Effect of sodium nitroprusside on the microrheological properties of red blood cells in different media

Red blood cell(RBC)aggregation as well as their deformation significantly affects blood microrheology.These processes depend on various factors,one of which is concentration of the nitric oxide,one of the main signaling molecule in the bloodstream.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nitric oxide on the microrheological properties of red blood cells(RBCs)in RBC samples of various media after the addition of nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside in vitro.Microrheological properties were measured using laser aggregometer and ektacytometer based on diffuse light scattering and diffraction of laser light on a suspension of RBCs,respectively.The study found that heparin-stabilized blood showed increased RBC aggregation and deformation with sodium nitroprusside concentrations of 100,and 200M,while EDTA-stabilized blood showed slightly decreased aggregation and unchanged deformation.With washed RBCs in dextran solution,the addition of sodium nitroprusside(in the concentrations of 100,and 200M)resulted in decreased aggregation and increased deformation.These-ndings aid in our understanding of nitric oxide's effect on RBC microrheological properties.

Blood biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease:important considerations for use in clinical practice

Introduction:Fluid and positron emission tomography(PET)biomarkers that enable the detection of the hallmark proteins of Alzheimer’s disease(AD)(amyloid and tau)have revolutionized our approach to the diagnosis of AD.The evolution of AD diagnostic criteria to include biological characterization(Alzheimer’s Association Working Group,2023)provides an appropriate framework to reduce levels of clinico-pathologic mismatch and improve in-vivo diagnostic accuracy.As the therapeutic landscape for neurodegenerative disease evolves,it is increasingly incumbent on clinicians to provide timely,and pathologically precise diagnoses for patients.However,the expensive and invasive nature of these tests limits their scalability.

Beyond wrecking a wall:revisiting the concept of blood–brain barrier breakdown in ischemic stroke

The blood–brain barrier constitutes a dynamic and interactive boundary separating the central nervous system and the peripheral circulation.It tightly modulates the ion transport and nutrient influx,while restricting the entry of harmful factors,and selectively limiting the migration of immune cells,thereby maintaining brain homeostasis.Despite the well-established association between blood–brain barrier disruption and most neurodegenerative/neuroinflammatory diseases,much remains unknown about the factors influencing its physiology and the mechanisms underlying its breakdown.Moreover,the role of blood–brain barrier breakdown in the translational failure underlying therapies for brain disorders is just starting to be understood.This review aims to revisit this concept of“blood–brain barrier breakdown,”delving into the most controversial aspects,prevalent challenges,and knowledge gaps concerning the lack of blood–brain barrier integrity.By moving beyond the oversimplistic dichotomy of an“open”/“bad”or a“closed”/“good”barrier,our objective is to provide a more comprehensive insight into blood–brain barrier dynamics,to identify novel targets and/or therapeutic approaches aimed at mitigating blood–brain barrier dysfunction.Furthermore,in this review,we advocate for considering the diverse time-and location-dependent alterations in the blood–brain barrier,which go beyond tight-junction disruption or brain endothelial cell breakdown,illustrated through the dynamics of ischemic stroke as a case study.Through this exploration,we seek to underscore the complexity of blood–brain barrier dysfunction and its implications for the pathogenesis and therapy of brain diseases.

Refractory lipoatrophy treated with autologous whole blood injection:A case report

BACKGROUND Intramuscular corticosteroid injection may cause adverse effects such as dermal and/or subcutaneous atrophy,alopecia,hypopigmentation,and hyperpigmentation.Although cutaneous atrophy can spontaneously resolve,several treatment options have been suggested for this condition.CASE SUMMARY In this paper,we report a case of corticosteroid injection induced lipoatrophy treated with autologous whole blood(AWB)injection,as the condition had been unresponsive to fractional laser therapy.A 29-year-old female patient visited the dermatology clinic complaining of skin depression on her right buttock area,which had appeared six months earlier.There had been only subtle improvement at the margins after fractional CO2 laser treatment;therefore,after obtaining informed consent from the patient,AWB treatment was initiated.One month after the first AWB injection,the size and depth of the lesion had noticeably improved,and a slight improvement was also observed in discoloration.CONCLUSION Close observation is the initial treatment of choice for steroid induced skin atrophy;however,for patients in need of immediate cosmetic improvement,AWB injection may be a safe and cost-effective alternative.

Blood diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease for which the current treatment approaches remain severely limited.The principal pathological alterations of the disease include the selective degeneration of motor neurons in the brain,brainstem,and spinal cord,as well as abnormal protein deposition in the cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells.The biological markers under extensive scrutiny are predominantly located in the cerebrospinal fluid,blood,and even urine.Among these biomarke rs,neurofilament proteins and glial fibrillary acidic protein most accurately reflect the pathologic changes in the central nervous system,while creatinine and creatine kinase mainly indicate pathological alterations in the peripheral nerves and muscles.Neurofilament light chain levels serve as an indicator of neuronal axonal injury that remain stable throughout disease progression and are a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker with high specificity and sensitivity.However,there are challenges in using neurofilament light chain to diffe rentiate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from other central nervous system diseases with axonal injury.Glial fibrillary acidic protein predominantly reflects the degree of neuronal demyelination and is linked to non-motor symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis such as cognitive impairment,oxygen saturation,and the glomerular filtration rate.TAR DNA-binding protein 43,a pathological protein associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,is emerging as a promising biomarker,particularly with advancements in exosome-related research.Evidence is currently lacking for the value of creatinine and creatine kinase as diagnostic markers;however,they show potential in predicting disease prognosis.Despite the vigorous progress made in the identification of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis biomarkers in recent years,the quest for definitive diagnostic and prognostic biomarke rs remains a formidable challenge.This review summarizes the latest research achievements concerning blood biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that can provide a more direct basis for the differential diagnosis and prognostic assessment of the disease beyond a reliance on clinical manifestations and electromyography findings.

Peripheral blood RNA biomarkers can predict lesion severity in degenerative cervical myelopathy

Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a common cause of spinal cord injury,with longer symptom duration and higher myelopathy severity indicating a worse prognosis.While numerous studies have investigated serological biomarkers for acute spinal cord injury,few studies have explored such biomarkers for diagnosing degenerative cervical myelopathy.This study involved 30 patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy(51.3±7.3 years old,12 women and 18 men),seven healthy controls(25.7±1.7 years old,one woman and six men),and nine patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(51.9±8.6 years old,three women and six men).Analysis of blood samples from the three groups showed clear differences in transcriptomic characteristics.Enrichment analysis identified 128 differentially expressed genes that were enriched in patients with neurological disabilities.Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis,we constructed a five-gene model(TBCD,TPM2,PNKD,EIF4G2,and AP5Z1)to diagnose degenerative cervical myelopathy with an accuracy of 93.5%.One-gene models(TCAP and SDHA)identified mild and severe degenerative cervical myelopathy with accuracies of 83.3%and 76.7%,respectively.Signatures of two immune cell types(memory B cells and memory-activated CD4^(+)T cells)predicted levels of lesions in degenerative cervical myelopathy with 80%accuracy.Our results suggest that peripheral blood RNA biomarkers could be used to predict lesion severity in degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Effect of Liangxuehuayu Recipe on hemorheology in rats with blood stasis syndrome

Objective:To investigate the effects of Uangxuehuayu Recipe on hemorheology in rats with blood stasis syndrome induced by mutifactor stimuli.Methods:SD rats were divided into control, model,Uangxuehuayu Recipe(high,middle and low dose,18,9,4.S g/kg accordingly).Except the control group,blood stasis model was established in the rest groups.The hemorheological parameters were measured and compared.Results:Blood viscosity at high,moderate and low level in rats with blood stasis significantly increased(P【0.05),but blood viscosity at high level and plasma viscosity was significantly decreased in rats induced by some stimuli after Uangxuehuayu Recipe were intra-gastrically administered for I weeks(P【0.01,P【0.05). Conclusions:Uangxuehuayu Recipe is effective in improving hemorheology,and has important application value in the prevention of occurrence and development of ischemic stroke.

Effects of stress conditions on rheological properties of granular soil in large triaxial rheology laboratory tests

In order to study the rheological properties of red stone granular soil,a series of rheological experiments were executed on large tri-axial rheological apparatus.Under 100,200 and 300 kPa confining stress conditions,the rheological tests were carried out.These experiment results showed that the stress conditions,especially the stress level were the critical influencing factors of the rheological deformation properties.Under the low stress level(S=0.1),the granular soil showed the elastic properties,and there was no obvious rheological deformation.Under the middle stress level(0.2<S≤0.6),creep curves showed the linear viscoelastic rheological properties.However,under the high stress level(S>0.8) creep curves showed the non-linear viscous plastic rheological properties.Especially,under the stress level of S=1.0,the accelerated rheological phase of creep curves occurred at early time with a trend of failure.The stress level had obvious effects on the final rheological deformation of the soil sample,and the final rheological deformation increments nonlinearly increased with stress level.The final rheological deformation increment and step was little under low stress level,while it became large under high stress level,which showed the nonlinearly rheological properties of the granular soil.The confining pressure also had direct effects on final rheological deformation,and the final rheological deformation linearly increased with confining pressure increments.

Effects of tanshinone Ⅱ sodium sulfonate plus cinepazide maleate on the hemorrheologic indexes and blood lipids in patients with acute cerebral infarction

BACKGROUND： The severity of cerebral infarction is associated with the increase of blood viscosity caused by hyperfibrinogenemia and hyperlipidemia, etc. Thus it has become one of the target for treating cerebral infarction to decrease blood viscosity by integrated Chinese and western medicine. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the influence and clinical therapeutic effects of cinepazide maleate combined with tanshinone Ⅱ A sodium sulfonate on the hemorrheologic indexes and blood lipids of patients with acute cerebral infarction, and compare the results with those of simple cinepazide maleate treatment. DESIGN： A non-randomized case-controlled observation. SETTINGS： Hebei North University; the Second Affiliated Hospitals of Hebei North University; the Third Affiliated Hospitals of Hebei North University, PARTICIPANTS： Eighty-six inpatients with cerebral infarction were selected from the infirmary, the Second and Third Affiliated Hospitals of Hebei North University from September 2004 to October 2006. They were all diagnosed to have acute cerebral infarction by CT or MRI, and accorded with the diagnostic standards for acute cerebral infarction set by the Fourth National Academic Meeting for Cerebrovascular Disease in 1995. Meanwhile, 40 teachers and medical staff of voluntary physical examinees were selected as the control group. Informed contents were obtained from all the patients and their relatives. METHODS： The patients were divided into combined treatment group （n=43） and simple treatment group （n=3）. In the combined treatment group, the patients were administrated with 160 mg cinepazide maleate injection （Beijing Four-ring Pharmaceutical, Co.,Ltd, No. H200220125; 80 mg/2 mL） added in 5% glucose, and 40 mg tanshinone Ⅱ sodium sulfonate （Shanghai No.1 Biochemical ＆ Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd., No. H31022558, 10 mg/2 mL） added in 250 mL normal saline. In the simple treatment group, the patients were only administrated with cinepazide maleate 320 mg added in 5% glucose or 250 mL normal saline. They were treated for 1 or 2 courses, once a day, and 14 days as a course. The patients were detected before treatment and at 14 and 28 days after treatment respectively. ① Determination of hemorrheologic indexes： Whole blood viscosity was determined with LBY-N6B automatic hemorrheologic meter; Plasma viscosity with LBY-F200B automatic plasma viscosity meter; Volume of fibrinogen was determined by the method of 12.5% sodium nitrate depositing biuret reaction. ② Determination of blood lipids： The serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）, triglyceride （TG）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） and high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） were determined. ③ Severity of neurological deficit： The total score of neurological deficit score （NDS） ranged from 0 to 45 points, 0 - 15 points was taken as mild, 16 - 30 points as moderate and 31 - 45 points as severe.④ Evaluation of curative effects： Generally cured： NDS decreased by 91% - 100%, and disabled severity of grade 0; Significantly improved： NDS decreased by 46% - 90%, and disabled severity of grades 1 - 3; Improved： NDS decreased by 18% - 45%; No change： NDS decreased by less than 18%; Aggravated： NDS increased by more than 18%. Generally cured and significant improved were taken as significant effect. ⑤ The adverse events and side effects after medication were observed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： ① Results of hemorrheologic indexes and blood lipids; ② NDS results in the combined treatment group and simple treatment group; ③ Therapeutic effects and adverse events. RESULTS： All the 86 patients with cerebral infarction and 40 healthy controls were involved in the analysis of results. ① Results of hemorrheologic indexes and blood lipids： The hemorrheologic indexes and blood lipids before treatment were manifested as abnormalities to different extents in both the combined treatment group and simple treatment group; The hemorrheologic indexes after treatment were obviously improved in both groups. But the hemorrheologic indexes were improved more obviously in the combined treatment group as compared with those in the simple treatment group （P 〈 0.05）; The levels of TC, TG and LDL-C after treatment in the combined treatment group were obviously lowered （P 〈 0.05）, whereas those in the simple treatment group were not significantly changed （P 〉 0.05）. ② NDS results： The NDS scores at 14 and 28 days after treatment in the combined treatment group [（6.23±2.34）, （4.27± 1.83） points] were obviously lower than those in the simple treatment group [（8.76±3.41）, （6.65±2.49） points, P 〈 0.05]. ③ Therapeutic effects and side effects： The total significant effective rates in the combined treatment group and simple treatment group were 93% and 81% respectively. In the combined treatment group, 1 case suffered from palpitation, dizziness and agrypnia. In the simple treatment group, 1 case suffered from palpitation, dizziness and agrypnia, 1 case had itch of skin. All the above symptoms disappeared gradually after the transfusing speed was adjusted to be slower. No drug withdrawal occurred in the patients due to the adverse events. CONCLUSION： Cinepazide maleate combined with tanshinon can obviously improve the abnormalities of hemorrheologic indexes and blood lipids and nerve function in patients with acute cerebral infarction, and its curative effect is faster than that of simple cinepazide maleate treatment.

EFFECTS OF INJECTION OF LIGUSTRAZINE INTO GESHU (BL 17) POINT ON BLOOD RHEOLOGY IN PATIENTS OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE

In the present paper, the therapeutic effects of point-injection and electro-acupuncture(EA) were compared in 100 patients of coronary heart disease with abnormal increases of indexes ofblood rheology. Results indicated that after one therapeutic course, the increases of indexes of bloodrheology were reduced in Geshu-ligustrazine group, Geshu-saline group, Geshu-EA group and Feishu-ligustrazine group (P【0. 05 - 0. 01 ) and there was no this action in Feishu-EA group. Among them,the Geshu-EA group had the best therapeutic effect.

OBSERVATION ON CLINICAL THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF MRI-AIDED ENCLOSURE NEEDLING IN THE TREATMENT OF STROKE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON BLOOD RHEOLOGY

Objective: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) aided enclosure needling in the treatment of stroke patients and changes of the related blood rheology. Methods: A total of 61 stroke patients were randomized into MRI aided enclosure needling group (MRI aided acupuncture group) (n=31) and conventional acupuncture group (n=30). For patients of MRI aided acupuncture group, acupuncture needles were inserted into the subcutaneous tissues around the focus projection scalp area displayed by MRI, with the needle tips toward the center of the projection region and with two needles being about 2 cm apart, combined with other acupoints according to the concrete syndromes or symptoms. For patients of conventional acupuncture group, Motor Area (MS 6) and Sensory Area (MS 7) on the contralateral side of the focus were punctured. The treatment was conducted once daily, continuously for 30 days. Results: After treatment, of the 31 cases in MRI aided acupuncture group, 20 were cured basically, 10 responded with significant improvement of symptoms and signs, one case had some improvement. While in conventional acupuncture group, of the 30 cases, 11 were cured basically, 15 responded with striking amelioration of symptoms and signs and 4 had some amelioration. Ridit analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of MRI aided acupuncture group was significantly superior to that of conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, whole blood reduction viscosity, hemagglutination index, and the total score of the two groups all decreased significantly in comparison with those of pre treatment of each group, while whole blood viscosity, hematocrit, vascular sclerosis index and the total score of MRI aided acupuncture group were obviously lower than those of conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05-0.01), suggesting that the effect of the former group in bettering blood rheology was pronouncedly superior to that of conventional acupuncture group. Conclusion: MRI aided acupuncture group is obviously superior to that of conventional acupuncture group in improving clinical symptoms and signs and blood rheology in stroke patients.

APPLICATION OF DOPPLER OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IN RHEOLOGICAL STUDIES:BLOOD FLOW AND VESSELS MECHANICAL PROPERTIES EVALUATION

Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography(DOCT)is a noninvasive optical diagnostic technique,which is well suited for the quantitative mapping of microflow velocity profiles and the analysis of flow-vessel interactions.The noninvasive imaging and quantitative analysis of blood flow in the complex-structured vascular bed is required in many biomedical applications,including those where the determination of mechanical properties of vessels or the knowledge of the mechanic interactions between the flow and the housing medium plays a key role.The change of microvessel wall elasticity could be a potential indicator of cardiovascular disease at the very early stage,whilst monitoring the blood flow dynamics and associated temporal and spatial variations in vessel’s wall shear stress could help predicting the possible rupture of atherosclerotic plaques.The results of feasibility studies of application of DOCT for the evaluation of mechanical properties of elastic vessel model are presented.The technique has also been applied for imaging of sub-cranial rat blood flow in vivo.

The Rheological Behavior of Human Blood—Comparison of Two Models

The flow of blood continues to arouse much interest among researchers in rheology, fluid mechanics and medicine. Existing models of the apparent viscosity versus shear stress are numerous, and we have chosen to discuss the Carreau-Gambaruto model and the Quemada model. The comparison between models and viscosity measurements shows discordance for shear rates below a few tenths of s?1. The existence of an inflection point on the experimental curve is probably related to a system relaxation due to the rupture of red blood cells structure named rouleaux. This work suggests us to adapt these models for the weak shear rates.

Physical-Chemical Aggressiveness of Solutions of Medicines as a Factor in the Rheology of the Blood inside Veins and Catheters

In experiments in vitro and observations in the clinic in vivo studied the state of the lumen of subcutaneous veins and blood rheology of patients after their interaction with vascular catheters and solutions of medicines based on the values of temperature, volume, concentration, osmotic activity and pH. It is shown that heparin injection in blood not prevent, but solution of 4% sodium bicarbonate injection prevents blood clotting, blood clots and blockage blood clots of veins and of catheters. It is shown that the heating to a temperature of＋42 ℃ with the solution of 4% sodium bicarbonate provides softening action on old dry blood clots in 1 min, and their subsequent irrigation with a warm solution of 4% sodium bicarbonate and 3% hydrogen peroxide provides complete destruction and discoloration of the remaining spots of blood during 2 s. Proposed new medicines and hygiene products for the protection of the veins and installed in them vascular catheters from blockage of blood clots, and for removing blood stains from clothes and body surface patients.

Effects of Nitroglycerine on Erythrocyte Rheology:A Novel Mechanism to Explain the Enhancement of Nutrient Blood Flow to Ischemic Zones

Objectives Nitroglycerine (NTG) enhances coronary blood flow to compromised myocardium is important in relieving ischemia. However, the mechanism for this increase in myocardial blood flow (MBF) is not well defined. In small vessels and capillaries, relative blood viscosity plays a very important role in determining myocardial vascular resistance (MVR). MVR reduce is due partly to the increase in negative charge of erythrocyte surface. We therefore hypothesized that the enhancement of nutrient blood flow to zones of myocardial ischemia during NTG is partly secondary to reduced MVR and blood flow viscosity. The latter is affected by the negative charge of erythrocyte surface. Methods 6 dogs with LAD flow-limiting stenosis (group 1) and 6 dogs with LAD flow-limiting stenosis and LCx occmusion (group 2) were studied. At baseline and during intracoronary infusions of NTG (0.3-0.6 μg·kg-1·min-1), hemodynamics, MBF (mL·min-1·g-1), whole blood viscosity (WBη, mPa. S), elongation index (EI), eletrophoretic mobility of erythocytes (EME, [μ.s-1)/(V.cm-1)]) and percent wall thickening (%WT) were determined. MVR was calculated using driving pressure/MBF. Results As compared to baseline, no changes in hemodynamics were seen during NTG. MBF increased and MVR decreased significantly in normal bed, the central 25% and the entire of stenosed bed (P<0.05), with a decrease in WBη in both group 1 and group 2 dogs (18.6±9.7 % and 19.2±14.5 %, respectively). However, the % decrease in WBη was proportioned to the % increase in MBF or the % decrease in MVR only in the central 25% of stenosed bed (r=0.87, P<0.001), but not in the entire stenosed bed and normal bed. EI did not show statistically significant differences between during NTG and at baseline, but EME did increase. And the % decrease in WBη during NTG was related to the % increase in EME (r=0.83, P=0.01). Conclusions NTG reduced myocardial vascular resistance and blood viscosity due to the change of negative charge of erythrocyte surface may, in part, be the mechanism of the enhancement of nutrient blood flow to zones of myocardial ischemia. These results provide additional insights into the complex anti-ischemic effects of NTG.

Influence of carbonyl stress on rheological alterations of blood materials and decarbonylation effect of glutathione

The effects of various toxic carbonyls such as malondialdehyde(MDA),a secondary product of lipid peroxidation,and other aldehydes on rheological parameters and their relationship with aging-associated alterations were studied.Both MDA and glutaraldehyde(Glu) in different concentrations significantly increase viscosity,plastic viscosity and yield stress of human plasma and erythrocyte suspensions.MDA(20 mmol/L) reduces sharply the typical fluorescence of proteins(excitation 280 nm/emission 350 nm),and produces age pigment-like fluorescence with a strong emission peak at 460 nm when excites at 395 nm by only being incubated for some hours.In contrast,Glu decreases merely the fluorescence of proteins without producing age pigment-like fluorescence.These data suggest interestingly that the MDA-induced gradual protein cross linking seems to form from different mechanisms compared to the fast rheological changes of blood materials which may take place either in acute and chronic diseases or during aging.On the other hand,MDA induces various deleterious alterations of erythrocytes whereas glutathione(GSH) inhibits the MDA-related carbonyl stress in a concentration-dependent manner.The results indicate that carbonyl-amino reaction exists in the blood widely and GSH has the ability to interrupt or reverse this reaction in a certain way.It implies that carbonyl stress may be one of the important factors in blood stasis and suggests a theoretical and practical approach in anti-stresses and anti-aging.

Influence of ozone on the rheological and electrical properties of stored human blood

Blood stored in a blood bank undergoes a series of chemical changes and storage lesions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ozone on the rheological and electrical properties of stored human blood. Venous blood samples, obtained from three healthy humans, were treated with different concentrations of ozone （30, 50, 70 and 80 ~tg/mL） for three weeks in vitro. Ozone was generated from portable medical-grade oxygen using elec- trical corona arc discharge. The ultraviolet-visible absorption of hemoglobin in the wavelength of 300-700 nm showed that ozone in this range did not interact with iron ions and it was not toxic below the concentration of 80 ~tg/mL. The changes of blood viscosity were also measured. The electrical conductivity and permittivity, in the frequency range from 5 to 50 MHz, were measured in the control and treated samples subjected to different concentrations of ozone at different stored periods. The results showed that the conductivity and permittivity measurements may serve as a useful indicator in the quality assessment of blood samples stored in the blood bank.

Astrocytes dynamically regulate the blood-brain barrier in the healthy brain

The blood-brain barrier(BBB)(discovered and defined by Max Lewandowsky and Lina Stern,and not,as it is universally,and yet erroneously believed,by Paul Ehrlich(Verkhratsky and Pivoriunas,2023))that separates the nervous system from the circulation is evolutionarily conserved from arthropods to man.The primeval BBB of the invertebrates and some early vertebrates was made solely by glial cells and secured(in invertebrates)by septate junctions.

Effects of Xuezhikang (Red Yeast Rice) on Blood lipids, Hemorheology and the Expression of P65 and Tissue Factor in Atherosclerotic Rats

Objective: To observe the effects of Xuezhikang (red yeast rice) on blood lipids, blood rheology, and expression of P65 and tissue factor, and to explore the anti-atherosclerosis effect and related mechanisms of Xuezhikang (red yeast rice). Methods: 32 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, Xuezhikang treatment group, lovastatin treatment group and atherosclerosis model group (8 in each group). Blood lipids, blood rheology, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and expression of aortic tissue factor (TF) and P65 were measured in each group. Results:(1) Both Xuezhikang and lovastatin could reduce blood lipid levels, but there was no significant difference between the two groups;(2) Both Xuezhikang and lovastatin can improve the hemorheology of atherosclerotic rats, but the difference between the two groups is not significant;(3) Compared with lovastatin, Xuezhikang inhibited the expression of TF and P65 in aorta of rats with atherosclerosis;(4) Compared with lovastatin, the Xuezhikang group had lower MDA levels and higher T-AOC. Conclusion: Xuezhikang can improve blood lipid levels and hemorheology in rats with atherosclerosis. Compared with lovastatin, Xuezhikang has stronger effects on inhibiting oxidative stress and down-regulating the expression of tissue factor and P65.

EFFECT OF ACU-MOXIBUSTION ON BLOOD RHEOLOGY IN PATIENTS WITH AORTO-ARTERITIS

In the present paper, the authors compared the therapeutic effects of acu moxibustion and medication in the treatment of 80 cases of aorto arteritis and observed their effects on blood rheology of the limbs. Results showed that in acu moxibustion group (n=40) and medication group (n=40), the cure rates were 15% and 0, the markedly effective rates 62.5% and 12.5%, and the total effective rates 95% and 75% respectively. The therapeutic effect of acu moxibustion group was significantly superior to that of medication group (P<0.01). Following acu moxibustion treatment, the blood pressure and blood flow velocity of the brachial artery, the amplitude of the air volume wave of the wrist and the amplitude of the digital volume pulse wave increased remarkably compared with pre treatment (P<0.01), and after treatment with medication, only the blood velocity of brachial artery increased evidently in comparison with pre treatment (P<0.05). Comparison between two groups showed that values of the 4 indexes of acu moxibustion group were all significantly higher than those of medication group (P<0.01), displaying that the therapeutic effect of acu moxibustion is superior to that of medication. It provides experimental evidence for clinical effective treatment of aorto arteritis (branchiocephalic artery type) with acupuncture and moxibustion.