Motor and cognitive deficits in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice after closed head injury

Previous studies suggest that traumatic brain injury is associated with increased risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, the extent of the risk seems to be most pronounced in Alzheimer's disease patients who carry the ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E, suggesting a connection between susceptibility to head trauma and the apolipoprotein E genotype. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice provide a useful model for investigating the role of this lipoprotein in neuronal maintenance and repair. In the present study apolipoprotein E-deficient mice and a closed head injury experimental paradigm were used to examine the role of apolipoprotein E in brain susceptibility to head trauma and in neuronal repair. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were assessed up to 40 days after closed head injury for neurological and cognitive functions, as well as for histopathological changes in the hippocampus. A neurological severity score used for clinical assessment revealed more severe motor and behavioural deficits in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mice than in the controls, the impairment persisting for at least 40 days after injury. Performance in the Morris water maze, which tests spatial memory, showed a marked learning deficit of the apolipoprotein E-deficient mice when compared with injured controls, which was apparent for at least 40 days. At this time, histopathological examination revealed overt neuronal cell death bilaterally in the hippocampus of the injured apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

The finding that apolipoprotein E-deficient mice exhibit an impaired ability to recover from closed head injury suggests that apolipoprotein E plays an important role in neuronal repair following injury and highlights the applicability of this mouse model to the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved.     

脑卒中后抑郁及其对神经功能康复的影响

目的:观察脑卒中后抑郁(Post-Stroke Depression,PSD)的发生率和相关因素;探讨选择性5-HT抑制剂对脑卒中后抑郁神经功能康复的影响.方法:选取急性脑脑卒中患者132例(脑梗死78例,脑出血54例),分别在病程2周、1,3,6,12月时给每一位入组患者行PSD诊断、神经功能缺损评分、日常生活能力评分(Activity of Daily Living Scale,ADL)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton Depression Scale,HAMD)评分;同时完成Zung's抑郁自评量表(Self-Rating Depression Scale,SDS)和焦虑自评量表(Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,SAS).结果:①脑卒中患者中约44.70%出现抑郁症状;②脑卒中类型和性别与PSD发生率无相关性(P＞0.05);③PSD的发生率和严重程度与神经功能缺损和日常生活能力下降程度有关.④PSD与病变部位、病灶大小、病灶单侧性均无明显相关(P＞0.05);⑤氟西汀抗抑郁治疗能明显改善病程3、6个月时的神经功能缺损,病程12月时不仅抑郁症状减轻,日常生活能力改善,神经功能缺损减轻尤为显著.结论:脑卒中后抑郁是急性脑血管病患者常见的长期并发症,并可影响患者功能康复的速度和程度.抗抑郁剂治疗能在抑郁症状明显改善的同时,促进患者日常生活能力和神经功能的恢复.     

Prevalence of mitochondrial DNA mutations in childhood/congenital onset non-syndromal sensorineural hearing impairment

Genetic factors are the major causes of childhood hearing impairment. Whereas autosomal recessive mutations account for the majority of prelingual non-syndromic sensorineural hearing impairment (NSSHI), the relative contribution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations to childhood onset NSSHI has not been established.
We screened 202 subjects with congenital/childhood onset NSSHI, consisting of 110 sporadic cases, 75 sib pairs, and 17 families with affected subjects in more than one generation, in order to determine the prevalence of mtDNA mutations associated with NSSHI.
mtDNA mutations were found in three of 10 families (30%) in whom the affected members were related through the maternal lineage. One sporadic case (0.9%) was also found to have a known mtDNA mutation but none was found in the sib pairs.
Although the prevalence of mtDNA mutations was low in the group as a whole (2%), we suggest that screening should be considered in cases of childhood hearing impairment when it is progressive and particularly in families where transmission is compatible with maternal inheritance.


Keywords: mitochondrial DNA; point mutation; hearing impairment     

Pharmacokinetics and effects on blood pressure of a single oral dose of milrinone in healthy subjects and in patients with renal impairment

Summary Milrinone, a new, nonglycosidic inotropic agent with peripheral vasodilating properties, was given as a single oral 5 mg dose to 7 healthy subjects, 7 patients with moderate renal impairment (CRI I, creatinine clearance 30–63 ml/min) and 7 patients with severe renal impairment (CRI II, creatinine clearance 9–29 ml/min). All except one of the patients with renal impairment had hypertension. The mean urinary recovery of milrinone was 82% in healthy subjects, the renal clearance was 288 ml/min and the plasma half-life (t_1/2) was 0.94 h. In CRI the mean plasma t_1/2 was prolonged (CRI I 1.78 h, CRI II 3.24 h). There was a significant linear relationship between creatinine clearance and the elimination rate constant, and between creatinine clearance and the renal clearance of milrinone. During the study day there was a tendency to a decrease in supine BP from 1 to 6–8 h after dosing, with the maximal decrease at 2–3 h (healthy subjects 118/71107/56, CRI 159/95136/79 mmHg). The same degree of change was seen in standing BP. A slight rise in standing HR was seen from 2–6 h after dosing. Changes in BP and HR are difficult to evaluate since the study was not placebo-controlled.The plasma elimination rate of milrinone was decreased in CRI and dose adjustment may be necessary. Placebo-controlled studies of milrinone in hypertensive patients would be required to validate its possible antihypertensive effect.     

College student attitudes toward forcible date rape: I. Cognitive predictors

Students completed a questionnaire measuring acceptance of forcible date rape, attitudes toward women, sexual knowledge, sexual experience, tolerance of socially unapproved sexual behavior, and religiosity. Findings suggested that persons relatively more accepting of forcible date rape are less sure it really is rape, have more traditional attitudes toward women, are more selfsexually permissive (i.e., more tolerant of their own socially unapproved of sexual behavior, such as premarital and extramarital sex with friends or casual acquaintances), have less accurate sexual knowledge and, though a large majority blame the male, are slightly more inclined than others to blame society or the situation. These predictor variables accounted for 35% of the variance in attitudes toward forcible date rape and identified correctly about two-thirds of the students classified as nonrejectors of forcible date rape, i.e., those who did not consider the male's behavior definitely unacceptable under any one of nine circumstances, including He spent a lot of money on her. In addition to the emotional and personality variables often cited in rapists, the cognitive predictor variables found may be salient to understanding the etiology of rape.This paper was first presented at meetings of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, September 1985, in San Diego, California.     

腰硬联合麻醉与全麻对老年腹部手术患者术后短期认知功能的影响

目的 探讨腰硬联合麻醉(CSEA)与全麻对老年腹部手术患者术后认知功能的影响。方法 选取本院2018年5月—2019年5月收治的82例老年腹部手术患者,按随机数表法分为观察组和对照组,各41例。观察组应用CSEA,对照组则采用全身麻醉。比较两组的麻醉相关指标,术后6 h、12 h、24 h的精神功能状态以及患者术后短期认知功能障碍的发生率。结果 观察组麻醉起效时间(min)、完全清醒时间(min)分别为(8.19±1.04)、(28.67±5.60)与对照组的(10.17±2.12)、(37.25±6.12)比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组视觉模拟评分(VAS)(3.51±1.12)与对照组的(4.27±1.15)比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组患者术后6 h、12 h、24 h时的MMSE评分分别为(22.27±1.46)、(26.23±1.26)、(28.19±1.24),均高于对照组的(21.46±1.35)、(24.68±1.23)、(26.37±1.19)(P<0.05);观察组短期内POCD的发生率为4.88%,低于对照组的24.39%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 对老年腹部手术患者采用CSEA,不仅能缩短麻醉起效时间和完全清醒的时间,减轻疼痛,而且对患者精神功能的影响小,可有效减少短期内认知功能障碍发生率。     

胞磷胆碱胶囊治疗血管性认知障碍患者的疗效及对认知功能的影响

目的:研究胞磷胆碱胶囊治疗血管性认知障碍(VCI)患者的疗效及对认知功能的影响。方法:选取2016年1月至2021年12月郑州市中心医院收治的80例VCI患者作为研究对象,随机分为对照组和观察组,各40例。在口服抗血小板药物阿司匹林预防心血管事件和脑血管事件,口服降脂药物阿托伐他汀预防心血管事件,行生活方式干预、认知训练、心理治疗,缓解情绪问题和改善认知功能等基础上,对照组患者口服安慰剂治疗,观察组患者口服胞磷胆碱胶囊治疗。比较两组患者治疗效果、认知功能情况及生活质量。结果:观察组患者患者治疗有效率高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P <0.05)。治疗8周及16周,观察组患者认知功能评分、生活质量评分高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P <0.05)。结论:口服胞磷胆碱胶囊可以有效改善VCI患者的认知功能,提高治疗效果,改善患者生活质量。     

Influence of Imidazole-Dipeptides on Cognitive Status and Preservation in Elders: A Narrative Review

The worldwide increase in the number of patients with dementia is becoming a growing problem, while Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a primary neurodegenerative disorder, accounts for more than 70% of all dementia cases. Research on the prevention or reduction of AD occurrence through food ingredients has been widely conducted. In particular, histidine-containing dipeptides, also known as imidazole dipeptides derived from meat, have received much attention. Imidazole dipeptides are abundant in meats such as poultry, fish, and pork. As evidenced by data from recent human intervention trials conducted worldwide, daily supplementation of carnosine and anserine, which are both imidazole dipeptides, can improve memory loss in the elderly and reduce the risk of developing AD. This article also summarizes the latest researches on the biochemical properties of imidazole dipeptides and their effects on animal models associated with age-related cognitive decline. In this review, we focus on the results of human intervention studies using supplements of poultry-derived imidazole dipeptides, including anserine and carnosine, affecting the preservation of cognitive function in the elderly, and discuss how imidazole dipeptides act in the brain to prevent age-related cognitive decline and the onset of dementia.     

Diet Quality and Cognitive Performance in Australian Adults Aged 55–85 Years: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Hunter Community Study Cohort

There is a lack of evidence to determine if diet quality is associated with cognitive performance in older adults. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether diet quality is associated with cognitive performance among older adults. A cross-sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data from the Hunter Community Study (HCS), comparing diet quality, measured using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS), along with validated cognitive performance instruments the Audio Recorded Cognitive Screen (ARCS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were undertaken in adults aged 55–85 years, living in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Adjusted linear regression analyses showed that, compared with the lowest ARFS quintile, those in the highest quintile had an ARCS score 5.883 units greater (p < 0.001; R² = 0.0098). Furthermore, when quintiles of ARFS score were tested against each ARCS sub-scale score, statistically significant associations were observed with the greatest effect for the Memory (β = 4.055; p = 0.001; R² = 0.0065) and Attention (β = 4.136; p = 0.002; R² = 0.0047) domains. No statistically significant associations were observed between quintiles of ARFS and MMSE score in the adjusted linear regression analyses. In conclusion, a positive association was observed between diet quality and cognitive performance within this sample of older Australian adults. Further investigation of the above association over time, when follow-up data becomes available, in longitudinal analysis is recommended.     

Palm Fruit Bioactive Complex (PFBc), a Source of Polyphenols,Demonstrates Potential Benefits for Inflammaging and Related Cognitive Function

Cognitive function is a key aspect of healthy aging. Inflammation associated with normal aging, also called inflammaging is a primary risk factor for cognitive decline. A diet high in fruits and vegetable and lower in calories, particularly a Mediterranean Diet, may lower the risk of age-related cognitive decline due in part to the associated high intake of antioxidants and polyphenols. A phenolic, Palm Fruit Bioactive complex (PFBc) derived from the extraction process of palm oil from oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis), is reported to offset inflammation due to its high antioxidant, especially vitamin E, and polyphenol content. The benefit is thought to be achieved via the influence of antioxidants on gene expression. It is the purpose of this comprehensive review to discuss the etiology, including gene expression, of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) specific to dietary intake of antioxidants and polyphenols and to focus on the potential impact of nutritional interventions specifically PFBc has on MCI. Several in vitro, in vivo and animal studies support multiple benefits of PFBc especially for improving cognitive function via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. While more human studies are needed, those completed thus far support the benefit of consuming PFBc to enhance cognitive function via its anti-inflammatory antioxidant functions.