Adult ; Aged ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications

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.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tiaozhi Jiangtang Tablet (TJT) on insulin resistance (IR) in rats with diebetes mellitus type 2.

METHODSThe model rats of diebetes mellitus were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30mg/kg) and feeding with high lipid forage. The rats in the TJT group were treated with TJT and those in the metformin group treated with metformin as positive controls. The glucose infusion rate (GIR) was detected by glucose clamp technique after treatment for 8 weeks. At the same time, fasting blood glucose ( FBG), fasting insulin ( FINS), free fatty acids ( FFA), total cholesterol ( TC), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured respectively, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and HDL-C/TC calculated. The changes of insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism were evaluated.

RESULTSTC, TG, HDL-C/TC, FINS, and FFA significantly reduced in the TJT group as compared with those in the control group, while ISI and GIR significantly increased, the effects of TJT were similar to those of metformin.

CONCLUSIONTJT is effective in increasing insulin sensitivity and improving glucose and lipid metabolisms in rats with diebetes mellitus type 2.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; blood ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Rats ; Tablets ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo critically evaluate the currently available randomized clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients, hence, to provide sufficient evidences for the widespread use of acupuncture in cancer treatment.

METHODSTwo independent reviewers extracted data from all of the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients. Seven databases were searched from their respective inception to December 2010. All eligible trials identified were evaluated by two independent reviewers using the Jadad scale, and data from the articles were validated and extracted.

RESULTSIn total, 33 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The effects of acupuncture on different cancer-related aspects were shown, including chemotherapy or radiotherapy-induced side effects (13/33, 39.4%), cancer pain (6/33, 18.2%), post-operative urinary retention (4/33, 12.1%), quality of life (2/33, 6.1%), vasomotor syndrome (2/33, 6.1%), post-operative gastrointestinal dysfunction (2/33, 6.1%), prevention of prolonged postoperative ileus (2/33, 6.1%), joint symptoms (1/33, 3.0%), and immunomodulation (1/33, 3.0%).

CONCLUSIONSThe result of our systematic review suggested that the effectiveness of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients is promising, especially in reducing chemotherapy or radiotherapyinduced side effects and cancer pain. Acupuncture may be an appropriate adjunctive treatment for palliative care.

Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Palliative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

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.

AIMIn order to look for new active compounds, the structure of (+)-praeruptorin A is modified.

METHODS(+)-Praeruptorin A was isolated from the root of Peucedanum praeruptorum, basic hydrolysis of (+)-praeruptorin A and acyled reactions of hydrolysis product of (+)-praeruptorin A were carried out.

RESULTSEighteen compounds were semi-synthesized from (+)-praeruptorin A.

CONCLUSIONFourteen compounds (5-18) among them are new compounds. Preliminary bioactivity assay indicated that the new compounds show calcium antagonist activity, but they are not as strong as (+)-praeruptorin A.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; chemical synthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Coumarins ; chemical synthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemical synthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the influencing factors of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus after combined immunological blockade, and to evaluate the effect of mother-to-child blockade, and to provide a basis for health policies and health interventions for preventing mother-to-child blockade of hepatitis B virus. Methods A total of 11 363 pairs of HBsAg positive pregnant women and their infants aged 7-12 months in Hainan Province from 2015 to 2020 were included in the study. The general situation, the situation of health care and delivery in this pregnancy and perinatal period, the detection of hepatitis B markers, the situation of antiviral therapy, the general situation of mother and infant during delivery and the implementation of blockade measures for mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B were collected and analyzed. Results Among the 11 363 pairs of HBsAg positive pregnant women and their infants delivered in hospitals in Hainan province from 2015 to 2020, the positive rate of HBsAg in children at 7-12 months after birth was 1.47 %, and the difference in HBsAg positive rate of infants born in different years was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the positive rate of HBsAg among children born to pregnant women with different nationalities, educational levels, occupations, delivery modes, delivery places, obstetric operations and perineal laceration, abnormal perinatal period, children with different genders and premature delivery and perinatal (all P<0.05). There was significant difference in HBsAg positive rate among infants born to pregnant women of different ages, the positive rate of HBsAg of infants born to young pregnant women was higher than that of older pregnant women (P<0.05). The rate of antiviral therapy was low in HBeAg positive pregnant women, and the positive rate of HBsAg in their infants was 2.54%, which was higher than 0.83% in HBeAg negative pregnant women (P<0.05). Conclusions Combined immunological blockade with hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin can effectively prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HBV. HBsAg-positive women can give birth at the right age, and HBeAg-positive pregnant women can be treated with antiviral therapy to block mother-to-child transmission, providing the important basis for the formulation of hepatitis B prevention and control strategies and measures.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of intracerebroventricular injection of rAAV-HIF-1α on hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of Alzheimer disease (AD).

METHODSThirty-two male SD rats (250-300 g) were randomized into 4 groups (n=8), including the normal control group without any treatment, AD model group with right intracerebroventricular injection of 2 µl Aβ25-35 (10 mg/m1), sham-operated group with right intracerebroventricular injection of 2 µl normal saline, and AD+ rAAV-HIF-1α group with right intracerebroventricular injection of 10 µl rAAV-HIF-1a (1×10¹² v.g./m1) one week after Aβ25-35 injection. The rats were sacrificed to detect the expression of HIF-1α and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons 5 weeks after Aβ25-35 or saline injection.

RESULTSWestern blotting showed that the expression of HIF-1α was significantly higher in AD+rAAV-HIF-1α group (451.59±34.39) than in normal control group (229.05±41.28) and sham-operated group (216.29±37.08) (P<0.05) without significant difference between the latter two groups. The apoptotic ratio of the hippocampal neurons was significantly higher in AD model group ([19.49±2.59]%) than in normal control group ([5.41±0.75]%) and sham-operated group ([5.28±0.66]%) in (P<0.05), and intracerebroventricular injection of rAAV-HIF-1α resulted in a significant reduction of the apoptotic ratio in the AD rats ([12.07±2.06]%) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntracerebroventricular injection of rAAV-HIF-1α can inhibit hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in the rat model of AD.

Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; therapy ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and laboratory features of anti-soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas (SLA/LP) autoantibody positive patients with abnormal liver functions.

METHODSFrom July 1999 to August 2004, 4928 serum samples from patients with abnormal liver functions (ALT >40 U/L) were collected. A series of autoantibody examinations were carried out. Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of 8 patients with anti-SLA/LP autoantibody positive were reviewed.

RESULTSAmong the 5500 serum samples, 8 cases (6 females and 2 males) with positive anti-SLA/LP autoantibodies were found with complete clinical information. The age of the patients was (27-76) years old. The case histories were from 2 years to 10 years. Of the 8 patients, 6 cases had liver cirrhosis and HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-negative, active, 1 case had liver cirrhosis with HBsAg-positive, but HBVDNA negative; 1 case had liver cirrhosis and anti-HCV positive, but HCV RNA negative. The 8 cases were all ANA positive with titers of 31:320. Four cases were AMA positive and 2 among these 4 cases were M2 positive. The most frequent symptoms were fatigue, anorexia, nausea, jaundice, abdominal distention and edema of lower limbs. All patients had high hypergammaglobulinemia.

CONCLUSIONAnti-SLA/LP autoantibody was at a low detection rate in the study with females in preponderance, Clinical and laboratory characteristics of the 8 cases were consistent with those of the autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Testing for anti-SLA autoantibodies helps in the diagnosis of AIH in many patients who may otherwise be misdiagnosed.

Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Female ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; immunology ; Sequence Homology

AIM:To investigate the clinical significance of stathmin 1 (STMN1) expression in cervical cancer and the influence of its expression on the viability and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. METHODS:Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of STMN1 in cervical cancer tissues, and the relationship between the expression and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer was analyzed. STMN1-siRNA was transfected into cervical squamous-cell carcino-ma SiHa cells. The protein levels of STMN1, STAT3, p-STAT3 and survivin were determined by Western blot after trans-fection for 48 h. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. DCFH-DA probe was used to detect the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RESULTS:The protein expression of STMN1 in cer-vical cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues (P<0.01). The STMN1 protein expression level was not correlated with age and histological types of cervical cancer patients, but was related to clinical stage, histo-logical differentiation and lymph node metastasis ( P<0.01). Transfection with STMN1-siRNA significantly reduced the expression of STMN1 in SiHa cells. Compared with control group, the cell viability in STMN1-siRNA group was significant-ly decreased, the apoptotic rate and ROS content were increased, and the protein levels of p-STAT3 and survivin were down-regulated (P<0.01). However, no significant difference of the STAT3 protein level was observed between STMN1- siRNA group and control group. CONCLUSION:STMN1 is highly expressed in cervical cancer, and its expression is re-lated to clinical stage, histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Inhibition of STMN1 expression reduces the viability and promotes apoptosis of cancer cells by down-regulating STAT3 signaling pathway.