Objective To evaluate the effect of small-dose Lorazepam on residual dizziness in elderly patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) after successful particle repositioning maneuver (PRM).Methods A total of 268 patients aged 60 years and over, who were diagnosed as BPPV and underwent successful treatment of PRM, were randomly assigned to medication group and control group.The patients in the medication group were prescribed low-dose lorazepam for 1 week (0.25 mg/time, 3 times/d), whereas the patients in the control group were not prescribed any medication.Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) was employed to evaluate the anxiety status of patients before and after PRM, and the effect of small-dose lorazepam on residual dizziness was accessed by using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scale and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale in elderly BPPV patients after PRM.Results No difference in HAMA scores was found between the two groups (t=-0.316, P=0.753) before PRM.The medication group (t=19.931, P=0.000) and the control group (t=26.930, P=0.000) showed a significant improvement in HAMA scores after PRM versus before PRM.However, HAMA scores after PRM was lower in the medication group than in the control group (t=14.967, P=0.000).The medication group had significant improvements after PRM versus before PRM in the following: DHI scores (t=43.661, P=0.000), functional (t=32.326, P=0.000981), emotional (t=31.981, P=0.000), physical (t=14.330, P=0.000) subscale scores, as well as in the ABC scores (t=-23.248, P=0.000).The improvements were also found in the control group in DHI scores (t=46.282, P=0.000), functional (t=32.117, P=0.000), emotional (t=34.563, P=0.000),physical (t=13.182, P=0.000) subscale scores, as well as in the ABC scores(t=-24.536, P=0.000)after PRM versus before PRM.However, after PRM the total DHI score, functional,emotional and physical subscale scores were lower in medication group than in control group (t=5.994, 3.206, 4.757 and 2.851, respectively, P=0.009, 0.002, 0.000 and 0.005).The ABC scores were higher in medication group than in control group (t=2.678, P=0.008) after PRM.Conclusions The elderly patients with BPPV are often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.The small-dose Lorazepam can alleviate residual dizziness in elderly BPPV patients after successful PRM.

Objective To investigate the frequency of posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (PC-BPPV) in each ear,and to explore the effect of sleep position in lateral-predominance of ear by PC-BPPV during sleep onset in elderly patients. Methods Totally 114 patients aged (67.4±7.5) years with unilateral PC BPPV confirmed by a positive Dix Hallpike test,were retrospectively reviewed.All patients included in the study were able to define a leteral predominant,favorate head-lying side (right,left or supine position) during sleep onset. Results The Dix Hallpike test was found to be positive on the right side in 72 patients and positive on the left side in 42 cases.During sleep onset,61 patients habitually laid their head on the right side,34 laid their head on the left,and the remaining 19 cases on the supine position.Among 114 cases with positive Dix Hallpike test,there were 78 cases with the same side between affected ear and sleep position (52 cases right,26 cases left),36 cases with different side (9 cases with right position and left positive Dix Hallpike test,8 cases left position and right positive Dix Hallpike test,19 cases slept in a supine position including 12 cases with right positive Dix Hallpike test and 7 cases with left positive).The association between affected ear and head-lying side during sleep onset was statistically significant (x2 =35.737,P＜0.01) and Pearson coefficient of continency was 0.4885. Conclusions Among the elderly,right-sided PC-BPPV is popular,and these patients favorite right head-lying position during sleep.There is association between the affected side by PC-BPPV and the head-lying side during sleep.

Objective To compare the short term prognostic values between the four scores including ABCD,ABCD2,ABCD+ low density lipoprotein (ABCD+ LDL),ABCD2 + LDL after transient ischemic attack (TIA).Methods 235 TIA patients were evaluated according to ABCD score,ABCD2 score,ABCD + LDL score and ABCD2 + LDL score.The occurrence of cerebral infarction was observed at day 2 and 7.The predictive value was compared between the four scores by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Patients were classified into 3 risk groups:lowrisk group,moderate-risk group and high-risk group according to ABCD2 L score,and the stroke incidence was compared between the 3 groups by using x2 test.Results The area under ROC curves (AUCs) of ABCD、ABCD2、ABCDL and ABCD2L was 0.68 (95％CI:0.59-0.76),0.71 (95％CI:0.62-0.80),0.73 (95％CI:0.65-0.82) and 0.77 (95％CI:0.69-0.84) in predicting the risk of cerebral infarction at day 2,and were 0.73 (95％CI:0.66-0.81),0.77 (95％CI:0.70 0.84),0.80(95％CI:0.74-0.87) and 0.83 (95％CI:0.76-0.89) in predicting the risk of cerebral infarction at day 7 respectively.Patients were divided into 3 groups:low-risk group (score 0-2) (n =28),moderate-risk group (score 3-5) (n=143) and high-risk group (score 6-8) (n=45) according to ABCD2L score.There were significant differences in stroke incidence at day 2 and 7 between the 3groups (0％,9.1％ vs.32.8％,0％,11.9％ vs.56.3％,x2=26.15,58.87,both P＜0.05).Conclusions ABCD2 score is better than ABCD score in predicting the short-term prognosis of transient ischemic attack.Combining ABCD2 score with LDL can significantly increase the predictive value of ABCD2 score.

Objective To analyze the characterization of cognitive function in Parkinson's disease with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Methods Cognitive function was examined in Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) patients ( n = 30) , Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients ( n = 30) and healthy elderly control subjects ( n = 60) . Neuropsychological evaluation contained semantic fluency test, phonemic fluency test, action fluency test, objective and action naming tests. Results In PDD group , the score of semantic fluency test is 9. 33 ±2. 78, 6. 17 ± 1.67 of phonemic fluency test and 7.03 ±2. 34 of action fluency test,it is 6.90 ±2.47, 7.87±2.01,8.30±3. 17 of AD group. The score of objective and action naming tests is 36.33 ±3.39, 17.63 ±2. 17 in PDD group,while AD patients is 33.23 ±3.56 and 22.33 ±2.37. The verbal fluency tests and naming tests were impaired in PDD and AD patients compared with the healthy elderly control group (P ＜ 0. 01 ), phonemic fluency, action fluency and action naming were more impaired in PDD patients compared with the AD group , while semantic fluency and objective naming were more impaired in AD patients (P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions Executive function deficit and naming impairment are found in PDD and AD patients, it shows that PDD is characterized by the addition of cortical dysfunction upon a predominant and progressive fronto-subcortical impairment. There is subcortical dysfunction in AD patients.

Objective To investigate the changes in plasma microRNA-126 and microRNA-1 in children with asthma exacerbation and its relationship with bronchial asthma.Methods From October 2012 to December 2013,48 children with asthma exacerbation from the Outpatient Department and the Inpatient Department in Houjie Hospital Affiliated to Guangdong Medical College were enrolled in the study (asthma group).Meanwhile,52 healthy children wcre selected as the healthy control group.The expression levels of plasma microRNA-126 and microRNA-1 were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR).The content of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in plasma was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The predictive value of microRNA-126 and microRNA-1 in plasma to bronchial asthma was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results The relative expression levels of plasma microRNA-126 in the asthma group were upregulated compared with those in the healthy control group [7.36 (0.96-41.21) vs 3.68 (0.75-38.91),Z =3.135,P =0.038],and microRNA-1 relative expression levels in the asthma group were lower than those of the healthy control group [2.17 (0.18-26.97) vs 5.83 (0.82-39.62),Z =2.156,P =0.045].The content of IL-4 in asthma group was higher than those of the control group [(109.98 ± 74.58) ng/L vs (78.50 ± 75.82) ng/L,t =2.122,P =0.036],and the IFN-γ level in the asthma group was lower than those of the healthy control group [(70.49 ± 12.03) ng/L vs (77.03 ± 17.16) ng/L,t =2.270,P =0.025].In the plasma of patients with asthma exacerbation,the sensitivity of microRNA-126 and microRNA-1 was 85.42％ (41/48 cases)and 79.17％ (38/48 cases),respectively.The specificity of microRNA-126 and microRNA-1 in healthy controls was 78.85％ (41/52 cases) and 73.08％ (38/52 cases),respectively.The area under ROC curve of microRNA-126 and microRNA-1 was 0.919 (95％ CI 0.866-0.973),0.867 (95％ CI 0.796-0.939).Conclusions MicroRNA-126 is significantly elevated in plasma of children with asthma exacerbation.The plasma levels of microRNA-1 were significantly downregulated.These results suggest that microRNA-126 and microRNA-1 may be potential markers for the diagnosis of bronchial asthma.

Improving liver regeneration (LR) remains a medical issue, and there is currently a lack of safe and effective drugs for LR. Rhizoma Dioscoreae (SanYak, SY) is a traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying action mechanism of SY treatment for LR is yet to be fully elucidated. To explore the mechanism by which SY affects LR, we have conducted a series of methods for network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo experimental validation in mice. Overall, 9 compounds and 30 predicted target genes of SY were found to be associated with the therapeutic effects of LR. Compared with the model group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the mice with preoperative drug intervention possessed fewer postoperative hepatocyte bubbles and relatively regular morphology. Furthermore, the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reduced, immunohistochemistry revealed elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity rate, and Western blotting demonstrated that the phospho-protein kinase B (AKT)/AKT ratio was downregulated and that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels were upregulated. This study explored dioscin, the main active ingredient of SY, and its potential therapeutic effects on LR. It repairs damaged liver following surgery and promotes liver cell proliferation. The action mechanism comprises reducing AKT phosphorylation levels and upregulating VEGFA expression levels. Thus, this study provides a new direction for further research on the mechanism of SY promoting LR.

Improving liver regeneration (LR) remains a medical issue, and there is currently a lack of safe and effective drugs for LR. Rhizoma Dioscoreae (SanYak, SY) is a traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying action mechanism of SY treatment for LR is yet to be fully elucidated. To explore the mechanism by which SY affects LR, we have conducted a series of methods for network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo experimental validation in mice. Overall, 9 compounds and 30 predicted target genes of SY were found to be associated with the therapeutic effects of LR. Compared with the model group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the mice with preoperative drug intervention possessed fewer postoperative hepatocyte bubbles and relatively regular morphology. Furthermore, the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reduced, immunohistochemistry revealed elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity rate, and Western blotting demonstrated that the phospho-protein kinase B (AKT)/AKT ratio was downregulated and that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels were upregulated. This study explored dioscin, the main active ingredient of SY, and its potential therapeutic effects on LR. It repairs damaged liver following surgery and promotes liver cell proliferation. The action mechanism comprises reducing AKT phosphorylation levels and upregulating VEGFA expression levels. Thus, this study provides a new direction for further research on the mechanism of SY promoting LR.

Improving liver regeneration (LR) remains a medical issue, and there is currently a lack of safe and effective drugs for LR. Rhizoma Dioscoreae (SanYak, SY) is a traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying action mechanism of SY treatment for LR is yet to be fully elucidated. To explore the mechanism by which SY affects LR, we have conducted a series of methods for network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo experimental validation in mice. Overall, 9 compounds and 30 predicted target genes of SY were found to be associated with the therapeutic effects of LR. Compared with the model group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the mice with preoperative drug intervention possessed fewer postoperative hepatocyte bubbles and relatively regular morphology. Furthermore, the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reduced, immunohistochemistry revealed elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity rate, and Western blotting demonstrated that the phospho-protein kinase B (AKT)/AKT ratio was downregulated and that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels were upregulated. This study explored dioscin, the main active ingredient of SY, and its potential therapeutic effects on LR. It repairs damaged liver following surgery and promotes liver cell proliferation. The action mechanism comprises reducing AKT phosphorylation levels and upregulating VEGFA expression levels. Thus, this study provides a new direction for further research on the mechanism of SY promoting LR.

Improving liver regeneration (LR) remains a medical issue, and there is currently a lack of safe and effective drugs for LR. Rhizoma Dioscoreae (SanYak, SY) is a traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying action mechanism of SY treatment for LR is yet to be fully elucidated. To explore the mechanism by which SY affects LR, we have conducted a series of methods for network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo experimental validation in mice. Overall, 9 compounds and 30 predicted target genes of SY were found to be associated with the therapeutic effects of LR. Compared with the model group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the mice with preoperative drug intervention possessed fewer postoperative hepatocyte bubbles and relatively regular morphology. Furthermore, the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reduced, immunohistochemistry revealed elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity rate, and Western blotting demonstrated that the phospho-protein kinase B (AKT)/AKT ratio was downregulated and that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels were upregulated. This study explored dioscin, the main active ingredient of SY, and its potential therapeutic effects on LR. It repairs damaged liver following surgery and promotes liver cell proliferation. The action mechanism comprises reducing AKT phosphorylation levels and upregulating VEGFA expression levels. Thus, this study provides a new direction for further research on the mechanism of SY promoting LR.

Improving liver regeneration (LR) remains a medical issue, and there is currently a lack of safe and effective drugs for LR. Rhizoma Dioscoreae (SanYak, SY) is a traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying action mechanism of SY treatment for LR is yet to be fully elucidated. To explore the mechanism by which SY affects LR, we have conducted a series of methods for network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo experimental validation in mice. Overall, 9 compounds and 30 predicted target genes of SY were found to be associated with the therapeutic effects of LR. Compared with the model group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the mice with preoperative drug intervention possessed fewer postoperative hepatocyte bubbles and relatively regular morphology. Furthermore, the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reduced, immunohistochemistry revealed elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity rate, and Western blotting demonstrated that the phospho-protein kinase B (AKT)/AKT ratio was downregulated and that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels were upregulated. This study explored dioscin, the main active ingredient of SY, and its potential therapeutic effects on LR. It repairs damaged liver following surgery and promotes liver cell proliferation. The action mechanism comprises reducing AKT phosphorylation levels and upregulating VEGFA expression levels. Thus, this study provides a new direction for further research on the mechanism of SY promoting LR.