Objective:To explore psychosocial factors of depressed elderly patients. Methods:33 elderly people with the first episode of depression diagnosed according to CCMD-3, and elderly healthy people were investigated with EPQ, SSRS (social support rating scale), LES (life event scale) and MMSE (mini mental state examination). Results:The rates of psychiatric family history, somatic diseases, risk factors for vascular disease and long-term difficulties were significantly higher in the depressive group than in control group. The score of MMSE was significantly lower in depressive group than in control group. The scores of negative life events and problems in social intercourse were significantly higher in depressive group than in control group. There were lower score of social support and its utility in the depressive group than in control group. The score of neuroticism was significantly higher in the depressive group. Most depressive elderly patients had the personality of neuroticism.Conclusion:Chronic stress, high neuroticism and severe cognitive impairment are important risk factors for depression in late life.[

Objective To investigate the protective effect of n-butanol extract from the roots of Potentilla anserina (NP) on hypoxic hippocampal neurons in neonatal rats.Methods Primary cultured hippocampal neurons were pretreated with different concentration of NP (0.25,0.0625,and 0.0156 mg/mL) before incubation in a low oxygen (0.1％) environment for 4 h.Cell viability was evaluated by Trypan blue staining assay.Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released by neurons into the medium was measured.The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cell cytosol was determined using nitroblue tetrazolium.Morphological changes and mitochondrial function were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results Hypoxic injury could decrease the cells viability of neuron,enhance LDH release (P ＜ 0.05),decrease SOD activity,and increase mitochondrial injury.Pretreatment with NP significantly increased cell viability,decreased LDH release (P ＜ 0.05),promoted SOD activity (P ＜ 0.05),and remarkably improved cellular ultra-microstructure compared with the model group.Conclusion NP could protect the primary hippocampal neurons from hypoxic injury by attenuating mitochondrial cell death.

BACKGROUND:Open reduction and Kirschner wire tension band technique has been a traditional surgical method for the treatment of patela fracture. However, there stil exist some complications such as Kirschner wire slippage and breakage. Cable-Pin system is a new fixation device. A series of good clinical results has been achieved in patients with patela fracture using this fixation device through a minimaly invasive way. OBJECTIVE:To compare and investigate the clinical results of minimaly invasive fixation with Cable-Pin system and Kirschner wire tension band technique for patela fracture and the complications. METHODS:Eighty patients with radiology-confirmed transverse displacement of patela participated in this trial, and were randomly divided into two groups. Forty patients underwent a minimaly invasive technique and the others had conventional open surgery using Kirschner wire. At postoperative intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale scores, range of motion was measured by goniometry, and knee function was evaluated using the Bostman clinical grading scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Easement of pain was better in the minimaly invasive surgery group than in the control group at 1 and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05). Above dominance disappeared at 6 months after treatment. At 3-24 months, the knee flexion training was faster and flexion angle was greater in the minimaly invasive surgery group, and results were significantly better than in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of discomfort fixation-induced complications was lower in the minimaly invasive surgery group than in the conventional open surgery group (P < 0.05). These data confirm that after minimaly invasive fixation with Cable-Pin system, pain was noticeably lessened, range of motion of affected knee was great, the recovery of knee function was better, the incidence of complications was reduced, and the repair effect was better than the conventional Kirschner wire fixation.

BACKGROUND:Schwann cells are important celllines in the process of repairing peripheral nerve injury, and human amniotic homogenate supernatant is shown to secrete a variety of cytokines, which could promote the proliferation of Schwann cells.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of different concentrations of human amniotic homogenate supernatant on the proliferation of rat Schwann cell96.
METHODS:Schwann cell96 was cultured with high-glucose DMEM containing 20%fetal bovine serum, and the second generation of Schwann cell96 was applied for experiments. The cultured cells were divided into five groups according to different volume fractions of human amniotic homogenate supernatant (0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%) in the medium.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The total protein concentration of human amniotic homogenate supernatant was 675μg/mL, in which the concentration of epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor were respectively (470.625±2.546), (4.121±0.026) and (0.172±0.002) ng/L. At 1-7 days, the cellproliferation rate of the 10%and 15%concentration groups was greater than that in 20%and 25%concentration groups (P<0.05);10%and 15%concentrations promoted cellproliferation, while 20%and 25%concentrations inhibited cellproliferation. There were no significant difference in the viability of Schwann cell96 between the control group and the experimental group (P>0.05). Low concentrations (10%, 15%) of human amniotic homogenate supernatant promote the proliferation of Schwann cell96, while high concentrations (20%, 25%) of human amniotic homogenate supernatant inhibit cellproliferation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of alcohol extract of Potentilla anserina against myocardial apoptosis induced by acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion by arteria coronaria ligation and the effect on the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in myocardial apoptosis signal pathway.

METHODMale SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group, the model group, the diltiazem group (30 mg x kg(-1)) and P. anserine alcohol extract intervention groups (0.9, 1.8, 3.6 g x kg(-1)). Rat acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model was established by ligating left anterior descending. Apoptosis of myocardial cells were detected by TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay). The expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 mRNA were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Semi-quantitative analysis was made for the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTAccording to TUNEL results, after I/R injury-induced myocardial apoptosis, the apoptotic index (AI) of model group was (31.5 +/- 3.6)%. All P. anserine alcohol extract intervention groups showed obvious inhibition of ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis. In the model group, myocardial apoptosis caused increased expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9 mRNA and proteins. After the administration of P. anserine alcohol extract, 1.8, 3.6 g x kg(-1) dose groups showed notable decrease in Caspase-9 mRNA (P < 0.05), while the 0.9 g x kg(-1) dose group showed no significant difference with the model group. Alcohol extract of P. anserina in all dosages showed inhibitory effect on the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA in myocardial cells compared with model group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that administration of all dosages of alcohol extract of P. anserina could significantly reduce Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expressions after I/R injury (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe administration with alcohol extract of P. anserina can protect the myocardial tissue from apoptosis after acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats and inhibit the expressions of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 mRNA and proteins.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Potentilla ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley