BACKGROUND: Memory impairment is the main manifestation of Alzheimer disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) conspicuous in the early stage. However, such patients very often develop attentional dysfunction, which may affect their normal work and daily life.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the attentional function, including continuous attention, selective attention and divided attention, of patients with mild AD and of those with MCI.DESIGN: A case-control study.SETTING: Department of neurology of a university hospital and department of psychology in a university.PARTICIPANTS: The research was completed in the Laboratory of Neuropsychology, the First Hospital of Peking University from November 2003 to January 2004. Totally 18 patients with mild AD and 19 with MCI were enrolled in this study, with 20 normal elderly subjects also included to serve as the normal control group.INTERVENTIONS: Several tests were designed to assess the attentional functions of all the subjects, including continuous performance task (CPT) test for assessing continuous attention, simplified Stroop test for selective attention, and dual task test for divided attention.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The reaction time (RT) and the percentage of false response were recorded in CPT test and Stroop test, and performance decrement in dual task test was observed.RESULTS: In CPT test, the RT of mild AD patients was much longer, and the rates of missing and false responses were higher than those of normal control group [(539.29±103.86) vs (458.47±40.87) ms, 4.08% (3. 13, 13.64) vs0.91% (0.60, 1.90), and 1.51% (0.64, 2.54) vs 0.43% (0.37, 0. 84), respectively, P ＜ 0. 05]. The difference between MCI group and normal control group failed to reach statistical significance. The rate of missing response of all the three groups grow higher with the prolongation of time, with the highest occurring in the third 5 minutes of the test.More AD patients showed sustained attention deficiency after 10 minutes of test (33.33% within 10 minutes and 77.8% within 20 minutes). In Stroop test, all the three groups tended to make more false responses under incongruous condition[11.25% (7.50, 22.50), 2.50% ( -2.50, 5.00), 2.50% (0.00, 4. 38) ], exhibiting significant interference effect, which was the most obvious in mild AD group ( P ＜ 0.05). Patients with mild AD responded more slowly than MCI patients and normal control subjects [ (579. 19 ± 89.93) ms,(524.28 ± 68. 96) ms, (486. 75 ± 51.58) ms, respectively, P ＜ 0.05 ]. MCI group made more false responses than normal control group during the whole course of the test as well as under coincident and neutral conditions[5.83% (4. 17, 8.33) vs2.92% (1.67,3.96); 5.00% (2.50, 7.50) vs0.00% (0.00, 2.50); 5.00% (2.50, 10. 00) vs 2.50% (0.00, 5.00), P ＜ 0. 05]. In dual-task test, a significant decrement in mild AD patients was noted without statistical difference between MCI and normal control group[ 1.03 (0.49,3.75),0.46 (0.08, 1.02),0. 10 ( -0.25, 0. 64), P ＜0.05]. Within mild AD group, more patients showed deficiency in Stroop test and CPT test than in dual-task test (81.25%, 77.8%, and 29.41%, respectively).CONCLUSION: Patients with mild AD suffer impairment in continuous,selective and divided attentions, especially obvious in the former two attentional functions. MCI also impairs selective attention as compared with normal aged subjects, with the continuous and divided attention remaining normal. Mild AD patients, MCI patients and normal elderly subjects all show decreased continuous attention, and longer time (than 10 ninutes) of CPT may more sensitively identify continuous attention deficit.

Objective To determine whether the sustained,selective and diverted attention functions are affected in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods Several tasks designed to test the attention functions on the computer were performed in patients with mild AD as well as elderly controls: Continuous Performance Task(CPT) for assessing sustained attention function,simplified Stroop task for selective attention function,dual task for diverted attention function.Results In CPT test,mild AD patients responded more slowly((539.29?103.86)ms vs(458.47?40.87)ms,P

ObjectiveTo explore the pattern and the time course changes of semantic and phonological processing during Chinese language cognition study in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease(AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).MethodsPatients with mild AD and MCI and normal controls matched with age, gender, level of education were enrolled in the single-character words naming task, which applied short and long stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). Semantic, homophonic, semihomophonic and unrelated primes preceded the words as well as nonwords targets. Subjects were asked to read the targets aloud. Semantic and phonological priming effects were analyzed by comparing reaction time of semantic, homophonic or semihomophonic related targets to unrelated targets. The reaction time and accuracy for each response were recorded.ResultsThe mean reaction time of mild AD and MCI patients were prolonged for all types of priming in contrast with normal controls. Responses of the normal controls were faster during the long SOA comparing to short SOA, whereas the mild AD group's reaction time was longer for long SOA than for short SOA. Normal controls exhibited homophonic priming, whereas mild AD and MCI groups exhibited tonal inhibition effects.ConclusionThe speed of Chinese language cognitive processing decreased in mild AD and MCI patients. The phonological encoding and accessing ability may be impaired in mild AD and MCI.

The paper reports one case patient of transcortical sensory aphasia with prominent semantic comprehension disorder. Clinical features were fluent aphasic output, serious auditory comprehension disorder,anomia and prominent disorder in word-lexical level comprehension. Repetition was a little difficult and was remarkably better than other test. There was serious alexia with agraphia, however, copy, series writing, visual spatial function and calculation were intact. His audition was norma1. He could distinguish not only non-word and non-verbal sound but also family member's and acquaintance's sound, but he couldn't understand their talking content. It should be distinguished from pure word-deafness and auditory agnosia- Moreover, we tried to discuss its mechanism.

Objec ive: o inves iga e he effec s of differen dose of bisoprolol on neurohormonal ac ivi y,cy okines,cardiac func ion,cardiac dea h in chronic sys olic hear failure pa ien s Me hods: One hundred and wen y chronic hear failure pa ien s were randomly divided in o large dose group (average 8 5? 1 2 mg) and small dose group (average 3 5?1 2 mg) he changes of norepinephrine (NE) ,angio ensionⅡ (AngⅡ) ,aldos erone (Ald) ,endo helin (E ) ,in erleukin 6 BF (IL 6) , umour necrosis fac or ? ( NF ?) Q ,plasm rennin ac ivi y (PRA) ,cardiona rin (ANP) ,brain na riure ic pep ide (BNP) ,cardiac func ion,cardiac dea h were observed Resul s:Af er rea men , he hear ra e were decreased in wo groups, p

[Objective] To determine the sun protection factor (SPF) and protection factor of ultraviolet A (PFA) of a self-made sunscreen cream.[Methods] The sample of a self-made sunscreen cream and a commercial sunscreen cream were painted to an artificial skin (3M film) at a dose of 2 μl/cm2,and a tester was used to evaluate their photoprotective effect.A total of 48 albinism guinea pigs were classified into 8 groups to remain unprotected or be protected by the self-made or commercial sunscreen cream.A solar ultraviolet light simulator (SUV-1000) was used to simulate the ultraviolet rays in sunlight to irradiate the guinea pigs,and the photoprotecfive effect of these sunscreen creams was determined.[Results] The in vitro evaluation revealed that the SPF value of the self-made sun-screen cream and commercial cream was 32.26 ± 2.42 and 30.87 ± 2.57respectively (n =5,t =0.94,P ＞ 0.05),and the PFA value was 24.28 ± 2.44 and 17.53 ± 2.28 respectively (n =5,t =4.52,P＜ 0.01 ).As the in vivo experiment showed,the SPF value of the self-made sun-screen cream and commercial cream was 30.39 ± 6.65 and 28.79 ± 7.36,respectively (n =12,t =0.38,P＞ 0.05),and the PFA value was ＞ 8.91 and ＞ 8.93 respectively.[Conclusion] The photoprotective effect of the self-made sunscreen cream is similar to that of the commercial cream.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect and pathogenesis of tiopronin in treating acute pancreatitis complicated with liver damages. Methods Eighty-one patients with acute pancreatitis complicated with liver damages were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (40 cases) received routine treatment, and the treatment group (41 cases ) received routine treatment and tiopronin. The liver function, pancreatic enzyme indexes and C-reactive protein (CRP), the length of hospital stay was recorded. Results After 8 days' treatment, the liver function improved, and the levels of pancreatic enzyme indexes and CRP were decreased significanfly in both groups, and these changes were more obvious in treatment group (P <0.05). The length of hospital stay of mild acute pancreatitis in treatment group was significantly shorter than that in control group [ (8.6 ± 2.7 ) d vs. ( 13.8 ± 3.5 ) d ] (P < 0.05 ). Conclusions Tiopronin has beneficial effects in treating acute pancreatitis complicated with liver damages,and it has a therapeutic effect in acute pancreatitis at the same time. The mechanism may be related with the inhibition of inflammatory mediators, oxygen free radicals scavenging and other effects.

Objective To study changes of endothelin (ET),nitric oxide (NO) in plasma and treatment effect of puerarin on acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods Seventy-three patients with AP were randomly divided into 2 groups: puerarin group (38 cases, puerarin plus basic treatment) and non puerarin group (35 cases, basic treatment ). ET was measured by radioimmunoassay, NO was measured by nitrate reductase and plasma amylase and uric amylase were determined by Somogyi before and after the treatment.Twenty healthy persons were recruited as control group. Results The levels of ET[(40.6±15.8) ng/L]and NO[(62.3±27.6) mmol/L] decreased after treatment in puerarin group, which were significantly lower than those in non puerarin group[(82.3±20.6) ng/L, (92.6±24.8 ) mmol/L]( P < 0.05 ). Compared with those in non puerarin group[(1182.0±520.0), (5623.0±1326.0) U/L and (5.12±0.76)d], plasma amylase and uric amylase [(802.0±170.0), (4102.0±1126.0) U/L], the time of abdominal pain relief [(2.20±0.72) d] was lower in puerarin group (P<0.05). Conclusions The plasma ET and NO might play a key role in the development of AP. Therapeutic effect of puerarin is sure in AP.

ObjectiveTo study changes of molecular markers of prothrombotic state:Platelet granule membrane protein ( GMP-140 ),Von Willebrand factor ( vWF:Ag),thrombomodulin (TM),Two-D dimer ( DD),antithrombin Ⅲ ( AT- Ⅲ ) in plasma and puerarin for treatment functions of acute pancreatitis (AP).MethodsIn 78 patients with AP [ severe acute pancreatitis (SAP):26 cases,mild acute pancreatitis (MAP):52 cases ],using a random number table,the patients were given puerarin treated base (n =40) and conventional treated base group (n =38 ).The two groups were given fast,continuous gastrointestinal decompression,correction of electrolyte and acid-base balance disorders,vein support,antisecretory drugs,antibiotics inhibit pancreatic secretion and inhibition of trypsin activity of drug treatment.Puerarin group:Puerarin injection 0.5 g in 5％glucose injection intravenous infusion of 500 ml,1 time a day.GMP-140 vWF:Ag,TM,DD were measured by the methods of analysis of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and AT-Ⅲ was measured by the methods of analysis of chromogenic substrate method preformed in all patients,plasma amylase and uric amylase were determined by the method of somogyi and after the treatment.And 22 healthy people were selected as normal controls ( NC,Group C,n =22).ResultsCompared with the Group C and MAP,the plasma GMP-140 [ ( 86.26 ± 15.28 )ng/Lvs (32.56 ± 18.17) ng/L and (58.68 ± 15.86)ng/L],vWF[(236.22 ±31.78)％vs (95.12 ±31.68)％ and (126.68 ± 17.06)％ ],TM [(65.70 ± 12.27) μg/L vs (4.26 ±0.92) μg/L and (9.80 ± 6.98) μg,/L],DD [ (0.87 ±0.04) mg/L vs (0.36 ±0.06) mg/L and (0.56 ±0.05) mg/L] were significantly elevated,however the AT-Ⅲ [ (56.13 ± 15.78) U/ml vs (98.76 ±22.68) U/ml and (80.38 ± 18.29)U/ml )was significantly decreased SAP ( P ＜ 0.01 ).There were significant differences on the levels of GMP-140 [ (31.52 ± 15.81 ) ng/L vs (59.62 ± 13.73 ) ng/L,t =- 23.283 ],vWF [ ( 93.32 ± 28.62) ％ vs ( 128.81 ±16.23)％,t=-28.205,P＜0.01 ],TM[ (4.36 ± 0.82) μg,/L vs (11.23 ± 7.62)μg/L,t =-43.419,P ＜0.001],DD[ (0.32 ±0.05) mg/L vs (0.68 ±0.04) mg/L,t =- 15.642,P ＜0.001],AT-Ⅲ ((97.68 ±21.69) U/ml vs (76.86 ± 17.92) U/m,t =14.967,P ＜ 0.01 ) between puerarin treated base group and conventional treated base group.Comparing with treated base,the group given puerarin obviously shortened the increased of plasma [ ( 81.26 ± 17.12) U/L vs ( 119.63 ± 51.87 ) U/L,t =- 7.618,P ＜ 0.001 ],uric amylase [ (416.37 ± 116.50) U/L vs (576.32 ± 126.58) U/L,t =- 36.659,P ＜ 0.001 ],the time of abdominal pain relief and therapy to spend [ ( 2.18 ± 0.76 ) d vs ( 5.26 ± 0.58 ) d,t =- 13.619,P ＜ 0.001 ].Conclusion The molecular markers of prothrombotic state:GMP-140,vWF:Ag,TM,DD,AT- Ⅲ might all play key roles in the development of AP.Puerarin can improve the pancreatic microcirculation and adjust molecular markers of prothrombotic state,and had certain treatment functions with AP.

ObjectiveTo study the changes of the plasma thrombomodulin(TM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels and their clinical significance associated with the extent and severity of acute ischemie colitis.MethodsThe plasma TM and vWF levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 46 patients with acute ischemic colitis (acute ischemic colitis group),42 patients with ulcerative colitis (ulcerative colitis group) and 40 healthy subjects (control group).ResultsThe plasma TM was (49.6 ±2.3) μg/L,and vWF was(198.8 ±8.9)％ in acute ischemic colitis group.The plasma TM was (38.2 ± 3.8) μ g/L,and vWF was ( 162.6 ± 7.6)％ in ulcerative colitis group.The plasma TM was (23.8 ±2.3) μg/L,and vWF was ( 116.7 ± 6.2)％ in control group.The plasma TM and vWF levels in acute ischemic colitis group were higher than those in ulcerative colitis group and control group (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ).The plasma TM and vWF levels in ulcerative colitis group were higher than those in control group (P＜ 0.05).The plasma TM levels[(49.9 ± 0.3 ) μg/L] and vWF [(210.6 ± 8.2 ) ％] in all colon disease were higher than those in partial colon disease (P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionThe changes of plasma TM and vWF levels can be used as one of the indicators for assessment of the development and the prognosis of acute ischemic colitis.