Objective:To investigate the possible pathogenesis and possible risk factors of tinnitus related to female menopause.Methods:From April 2016 to October 2016, 59 female patients with menopausal syndrome were diagnosed in the menopause comprehensive management clinic. Tinnitus and menopause questionnaires were conducted, based on whether having tinnitus, those patients were divided into two groups: tinnitus group and no tinnitus group. Age, body mass index (BMI), Kupperman menopausal index (KMI) score, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level of patients in the two groups were analyzed. Menopausal symptoms, related medical history and possible related factors of tinnitus were statistically analyzed.Results:A total of 59 cases were collected, 22 of which were accompanied by tinnitus. The incidence of idiopathic tinnitus was 35.1% (20/57) because 2 cases of thyroid related tinnitus with clear etiology were removed. Complete data were obtained from 17 of 20 patients with idiopathic tinnitus and 26 of 37 patients without tinnitus. Age, BMI, menopause KMI score, hormone level, menopause symptoms and possible factors related to tinnitus were statistically analyzed between the two groups, and the incidence of headache was statistically different between the two groups ( χ2=9.098, P=0.003), but no other factors were statistically significant( P>0.05). The severity of insomnia and tinnitus were further analyzed ( χ2=2.841, P=0.417), and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion:Headache history may be one of the high risk factors for the occurrence of menopausal tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE To study the way in which hypidone hydrochloride(code:YL-0919)improves motor function after ischemic stroke(IS)and explore the related mechanism.METHODS Adult male SD rats were used to establish a middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model that simulated acute IS.All animals were randomly divided into four groups:sham group,MCAO group,MCAO+YL-0919 group,and MCAO+YL-0919+erastin(Era,ferroptosis inducer)group.The drug administration groups received the first ip injection 6 h after operation,followed by continuous ip injection once per day.After 7-10 d of drug administration,the effect of YL-0919 on motor function after IS were evaluated via neu-rological function test,adhesive-removal test,rotarod test,balance beam test and open field test.After 7 d of drug administration,TTC staining was used to detect the cerebral infarction area while the colo-rimetry method was used to measure the contents of glutathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA),and ferrous ions(Fe2+)in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),solute carrier family 7 member 11(xCT),acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4),and transferrin receptor 1(TFR1)in the cortical penumbra.RESULTS Compared with the sham group,the MCAO group showed higher neurological function scores(P<0.01),with notably prolonged time for tape removal and first contact with the right forepaw(P<0.01),spent significantly more time crossing the balance beam(P<0.01)but endured a notably shorter duration on the rotarod(P<0.01),reduced the movement distance in the open field(P<0.01),had a remarkably increased infarct area(P<0.01)but significantly level of GSH in the cortical penumbra region decreased(P<0.01),while MDA and Fe2+levels were markedly increased(P<0.01).Protein expression levels of GPX4 and xCT were reduced(P<0.05),while those of ACSL4 and TFR1 were elevated(P<0.05).Compared with the MCAO group,these changes were significantly reversed after YL-0919 administration.However,when Era and YL-0919 were administered simultaneously,the reversal effect of YL-0919 was significantly weakened.CONCLUSION YL-0919 can improve motor function impairment and reduce cerebral infarction areas in rats after IS,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of ferroptosis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease in middle-aged and elderly people. In particular, increasing evidence has showed that astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. As a precious traditional Chinese medicine, bear bile powder (BBP) has a long history of use in clinical practice. It has numerous activities, such as clearing heat, calming the liver wind and anti-inflammation, and also exhibits good therapeutic effect on convulsive epilepsy. However, whether BBP can prevent the development of PD has not been elucidated. Hence, this study was designed to explore the effect and mechanism of BBP on suppressing astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation in a mouse model of PD. PD-like behavior was induced in the mice by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) (30 mg·kg^-1) for five days, followed by BBP (50, 100, and 200 mg·kg^-1) treatment daily for ten days. LPS stimulated rat C6 astrocytic cells were used as a cell model of neuroinflammation. THe results indicated that BBP treatment significantly ameliorated dyskinesia, increased the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and inhibited astrocyte hyperactivation in the substantia nigra (SN) of PD mice. Furthermore, BBP decreased the protein levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and up-regulated the protein levels of takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) in the SN. Moreover, BBP significantly activated TGR5 in a dose-dependent manner, and decreased the protein levels of GFAP, iNOS and COX2, as well as the mRNA levels of GFAP, iNOS, COX2, interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated C6 cells. Notably, BBP suppressed the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT), inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins in vivo and in vitro. We also observed that TGR5 inhibitor triamterene attenuated the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of BBP on LPS-stimulated C6 cells. Taken together, BBP alleviates the progression of PD mice by suppressing astrocyte-mediated inflammation via TGR5.
Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Animals ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/pathology* ; Astrocytes/pathology* ; Powders/therapeutic use* ; Ursidae/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism* ; Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Bile ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microglia ; Disease Models, Animal

Objective:To evaluate the effect of zoledronic acid administration for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) after treatment with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).Methods:A retrospective case-control study was performed on 430 elderly patients with OVCF admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2012 to December 2016. There were 31 males and 399 females, with age of 52-92 years[(72.8±8.3)years]. Fracture segments were at T 5-T 10 (82 vertebrae), T 11-L 2 (389 vertebrae) and L 3-L 5 (173 vertebrae). In zoledronic acid group ( n=178), patients were given zoledronic acid 3 days after PKP surgery. In basic treatment group ( n=252), patients were only given basic treatment after PKP surgery. Bone mineral density was measured before operation and one year after operation. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed before operation, 3 days and one year after operation. Incidence rate of refracture, mortality and complication rate were recorded after operation. Results:All patients were followed up for 12-60 months (mean, 27 months). Before operation and at postoperative 1 year, the vertebral bone mineral density in zoledronic acid group was (-2.3±1.5)SD and (-1.2±2.3)SD ( P<0.05), and that in basic treatment group was (-2.2±1.2)SD and (-2.1±1.1)SD ( P>0.05). At postoperative 1 year, the bone mineral density in zoledronic acid group was significantly better than that in basic treatment group ( P<0.05). At preoperative 3 days, postoperative 3 days and postoperative 1 year, the VAS was (8.6±0.8)points, (2.8±0.8)points, (2.1±0.8)points in zoledronic acid group, and was (8.5±1.1)points, (2.9±0.9)points, (3.0±2.3)points in basal treatment group; ODI was 48.7±5.3, 24.0±2.9, 22.3±3.3 in zoledronic acid group, and was 48.3±6.1, 24.5±3.8, 27.6±4.0 respectively in basal treatment group. The VAS and ODI were significantly reduced in two groups at postoperative 3 days and 1 year compared to those before operation ( P<0.05). Moreover, the VAS and ODI in zoledronic acid group were significantly lower than those in basal treatment group at postoperative 1 year ( P<0.05). At postoperative 2 years, the incidence rate of refracture in zoledronic acid group was 10.1%(18/178), significantly lower than 16.7%(43/252) in basic treatment group ( P<0.05). Mortality rate in zoledronic acid group was 5.1%(9/178), and that in basic treatment group was 6.3%(16/252) ( P>0.05). No serious complications were observed in both groups such as nerve injury or pulmonary embolism. Conclusion:For OVCF patients, zoledronic acid given after PKP can improve the bone mineral density, reduce pain, fasten function recovery, and effectively decrease the refracture rate.

As a way of female fertility preservation, oocyte cryopreservation technology(OCT) has attracted more attention from the society. The health technology assessment (HTA) research progresses on OCT are important evidence basis for OCT clinical application promotion. Literatures on the maternal and offspring safety, efficacy and social ethics assessment of OCT were reviewed in this paper. Based on the current OCT evaluation evidence, short-term safety and effectiveness were confirmed, but long-term maternal and child safety should be testified in a large scale follow-up study. Social ethics evaluation methods of human assisted reproductive technology(ART) research were still in the exploratory stage. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the social ethics evaluation methods and system of human ART, including OCT, in China.

As a way of female fertility preservation, oocyte cryopreservation technology(OCT) has attracted more attention from the society. The health technology assessment (HTA) research progresses on OCT are important evidence basis for OCT clinical application promotion. Literatures on the maternal and offspring safety, efficacy and social ethics assessment of OCT were reviewed in this paper. Based on the current OCT evaluation evidence, short-term safety and effectiveness were confirmed, but long-term maternal and child safety should be testified in a large scale follow-up study. Social ethics evaluation methods of human assisted reproductive technology(ART) research were still in the exploratory stage. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the social ethics evaluation methods and system of human ART, including OCT, in China.

One-and-a-half syndrome with facial diplegia, also referred to as the fifteen-and-a-half syndrome, is an extremely rare clinical entity caused by involvement of bilateral tegmentum of pons. Herein, we report a 52-year-old male who presented with one-and-a-half syndrome with left facial paralysis, which was consistent with the so-called eight-and-a-half syndrome. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed pontine infarction. Five days after initiation of antiplatelet therapy, the patient developed right facial paralysis, a diagnosis of fifteen-and-a-half syndrome was made, repeat MR imaging revealed bilateral pontine tegmentum infarction. Fifteen-and-a-half syndrome is a newly proposed concept associated with pontine infarction. The clinicoradiological features of this specific disease are as yet unclear due to its extreme rarity. The current case would help advance the current understanding of the disease spectrum of pontine infarction.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of nicergoline combined with donepezil hydrochlo-ride in the treatment of mild vascular dementia and its influence on cognitive function.Methods 66 patients with mild vascular dementia from neurology were divided into two groups by random numbers,33 cases in each group.On the based of the routine symptomatic treatment,the control group were given nicergoline,the observation group were treated with nicergoline combined with aricept.Four weeks was a course,both groups were continuously treated for 3 courses.Results The MMSE scores of the observation group after treatment was (36.7 ±5.7)points,which was significantly increased compared with before treatment(t =10.137,P <0.05)and the control group(t =11.236,P <0.05);The ADL score was(35.8 ±16.2)points,which was significantly lower compared with before treatment(t =10.825,P <0.05)and the control group(t =11.415,P <0.05);The total effective rate of the observation group was 78.9%,which was higher than 54.5% of the control group(χ2 =9.24,P <0.05).Conclusion Nicergoline com-bined with donepezil hydrochloride in the treatment of mild vascular dementia can significantly improve cognitive func-tion scores,and it is a significant effect,safe and reliable method.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and influence of motor function and activities of daily living of hexose ganglioside sialic four single(GM1)combined with rehabilitation in treatment of cerebral infarction(ACI). Methods 110 patients with ACI were divided into the two groups in random number table,they were all treated with routine treatment,the patients of the control group(n =55)were given citicoline on the base of those addition,the patients of the observation group(n =55)were given hexose ganglioside sialic four single combined with rehabilitation. The efficacy and influence of motor function and activities of daily living of the two groups were observed and compared.Results The total efficiency of the observation group was 90.91%,which was significantly higher than 76.36% of the control group(χ2 =10.33,P <0.05);The bathel index and the FMA points after treatment of the two groups were significant increased compared with before treatment,the difference was statistically significant(t =7.11, 9.83,8.66,10.27,all P <0.05);The bathel index and the FMA points after treatment of the observation group were (60.79 ±5.64)and(64.34 ±7.83),which were significantly higher than the control group(t =8.89,9.45,all P <0.05).Conclusion Hexose ganglioside sialic four single combined with rehabilitation in treatment of cerebral infarc-tion had significant clinical effect,it can effectively improve motor dysfunction,improve their daily living skills,with a high clinical value and was worth to appliy.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of combined analysis on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of X-ray cross-complementing1 ( XRCC1 ) gene 194 and 399 codon,xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene 312 codon and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene 105 codon in platinum based chemotherapy.Methods Direct sequencing was performed to detect XRCC1,XPD and GSTP1 genotypes in peripheral blood from 50 cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.Genetic polymorphisms of these genes related to sensitivity of platinum were reviewed.Results Favorable genotypes were Arg/Trp and Trp/Trp in XRCC1 194 codon,Arg/Arg in XRCC1 399 codon,Asn/Asn in XPD 312 codon and Val/Val in GSTP1 105 codon.The response rate to chemotherapy was 57.1％,75.0％,60.9％,85.7％ and 87.5％,respectively.The response rate for patients possessing ≥2 favorable genotypes and those possessing 1 or 0 favorable genotype was 78.9％,36.4％ and 0,respectively.Patients possessing ≥2 favorable genotypes demonstrated higher sensitivity to platinum based chemotherapy,compared with those possessing 1 or 0 favorable genotype ( x2 =25.79,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Combination analysis of genomic polymorphisms of XRCC1,XPD and GSTP1 may be useful in predicting sensitivity of platinum based chemotherapy.