[Objective] The purpose is to determine the effect of Chaihu Plus Longgumuli Decoction(CD)on behaviors and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)level changed by psychological stress in rats.[Methods] Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to four groups as follows:normal(C),psychological stress model(P),CD(12.5g/kg,ig)+P(DP),and CD(25g/kg,ig)+P(HP).One week later,rats were subjected to psychological stress.The behaviors of rats were tested in open field conditions,and the plasma ACTH level was detected by radioimmunoassay.[Results] The crossing scores,the rearing cores and plasma ACTH level increased more significantly in the psychological stress model rats than that in normal group;Rats in both DP and HP groups showed lower crossing and rearing cores and blunted elevation of plasma ACTH after psychological stress compared with rats in psychological stress model.[Conclusion] The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical(HPA)axis function and anxiety-like behavior could be regulated by CD during psychological stress in rats.

Objectives To explore the clinical relationship between different degrees of Alzheimer's disease(AD) and trace elements and to provide information for control and prevention of AD.Methods From January 2015 to December 2015,125 AD patients in psychiatric hospital of the same city were randomly selected and divided into mild (n =28),moderate(n =42),and severe (n =55) AD group according to dementia degree.40 volunteers were recruited as healthy control group.The fasting contents of serum copper,iron and zinc were measured,and the data were statistically analyzed.Results Compared with healthy control group,the content of serum copper was(16.32 ±6.54)g/L in control group,(16.90±6.37)g/L in mild group,(20.31±6.74)g/L in moderate group,and(21.29 ± 6.92)g/L in severe AD group,increasing gradually in mild,moderate,and severe AD groups versus control group (F=6.318,P＜0.001).Serum copper levels howed significantly differences (P＜ 0.05) in severe AD group versus healthy control group or the mild AD group.The content of serum iron was (9.17 ± 4.71) g/L in control group,(7.82 ± 4.67) g/L in mild AD group,(7.71 ± 4.42) g/L in moderate AD group and (7.28 ± 4.19)g/L in severe AD group,decreasing significantly in mild,moderate and severe AD groups versus healthy control group(F=3.331,P =0.021).The content of serum zinc was (100.67 ± 9.78) g/L in control,(81.78 ± 9.91) g/L in mild,(66.48 ± 9.37) g/L in moderate,and(71.55± 8.97)g/L in severe AD group,decreasing significantly in mild,moderate and severe AD group versus the control group(F=123.168,P＜ 0.001).Serum copper,iron and zinc contents showed statistically differences in mild,moderate and severe AD groups versus in healthy control group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no interaction between dementia degree and serum iron concentration.In patients with moderate dementia and serum copper concentrations close to 20.31 mmol/L(F=10.098,P=0.000),or in patients with moderate dementia and serum zinc concentrations close to 66.48 mmol/L(F =7.433,P =0.001),behavioral and psychological symptoms were most obvious.Conclusions The serum levels of trace elements in patients with different degrees of AD may change differently.The content of serum copper is increased gradually,while the contents of serum iron and zinc are significantly decreased along with increased AD degree.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum soluble factor-related apoptosis (sFas) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and their relations with cognition disorders in the patients with vascular dementia (VaD). Methods Serum concentrations of sFas and sFasl were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared between 70 patients with VaD aged (72.5± 7.5)years and 50 healthy elderly people aged(72.5 ± 7.5)years.The VaD patient's cognitive functions were evaluated by activity of daily living scale (ADL),mini mental state examination (MMSE) and hachinski ischemia score (Hachinski). Results The serum levels of sFas and sFasL in VaD patients were (228.0±60.7)μg/L and (146.8±30.1)μg/L,and in the healthy elderly were (62.4±22.6)μg/L and (82.3 ± 18.7)μg/L,respectively.The serum levels of apoptosis factors in VaD patients were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (t=20.883,14.453,P＜0.01).sFas level was negatively correlated with age,the scores of ADL and Hachiuski while positively with the scores of MMSE (r=-0.956,-0.943,-0.950 and 0.904,all P＜0.01). sFasL level was negatively correlated with the scores of MMSE while positively with age,the scores of ADL and Hachinski (r=-0.899,0.963,0.948 and 0.939,a11 P＜0.01). Conclusions Apoptosis may be involved in the pathological change during VaD and the serum levels of sFas and sFasL might be related with cognition disorders.

Objective To investigate the changes and the clinical significance of serum concentration of soluble Fas (sFas) and Fas ligand (FasL) in the elderly. Methods Fifty elderly subjects and forty-seven adults were recruited. Serum concentration of sFas and EasL were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . Psychosocial stress and coping styles were also evaluated. Results The sFas level of the elderly was significantly higher than that in control group,whereas the EasL level was decreased with ageing (P<0.01). A positive correlation between sFas level and psychosocial stress, and a negative correlation between sFas level and positive coping were also found (all P<0. 05). Conclusions Age-related changes occur in serum sEas and EasL levels.The interaction of sFas/FasL system with psychosocial stress and coping styles seems to play important roles in immunosenescence. Our results also suggest that during aging a subtle balance between sFas and FasL could exist.