Objective:To investigate the effect of early and full course of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on neuroelectrophysiology in patients with acute incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).Methods:A total of 65 patients with acute iSCI admitted to the Department of Orthopedics of Yantai Mountain Hospital and the Department of Spine Injury of Yuhuangding Hospital from February 2017 to February 2020 were selected as the research objects. According to the treatment, they were divided into observation group ( n=42) and control group ( n=23). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional drugs or surgery, while the patients in the observation group were treated with full course of HBO at early stage (<48 h) on the basis of the treatment in the control group. The scores of Frankel scale and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale were collected before treatment, and 14 and 28 days after treatment; and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV), amplitude of sensory action potential (SAP), motor evoked potential (MEP), and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) of lower limbs were measured and calculated by electromyography and evoked potential meter before treatment, 14 days and 28 days after treatment. Results:After four courses of treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group (85.71%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (69.57%) with a statistically significant difference ( χ 2=6.994, P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the scores of neurological and motor functions (ASIA scale and Frankel scale) of the two groups after 14 days of treatment were significantly increased; compared with the scores after 14 days of treatment, the scores of neurological and motor functions after 28 days of treatment were significantly increased; compared with the scores of the control group, the scores of neurological and motor functions of the treatment group were significantly increased; and all of these were statistically significant( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the peak amplitudes of SEP and MEP of tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the two groups were increased and the latencies were shortened after 14 days of treatment; compared with those after 14 days of treatment, the peak amplitudes of SEP and MEP of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve were increased and the latencies were shortened after 28 days of treatment; compared with those in the control group after treatment, the peak amplitudes of SEP and MEP of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the observation group after treatment were increased and the latencies were shortened; and all of these were statistically significant( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the SCV and MCV of tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the two groups were significantly increased after 14 days of treatment; compared with those after 14 days of treatment, the SCV and MCV of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve were significantly increased after 28 days of treatment; compared with those in the control group after treatment, the SCV and MCV of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the observation group after treatment were significantly increased ( P<0.05); and all of these were statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:For patients with acute iSCI, early and full course of HBO therapy can significantly improve their neuro-bioelectricity such as motor, sensory, and other evoked potentials, improve the clinical efficacy, and facilitate the recovery of spinal nerve function.

Objective:To observe the effects of different courses of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic (AS) plaque and related inflammatory factors in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and to explore its mechanism.Methods:A total of 176 patients with ACI treated in the Department of Neurology of Yantai Mountain Hospital and Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from January 30, 2018 to December 30, 2020 were selected and divided into control group ( n=86) and observation group ( n=90) according to the treatment methods. Doppler ultrasound was used to check whether ACI patients were complicated with carotid AS plaque. And the patients who died and lost contact during the observation period were excluded. Ultimately, there were 69 cases in the control group and 72 cases in the observation group. The control group was given conventional treatment, while the patients in the observation group were treated with HBO on the basis of the treatment in the control group when they were in stable conditions. Before treatment and after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the internal carotid artery (ICA) color Doppler ultrasound was performed to check the degree of sclerosis and stenosis, the reduction of vulnerable plaque, and the increase of stable plaque, and to measure the plaque thickness, intima-media thickness (IMT), and long diameter. Before treatment and after 2 and 4 courses of treatment, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), C-reactive protein (CRP), endothelin (ET), and homocysteine (Hcy) were measured. Results:Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.12, P<0.05; Z=-2.89, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid atherosclerosis at the same time points in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.01, P<0.05; Z=-2.58, P<0.05). Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid stenosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 3 and 6 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.17, P<0.05; Z=-2.34, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid stenosis in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.00, P<0.05; Z=-2.17, P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the plaque thickness, the long diameter of plaque, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the plaque thickness, long diameter, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were decreased significantly after 2 and 4 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were also decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Different courses of HBO combined with statins can improve the degree of carotid atherosclerosis and stenosis in patients with ACI, and turn vulnerable plaque into stable plaque. In addition, CRP and MMP-9 may be the potential serum markers expressing the stability of vulnerable plaques, and the stability is related to the levels of ET and Hcy after treatment.

Objective:To investigate the effect of early and full course of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on neuroelectrophysiology in patients with acute incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).Methods:A total of 65 patients with acute iSCI admitted to the Department of Orthopedics of Yantai Mountain Hospital and the Department of Spine Injury of Yuhuangding Hospital from February 2017 to February 2020 were selected as the research objects. According to the treatment, they were divided into observation group ( n=42) and control group ( n=23). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional drugs or surgery, while the patients in the observation group were treated with full course of HBO at early stage (<48 h) on the basis of the treatment in the control group. The scores of Frankel scale and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale were collected before treatment, and 14 and 28 days after treatment; and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV), amplitude of sensory action potential (SAP), motor evoked potential (MEP), and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) of lower limbs were measured and calculated by electromyography and evoked potential meter before treatment, 14 days and 28 days after treatment. Results:After four courses of treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group (85.71%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (69.57%) with a statistically significant difference ( χ 2=6.994, P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the scores of neurological and motor functions (ASIA scale and Frankel scale) of the two groups after 14 days of treatment were significantly increased; compared with the scores after 14 days of treatment, the scores of neurological and motor functions after 28 days of treatment were significantly increased; compared with the scores of the control group, the scores of neurological and motor functions of the treatment group were significantly increased; and all of these were statistically significant( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the peak amplitudes of SEP and MEP of tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the two groups were increased and the latencies were shortened after 14 days of treatment; compared with those after 14 days of treatment, the peak amplitudes of SEP and MEP of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve were increased and the latencies were shortened after 28 days of treatment; compared with those in the control group after treatment, the peak amplitudes of SEP and MEP of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the observation group after treatment were increased and the latencies were shortened; and all of these were statistically significant( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the SCV and MCV of tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the two groups were significantly increased after 14 days of treatment; compared with those after 14 days of treatment, the SCV and MCV of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve were significantly increased after 28 days of treatment; compared with those in the control group after treatment, the SCV and MCV of anterior tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve in the observation group after treatment were significantly increased ( P<0.05); and all of these were statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:For patients with acute iSCI, early and full course of HBO therapy can significantly improve their neuro-bioelectricity such as motor, sensory, and other evoked potentials, improve the clinical efficacy, and facilitate the recovery of spinal nerve function.

Objective:To observe the effects of different courses of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic (AS) plaque and related inflammatory factors in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and to explore its mechanism.Methods:A total of 176 patients with ACI treated in the Department of Neurology of Yantai Mountain Hospital and Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from January 30, 2018 to December 30, 2020 were selected and divided into control group ( n=86) and observation group ( n=90) according to the treatment methods. Doppler ultrasound was used to check whether ACI patients were complicated with carotid AS plaque. And the patients who died and lost contact during the observation period were excluded. Ultimately, there were 69 cases in the control group and 72 cases in the observation group. The control group was given conventional treatment, while the patients in the observation group were treated with HBO on the basis of the treatment in the control group when they were in stable conditions. Before treatment and after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the internal carotid artery (ICA) color Doppler ultrasound was performed to check the degree of sclerosis and stenosis, the reduction of vulnerable plaque, and the increase of stable plaque, and to measure the plaque thickness, intima-media thickness (IMT), and long diameter. Before treatment and after 2 and 4 courses of treatment, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), C-reactive protein (CRP), endothelin (ET), and homocysteine (Hcy) were measured. Results:Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.12, P<0.05; Z=-2.89, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid atherosclerosis at the same time points in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.01, P<0.05; Z=-2.58, P<0.05). Compared with that before treatment, the degree of carotid stenosis in the observation group was significantly reduced after 3 and 6 courses of treatment ( Z=-2.17, P<0.05; Z=-2.34, P<0.05); compared with those in the control group after 6 and 12 courses of treatment, the degrees of carotid stenosis in the observation group were also significantly reduced ( Z=-2.00, P<0.05; Z=-2.17, P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the plaque thickness, the long diameter of plaque, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly after 6 and 12 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the plaque thickness, long diameter, and IMT in the observation group were decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were decreased significantly after 2 and 4 courses of treatment ( P<0.05); compared with those in the control group at each time point of treatment, the levels of CRP, MMP-9, ET, and Hcy in the observation group were also decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Different courses of HBO combined with statins can improve the degree of carotid atherosclerosis and stenosis in patients with ACI, and turn vulnerable plaque into stable plaque. In addition, CRP and MMP-9 may be the potential serum markers expressing the stability of vulnerable plaques, and the stability is related to the levels of ET and Hcy after treatment.

Objective:To analyze the relation between DNA methylation in the CpG island of dopamine D2 receptor ( DRD2) gene promoter region and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), and explore the molecular mechanism of PPPD. Methods:The disease group consisted of 43 patients diagnosed as having PPPD in our hospital from January 2017 to June 2017, and blood samples were taken at admission. The control group included 45 with acute vestibular peripheral vertigo whose dizziness symptoms did not recrudesce after follow-up for more than 3 months and PPPD diagnosis was excluded in our hospital at the same period; these patients did not take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); blood samples in the patients were collected during follow-up. DNA methylation in the CpG island of DRD2 promoter region was detected by disulfite sequencing and the differences between the two groups were compared. Results:The positive rate of DNA methylation in the CpG island of DRD2 promoter region in the disease group was 58.1%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (15.6%, P<0.05); and the methylation rate of CpG island loci in the disease group (0.15±0.18) was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.04±0.10, P<0.05). Conclusion:The DNA methylation in the CpG island of DRD2 promoter region is associated with onset of PPPD.

Objective To analyze the association ofdopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) TaqIA gene polymorphism with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) and explore the molecular mechanism of this disease.Methods The study group consisted of 43 patients diagnosed as having PPPD was chosen in our hospital from January 2017 to June 2017;45 gender-and age-matched control subjects were selected randomly from acute vertigo patients who were fully recovered within 3 months without selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) medication and were normal at 6 months of follow up.Personality characteristics of the two groups were analyzed by adult Essen personality inventory.Frequencies of DRD2 TaqIA gene polymorphism were detected with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).Results Percentage of neurotic individuals in study group (67.4％) was significant higher than that of control subjects (37.8％,P＜0.05).Genotype distribution ofA1/A1,A1/A2,and A2/A2 showed significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05).In the study group,A1 and A2 allele frequencies in the DRD2 TaqIA gene were 65.1％ and 34.9％ respectively,which had significantly difference as compared with those of control subjects (46.7％ and 53.3％,P＜0.05).Conclusion A 1 allele in DRD2 TaqIA gene may be the susceptibility gene for PPPD.

Objective To study the association between serum homocysteine (Hcy) level and cognitive impairment in PD patients.Methods Eighty-one PD patients admitted to our hospital were divided into normal cognition group (n=25),mild cognitive impairment group (n=32) and dementia group (n=24) with 19 healthy persons undergoing physical examination served as a control group.Their cognitive impairment was assessed according to their medical history,detailed physical examination data,Hoehn-Yahr scale score,MMSE score,and CDR score.Their serum levels of Hcy,folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured.The association of serum Hcy,folic acid and vitamin B12 levels with cognitive impairment was analyzed.Results The serum Hcy level was significantly higher in normal cognition group,mild cognitive impairment group and dementia group than in control group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01) and in dementia group than in normal cognition group (14.8±3.9 μmol/L vs 12.5±3.3 μmol/L,P＜0.05).The serum Hcy level was associated with oral levodopa and oral benserazide daily dose,oral levodopa and oral benserazide taking time,course of PD and age (r=0.298,P=0.000;r=0.280,P=0.000;r=0.301,P=0.000;r=0.184,P=0.019) but not associated with the severity of PD.Conclusion High serum Hcy level is one of the risk factors for cognitive impairment in PD patients,and control of oral levodopa dose contributes to the prevention and treatment of dementia in PD patients.