Inappropriate use of acetaminophen (APAP) can lead to morbidity and mortality secondary to hepatic necrosis. Ginsenoside Rg1 is a major active ingredient in processed Panax ginseng, which is proved to elicit biological effects. We hypothesized the beneficial effect of Rg1 on APAP-mediated hepatotoxicity was through Nrf2/ARE pathway. The study was conducted in cells and mice, comparing the actions of Rg1. Rg1 significantly improved cell survival rates and promoted the expression of antioxidant proteins. Meanwhile, Rg1 reduced the excessive ROS and the occurrence of cell apoptosis, which were related to Nrf2/ARE pathway. Expression of Nrf2 has a certain cell specificity.
Background: Gait disorders are common in Parkinson’s disease patients who respond poorly to dopaminergic treatment. Blockade of adenosine A2A receptors is expected to improve gait disorders. Istradefylline is a first-in-class selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist with benefits for motor complications associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Research design and methods: This multicenter, open-label, single-group, prospective interventional study evaluated changes in total gait-related scores of the Part II/III Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) in 31 Parkinson’s disease patients treated with istradefylline. Gait analysis by portable gait rhythmogram was performed.
Results: MDS-UPDRS Part III gait-related total scores significantly decreased at Weeks 4–12 from baseline with significant improvements in gait, freezing of gait, and postural stability. Significant decreases in MDS-UPDRS Part II total scores and individual item scores at Week 12 indicated improved daily living activities. At Week 12, there were significant improvements in FOG-Q, new FOG-Q, and overall movement per 48 h measured by portable gait rhythmogram. Adverse events occurred in 7/31 patients.
Conclusions: Istradefylline improved gait disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients complicated with freezing of gait, improving their quality of life. No unexpected adverse drug reactions were identified.
It is well recognized that the world population is ageing rapidly. Therefore, it is important to understand ageing processes at the cellular and molecular levels to predict the onset of age‐related diseases and prevent them. Recent research has focused on the identification of ageing biomarkers, including those associated with the properties of the Golgi apparatus. In this context, Golgi‐mediated glycosylation of proteins has been well characterized. Additionally, other studies show that the secretion of many compounds, including pro‐inflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix–degrading enzymes, is modified during ageing, resulting in physical and functional skin degradation. Since the Golgi apparatus is a central organelle of the secretory pathway, we investigated its structural organization in senescent primary human dermal fibroblasts using confocal and electron microscopy. In addition, we monitored the expression of Golgi‐related genes in the same cells. Our data showed a marked alteration in the Golgi morphology during replicative senescence. In contrast to its small and compact structure in non‐senescent cells, the Golgi apparatus exhibited a large and expanded morphology in senescent fibroblasts. Our data also demonstrated that the expression of many genes related to Golgi structural integrity and function was significantly modified in senescent cells, suggesting a relationship between Golgi apparatus function and ageing. 相似文献
Radiodermatitis is one of the commonest side effects of radiotherapy. They are usually assessed by semi‐quantitative clinical scores, which are not validated and may be subject to inter‐observer variability. A few previous studies suggested that high‐frequency ultrasonography (HF‐USG) is useful in the assessment of the acute phase of radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients. (a) To monitor skin changes by HF‐USG during the course of radiotherapy due to head and neck cancers, and (b) to determine whether there is any connection between skin sonograms and the skin scoring criteria. This prospective, observational study includes patients diagnosed with head and neck cancers, treated with radiotherapy or concomitant chemoradiation. The final analysis includes six patients. In every patient, the HF‐USG as well as dermatological assessment (target lesion score—TLS and CACE v. 4.0) were performed 4×: before, in the middle, day after, and 3 months after radiotherapy. There were significant differences between non‐irradiated skin thickness and thickness of skin with clinically obvious radiodermatitis (TLS grade 1‐4; P < .0001), as well as between irradiated, unchanged skin thickness (TLS grade 0) and thickness of skin with clinically obvious radiodermatitis (TLS grade 1‐4; P = .0002). There was no significant difference between non‐irradiated and irradiated, unchanged skin thickness (TLS grade 0; P = .9318). In four patients, we demonstrated subepidermal low echogenic band (SLEB). HF‐USG can be useful tool to noninvasive and objective assessment of skin changes during radiotherapy. 相似文献
??Objective To observe the effects of lithium chloride pretreatment on cognitive ability of aged rats after oral and maxillofacial surgery. Methods A total of 48 aged male SD rats??18 ~ 20 months old??weight 550 ~ 700 g?? were bought from the Experimental Animal Center of China Medical University . These rats were randomly divided into three groups??including the normal control group??group C??n=16????surgery and anesthesia group??group O??n=16????and lithium chloride preconditioning group??group L??n=16??.Rats in each group were randomly divided into two parts??one part was given Morris water maze test three days after the surgery and its characteristics of behavior tested. Another part was decapitated 24 h after the surgery and extracted and the hippocampus brain separated at the same time. Test expression content of IL-1β GSK-3β p-GSK-3β??ser9??in the hippocampus by Elisa and Western blotting detection method respectively. Results Morris water maze test showed that??the first day after surgery??latencies of group L and O were significantly longer than group C??compared with group C in swimming distance?? latency and swim distances of group L were shorter than group O. With the comparison of multiple analysis of variance??differences were statistically significant??P??0.05??. Groups L and O in the second day were slightly shortened compared to the first day??on the third day after surgery it has also improved over the second day. Space exploration experiments in rats showed that??the dwell time of group C was significantly longer in the platform quadrant and the frequency of crossing the platform also increased compared with groups L and O. In addition??group L and group O were higher in IL-β levels than group C??the difference being statistically significant by analysis of variance??P??0.05????but group L was significantly lower compared with group O??the difference being statistically significant??P??0.05??. The content of GSK-3β of three groups were of no significant difference??P > 0.05????but p-GSK-3β??ser9??content was significantly lower in group L and O than in group C. The content of GSK-3β of group L was higher than in group O??the difference being statistically significant??P??0.05??. Conclusion Pretreatment with lithium chloride in postoperative aged rats can inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines and increase GSK-3β phosphorylation in the hippocampus cells??so p-GSK-3β??ser9??upregulates and inhibites the apoptosis of brain cells??thereby improved cognitive abilities after the cavity and maxillofacial surgery. 相似文献
Although depression is associated to physical discomfort, meanings of the body in depression are rarely addressed in clinical research. Drawing on the concept of the lived body, this study explores depression as an embodied phenomenon. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, the analysis of narrative‐based interviews with 11 depressed adults discloses a thematic structure of an embodied process of an ambiguous striving against fading. Five subthemes elicit different dimensions of this process, interpreted as disabling or enabling: feeling estranged, feeling confined, feeling burdensome, sensing life and seeking belongingness. In relation to clinical practice, we suggest that the interdisciplinary team can focus on enhancing the enabling dimensions, for example through guided physical activities to support the patient to feel more alive, capable and connected. Moreover, we suggest that the treatment process benefits from an increased awareness of the ambiguity in the patient's struggle, acknowledging both destructive and recharging elements of the withdrawing, and the perceived conflict in‐between. 相似文献