AIM: To investigate the protective effect of rifampicin on rotenone-induced apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons and expression of ?-synuclein in rats.METHODS: Highly selective lesions and high expression of ?-synuclein in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in rats were induced by chronic subcutaneous exposure to rotenone at dose of 1.5 mg?kg-1?d-1 for 3 weeks.At the same time,rifampicin was administered at dose of 30 mg?kg-1?d-1 by intragastric administration for 3 weeks.The changes of behavior,pathology and immunoreactivity of TH and ?-synuclein in SNc were observed.RESULTS: Obvious changes of behavior,pathology and TH immunoreactivity in SNc were observed in male SD rats injected subcutaneously with rotenone and rifampicin protected rats against these toxic effects induced by rotenone.CONCLUSION: Rifampicin has extensive protective effects against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity,which is related to inhibiting the expression and aggregation of ?-synuclein.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A for injection in the treatment of post-stroke upper limb spasticity (dosage was 200 U,or 240 U if combined with thumb spasticity).Methods The study was a multi-center,stratified block randomized,double-blind,placebocontrolled trial.All the qualificd subjects were from 15 clinical centers from September 2014 to February 2016.They were randomized (2∶1) to injections of botulinum toxin type A made in China (200-240 U;n =118) or placebo (n =60) in pivotal phase after informed consent signed.The study was divided into two stages.The pivotal trial phase included a one-week screening,12-week double-blind treatment,followed by an expanded phase which included six-week open-label treatment.The tone of the wrist,finger,thumb flexors was assessed at baseline and at weeks 0,1,4,6,8,12,16 and 18 using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS),disability in activities of daily living was rated using the Disability Assessment Scale and impaction on pain,muscle tone and deformity was assessed using the Global Assessment Scale.The primary endpoint was the score difference between botulinum toxin type A and placebo groups in the tone of the wrist flexor using MAS at six weeks compared to baseline.Results Muscle tone MAS score in the wrist flexor of botulinum toxin type A and placebo groups at six weeks changed-1.00 (-2.00,-1.00) and 0.00 (-0.50,0.00) respectively from baseline.Botulinum toxin type A was significantly superior to placebo for the primary endpoint (Z =6.618,P ＜ 0.01).The safety measurement showed 10 subjects who received botulinum toxin type A had 13 adverse reactions,with an incidence of 8.47％ (10/118),and three subjects who received placebo had three adverse reactions,with an incidence of 5.00％ (3/60) during the pivotal trial phase.All adverse reactions were mild to moderate,none serious.There was no significant difference in adverse reactions incidence between the botulinum toxin type A and the placebo groups.During the expanded phase three subjects had four adverse reactions and the incidence was 1.95％.All adverse reactions were mild,none serious.Conclusion Botulinum toxin type A was found to be safe and efficacious for the treatment of post-stroke upper limb spasticity.Clinical Trial Registration:China Drug Trials,CTR20131191

Objective To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and brain natrium peptide (BNP) in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF),and to explore the correlation between plasma levels of TGF-β1,BNP and TGF-β1/BNP with parameter of diastolic function,diastolic dysfunction and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification of cardiac function.Methods Hospitalized patients with DHF from October 2016 to November 2017 in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital were selected as subjects.At the same time,the age-and gender-matched non-heart failure hospitalized patients were selected as the control.The diastolic function index (E/e') was measured using cardiac ultrasound spectral Doppler and tissue Doppler methods.The diastolic dysfunction classification was evaluated according to the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines.Cardiac function was evaluated with NYHA classification.The levels of plasma TGF-β1 and BNP were measured with method of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The correlation between the indicators was analyzed and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn.Results A total of 186 patients were enrolled,including 114 patients as DHF group [54 males and 60 females,mean age (70.75 ± 11.45) years old] and 72 cases as control group [41 males and 31 females,mean age (68.74 ± 10.86) years old].The levels of TGF-β1 [(77.68 ± 42.31) ng/L] and BNP [(1 153.84 ± 564.96) ng/L] in patients with DHF were significantly higher than those of the control group [(18.76 ± 13.70),(264.07 ± 179.43) ng/L,t =15.62,13.77,P ＜ 0.01].Pearson correlation analysis showed that level of plasma TGF-β1 had a significant liner correlation with index E/e' (r =0.582,P ＜ 0.01),level of plasma BNP had a low-degree liner correlation with index E/e' (r =0.261,P ＜ 0.01),and TGF-β1/BNP had no correlation with index E/e' (r =0.081,P ＞ 0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that the levels of TGF-β1 and BNP were significantly correlated with diastolic dysfunction grading (r =0.473,0.417,P ＜ 0.01),while TGF-β1/BNP had no correlation with diastolic dysfunction grading (r =0.062,P ＞ 0.05).Plasma TGF-β1 and BNP had low-degree correlation with NYHA classification of heart failure (r =0.309,0.326,P ＜ 0.01),TGF-β1/BNP had no correlation with NYHA classification of heart failure (r =0.011,P ＞ 0.05).Logistic analysis showed that both plasma TGF-β1 and BNP were independent predictors of DHF (OR =1.264,2.283,P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).The area under ROC curve (AUC) of BNP for prediction of DHF was 0.937 ± 0.064,and TGF-β1 was 0.597 ± 0.042.AUC areas of BNP and TGF-β1 were significantly different (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The expressions of plasma TGF-β1 and BNP in patients with DHF are higher than those without DHF.The levels of plasma TGF-β1 and BNP are significantly correlated with index E/e',diastolic dysfunction grading and NYHA classification.Both elevated BNP and TGF-β1 levels are independent predictors of DHF.Both plasma BNP and TGF-β1 have auxiliary diagnostic value on DHF and the diagnostic value of plasma BNP is greater than plasma TGF-β1.

Humans ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; therapy