Investigation of anxiety and depression in patients from the emergency department during COVID-19 epidemic / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the status of anxiety and depression in patients requiring emergency treatment during the epidemic of COVID-19 to identify the patients with acute psychological stress disorder.@*METHODS@#During the COVID-19 epidemic, the medical staff divided the patients visiting the emergency department into suspected group, fever group and control group through interview of the patients at triage. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were distributed to each patient, and a trained medical staff was responsible for assisting the patient to complete the scales.@*RESULTS@#A total of 557 sets of scales were distributed, including 211 in suspected COVID-19 case group, 167 in fever group and 179 in the control group. A total of 516 scales were retrieved, including 197 in suspected case group, 151 in fever group and 168 in control group. In the 3 groups, the incidence rates of anxiety and depression were 57.87% and 58.88%, 48.34% and 43.71%, and 18.31% and 18.99%, respectively, and the rates were significantly higher in suspected group and fever group than in the control group ( < 0.01), and significantly higher in suspected group than in fever group ( < 0.05). The standardized anxiety and depression scale scores in suspected case group, fever group and control group were 57.38±16.25 and 42.58±14.27, 51.23±15.29 and 38.32±15.39, and 32.58±17.8 and 12.25±12.94, respectively. Compared with the control group, both suspected case group and fever group had significantly higher standard scores for anxiety and depression ( < 0.01), and suspected case group had significantly higher standardized scores than fever group ( < 0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Among the patients visiting the emergency treatment, the patients with suspected COVID-19 and common fever are more likely to develop anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the association between the polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and Alzheimer's disease (AD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This case-control study involved 201 AD patients and 257 healthy subjects matched for age and gender as the control group. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time of flight mass spectrometry were used to examine the rs4291, rs4309, and rs4343 of ACE gene, and the difference in genotypes, allelotype frequencies and haplotype frequencies were analyzed between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No statistic difference was found in the genotype and allelotype frequencies of rs4291 locus between AD and control groups (P>0.05). A significant difference was found in the genotype and allelotype frequencies of rs4309 between the two groups with a significant increase in the C allelotype frequency in AD group (OR=1.917, 95% CI=1.431-2.568, P<0.05). The difference in the genotype frequency of rs4343 was not significant between the two groups, but the allelotype frequencies differed significantly with a decreased A allelotype frequency in AD group(OR=0.714, 95% CI=0.532-0.957, P=0.024). Analysis of the linkage disequilibrium among the loci of rs4291, rs4309 and rs4343 showed a D' all above 0.65 between one another. Haplotype analysis confirmed the existence of 5 haplotypes, namely ATA, ACA, TCA, TCG and TTG, indicating a negative correlation between haplotype ATA and AD occurrence (OR=0.558, 95% CI=0.420-0.741, P<0.05) and positive correlations of haplotype ACA and TCA with AD occurrence (ACA: OR=4.883, 95% CI=2.267-10.518, P<0.05; TCA: OR=2.269, 95% CI=1.083-4.754, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polymorphism of rs4291 may have no relation with the incidence of AD. Polymorphisms of s4309 and rs4343 may be related to AD, and ATA, ACA and TCA haplotypes composed of rs4291/rs4309/rs4343 may be related to AD.</p>

Effect of willed movement therapy on the expression of Nogo-A and Rho-associated kinase in rats of cerebral ischemia / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To determine the effect of willed movement on the expression of Nogo-A and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) in adult rats with cerebral ischemia.Methods Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h,followed by a 24 h reperfusion in 54 adult rats and the degree of their neurological deficit was evaluated using Longa scale.They were then divided randomly into 3 groups,namely the MCAO group,the environmental modification (EM) group,and the willed movement (WM) group.The rats of MCAO group were raised in a regular breeding box,where they could get food and water freely.Meanwhile,those of the other two groups were raised in a homemade box.For the WM group,the water bottle and food were located on the roof of the homemade box.In each group,six rats were killed on day 3,7 and 15 after reperfusion and their neurological deficits were evaluated respectively.Immunohistochemistry assay was employed to examine the expression of Nogo-A and ROCK in the brain tissue around the ischemic foci.Results The rats of the WM group showed lessened neurological deficits on day 15 compared with the model and EM group.Their expression of Nogo-A decreases from(28.92 ± 2.17)/hpf on day 7 to (24.38 ± 2.29)/hpf on day 15 and that of ROCK did from (40.03 ± 2.14)/hpf to (38.08 ± 2.07) / hpf,lower than those of the model and EM group.However,no significant differences were found in the expression of Nogo-A and ROCK between the model group and EM group at any time points.Conclusion Willed movement could promote the functional recovery of neurological deficits in rats with ischemia after reperfusion,which is probably in relation to restrained expression of Nogo-A and Rho-associated in the tissue around the brain ischemic foci.

β-amyloid peptide deposition and expression of related miRNAs in the cerebellum of a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the presence of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) deposition in the cerebellum and the expression of related miRNAs in the cerebellum of a mouse model of Alzheimer disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve 12-month-old APPswe/PSδE9 double transgenic mice and 12 wild-type C57 mice were sacrificed and the brain tissues were taken for examination. The right hemisphere was stained with Congo red to observe the deposition of amyloid substances, and from the left hemisphere, the hippocampus and the cerebellum were dissected for detecting the expression of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p using real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Congo red staining revealed the presence of Aβ deposition in both the hippocampus and the cerebellum of the transgenic mice but not in the control mice. Real-time PCR showed a significantly lower expression of the 4 miRNAs in the hippocampus in the transgenic mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). The expression of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, and miR-669f-3p in the cerebellum was significantly lower in the transgenic mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). The expression of miRNA-298-5p and miR-669f-3p in the hippocampus was significantly lower than that in the cerebellum of the transgenic mice (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>β deposition also occurs in the cerebellum of APPswe/PSδE9 double transgenic mice, and its formation might be related to the down-regulation of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, and miR-669f-3p.</p>

Real-time PCR for detecting differential expressions of microRNAs in the brain of a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-135a-2-3p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p in the brain tissue of the APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease using real-time PCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six-month-old APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mice and wild-type C57 mice of the same species were examined for the expressions of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-135a-2-3p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p in the brain tissue using real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The relative expression levels of the 5 miRNAs in the transgenic versus the wild-type mice were 0.73∓0.27 vs 1.08∓0.58, 2.47∓6.15 vs 1.65∓0.67, 0.72∓0.14 vs 1.31∓0.73, 0.57∓0.34 vs 1.06∓0.35, and 0.63∓0.26 vs 1.02∓0.18, respectively, showing significance differences in the expressions of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p, and miR-669f-3p between the two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p are expressed differentially in APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mice, suggesting their important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.</p>

Expression of STAT3 and P-STAT3 in the brain of a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and P-STAT3 in the brain of the APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzhaimer's disease (AD) and investigate their possible role in AD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mice and control mice were examined for cerebral STAT3 and P-STAT3 expressions using immunothistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>STAT3 and P-STAT3 were expressed in the different regions of mouse brain. In the transgenic mice and the control mice, the positivity rates of STAT3 were 93.75% and 87.50% in the cerebral cortex, 87.50% and 43.75% in the basal forebrain, 81.25% and 37.50% in the hippocampus, and 62.50% and 0.00% in the cerebellum, respectively, showing significant differences between the mice in the STAT3 expressions in the basal forebrain, hippocampus and cerebellum (P<0.05). The positivity rates of P-STAT3 in the two groups were 0.00% and 0.00% in the cerebral cortex, 68.75% and 0.00% in the basal forebrain, 62.50% and 12.50% in the hippocampus, and 43.75% and 0.00% in the cerebellum, respectively, showing also significant differences in the basal forebrain, hippocampus and cerebellum (P<0.05). The expression of STAT3 was positively correlated with that of P-STAT3 in transgenic AD mice (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>STAT3 and P-STAT3 are highly expressed in the basal forebrain, hippocampus and cerebellum in transgenic AD mice and may participate in the pathological process of AD.</p>

Expression profile of miRNAs in APP swe/PSΔE9 transgenic mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes of miRNA expression profiles in APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice and explore the possible roles of miRNA in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using miRNA chip technique, we examined the miRNA expression in the brain tissue of 6-month-old APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice, with age-matched wild-type mice as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve miRNAs showed differential expressions by more than two folds in APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice, namely miRNA-135a, miRNA-135a-2*, miRNA-298, miRNA-466b-3p, miR-669-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-144, miR-466f-3p, miR-466g, miR-200a, miR-200b and miR-96. Five miRNAs were significantly down-regulated in the transgenic mice, including miRNA-135a, miRNA-135a-2*, miRNA-298, miRNA-466b-3p, and miR-669-3p.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 5 down- regulated miRNA may play important roles in the pathogenesis of AD in APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice.</p>

Effect of butylphthalide on the expression of GFAP and VEGF in the hippocampus of rats with (Alzheimer's) disease / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Objective To determine the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer's disease(AD), and to determine the effect of butylphthalide on them and its significance. Methods Sixty male adult rats were randomly divided into a model group, a Butylphthalide group, and a control group. AD models were established by injecting β-amyloid protein 1-42 into the hippocampus of rats. Sixty days later,the rats were sacrificed and both sides of the hippocampus were sectioned for immunohistochemistry. Results Positive cells of GFAP in the hippocampus of the model group increased and the expression of VEGF decreased statistically, compared with the control group(P<0.01). The positive cells of GFAP in the hippocampus of the butylphthalide group decreased and the expression of VEGF increased significantly, compared with the model group(P<0.05). Conclusion Butylphthalide may protect the neuron-vascular unit of the hippocampus of Alzheimer model rats by inhibiting the expression of GFAP and increasing the expression of VEGF.

Effect of Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb on Learning-memory Ability in Rats with Alzheimer Disease and Its Probable Mechanism / 中国医师杂志

Objective To study the effect of Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb(PMT) on learning-memory ability in rats with Alzheimer disease(AD) and its probable mechanism. Metheds Rats were trained by Y-maze and were detected its learning-memory ability before the rats received the injection of A?1-40. The rats were treated with different dosage of PMT after the model of AD was set up. The learning-memory ability and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) were detected. Results Compared with model rats, the rats treated by middle and high-dosage of PMT, the learning-memory ability of was better,the SOD activity of was higher and the MDA concentration of was lower (P