OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of electroacupuncture (EA) for prevention of the injury of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat with Parkinson's disease.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a sham-operation group and an EA group. 6-OH-DA was injected into right substantia nigra of the midbrain to made Parkinson's disease rat model with single side substantia nigra injury, and TH/TUNEL method and rotation behavior observation method were used to observe changes of rotation behavior and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra after EA at "Taichong" (LR 3) and "Fengfu" (GV 16) for 3 d, 7 d and 14 d.

RESULTSThe rotation times/min were same at 3 d, 7 d and 14 d were the basically same in the model group, and at 14 d significantly decreased in the EA group (P<0.05); the rotation starting time at 7 d and 14 d in the model group were significantly longer than those in the EA group (P<0.05); the rotation lasting time at 3 d, 7 d and 14 d in the model group and the EA group were gradually shortened (P<0.01, or P<0.05), but at 7 d, 14 d in the model group were significantly longer than those in the EA group (P<0.05); the DA neuron apoptosis number in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group, with a very significant difference (P<0.01); the apoptosis number in the EA group tended to decrease, at 7 d and 14 d were significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can effectively prevent from injury of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat with Parkinson's disease.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Behavior, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Male ; Parkinson Disease ; pathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rotation ; Substantia Nigra ; pathology

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop and examine the effects of a self-management program (SMP) on physical, psychological functions, and symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD). METHODS: In a two-group pre-and post-test design, a total of 40 patients were assigned to the experimental group(21) or the control group (19). The experimental group received eight weekly 2-hour sessions for 10-15 literate adults of all ages, while the control group did not receive any intervention. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significant improvements in muscle strength, balance, self-efficacy, depression, quality of life(QL), quality of sleep, and discomfort of constipation. It also reduced the number of participants using assistive walking devices. There were no significant changes in fear of falling and duration of sleep. CONCLUSION: The eight week SMP in patients with PD was found to be significantly effective in enhancing muscle strength, balance, self-efficacy, QL, and quality of sleep. It also decreased depression, discomfort of constipation, and assistive walking devices. These results suggest that a SMP can have effects on physical, psychological functions and symptoms in patients with PD. Further research with a larger sample and for a longer follow up period is needed to expand our understanding of the effects of a SMP for patients with PD.
Aged ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/psychology/*therapy ; Patient Education as Topic ; Quality of Life ; Self Care/*methods ; Self Efficacy ; Walking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the health-illness transition of patients with Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD). METHODS: From June to November 2011, 17 patients with YOPD who visited a neurologic clinic in a tertiary hospital participated in the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using the grounded theory of Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: The core category of the participants' health-illness transition emerged as 'reshaping identity following uncontrollable changes'. The participants' health-illness transition process consisted of six phases in sequence: ego withdrawal, loss of role, frustration, change of thought, modification of life tract, and second life. Although most participants proceeded through the six phases chronologically, some returned to the frustration phase and then took up the remaining phases. CONCLUSION: The study results provide an in-depth understanding of health-illness transition experiences in the participants. These findings suggest a need to develop appropriate nursing intervention strategies according to the different phases in the health-illness transition of patients with YOPD.
*Adaptation, Physiological ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Laughter Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/*psychology ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Self Concept ; Social Isolation

BACKGROUNDParkinson's disease (PD) is a complicated disease, commonly diagnosed among the elderly, which leads to degeneration of the central nervous system. It presently lacks an effective therapy for its complex pathogenesis. Adverse effects from Western drug-based medical intervention prevent long-term adherence to these therapies in many patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been used to improve the treatment of PD by alleviating the toxic and adverse effects of Western drug-based intervention. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xifeng Dingchan Pill (XFDCP), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, taken in conjunction with Western medicine in the treatment of PD patients at different stages in the progression of the disease.

METHODS AND DESIGNThis is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. In total, 320 patients with early- (n = 160) and middle-stage PD (n = 160) will be enrolled and divided evenly into control and trial groups. Of the 160 patients with early-stage PD, the trial group (n = 80) will be given XFDCP, and the control group (n = 80) will be given Madopar. Of the 160 patients with middle-stage PD, the trial group (n = 80) will be given XFDCP combined with Madopar and Piribedil, and the control group (n = 80) will be given Madopar and Piribedil. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores, TCM symptoms scores, quality of life, change of Madopar's dosage and the toxic and adverse effects of Madopar will be observed during a 3-month treatment period and through a further 6-month follow-up period.

DISCUSSIONIt is hypothesized that XFDCP, combined with Madopar and Piribedil, will have beneficial effects on patients with PD. The results of this study will provide evidence for developing a comprehensive therapy regimen, which can delay the progress of the disease and improve the quality of life for PD patients in different stages.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONThis trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the identifer ChiCTR-TRC-12002150.

Benserazide ; therapeutic use ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Levodopa ; therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Phytotherapy ; Piribedil ; therapeutic use ; Quality of Life

To study behavioral character and changes of neuronal activity in the basal ganglia of rat model of levodopa-induced dyskinesia, unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rat model of Parkinson disease (PD) was treated with levodopa/benserazide twice daily for 4 weeks and the behavior observed on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 21st and 28th day. The animals were sacrificed and immunohistochemical technique was used to measure the changes of Fos expression in the caudate putamen (CPU), globus pallidus (GP) and sensorimotor area of cerebral cortex 2 h after the last treatment. The results showed that pulsatile treatment with a subthreshold dose of levodopa gradually induced abnormal involuntary movement (AIM), including stereotypy (limb dyskinesia, axial dystonia and masticatory dyskinesia) towards the side contralateral to the dopamine-denervated striatum and increased contraversive rotation. The motor pattern of each subtype was highly stereotypic across individual rats, and the proportion of each subtype was not consistent among individual rats. Fos positive nuclei in the CPU and GP were increased by levodopa acute administration, and more remarkably in the CPU, but not in the cerebral cortex. After repeated levodopa treatment. Fos positive nuclei were reduced remarkably in the CPU, but were increased in the GP and cerebral cortex. It was concluded that the neural mechanisms underlying levodopa induced AIM in rat model of PD was very similar to those seen in levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in PD patients and MPTP-lesioned monkeys, and increased striatopallidal neuronal activity might be involved in occurrence of LID.
Animals ; Antiparkinson Agents ; toxicity ; Basal Ganglia ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced ; etiology ; psychology ; Levodopa ; toxicity ; Male ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; psychology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley