mean amplitude of segment length of the myocardium was 23 mm before ligation. 15 min after ligation, it slightly decreased in the electroacupuncture group while slightly increased in the control group. There was no obvious difference in the duration of the amplitude between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)