Objective To observe the effect of the soft tissues injury around atlantoaxial joint on memory abilities of mice.Methods 44 mice were divided into the model group and control group with 22 animals in each group.The soft tissues around atlantoaxial joint were injured in the model group by surgery between the first and the second cervical vertebrae.The changes of learning and memory of mice were observed with step-down avoidance test,water-maze test and hole-board test;the expression of caspase-3 in hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemical staining.Results Compared with the control group,escape latency was longer and wrong times were more in water-maze test of the model group(P<0.01). In step-down avoidance test of the model group,the reaction period prolonged and wrong times increased obviously(P<0.01).In hole-board test,the latency period prolonged and the times of extending the holes decreased significantly(P<0.01).Degenerated or dead neuron in hippocampus of surgery-treated mice was found scatteredly or continuously with HE staining,the expression of caspase-3 protein was showed positive with immunohistochemical staining.Conclusion The soft tissues injury arround atlantoaxial joint can induce abnormality of the stability of cervical vertebra,which aggravated the aging process of the mice and decreased abilities of learning and memory.

Objective To explore the effect of combined Naikan therapy and modified Morita therapy on psychological distress and post traumatic growth in elderly patients with cancer pain.Methods Ninety elderly patients with cancer pain were randomly assigned into two groups;those in the study group(n =45)were given Naikan therapy and modified Morita therapy for 4 weeks and those in the control group (n =45) were given standardized aerodyne treatment and standardized nursing care.All subjects were assessed with the Distress Thermometer and Problem Listand the Post traumatic Growth Inventory before and after Naikan therapy and modified Morita therapy.Results Compared with the control group,the study group was associated with significantly decreased scores of psychological distress(1.8± 0.1 vs.3.9 ± 0.2,t =1.78,P＜0.05),emotional problems (1.2 ± 0.4,vs.2.4±0.4,t=1.41,P＜0.05)and family problems(1.1±0.1,vs.2.9±0.1,t=1.63,P＜0.05).The study group also showed markedly higher scores in posttraumatic growth(66.0± 19.9 vs.45.3± 27.6,t=2.58,P＜0.05),relationships to others(34.8±12.1 vs.23.8±12.2,t=1.91,P＜0.05),new possibilities(25.2 ± 10.1 vs.13.7± 4.4,t=1.94,P＜0.05),personal strength(20.7 ± 10.4 vs.7.6 ± 3.1,t =2.03,P ＜ 0.05),spiritual change (11.6 ± 5.6 vs.5.4 ± 2.7,t =1.26,P ＜ 0.05),and appreciation of life(18.9±6.2 vs.6.1±-2.1,t=1.88,P＜0.05) than the control group.Conclusions Naikan therapy and modified Morita therapy can decrease psychological distress and improve post traumatic growth in elderly patients with cancer pain.