Objective To examine the caregivers' burden and quality of life (QOL) of main caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease by analyzing caregiver and patient-related factors. Methods A total of 53 cases with Parkinson's disease seen from October 2012 to December 2013 in Yantaishan hospital of Yantai City were selected. Assessments: (a) EuroQol-5 questionnaires, including: EQ-5 dimensions (EQ -5d) and visual analogue scale (VAS). (b) Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. (c) Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y) stage; (d) Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS), 15 items; (e) Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMD-14), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMA-24); (f) Chinese version of Zarit caregiver burden interview. Results Spearman correlation analysis showed that the EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS negatively correlated with HAMD-14 of caregivers of Parkinson diseasepatients (r=- 0.318, - 0.046) (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with H-Y staging (r=-0.592, -0.531), UPDRSI (r=-0.434, -0.316) , UPDRS Ⅱ (r=0.521, 0.513) , UPDRS Ⅲ (r=0.520, 0.534), UPDRS Ⅳ (r=0.564, 0.509), PDSS in patients with Parkinson's disease (r=0.547, 0.490), HAMD-14 (r=0.315, 0.350), HAMA-24 (r=0.413, 0.401) of Parkinson's disease patients (P<0.05). Caregiver burden was related with HAMD-14 (r=0.496), HAMA-24 (r=0.551),H-Y stage (r=0.697), PDSS (r=0.659), UPDRS Ⅰ-Ⅳ (r=0.538, 0.668, 0.696, 0.600), EQ-5D index of Parkinson disease patients (r=0.682), EQ-VAS of Parkinson disease patients (r=0.670) (P<0.05); and positively related with anxiety of caregivers (r=0.275) , and a negative correlation with the caregivers' quality of lives (r=0.665) (P<0.05). Bivariate analyses showed significant correlations between caregiver burden and patients' sleep, scores of Parkinson's motor symptoms, and caregivers' depression. Based on multiple regression analysis, Zarit score proved to be the main predictor of caregivers' QOL. Caregivers' age, total numbers of caregivers and H-Y stage also proved to be a relevant factor. Conclusion Improvement of patient's sleep, motor symptoms anddepression might alleviate caregivers' strain. There is a correlation between caregivers' burden and QOL. QOL of caregivers can be improved through reducing their care-burden.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of the Hubei Wingnut ( Malus hapehensis ) leaf decoction (MHD) against conjunctivitis infected with human simplex virus type I (HSV-1). Methods Malus hupehcnsis decoction was used as the active treatment and ribavirin ( RBV) eye drop was used as the positive control. Both of the Vero cells and rabbit eye conjunctiva were infected with HSV-1. The effect and mechanism of the MHD on viral replication was determined by observing the cytopathic effect ( CPE) . The efficacy of MHD at different doses on the rabbit viral conjunctivitis was examined by pathological changes of eye conjunctiva tissues. Results MHD did not inhibit the proliferation of HSV-1 in vitro. The inflammatory reactions of rabbit viral conjunctivitis caused by HSV-1 were obviously attenuated or disappeared after treatment with MHD at 6 kg·L-1 and 3 kg·L-1 for 7 consecutive days,compared with the negative control of 0. 9% NaCl. The curative rate of MHD at the middle and high doses was 83. 3% and 100. 0%, respectively. Conclusion MHD has the potential for treating eye conjunctivitis caused by HSV-1 by relieving inflammation.

Objective To analyze the status of quality of life (QOL) and the related factors in pa-tients with uasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy, and to explore the significance of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in decreasing side effects and improving QOL. Methods A questionnaire including 35 items was designed according to EORTC QLQ-30 and the related symptoms and side effects of NPC. 142 NPC patients surviving with disease-free after radiotherapy were surveyed for the evaluation of QOL. The median follow-up was 25 months. The information of social demography and clinical details were collected. The patients were divided into IMRT group (75 patients) and conventional radiotherapy (CRT) group (67 patients). A statistical software package SAS 8.1 was used to compare the marks of QOL between the groups and analyze the influencing factors. Results In IMRT group and CRT group, the marks of affec-tire cognitive domain were 82.8±14.7 and 77.5±16.0(t=2.07, P=0.040);and the marks of disease and treatment-related symptoms, and reactive domain were 78.9±10.3 and 69.8±13.3 (t=4.59, P=0.000). The marks were significantly different in xerostomia, trismus, deglutitory choke, hoarseness, re-striction of neck movement and dysphagia (P < 0.05). Of the influencing factors of QOL, the domain of body function was sex (regression coefficient was -4.692), the self-evaluation of total QOL were follow-up time and educational background (regression coefficients were -0.618 and 12.316, respectively), the fi-nancial status was family monthly income per capita (regression coefficient was -11.133), and the disease and treatment-related symptoms and reactive domain were group (techniques of radiation) and age (regression coefficients were -9.384 and -5.853, respectively). Conclusions IMRT could improve the QOL through decreasing the side effects of patients with NPC including xerostomia, trismus, restriction of neck movement and dysphagia. Sex, age, family monthly income per capita, educational background, fol-low-up time and the irradiation techniques may affect QOL.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leukosialin ; metabolism ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Cervicitis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of asthma and its correlated factors in Zaozhuang area in 2003, to provide a basic consideration for prevention/treatment and control policy.

METHODS6 points were selected by stratified-clusterd-random sampling with a total of 16,725 persons expected, but only 10,610 subjects investigated.

RESULTSIn this survey, 128 asthma cases were identified with a overall prevalence of 1.21%. The prevalence for children was 2.02%, and for adult was 0.90% with the former significantly higher then the latter (chi(2) = 21.39, P < 0.01). Rates for male and female were 1.08%, 1.32% with a ratio of 1:1.22. For 77.97% of children with asthma. The initiative age of asthma was before 7 years old among children while among 36.23% of the adults, it was before 15 years of age. Correlation analysis showed that upper respiratory tract infection (OR = 17.81, 95% CI: 12.25-25.89), cold air exposure (OR = 3.43, 95% CI: 2.41-4.90), stimulation through cooking and by harmful gases (OR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.80-3.63), allergic materials (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.80-4.17) were main inducing factors. 65.63% of the asthma cases having had history of allergic disease while 25.78% having had family history with the OR of allergic history and family history as 21.69 vs. 73.96.

CONCLUSIONThe epidemic status of bronchial asthma was serious, with an assumption that asthma cases might have reached the number of 43 thousand in Zaozhuang area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) deficiency in brain on spatial learning and memory in rats.

METHODSSprague Dawley rats were fed with an n-3 fatty acid deficient diet for two generations to induce DHA depletion in brain. DHA in seven brain regions was analyzed using the gas-liquid chromatography. Morris water maze (MWM) was employed as an assessing index of spatial learning and memory in the n-3 fatty acid deficient adult rats of second generation.

RESULTSFeeding an n-3 deficient diet for two generations depleted DHA differently by 39%-63% in the seven brain regions including cerebellum, medulla, hypothalamus, striatum, hippocampus, cortex and midbrain. The MWM test showed that the n-3 deficient rats took a longer time and swam a longer distance to find the escape platform than the n-3 Adq group.

CONCLUSIONThe spatial learning and memory in adult rats are partially impaired by brain DHA depletion.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; metabolism ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between occupational stress and other socio-psychological factors and work-related unintentional injury in off-shore oil production.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 561 Chinese off-shore oil workers. They were inquired with a self-administered questionnaire involving in socio-demographic characteristics, occupational stress, type A behavior personnel, social support and coping style, and work-related unintentional injury in the past year.

RESULTSSeventy-six (13.5%) workers experienced work-related unintentional injury for once time or more in the past year. A total 141 number of person-times were counted including 18 person-times being serious injury, 26 person-times moderate, and 97 person-times light. After adjustment for age, educational level, marital status, duration of off-shore work and job title, logistic regression indicated that perceived stress from "management problem and relationship with others" were significantly associated with work-related unintentional injuries in the past year (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.05-1.68; P < 0.05). Workers lack of emotional support from friends seemed to less reporting on work-related unintentional injuries (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.22-0.63).

CONCLUSIONThe results implied emphasizing on that the training and guidance as well as better cooperation among the workers might reduce work-related unintentional injuries in off-shore oil industry.

Accidents, Occupational ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Fuel Oils ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; complications ; Stress, Psychological ; complications ; Wounds and Injuries ; etiology ; prevention & control

The effects of mangiferin on uric acid excretion, kidney function and related renal transporters were investigated in hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxonate. Mice were divided into normal control group, and 5 hyperuricemic groups with model control, 50, 100, and 200 mg x kg(-1) mangiferin, and 5 mg x kg(-1) allopurinol. Mice were administered by gavage once daily with 250 mg x kg(-1) potassium oxonate for seven consecutive days to create the model. And 3 doses of mangiferin were orally initiated on the day 1 h after potassium oxonate was given, separately. Serum uric acid, creatinine and urea nitrogon levels, as well as urinary uric acid creatinine levels were measured. Mouse uromodulin (mUMOD) levels in serum, urine and kidney were determined by ELISA method. The mRNA and protein levels of related renal transporters were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blotting methods, respectively. Compared to model group, mangiferin significantly reduced serum uric acid, creatinine and urea nitrogon levels, increased 24 h uric acid and creatinine excretion, and fractional excretion of uric acid in hyperuricemic mice, exhibiting uric acid excretion enhancement and kidney function improvement. Mangiferin was found to down-regulate mRNA and protein levels of urate transporter 1 (mURAT1) and glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9), as well as up-regulate organic anion transporter 1 (mOAT1) in the kidney of hyperuricemic mice. These findings suggested that mangiferin might enhance uric acid excretion and in turn reduce serum uric acid level through the decrease of uric acid reabsorption and the increase of uric acid secretion in hyperuricemic mice. Moreover, mangiferin remarkably up-regulated expression levels of renal organic cation and carnitine transporters (mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2), increased urine mUMOD levels, as well as decreased serum and kidney mUMOD levels in hyperuricemic mice, which might be involved in mangiferin-mediated renal protective action.
Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Creatinine ; blood ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hyperuricemia ; blood ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; urine ; Kidney ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Octamer Transcription Factor-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Anion Transport Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Anion Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Cation Transporter 2 ; Oxonic Acid ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Solute Carrier Family 22 Member 5 ; Uric Acid ; blood ; urine ; Uromodulin ; blood ; urine ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo detect the effects of lumbar vertebrae Gucuofeng on the substance P content of hypothalamus and dorsal root ganglia in rat models.

METHODSA hundred and twenty SPF level SD male rats with the weight of 350 to 450 g were randomly divided into rotary fixation group (RF group), simple fixation group (SF group) and sham-operation group (Sham group). The external link fixation system was implanted into the L4-L6 of rats in RF group and SF group; and in RF group, that the L5 spinous process was rotated to the right resulted in L4, L5, L6 spinous process not collinear; in SF group, the external link fixation system was simply implanted and not rotated. The rats of Sham group were not implanted the external link fixation system and only open and suture. The substance P content of hypothalamus and dorsal root ganglia were detected at 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks after operation.

RESULTSSubstance P content of hypothalamus in RF group and SF group was lower than Sham group at 1, 4, 8 weeks after operation (P<0.05). Substance P content of dorsal root ganglia was higher than Sham group at 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks after operation (P<0.05). There was no significant differences in the substance P content of hypothalamus among three groups at 12 weeks after operation (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONLumbar vertebrae Gucuofeng can inhibit the analgesic activity of substance P in hypothalamus and promote the synthesis and transmission of substance P in dorsal root ganglia, so as to cause or aggravate the pain.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ganglia, Spinal ; chemistry ; Hypothalamus ; chemistry ; Joint Dislocations ; metabolism ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance P ; analysis ; physiology

Objective To understand the role of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-dependent activation of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1 (caspase-1) in mediating the neuroinflammatory response in mice with MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine)-induced Parkinson's disease(PD) and to investigate the underlying mechanism. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups:experimental and control groups. MPTP solution (30 mg·kg-1·d-1) was given to mice through intraperitoneal injection to prepare the PD model and equal amount of saline was used to set up the control group. Changes in mouse behavior were observed through pole climbing and suspension experiment. Expression of inflammasome in the midbrain of mice was detected by Western blot. SH-SY5Y cells,a human neuroblastoma cell line,were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into five groups including control,nonsense,siRNA-NLRP3,MPP+(1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) and siRNA+MPP+groups. siRNA-NLRP3 was transfected into SH-SY5Y cells using Lipofectamine 2000 to silence the expression of NLRP3 gene. Then the transfected cells were incubated with MPP+for 48 h to observe the protective effect of NLRP3 on nerve cells. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to measure the viability and the apoptosis rate of SH-SY5Y cells,respectively. Western blot was used to detect the levels of NLRP3,B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3. Results Compared with the control group,the mice in the experimental group spent more time climbing from the top to the bottom of the pole (P<0. 05),got a lower score on suspension experiment (P<0. 05) and showed enhanced expression of NLRP3, IL-1β,Pro-IL-1β and caspase-1 in the substantia nigra (P<0. 05). Compared with the MPP+group,the siR-NA+MPP+group showed significantly inhibited expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax ( P<0. 05),enhanced cell viability (P<0. 05),suppressed cell apoptosis (P<0. 05) and promoted expression of Bcl-2 ( P<0. 05). Conclusion NLRP3-dependent activation of caspase-1 plays an important role in the nerve injury in PD. Inhibition of NLRP3 expression in vitro can significantly enhance the vitality and inhibit the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells,which may have a protective effect on nerve cells through regulating mito-chondrial apoptosis signaling pathway and provide a new drug target for the treatment of PD.