Curcumin attenuates spatial memory impairment by anti-oxidative,anti-apoptosis,and anti-inflammatory mechanism against methamphetamine neurotoxicity in male Wistar rats: Histological and biochemical changes

ObjectiveMethamphetamine is used extensively around the world as a psychostimulant. The complications related to methamphetamine include methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity, mainly involving intraneuronal processes, such as oxidative stress and excitotoxicity. Curcumin is effective against neuronal injury due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we examined the protective effects of curcumin against methamphetamine neurotoxicity.MethodsSixty male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: control (n = 12), DMSO (n = 12), methamphetamine (n = 12), and methamphetamine + curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, intraperitoneal [IP]; n = 12). Neurotoxicity was induced by 40 mg/kg of methamphetamine administrated through 4 injections (4 × 10 mg/kg, q2h, IP). Curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg) was administered at 7 days after the last methamphetamine injection. By using a Morris water maze task, the hippocampus-dependent memory and spatial learning were evaluated 1 day after the last curcumin injection. Then, the animal brains were isolated for biochemical measurements, as well as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adaptor protein-1(Iba-1) and caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining.ResultsThe current study demonstrated that administration of curcumin significantly attenuates spatial memory impairment (P < 0.01) following methamphetamine neurotoxicity. Curcumin caused a significant increase in the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05). However, it decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) (P < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) levels as compared to the methamphetamine group. Also, curcumin significantly reduced Iba-1 (P < 0. 01), GFAP and caspase-3 positive cells in the hippocampus (P < 0.001).ConclusionCurcumin exerted neuroprotective effects on methamphetamine neurotoxicity because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.     

八段锦对视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病恢复情况的研究

[目的]评估规律性八段锦运动对视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病患者残疾状态及日常生活能力恢复情况的影响。[方法]选取视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病患者58例,随机分成试验组和对照组,每组29例,分别给予常规药物治疗+基础训练+八段锦干预、常规药物治疗+基础训练,疗程12周。比较两组扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分、Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和疲劳严重度量表(FSS)评分的变化情况。[结果]试验组中,患者的EDSS评分、Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和FSS评分较干预前明显改善,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,EDSS评分和Barthel指数改善具有统计学意义(P0.05)。对照组中,患者Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和FSS评分较干预前明显改善(P0.05)。两组这4项指标的改善程度比较中,与对照组比较,试验组在EDSS评分、Barthel指数、Ashworth评分和FSS评分的改善程度更明显(P0.05)。[结论]规律的八段锦干预能明显改善视神经脊髓炎谱系疾病患者残疾状态、日常生活能力、肢体痉挛程度和疲劳状态,适合临床推广应用。     

虎杖MYB转录因子PcMYB1的表达特性和功能研究

目的对虎杖中1个新的R2R3-MYB转录因子基因PcMYB1进行转录活性鉴定和表达特性分析,并在转基因拟南芥中进行功能研究。方法利用酵母单杂交实验分析PcMYB1的转录活性;荧光定量PCR(RT-PCR)技术检测虎杖中PcMYB1的表达模式;利用Wiesner染色和溴乙酰法检测PcMYB1转基因拟南芥中的木质素含量;RT-PCR技术分析PcMYB1转基因拟南芥木质素合成相关基因的表达。结果酵母单杂实验结果表明,PcMYB1具有转录抑制活性;RT-PCR结果显示PcMYB1在虎杖根、茎、叶中均有表达,在叶中表达量最高,并且紫外照射处理可诱导叶片中PcMYB1的表达;与野生型拟南芥相比,转基因拟南芥的株高降低了24.07%,木质部的细胞染色程度浅,转基因拟南芥木质素含量降低了14.81%,参与木质素合成的AtC4H、AtC3H、AtF5H、AtCOMT、AtCAD基因表达下调。结论 PcMYB1具有转录抑制活性,对植物木质素合成具有负调控作用。     

长春西部地区1258例过敏原特异性IgE检测结果分析

目的了解长春西部地区过敏原特异性IgE分布情况。方法应用免疫印迹法检测1 258例患者的19种吸入性及食物性过敏原特异性IgE抗体,统计过敏原结果及种类。结果 1 258例患者,检出至少一种特异性IgE阳性率为34.0%。男性阳性率为33.5%;女性阳性率为34.5%。男女间阳性率差异无统计学意义(P> 0.05)。吸入性过敏原阳性率由高到低依次为:普通豚草14.2%、艾蒿11.4%、屋尘螨/粉尘螨8.1%、猫毛3.8%、狗上皮2.4%、柳树/杨树/榆树2.1%,屋尘1.6%、蟑螂1.6%、点青霉/分枝孢霉/烟曲霉/交链孢霉1.2%、葎草1.1%。食物性过敏原阳性率由高到低依次为:鸡蛋白2.9%、鳕鱼/龙虾/扇贝2.7%、牛奶2.3%、黄豆1.9%、蟹1.5%、虾1.3%、牛肉1.2%、花生1.0%、羊肉0.8%。混合过敏达到了相当高的比例。结论长春西部地区吸入性过敏原以普通豚草、艾蒿和屋尘螨/粉尘螨为主;食物性过敏原以鸡蛋白、鳕鱼/龙虾/扇贝、牛奶为主,明确过敏原,对过敏性患者的预防和治疗有重大意义。     

Risk communication in a patient decision aid for radiotherapy in breast cancer: How to deal with uncertainty?

Background and aimPatient decision aids for oncological treatment options, provide information on the effect on recurrence rates and/or survival benefit, and on side-effects and/or burden of different treatment options. However, often uncertainty exists around the probability estimates for recurrence/survival and side-effects which is too relevant to be ignored. Evidence is lacking on the best way to communicate these uncertainties. The aim of this study is to develop a method to incorporate uncertainties in a patient decision aid for breast cancer patients to support their decision on radiotherapy.MethodsFirstly, qualitative interviews were held with patients and health care professionals. Secondly, in the development phase, thinking aloud sessions were organized with four patients and 12 health care professionals, individual and group-wise.ResultsConsensus was reached on a pictograph illustrating the whole range of uncertainty for local recurrence risks, in combination with textual explanation that a more exact personalized risk would be given by their own physician. The pictograph consisted of 100 female icons in a 10 x 10 array. Icons with a stepwise gradient color indicated the uncertainty margin. The prevalence and severity of possible side-effects were explained using verbal labels.ConclusionsWe developed a novel way of visualizing uncertainties in recurrence rates in a patient decision aid. The effect of this way of communicating risk uncertainty is currently being tested in the BRASA study (NCT03375801).     

The Relationship between Self-Efficacy,Functional Exercise Capacity and Physical Activity in People with COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the strength of the relationships between self-efficacy and (i) functional exercise capacity and (ii) physical activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and whether self-efficacy assessment type (i.e., COPD symptoms, exercise-task, exercise-barrier, general, falls) and physical activity assessment type (i.e., self-report vs. objective) are moderators. A systematic search of COPD and self-efficacy concepts was conducted using eight databases from inception to 23 January 2019. Studies were included if they provided correlation coefficients of the relationship between self-efficacy and functional exercise capacity or physical activity, were conducted in adults diagnosed with COPD, and were published in English-language journals. A total of 14 correlation coefficients were included in the self-efficacy and functional exercise capacity meta-analysis, and 16 in the self-efficacy and physical activity meta-analysis. Data were screened, reviewed, and extracted independently by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Stronger self-efficacy was associated with better functional exercise capacity (weighted r?=?0.38, 95%CI [0.25, 0.50]), and greater physical activity (weighted r?=?0.25, 95%CI [0.17, 0.34]). Exercise-task self-efficacy had the strongest relationship to functional exercise capacity (weighted r?=?0.64, 95% CI [0.51, 0.73]). For physical activity, the type of self-efficacy most strongly related was inconclusive. In COPD, self-efficacy has a relationship to functional exercise capacity and physical activity, the strength of which is influenced by the choice of self-efficacy measure. An understanding of these relationships will assist clinicians in selecting the self-efficacy measure most closely related to the outcome of interest.     

基于生物活性与效应基准的中药质量 评价技术发展现状与展望

中药质量的评控问题是制约中药现代化发展的瓶颈,因此有必要在现有检测方法的基础上结合生物评价,继而更为全面地保证中药质量。生物评价是完善中药质量标准、保证临床功效和安全性评价的重要方法,已成为中药质量标准化发展趋势之一。在此处主要论述了近年来基于生物活性与效应基准的中药质量评价技术和已取得的部分研究进展,同时对目前中药质量生物评价研究与应用中存在的主要问题进行探讨,进一步对其未来应用做出展望,从而更好的对中药质量进行控制。