Objective: To investigate the effect of metformin on the expressions of activating transcription factor-6(ATF6)and Caspase12 in hippocampus of type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: GK male rats with random blood glucose≥11.1 mmol/L were orally administrated with normal saline(DM group)and metformin(MET group, 85 mg·kg^-1·d^-1)for 8 weeks(n=10 each group). Wistar male rats were selected as normal contorl group(NC, n=10). After 8 weeks of continuous medication, body weight and fasting plasma glucose(FPG)were measured, and the morphology of HE stained cells and the expressions of ATF6 and Caspase12 by immunohistochemistry staining in the CA1 area of hippocampus were detected. Results: Compared with NC group, the body weight of DM and MET groups decreased(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between DM and MET groups(P>0.05). In comparison with NC group, FPG levels in DM and MET groups were markedly increased(P<0.05)while FPG level in MET group was significantly lower than that in DM group(P<0.05). The normal nerve cells in the CA1 region of hippocampal were lower in DM and MET groups than those in NC group, especially in DM group. The protein expressions of ATF6 and Caspase12 in DM and MET groups were higher than that in NC group(all P<0.05), and the expressions of the two protein in MET group were significantly decreased as compared with DM group(P<0.05). Conclusion Metformin reduces the expressions of ATF6 and Caspase12 in hippocampus of type 2 diabetic rats, which may be related to its protective effect on brain. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2018, 34: 594-597)

Objective:To investigate the effects of theta burst stimulation(TBS)mode repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (r-TMS) in the left prefrontal on negative symptoms and cognitive function in the elderly chronic schizophrenic patients.Methods:Totally 48 patients with stable chronic senile schizophrenia (24 cases in r-TMS treatment group and 24 cases in r-TMS pseudo stimulation control group) were selected. The treatment group was given the TBS mode r-TMS performed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The control group was given pseudo stimulation at the same site. Before and after treatment, the brief psychiatric rating scale(BPRS), scale for assessment of negative symptoms(SANS), and positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)were used to assess mental symptoms, while Mattis-dementia rating scale(MDRS-2)and social adaptation functioning evaluation(SAFE)were used to assess cognitive function and social function. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis.Comparisons of the differences between inter groups and intra groups were conducted by independent sample t test and paired t-test. Results:(1)There were significant differences in the total score of PANSS scale((60.17±3.73), (56.67±3.12)), the negative symptom subscale score of PANSS((20.88±2.94), (17.96±2.33)) and the score of SANS((30.67±1.66), (30.25±1.45)) before and after treatment in the treatment group (all P<0.05). The D-value before and after treatment in the scores of BPRS ( t=3.513, P=0.001), PANSS ( t=6.048, P<0.01), negative symptom subscale ( t=6.610, P<0.01) and SANS ( t=8.239, P<0.01) were significantly different between the two groups. (2)There were significant differences in the scores of MDRS-2 and its sub scales before and after treatment in the treatment group (all P<0.05). The D-value before and after treatment in the scores of MDRS-2 ( t=6.216, P<0.01), attention ( t=4.596, P<0.01), start/maintain ( t=6.424, P<0.01), concept formation ( t=3.974, P<0.01), construction( t=2.194, P=0.033) and memory ( t=3.162, P=0.003) were significantly different between the two groups.(3)There was no significant difference in the SAFE score between the treatment group and the control group before and after treatment ( t=0.138, 0.142, both P>0.05). Conclusion:TBS can improve the negative symptoms and cognitive function in patients with the elderly chronic schizophrenic, but the effect of social function is not clear.