Objective To compare the clinic features of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis(MS).To compare the positive rate of NMO-IgG in NMO,MS and other related diseases,and determine whether it can be considered as a biomarker for differential diagnosis.Methods Detected serum NMO-IgG in 34 NMO patients,22 MS patients,24 high risk syndrome,5 clinical isolated syndrome,and 35 patients with other neumlogical diseases.Compared the clinic features(onset age,severity,prognosis,MRI lesions,autoimmune antibodies,CSF)of 34 NMO patients and 22 MS patients.Results The onset age of NMO is older than that of MS.It is more severe and with worse prognosis than MS.Longitudinal spinal cord lesions are easily found in NMO.NMO-IgG positive rate in NMO and high risk syndrome patients are 58.8% (20/34)and 45.8%(11/24)respectively,which are higher than that in MS(1/22),clinical isolated syndrome(1/5)and other neurological diseases(1/35;x2=37.2,P<0.01).The positive rate may have a relationship with the length of spinal cord lesions.Condusions MS and NMO are probably different diseases.NMO-IgG positive rate in NMO is significandy higher than that in MS,it can be considered as a biomarker for differential diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on gap junction protein Cx43 expression in the hippocampal region in ischemia/reperfusion rats.Methods Wistar rats were randomized into normal, model, non-point acupuncture and acupuncture groups. A rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was made by modified middle cerebral artery thread occlusion. The model, non-point acupuncture and acupuncture groups were separately divide into four subgroups: 30, 60, 180 and 360 min ischemia/reperfusion, 10 rats each. The middle and lateral lines of vertex were given electroacupuncture in the acupuncture group of rats. A subcostal fixed point 10 mm above the iliac crest on the affect side was selected as an acupuncture point in the non-point acupuncture group. The model group was not treated. Cx43 protein expression was determined by an immunohistochemical method.Results There was a statistically significant difference in the behavior disorder (Bederson’s) score between the acupuncture group and the non-point acupuncture or model group after different times of cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in hippocampal Cx43 content between model, acupuncture or non-point acupuncture group and the normal group and between the acupuncture group and the model or non-point acupuncture group after different times of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (P<0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture can inhibit the overexpression of Cx43, intervene in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and produce a neuroprotective effect in ischemic brain injury.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety in treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods A total of 233 patients with mild to moderate potential AD were enrolled in a 16-week multi-center double blind clinical trial. All patients were randomized into two groups. 110 patients in galantamine group and 108 patients in donepezil group were enrolled in efficacy analysis. The scales of Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog), Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADCS-ADL) and The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were used to assess the effect at both baseline and the end of 16 weeks. Safety issues, including vital signs, lab assays and ECG examinations were measured. Results Patients in both groups were obviously improved in the total score of ADAS-cog (-5.4?6.4) in the galantamine group and (-4.0?7.3) in the donepezil group, P=0.098). 76% patients of the galantamine group had a score of ADAS-cog less than 20 at the end of 16 weeks treatment, which was higher than that of the donepezil group (58%, P=0.015). The sub-score of speech ability in ADAS-cog were improved in the galantamine group (baseline 2.8?2.9,16 weeks 1.8?2.5) compared with the donepezil group (baseline 2.8?3.0, 16 weeks 2.3?2.9, P=0.035). No significant difference of ADSC-ADL and NPI scale was found between the two groups (P=0.447 and 0.936 respectively). The sleep/night behavior was improved in the donepezil group (baseline 14%, 16 weeks 10%) compared with the galantamine group (baseline 23%, 16 weeks 22%, P=0.012). Two drug-related severe adverse events occurred during the trial, which were platelet reduction in the galantamine group and acute drug-induced hepatic injury in the donepezil group. The incidence of adverse events was 44% in the galantamine group and 47% in the donepezil group respectively. Galantamine had little influence on vital signs and lab assays. Conclusion Safe and well tolerated, galantamine improves the cognition, activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients with mild to moderate AD.

ObjectiveTo explore the anti-gout effect and mechanism of Derris eriocarpa extract by network pharmacological analysis combined with in vivo and in vitro experimental verification. MethodThe chemical components and candidate targets of D. eriocarpa were obtained from the database. The key targets and potential active components of D. eriocarpa in the treatment of gout were screened by the protein-protein interaction analysis， and then the Gene Ontology （GO） functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment were performed for the key targets. A mouse model of hyperuricemia was established by intraperitoneal injection of hypoxanthine to observe the effect of D. eriocarpa alcohol extract on hyperuricemia. A rat model of gouty inflammation induced by the injection of microcrystalline sodium urate crystals into the foot and plantar was used to observe the effect of D. eriocarpa alcohol extract on gouty inflammation. A xylene-induced acute inflammation model was established to observe the anti-inflammatory effect of D. eriocarpa alcohol extract. The hot plate test and twisting test were performed to observe the pain-relieving effect of D. eriocarpa. The lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced RAW264.7 cells were used to study the anti-gout effect and mechanism of D. eriocarpa alcohol extract. ResultA total of 12 key targets and 15 potential active components were obtained from the D. eriocarpa-component-gout target network. The emodin， betulinic acid， and medicarpin endowed D. eriocarpa with anti-hyperuricemia， anti-inflammatory， and pain-relieving effects by acting on Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， NOD-like reception protein 3 （NLRP3）， and nuclear factor （NF）-κB. Compared with the control group， the model groups showed elevated serum uric acid level in mice （P<0.01）， increased swelling degree of rats （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated the auricular swelling of mice （P<0.05）， reduced the twisting times of mice （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased the hot plate pain threshold （P<0.05）. Moreover， the model group showed up-regulated mRNA level of TLR4 and protein levels of TLR4， NF-κB， and NLRP3 in cells （P<0.01）， and elevated levels of TLR4 and NF-κB in the cell supernatant （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the alcoholic extracts （20， 10， 5 g·kg^-1） of D. eriocarpa lowered the serum uric acid level in hyperuricemic mice （P<0.01）， inhibited foot and plantar swelling in rats （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated the mRNA level of TLR4 and the protein levels of TLR4， NF-κB， NLRP3 in cells， and lowered the levels of TLR4， TNF-α， NF-κB， and IL-6 in cell supernatants （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionD. eriocarpa alcohol extract may exert the anti-gout， anti-inflammatory， and pain-relieving effects by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.