益气开秘方联合西药治疗便秘疗效及对患者血清5-HT、胃动素、血管活性肠肽水平的影响

目的:研究益气开秘方联合伊托必利及乳果糖对气阴两虚型便秘患者疗效及血清5-羟色胺(5-HT)、胃动素(MOT)、血管活性肠肽(VIP)水平的影响。方法:选择气阴两虚型便秘患者168例。依据随机数字表法将其分成观察组和对照组各84例,对照组应用伊托必利和乳果糖。观察组加用益气开秘方。两组均治疗4周,对比两组疗效,临床症状评分,血清5-HT、MOT及VIP水平及并发症。结果:观察组总有效率97.62%,较对照组89.29%明显更高(P<0.05)。治疗后两组临床症状评分均明显低于治疗前,且观察组较对照组明显降低(P<0.05)。治疗后两组血清5-HT及VIP水平均明显低于治疗前,且观察组较对照组明显降低(P<0.05); 治疗后两组血清MOT水平明显高于治疗前,且观察组较对照组明显升高(P<0.05)。观察组并发症总发生率3.57%较对照组11.90%明显更低(P<0.05)。结论:应用益气开秘方联合伊托必利及乳果糖对气阴两虚型便秘患者的疗效较好,安全性较高,并可改善患者的血清5-HT、MOT及VIP水平。     

当归龙荟片联合普芦卡必利治疗慢性功能性便秘的临床研究

目的探讨当归龙荟片联合普芦卡必利治疗慢性功能性便秘的临床疗效。方法选取2018年5月-2019年5月在北京市肛肠医院治疗的慢性功能性便秘患者122例,根据用药的差别分为对照组(61例)和治疗组(61例)。对照组口服琥珀酸普芦卡必利片,2mg/次,1次/d;治疗组在对照组基础上口服当归龙荟片,4片/次,2次/d。两组患者均经4周治疗。观察两组患者临床疗效,同时比较治疗前后两组患者临床症状评分、PAC-QOL积分、结肠传输试验积分、Bristol和SF-36评分,及血清5-羟色胺(5-HT)、血管活性肠肽(VIP)、P物质(SP)和一氧化氮(NO)水平。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组临床有效率分别为80.33%和96.72%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。经治疗,两组症状积分均明显降低(P<0.05),且治疗组比对照组降低更明显(P<0.05)。经治疗,两组患者PAC-QOL积分和结肠传输试验积分明显降低(P<0.05),而Bristol和SF-36评分明显升高(P<0.05),且治疗组患者明显好于对照组(P<0.05)。经治疗,两组患者血清SP、5-HT水平均显著升高(P<0.05),而VIP和NO水平均明显降低(P<0.05),且治疗组患者SP、5-HT、VIP和NO水平明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论当归龙荟片联合普芦卡必利治疗慢性功能性便秘可有效改善患者临床症状,促进患者生活质量改善,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

Comparative immunohistochemical analysis of the peptidergic innervation of human primary and permanent tooth pulp

This immunohistochemical study sought to determine whether there are any differences in the peptidergic innervation of these pulps and whether dental caries is associated with changes in neuropeptide expression. Mandibular first permanent molars and second primary molars (n=120) were obtained from children requiring dental extractions under general anaesthesia. Extracted teeth were split longitudinally, placed in fixative, and categorized as intact, moderately carious or grossly carious. The coronal pulps were removed and 10-microm frozen sections were processed for indirect immunofluorescence. Double labelling employed combinations of the following antisera: (1) protein gene product 9.5, a general neuronal marker; (2) one of the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), galanin (GAL), enkephalin (ENK) and somatostatin (SOM). Image analysis was then used to determine the percentage area of immunostaining for each label within different anatomical regions of the coronal pulp. Sparse or absent immunoreactivity for GAL, ENK and SOM made analysis impossible. Analysis of CGRP, SP and VIP revealed significant interdentition differences, with their expression being significantly greater in permanent teeth, but this was not the case for NPY, with primary and permanent teeth demonstrating a similar amount of label for this peptide. Both dentitions showed significant increases in CGRP, SP, VIP and NPY expression with caries progression. These findings could have biological and clinical importance in connection with nociception, inflammation and healing.     

归脾汤联合艾司奥美拉唑镁肠溶片治疗非糜烂性反流病伴情绪障碍患者的临床研究

[目的]探讨归脾汤联合艾司奥美拉唑镁肠溶片治疗非糜烂性反流病(non-erosive reflux disease,NERD)伴情绪障碍(心脾两虚证)患者的临床疗效,以及对血清5-羟色胺(5-hydroxytryptamine,5-HT)、血管活性肽(vasoactive intestinal peptide,VIP)水平及肠道菌群数量的影响。[方法]采用随机对照的方法将172例NERD伴情绪障碍(心脾两虚证)患者按1∶1比例随机分为实验组86例(采用归脾汤联合艾司奥美拉唑镁肠溶片治疗)和对照组86例(采用氟哌噻吨美利曲辛片联合艾司奥美拉唑镁肠溶片治疗)。治疗8周后,比较两组治疗前后胃食管反流病量表(gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire,GerdQ)评分、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(Hamilton anxiety scale,HAMA)评分、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression scale,HAMD)-24评分变化及临床改善率,同时监测两组治疗前后肠道乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌、类杆菌、粪肠球菌、大肠杆菌数量变化及血清5-HT、VIP水平改变。[结果]两组患者治疗后的GerdQ评分、HAMA评分、HAMD-24评分均明显下降,治疗前后差异有统计学意义(P0.001)。两组治疗前后HAMA评分及HAMD-24评分的差值比较,实验组较对照组下降更明显(P0.001,P0.05);两组治疗前后GerdQ评分差值比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.134)。实验组总有效率79.27%,高于对照组62.19%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后实验组双歧杆菌、乳酸杆菌、类杆菌数量明显增加(P0.001),粪肠球、大肠杆菌数量下降(P0.001);而对照组治疗前后菌种数量改变并不明显,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后两组血清5-HT水平较治疗前升高(P0.001);且实验组5-HT水平升高明显高于对照组,组间差异有统计学意义(P0.001)。血清VIP水平两组治疗后较治疗前均降低(P0.01),组间差异有统计学意义(P0.001)。[结论]归脾汤联合艾司奥美拉唑镁肠溶片治疗NERD伴情志障碍(心脾两虚证)患者的疗效确切,有助于改善胃肠动力及食道高敏感,增加肠道有益菌的数量。     

Microglial VPAC1R mediates a novel mechanism of neuroimmune‐modulation of hippocampal precursor cells via IL‐4 release

Neurogenesis, the production of new neurons from neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs), occurs throughout adulthood in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, where it supports learning and memory. The innate and adaptive immune systems are increasingly recognized as important modulators of hippocampal neurogenesis under both physiological and pathological conditions. However, the mechanisms by which the immune system regulates hippocampal neurogenesis are incompletely understood. In particular, the role of microglia, the brains resident immune cell is complex, as they have been reported to both positively and negatively regulate neurogenesis. Interestingly, neuronal activity can also regulate the function of the immune system. Here, we show that depleting microglia from hippocampal cultures reduces NSPC survival and proliferation. Furthermore, addition of purified hippocampal microglia, or their conditioned media, is trophic and proliferative to NSPCs. VIP, a neuropeptide released by dentate gyrus interneurons, enhances the proliferative and pro‐neurogenic effect of microglia via the VPAC1 receptor. This VIP‐induced enhancement is mediated by IL‐4 release, which directly targets NSPCs. This demonstrates a potential neuro‐immuno‐neurogenic pathway, disruption of which may have significant implications in conditions where combined cognitive impairments, interneuron loss, and immune system activation occurs, such as temporal lobe epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. GLIA 2014;62:1313–1327     

Sex differences in circadian timing systems: Implications for disease

Virtually every eukaryotic cell has an endogenous circadian clock and a biological sex. These cell-based clocks have been conceptualized as oscillators whose phase can be reset by internal signals such as hormones, and external cues such as light. The present review highlights the inter-relationship between circadian clocks and sex differences. In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) serves as a master clock synchronizing the phase of clocks throughout the body. Gonadal steroid receptors are expressed in almost every site that receives direct SCN input. Here we review sex differences in the circadian timing system in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG), the hypothalamic–adrenal–pituitary (HPA) axis, and sleep–arousal systems. We also point to ways in which disruption of circadian rhythms within these systems differs in the sexes and is associated with dysfunction and disease. Understanding sex differentiated circadian timing systems can lead to improved treatment strategies for these conditions.     

Trace element concentrations in breast cancer patients

Alterations in the circulating levels of trace elements have been observed in breast cancer (BC) patients. However, the relationships between these alterations and the metabolic and clinical consequences of BC are unknown. The treatment-of-choice of BC is surgery followed by radiation therapy (RT). The present study was aimed at investigating: 1) the concentrations of several trace elements in BC patients, and their relationships with the intrinsic molecular subtypes of tumors; 2) the toxicological effect of RT. We studied 49 women with BC who were scheduled to receive RT following excision of the tumor. Plasma samples were obtained before and after the irradiation procedure. The control group was composed of 49 healthy women. Patients had significantly lower pre-RT concentrations of B, Cu, and Zn, and significantly higher concentrations of Sr than the control group. Irradiation was associated with a striking increase in plasma B concentrations, while Cu, Fe, Sr and Zn concentrations were not significantly different from pre-RT levels, albeit Sr and Zn showed non-significant trends towards increases. The plasma concentrations of B, Cu, Fe, Sr, and Zn were associated with the tumor expression of hormone receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor 2, Ki67 antigen, as well as dermatitis and asthenia, all of which represent the main toxicological responses to RT.     

Adrenergic, cholinergic and peptidergic nerve fibres in dura mater involvement in headache?

Nerve fibres containing noradrenaline, acetylcholinesterase, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and substance P were demonstrated in the dura mater of guinea-pigs using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. These fibres accompanied blood vessels of all size, indicating a vasomotor role. In addition, some nerve fibres were observed without any obvious relation to the blood vessels. The rich supply of nerve fibres to the various parts of the dura mater may possibly be of importance in the pathogenesis of some types of headache.