A randomized study on the effect of modified behavioral activation treatment for depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified behavioral activation treatment (MBAT) intervention on reducing depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly.

Method: This is a randomized study registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17011289). Eighty rural left-behind elderly people who had a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score between 11 and 25 were randomly assigned to the intervention (n?=?40) and control group (n?=?40). The intervention group received both MBAT and regular treatment for 8 weeks while the control group received regular treatment. Both groups were assessed with the GDS, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.

Results: There were a total of 73 participants that completed the intervention. The scores of GDS and BAI decreased significantly, but the scores of OHQ increased significantly in the intervention group after 8 sessions of MBAT (P?<?.01). The reduction in depression symptoms after the intervention was maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Significant differences in GDS, BAI, and OHQ scores were observed between the intervention group and the control group (P?<?.01).

Conclusion: MBAT produced a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than regular care in rural left-behind elderly.

Clinical or methodological significance of this article: A modified behavioral activation (BA) psychotherapy can significantly reduce the recurrence and seriousness of depression symptoms in the left-behind elderly with mild to moderate depression. This study also suggests that further study of the MBAT as an intervention will provide a direction for the management of mental health in rural left-behind elders.     

Surgical Technique Notes of Arterial Vascular Reconstruction During Kidney Transplantation: Personal Experience and Literature Review

Background

Arterial vascular anomalies in patients undergoing kidney transplantation (KT) are correlated with a higher incidence of early surgical complications, potentially causing graft loss. Arterial reconstruction allows patients to overcome these surgical challenges, thus minimizing the risk of poor outcomes. The aim of the present study is to retrospectively investigate the safety and effectiveness of the multiple arterial reconstruction technique with a Teflon patch in case of an unavailable aortic patch: to do so, surgical complications, graft function, and patient survival were evaluated.

Improvements in epidermal function prevent relapse of psoriasis: a self‐controlled study

While therapeutic approaches for psoriasis are widely available, preventive regimens are lacking. We aimed to determine whether improvements in epidermal function could prevent psoriasis relapse. Two self‐controlled cohort studies were designed, enrolling two cohorts of patients with psoriasis (n = 30 and n = 60) to be treated topically with an in‐house‐prepared emollient or ATOPALM^® cream applied twice daily to one forearm for 20 and 30 days, respectively, while the same sites on the contralateral arm served as the untreated control. Epidermal function on both arms was assessed prior to and at the end of the trials. Delayed relapse on the treated arm was seen in 54.5% and 71% of patients in the first and second cohort, respectively. The time of psoriatic relapse correlated with the extent of abnormalities in baseline epidermal function. These results suggest that improvements in epidermal function with topical emollients can prevent/attenuate the development of psoriasis.     

基于网络药理学与分子对接技术的石菖蒲治疗癫痫作用机制研究＊

目的 利用网络药理学和分子对接技术研究石菖蒲抗癫痫的有效成分及作用机制。方法 运用中药系统药理数据库及分析平台检索石菖蒲有效成分及主要靶点，通过GeneCards数据库收集癫痫疾病的相关潜在作用靶点，运用Cytoscape.3.7.1和 String绘制石菖蒲-癫痫靶点互作关系图，运用Metascape数据库进行GO和KEGG信号通路富集分析。运用AutoDock Vina 1.1.2软件对石菖蒲主要有效成分与癫痫相关靶标进行分子对接验证；通过构建戊四唑诱导的癫痫模型初步评价石菖蒲提取物及潜在有效成分的抗癫痫作用。结果 由 TCMSP 筛选得到4个有效成分及76个主要靶点。癫痫疾病以“Score”大于1.5分进行筛选得到3685个靶标。GO富集分析得到BP条目10个，细胞CC条目9个，MF条目10个（P<0.01），主要涉及核受体活性、离子通道活性、激素结合、神经递质受体活性、蛋白激酶活性、钙调蛋白结合等。KEGG 富集得到14条通路，主要涉及c型凝集素受体信号通路、雌激素信号通路、Ca²⁺信号通路、逆行内源性大麻素信号通路等。分子对接结果显示，桉脂素、山奈酚和8-异戊烯基山奈酚与癫痫关键靶标GABRA2、PPARG等具有良好的结合活性。动物实验结果表明，石菖蒲水提取物及主要潜在有效成分桉脂素和山奈酚在PTZ致小鼠癫痫模型上显示出较好的抗癫痫活性。结论 本研究通过动物实验验证了石菖蒲提取物和潜在有效成分的抗癫痫活性，并且运用网络药理学和分子对接技术探讨了其抗癫痫作用机制，发现石菖蒲可通过多个成分如桉脂素、山奈酚、8-异戊烯基山奈酚，多靶点如GABA_A、PPARG等，多条通路如雌激素信号通路、钙信号通路对机体产生协调效应从而抑制癫痫的发作。该研究提示石菖蒲治疗癫痫具有多成分、多靶点、多通路特点，为石菖蒲的进一步研究提供数据支撑。