Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of diseases caused by degeneration and dysfunction of the cells and tissues of the central nervous system， mainly including Alzheimer's disease （AD）， Parkinson's disease （PD）， and epilepsy. A common clinical manifestation of these diseases is cognitive decline. Neurodegenerative diseases are more common in the elderly. As population aging is aggravating， neurodegenerative diseases have aroused increasing concern since they seriously affect human health and quality of life. The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is complex， mainly related to mitochondrial dysfunction， apoptosis， neurotoxin， neurotransmitter abnormalities， oxidative stress， and inflammation. Although western drugs on the market can attenuate the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases， they may induce severe adverse reactions and are thus not conducive to long-term use by the patients. The Chinese herbal medicine Angelicae Sinensis Radix was first recorded in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica （Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing）. It has the functions of activating blood， tonifying blood， modulating the immune system， regulating menstruation， and relieving pain. This paper summarizes the research progress in the effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and the prescriptions containing this medicine on neurodegenerative diseases in recent 10 years， aiming to provide a reference for the future application and research of Angelicae Sinensis Radix in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective To investigate the effects of calcitriol intervention on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and wound healing in rats with diabetic foot ulcer(DFU).Methods Thirty-two male SD rats were divided into normal control(Con)group,DFU group,calcitriol low dose(L)group and calcitriol high dose(H)group.A circular wound of 5 mm in diameter and deep to the fascia was made on the dorsum of the left foot of rats in each group.HE staining was used to evaluate the histopathological changes of the wounds.Immunohistochemical method was selected to compare the distribution of CD34-positive cells and the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT in traumatic tissues of each group.ELISA was adopted in the detection of serum IL-6,IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-7.RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of PI3K and AKT in each group,and western blot was used to detect the protein expression of PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,p-AKT and VEGF.Results Compared with Con group,the expressions of IL-6,IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-7,CD34,PI3K mRNA,AKT mRNA,p-AKT protein,p-PI3K protein,p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT increased,while PI3K protein expression decreased in DFU,L and H groups(P<0.05),VEGF and AKT protein expression decreased in DFV and L groups(P<0.05).Compared with DFU group,the expressions of VEGF,AKT and PI3K protein increased(P<0.05),while the expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT decreased in L and H groups(P<0.05),IL-6 decreased in L group(P<0.05),and CD34 expression increased in H group(P<0.05),while IL-6,IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-7,PI3K mRNA,AKT mRNA,p-AKT protein and p-PI3K protein expression decreased(P<0.05).Compared with L group,the expressions of CD34,VEGF,AKT and PI3K protein increased(P<0.05),while IL-6,PI3K mRNA,AKT mRNA,p-AKT protein,p-PI3K protein,p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT decreased in H group(P<0.05).Conclusions Calcitriol intervention may reduce the activity of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,inhibit inflammation,promote neovascularization,and facilitate wound healing in rats with DFU.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion plus glucosamine sulfate potassium capsule in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:This study was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 90 participants with KOA in the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University from February 2020 to December 2021 were randomized and assigned into 3 groups, with 30 cases in each group according to the random number table method. The thunder-fire moxibustion group was only treated with thunder-fire moxibustion on Neixiyan and Dubi acupoints, while the medication group was only treated with oral glucosamine sulfate potassium capsule, and the thunder-fire moxibustion plus medication group was treated with thunder-fire moxibustion on Neixiyan and Dubi acupoints combined with oral glucosamine sulfate potassium capsule. All the three groups were treated for 4 weeks. The degree of joint pain and stiffness was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC); the amount of knee joint cavity effusion was detected by ultrasound; the knee circumference was measured to assess the degree of knee swelling.Results:After treatment, the amount of knee joint cavity effusion [(3.21±2.44) mm, (3.73±2.53) mm vs. (4.80±3.07) mm, F=6.82], the WOMAC score [(65.88±30.25), (77.74±28.27) vs. (86.58±31.50), F=7.92], knee circumference [(36.74±2.74) cm, (37.59±2.63) cm vs. (38.51±3.09) cm, F=8.94] in the thunder-fire moxibustion plus medication group and the thunder-fire moxibustion group were lower than those in the medication group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Thunder-fire moxibustion plus oral glucosamine sulfate potassium capsule can reduce the amount of knee joint cavity effusion, WOMAC score and the degree of knee swelling, and the efficacy is better than thunder -fire moxibustion and oral glucosamine sulfate potassium capsule.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an interventional technique capable of highly effective neuromodulation in major depressive disorder (MDD), but its antidepressant mechanism remains unclear. By recording the resting-state electroencephalogram (RS-EEG) of 19 MDD patients before and after ECT, we analyzed the modulation effect of ECT on the resting-state brain functional network of MDD patients from multiple perspectives: estimating spontaneous EEG activity power spectral density (PSD) using Welch algorithm; constructing brain functional network based on imaginary part coherence (iCoh) and calculate functional connectivity; using minimum spanning tree theory to explore the topological characteristics of brain functional network. The results show that PSD, functional connectivity, and topology in multiple frequency bands were significantly changed after ECT in MDD patients. The results of this study reveal that ECT changes the brain activity of MDD patients, which provides an important reference in the clinical treatment and mechanism analysis of MDD.
Humans ; Depressive Disorder, Major/therapy* ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Brain ; Algorithms ; Electroencephalography

Electromagnetic stimulation is an important neuromodulation technique that modulates the electrical activity of neurons and affects cortical excitability for the purpose of modulating the nervous system. The phenomenon of inverse stochastic resonance is a response mechanism of the biological nervous system to external signals and plays an important role in the signal processing of the nervous system. In this paper, a small-world neural network with electrical synaptic connections was constructed, and the inverse stochastic resonance of the small-world neural network under electromagnetic stimulation was investigated by analyzing the dynamics of the neural network. The results showed that: the Levy channel noise under electromagnetic stimulation could cause the occurrence of inverse stochastic resonance in small-world neural networks; the characteristic index and location parameter of the noise had significant effects on the intensity and duration of the inverse stochastic resonance in neural networks; the larger the probability of randomly adding edges and the number of nearest neighbor nodes in small-world networks, the more favorable the anti-stochastic resonance was; by adjusting the electromagnetic stimulation parameters, a dual regulation of the inverse stochastic resonance of the neural network can be achieved. The results of this study provide some theoretical support for exploring the regulation mechanism of electromagnetic nerve stimulation technology and the signal processing mechanism of nervous system.
Action Potentials/physiology* ; Computer Simulation ; Models, Neurological ; Stochastic Processes ; Neurons/physiology* ; Electromagnetic Phenomena

Objective To analyze the curative effect of minimally invasive incision combined with plate fixation for calcaneal fractures.Methods Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 30 cases(30 feet) of calcaneal fractures who were treated with minimal incision(sinus tarsi approach combined with posterior lateral incision) from August 2014 to August 2015.Minimally invasive incision combined with plate fixation were performed for the treatment.X-rays were taken in the regular follow-up,B(o)hler and Gissane angle as well as the complications were measured.The final curative effect was comprehensively assessed according to the ankle hind foot score of American Aryhopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS).Results All cases were followed up for an average of 14.5 months (from 12 to 16 months), and all fractures healed with no complication such as incision infection or poor healing.The average B(o)hler angle was improved from preoperative(13.42°±4.2°) to (29.3°±3.8°) at the last follow-up with a significant difference(t=-20.424,P=0.000),and the average Gissane angle was significantly improved from preoperative(97.8°±9.7°) to (123.6°±6.5°) at the last follow-up (t=-17.5,P=0.000).The outcomes were evaluated with AOFAS,resulting in an excellent and good rate of 83.3%.Conclusion Treatment of calcaneal fractures with minimal incision has the advantages of less trauma,lower incision complication rate,stronger reduction and fixation,which can achieve satisfactory outcomes.

Objective To investigate the clinical nursing measures of diabetic retinopathy patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine combined with total retinal photocoagulation.Methods A total of 60 patients with diabetic retinopathy in department of endocrinology in our hospital were randomly divided into experimental group with 30 cases and control group with 30 cases,both groups applied traditional Chinese medicine combined with retinal photocoagulation,control group was additionally given routine nursing,and experimental group was given high quality nursing intervention,nursing effects were compared between the two groups.Results The quality of life scores in ability of daily life,reading and fine adjustment ability,action in the experimental group were higher than the control group,nursing service satisfaction in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group,there was significant difference between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion High quality nursing can improve quality of life of patients with diabetic retinopathy,and maintain a good relationship between nurses and patients,which is worthy of clinical reference and application.

Objective To investigate the clinical nursing measures of diabetic retinopathy patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine combined with total retinal photocoagulation.Methods A total of 60 patients with diabetic retinopathy in department of endocrinology in our hospital were randomly divided into experimental group with 30 cases and control group with 30 cases,both groups applied traditional Chinese medicine combined with retinal photocoagulation,control group was additionally given routine nursing,and experimental group was given high quality nursing intervention,nursing effects were compared between the two groups.Results The quality of life scores in ability of daily life,reading and fine adjustment ability,action in the experimental group were higher than the control group,nursing service satisfaction in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group,there was significant difference between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion High quality nursing can improve quality of life of patients with diabetic retinopathy,and maintain a good relationship between nurses and patients,which is worthy of clinical reference and application.

Objective To observe the effect of yin-yang acupuncture in association with respiratory reducing-reinforcing needling manipulations on the gait cycle in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Methods Sixty patients with ischemic stroke were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 each. The control group was intervened by conventional medication, while based on which the treatment group was additionally given yin-yang acupuncture in association with respiratory reducing-reinforcing needling manipulations. The kinematic time parameters were evaluated before intervention and after 28-day treatment. Results After intervention, the stance phase of the affected side and the healthy side, ambulation cycle, swinging phase of the affected side and the healthy side, and the stance phase of both limbs in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group(P＜0.05). Conclusion Yin-yang acupuncture in association with respiration reducing-reinforcing needling manipulations can effectively improve the gait cycle and ambulation function of the patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of yin-yang meridian acupuncture by reinforc-ing-reducing with patient's respiration on lower limb function among post-stroke patients. A total of 100 stroke pa-tients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups, which were the control group and the treatment group, with 50 cases in each group. Basic treatment was given in the control group with no related rehabilitation treatment. Basic treatment was given in the treatment group combined with yin-yang meridian acupuncture by reinforcing-re-ducing with patient's respiration. All patients were assessed with kinematics time parameters at the beginning of the treatment and 28 days after the treatment on muscle strength, muscular tension and the change of joint movement of hip joint and knee joint among patients. The results showed that compared with the control group, there was significant difference in treatment group on muscle strength, muscular tension and the change of joint movement of the hip joint and knee joint 28 days after the treatment (P < 0.01). It was concluded that yin-yang meridian acupuncture by reinforcing-reducing with patient's respiration can effectively increase the muscle strength, reduce muscular tension, and improve the change of joint movement, in order to increase the lower limb movement func-tion among stroke patients.