Investigation of Zinc on hemorheological parameters in a rat model of diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex, chronic metabolic disorder characterized by impaired regulation of blood glucose levels. Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace elements that plays a role in various physiological processes within the body, including those related to diabetes. The current study was investigated the effect of Zn supplementation on hemorheological parameters in a rat model of DM. After induction of DM, 32 male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: control, Zn, DM, and Zn+DM. Whole blood viscosity (WBV) was determined by using digital cone and plate viscometer and plasma viscosity (PV) was determined by a Coulter Harkness capillary viscometer. The rats in the DM Group showed a decrease in both Zn levels and body weight, as well as an increase in glucose levels when compared to the control group. Diabetic rats supplemented with Zn displayed lower blood glucose levels and higher concentrations of Zn compared to the DM Group. The higher PV and lower hematocrit level were measured in DM Group than control group and lower PV, higher hematocrit level were measured in Zn+DM group than DM Group. The WBV was measured at four different shear rates (57.6-115.2 - 172.8-230.4 s -1). A statistically significant increase was observed in the DM group compared to the control group. Additionally, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the Zn+DM Group compared to the DM Group at a shear rate of 230.4 s-1. Erythrocyte rigidity index (Tk) and oxygen delivery index (ODI) were computed under conditions of high shear rate. The rats in the DM group exhibited a reduction in ODI and an elevation in Tk in comparison to the control group. Conversely, the diabetic rats supplemented with Zn exhibited decreased Tk and increased ODI compared to the DM Group. Zn supplementation seems to have a potential beneficial effect for protecting adverse affect of diabetes on hemorheogical parameters and for maintaining vascular health.

Improvement and Application of Acute Blood Stasis Rat Model Aligned with the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement and Replacement) of Humane Animal Experimentation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a novel cardiocentesis method for withdrawing venous blood from the right atrium, and to improve an acute blood stasis rat model using an ice bath and epinephrine hydrochloride (Epi) while considering the 3Rs (reduction, refinement, and replacement) of humane animal experimentation. METHODS: An acute blood stasis model was established in male Sprague-Dawley rats by subcutaneous injection (s.c.) Epi (1.2 mg/kg) administration at 0 h, followed by a 5-min exposure to an ice-bath at 2 h and s.c. Epi administration at 4 h. Control rats received physiological saline. Rats were fasted overnight and treated with Angelicae Sinensis Lateralis Radix (ASLR) and Pheretima the following day. Venous blood was collected using our novel cardiocentesis method and used to test whole blood viscosity (WBV), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and fibrinogen (FIB) content. RESULTS: The rats survived the novel cardiocentesis technique; WBV value returned to normal while hematological parameters such as hemoglobin level and red blood cell count were restored to >94% of the corresponding values in normal rats following a 14-day recovery. Epi (1.2 mg/kg, s.c.) combined with a 5-min exposure to the ice bath replicated the acute blood stasis rat model and was associated with the highest WBV value. In rats showing acute blood stasis, ASLR treatment [4 g/(kg·d) for 8 days] decreased WBV by 9.98%, 11.09%, 9.34%, 9.00%, 7.66%, and 7.03% (P<0.05), while Pheretima treatment [2.6 g/(kg·d), for 8 days] decreased WBV by 25.49%, 25.94%, 16.28%, 17.76%, 11.07%, and 7.89% (P<0.01) at shear rates of 1, 3, 10, 30, 100, and 180 s-1, respectively. Furthermore, Pheretima treatment increased APTT significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We presented a stable, reproducible, and improved acute blood stasis rat model, which could be applied to screen drugs for promoting blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis.

Study on spectrum-effect relationship among effects of different extracts of Crataegi Folium on whole blood viscosity in rats / 中草药

Objective: To study the correlation between the fingerprints of different extracts of Crataegi Folium and reducing the blood viscosity of blood stasis rats, and to provide a theoretical basis and data support for the establishment of the quality control model of traditional Chinese medicine, which is "Fingerprints are associated with efficacy". Methods: Fingerprints of different extracts of Crataegi Folium were established by high performance liquid phase method. The multivariate linear regression equation of common peak X and whole blood viscosity Y was calculated by stepwise regression analysis of MATLAB software. Results: There were 32 common peaks in the fingerprints, X9, X10, X11, X13, X14, X15, X17, X19, X27, and X29 related to the whole blood viscosity Y compose functional composition groups. X10, X11, X13, X19, X29 negatively correlated with Y, which may be active monomer components, among which X14 is vitexin glucoside, X17 is Vitexin, and X19 is rutin. Conclusion: The multiple regression equation calculated by MATLAB statistical software in this study has significance in statistics, which can provide a scientific basis for further study of the active components of Crataegi Folium extract.

Clinical Study on Electronic Moxibustion in Treating Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electronic moxibustion in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to liver-kidney deficiency. Method Ninety patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to liver-kidney deficiency were randomized into a treatment group of 44 cases and a control group of 46 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint therapy by warm electronic moxibustion, while the control group was intervened by foot bath with Chinese medication. For both groups, 10 treatment sessions were taken as a course of treatment, for 3 courses in total. Before and after the treatment, the whole blood viscosity, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) were evaluated in the two groups. Result The whole blood viscosity indexes, blood lipids levels, FBG level and GHb level didn't show significant differences after the treatment in the two groups (P>0.05). The intra-group and inter-group comparisons of MNSI score showed significant differences after the treatment (P<0.01); there was a between-group difference in the change of MNSI score after the treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion Electronic moxibustion is an effective approach in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Hemorheological effects of secoisolariciresinol in ovariectomized rats.

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal women often develop hemorheological disorders which may affect the systemic blood circulation and present a cardiovascular risk factor. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated effects of secoisolariciresinol (SECO), a phytoestrogen, on hemorheological parameters and lipid peroxidation in a model of the age-related and/or surgical menopause induced by ovariectomy in rats. METHODS: Arterial blood was sampled from sham-operated female rats, ovariectomized rats (OVX), and OVX treated with SECO (OVXSECO) (20 mg/kg/day intragastrically for two weeks). Plasma estrogen concentration and the following hemorheological parameters were measured: RBC aggregation (half-time of aggregation, T1/2; amplitude of aggregation, AMP; aggregation index, AI), RBC deformability (elongation index, EI), whole blood viscosity at the shear rate of 3-300 s-1, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, plasma fibrinogen. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring conjugated dienes (CD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in plasma. RESULTS: Ovariectomy in rats caused a 60% decrease in plasma estrogen level and triggered the development of macro- and microhemorheological abnormalities. Blood viscosity increased by 12-31%, RBC elongation index reduced by 16-28%, and T1/2 and AI increased by 35% and 29% respectively. The increase in blood viscosity correlated predominantly with reduced RBC deformability. Plasma CD and TBARS were elevated by 47% and 104% respectively. SECO therapy for OVX rats reduced blood viscosity by 9-18% and T1/2 by 32%, and increased EI by 4-17%. SECO therapy disrupted the correlation between blood viscosity and RBC deformability. Lipid peroxidation was significantly inhibited, as shown by the reduction in CD and TBARS plasma concentrations by 89% and 70% respectively. SECO did not affect plasma viscosity, estrogen or fibrinogen levels. CONCLUSIONS: SECO treatment for OVX rats improves blood macro- and microrheological parameters, possibly through antioxidant protection of RBC.

Management of stress and stress-related diseases: Emerging computer-based technologies and the rationale for clinical laboratory assessment.

BACKGROUND: Over the years, the issue of stress management in mental health has been discussed without reference to the clinical laboratory perspectives. Translational research and the vast array of emerging diagnostic technologies in alternative medical practice are now bridging the gap. While it would be scientific arrogance for the clinical practitioner and scientist to ignore the trend, the new technologies seeking clinical acceptability necessarily require expatiation of the scientific aspects of their products. AIMS: This commentary builds on a comparative critical review to further our hypothesis that oxidative stress is the biochemical basis of the emerging computer-based diagnostic technologies. MATERIALS #ENTITYSTARTX00026; METHOD: The available information on Computer Meridian Diagnostics, Neuropattern and Virtual Scanning technologies were critically reviewed. The differences and similarities were articulated. RESULTS: The technologies seem different, but have similarities that have not been articulated before. The seemingly different theories are traceable to Russian scientists and are based upon stress-induced adrenal secretions and the associated effect on glucose metabolism. The therapeutic effects of antioxidant nutrition, exercise or relaxation that are inherent in the technologies are highlighted. CONCLUSION: This commentary furthers explanation of the alterations in antioxidant activities as a result of biofeedback, oxidative stress and/or physiological effects as the biochemical basis of the technologies. The place for antioxidant indices and whole blood viscosity are also highlighted. This provides a rationale for the evaluation of available clinical diagnostic tests both to validate the technologies and as clinical laboratory correlates in stress management.