Objective To investigate the dynamic changes in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the outcome of patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) after the treatment with metoprolol. Methods Sixty-five patients with CHF were admitted to the Forth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during April 2004 to April 2007, and they fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of chronic CHF issued by New York Heart Association (NYHA). Of all the patients the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) ≥65mm. All the patients were randomly assigned into metoprolol group (34 cases) and control group (31 cases), and received conventional therapies [rest, reduced sodium intake, administration of digitalis, diuretic, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and aldosterone antagonists, etc.]. The patients in metoprolol group were given metoprolol (6.25mg as initiative dose and dose was increased according to illness). NYHA functional classitication, cardiothoracic ratio on chest X-ray film, cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and LVEDD in echocardiogram were observed, and the plasma BNP level was determined with an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Results After 5 months of treatment, the clinical symptoms of patients were improved obviously and p1asma BNP level was significantly lowered in both groups, while p1asma BNP level was significantly lower in metoprolol group compared with control group (200.6?12.1 vs 120.7?14.1, P

Objective To observe the protective effect of ghrelin on hippocampal injury induced by global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and explore its effect mechanisms.Methods The male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups,namely sham group,I/R group,normal saline (NS)+I/R group and Ghrelin+I/R group,with 42 rats in each group.The model of I/R was reproduced by clipping bilateral carotid artery of rats 15 minutes and then releasing them for 60 minutes.There were no challenges for rats in sham group,just exposed their carotid artery.Ghrelin+I/R group and NS+I/R group were challenged by injecting 1 μ.L ghrelin or NS into lateral ventricle before I/R.Some of brain tissue in the rats was harvested after experiment to determine the levels of malonaldehyele (MDA),myeloperoxidase (MPO) and glutathione (GSH) in hippocampus by using chemical colorimetry and observe infarct sizes and histopathology.Single extracellular neuron discharge in other rats was recorded to observe the activity of glutamic sensitive neurons (Glu-N) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) sensitive neurons (GABA-N) in hippocampus CA1 region of rats suffered I/R.Results Compared with sham group,the levels of MDA and MPO in hippocampus of rats in the I/R group were raised markedly,the level of GSH was decreased significantly,the infarct sizes was increased significantly and pycnosis neurons were increased markedly.All sorts of indexes between NS+I/R group and I/R group showed no significantly statistical significance.Compared with NS+I/R group,the levels of MDA and MPO in hippocampus of rats in the Ghrelin+I/R group were decreased significantly [MDA (nmol/g):16.4 ± 4.2 vs.24.5 ± 6.7,MPO (nmol/g):6.4 ± 1.8 vs.10.2 ± 2.9,both P ＜ 0.05],the activity of GSH was risen remarkably (μmol/g:2.65 ± 0.72 vs.1.66 ± 0.50,P ＜ 0.05),the infarct sizes of hippocampus were reduced markedly [(43.9 ± 9.5)％ vs.(77.0 ± 12.7)％,P ＜ 0.01],the number of pycnosis neuron was reduced markedly (cells:36.2±4.5 vs.47.1 ±6.1,P ＜ 0.01).The results of electrophysiology showed that the discharge frequency of Glu-N and GABA-N in hippocampus CA1 region of rats in I/R group increased markedly as compared with sham group,and no significant difference in the discharge frequency of Glu-N and GABA-N between NS+I/R group and I/R group.Compared with NS+I/R group,injected ghrelin could make the discharge frequency of Glu-N in hippocampus CA1 region of rats decreased markedly (Hz:3.81 ±0.67 vs.4.98±0.33 at ischemia,3.01 ±0.37 vs.3.77 ± 0.41 at reperfusion,both P ＜ 0.05),and the discharge frequency of GABA-N increased markedly (Hz:5.62 ± 0.54 vs.3.62±0.39 at ischemia,4.81±0.48 vs.3.71±0.21 at reperfusion,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Ghrelin might protect hippocampal neuron after I/R iniury,and neuron excitability decrease might be related.

Objective To compare cognitive function and alexithymia between the schizophrenic patients treated with chlorpromazine and those treated with clozapine. Methods The patients with schizophrenia in stable condition that received maintenance treatment either with chlorpromazine or clozapine and normal control subjects were recruited (n=24 per group). Neuropsychological tests, including Digit Vigilance Test, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Trail Making Test-A&B (TMT-A&B), Animal Naming Test, Stroop Color-Word Test, Block Design and Spatial Span Test were used to assess the participant’s cognitive function. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were used to evaluate the participant’s alexithymia. Results The significant differences were found between the patients and the controls in all items of cognitive function and all factor scores of TAS-20 (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in all items of cognitive function and all factor scores of TAS-20 between chlorpromazine group and clozapine group (P>0.05). Multivari? ate linear regression analysis showed that in the clozapine group, attention function associated with the total score of TAS (β=-0.20, P<0.05), executive function associated with TAS factor 1 (β=-0.26, P=0.03), spatial function associated with TAS factor 2 (β=-0.24, P<0.01). In the chlorpromazine group, attention function associated with TAS factor 2 (β=-1.24, P<0.01), executive function associated with TAS factor 2 (β=-0.33, P=0.02). Conclusions Patients with schizophrenia in maintenance period have widely cognitive impairment and alexithymia, both of which are related to each other.

Objective:To investigate the effects of TYRO protein tyrosine-binding protein(TYROBP)on neuroinflammation and autophagy via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in a transgenic APP/ PS1 mouse model of AD. Methods:C57BL/6J, TYROBP-/- and APP/ PS1 transgenic male mice aged 15-month-old were randomly divided into 3 group: the C57BL/6J group, the TYROBP-/- group and the APP/ PS1 group, with 19 in each group.The eight-arm maze test and novel object recognition test were conducted to assess the learning and memory ability of mice.The activation of microglia and NLRP3 inflammasomes were assessed by immunofluorescence.The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were measured by real-time PCR, and the protein expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, SQSTM1, LC3B, TYROBP, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-AKT and AKT were assayed by Western blot. Results:Compared with the C57BL/6J group, the learning and memory abilities were significantly decreased(all P<0.05), activated microglia and NLRP3 inflammasomes were increased(all P<0.05), the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were increased(all P<0.05)and the protein expression levels of LC3B-Ⅱ, SQSTM1, TYROBP, p-PI3K, p-AKT were increased(all P<0.05)in the APP/ PS1 group.Compared with C57BL/6J group, the protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, LC3B Ⅱ, SQSTM1, p-PI3K and p-AKT were decreased(all P<0.05). Conclusions:TYROBP promotes the inflammatory response and inhibits autophagy possibly by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thus participating in the occurrence and development of AD.

Objective This study examined the prevalence of underweight and its related risk factors of community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia. Methods Five hundred and three community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia and 323 healthy controls were recruited in a cross-sectional study. Body mass index less than 18.5 was defined as underweight. Their demographic and clinical data including anthropometric data, plasma glucose and lipid parameters were collected. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess patients' psychopathology. Results The prevalence of underweight was 9.9% (50/503) in schizophrenia patients versus 1.5% (5/323) in the control group ( P<0.01). Further logistic regression analysis showed that male ( OR=2.43, 95%CI:1.74~3.39), smoking behavior (OR=1.50, 95%CI: 1.21~1.86), hospitalization times (OR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.06~1.31), PANSS negative score (OR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.04~1.14) were significant predictors for underweight (all P<0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of underweight is higher in Chinese patients with schizophrenia than in the general population. Some demographic and clinical variables are risk factors for underweight in schizophrenia.

Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; surgery ; Trachea ; surgery