The clinical analysis of 8 neurosyphilis cases presented as parkinsonism / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical features, laboratory findings, electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging of the neurosyphilis presented with parkinsonism as the principal manifestation to improve the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Methods Eight eurosyphilis patients were from department of neurology of Hainan provincial people’s hospital from early July 2010 to December 2014. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical manifestation, laboratory exami?nations, neuroimaging examinations, diagnosis and treatment outcomes of 8 cases neurosyphilis who presented with par?kinsonism as principal manifestation. Results Myotonia and bradykinesia were principal symptoms in these 8 cases. Limb tremor, posture disorder, abnormal mental behavior and cognitive impairment occurred in some patients. Serum treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) and toluidine red untreated serum test (TRUST)were positive in 8 cas?es. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and cell counts were elevated in all the patients. CSF-TPPA and TRUST were posi?tive in all the patients. The MRI showed that cerebral infarction in basal ganglia, cerebral atrophy in temporal lobe and hippocampus and ventricular enlargement in all the patients. EEG showed abnormal activity in all the patients. After treatment with a large dose of penicillin, clinical symptoms were obviously improved;the titer of serum and CSF TRUST decreased;and scores of UPDRS decreased in all the patients. Conclusions There is a wide variation in the clinical man?ifestation of the neurosyphilis. When patients present with Parkinsonism, we should comprehensively analyze the laborato?ry examinations, EEG and neuroimaging to rule out the possibility of neurosyphilis.

Effect of curcumin on oligomer formation and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels induced by overexpression or mutation of α-synuclein / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of curcumin on oligomer formation and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels (mitoKATP) induced by overexpression or mutation of α-synuclein.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recombinant plasmids α-synuclein-pEGFP-A53T and α-synuclein-pEGFP-WT were transfected into PC12 cells by lipofectamin method, and intervened by application of curcumin (20 μmol/L) and 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD). Oligomer formation in the cultured cells was identified by Western blotting and Dot blotting. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis of the PC12 cells were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and JC-1 assays. mitoKATP were identified by Western blotting and whole cell patch clamp.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Curcumin has significantly reduced the oligomer formation induced by overexpression or mutation of α-synuclein in the cultured cells. LDH has decreased by 36.3% and 23.5%, and red/green fluorescence ratio of JC-1 was increased respectively by 48.46% and 50.33% after application of curcumin (P<0.05). Protein expression of Kir6.2 has decreased and mitoKATP channel current has significantly increased (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Curcumin can inhibit α-synuclein gene overexpression or mutation induced α-synuclein oligomers formation. It may block apoptosis induced by wild-type overexpression or mutation of α-synuclein. By stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential. Opening of mitoKATP channel may have been the initiating protective mechanism of apoptosis induced by wild-type overexpression or mutation of α-synuclein. Curcumin may antagonize above cytotoxicity through further opening the mitoKATP channel.</p>

Study on serum level of uric acid and on its relation with cognition function in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between uric acid (UA) level and cognitive function in elderly patients with Parkinson,s disease (PD) and analyze the cognition related factors.Methods The clinical data of 60 elderly PD cases in our hospital from 2001 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The 60 healthy people receiving medical examination in our hospital and matched by gender and age, were as control group. The information including gender, age, illness duration, Hoehn & Yahr stage (H-Y stage), serum UA level and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale were recorded. Results The serum UA level was significantly lower in PD group than in control group [(262±53) μmol/L vs. (332±45) μmol/L, t=-6.724, P＜0.001]. In PD group, the serum UA level was slightly higher in males than in females [(271 ±48) μmol/L vs.(254±39) μmol/L, t=3. 282, P=0. 058]. The serum UA level was significantly lower in male PD patients than in male controls [(353± 62) μmol/L, t=- 5. 625, P＜0. 001], and was lower in female PD patients than in female controls [( 294 ± 59) μmol/L, t = - 4. 721, P = 0. 012]. There were no significant differences in serum UA level among different H-Y stage subgroups (P＞0. 05), but the serum UA level was lower in different H-Y stage subgroups than in control group (F=22. 039, P＜0. 01 ). There was no correlation between the UA level and the illness duration (r=0. 961, P＞0.05).The MMSE score had significant difference between elderly PD group and control group (t= -3. 168,P＜0. 001). In PD patients, the MMSE score was positively correlated with serum UA level (r=0. 789, P= 0. 000), and was negatively correlated with H-Y stage (r= - 0. 577, P = 0. 019 ), age (r= -0. 333, P=0. 034), but was not correlated with illness duration (r= -0. 333, P=0. 207) and BMI (t=- 0. 410, P= 0. 115). Conclusions The level of serum UA is lower in elderly patients with PD than in normal controls. There is correlation between the serum UA level and cognitive impairment. Lower serum UA level predicts worse cognitive scores.

The neurophysiological changes associated with pulmonary function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To observe neurophysiological changes and pulmonary function in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and analyze their inter-relationship. Methods Sixty OSAS patients were studied. Their lung function and phrenic motor nerve conduction (PNC) were examined. Thirty cases without respiratory disorder served as controls. The lung function tests included percentage of the predicted value of vital capacity ( VC% ), percentage of the predicted value of maximal voluntary ventilation ( MVV% ), percentage of the predicted value of forced expiratory volume in one second ( FEV1% ), inspiratory capacity ( IC), and expiratory reserve volume (ERV). The phrenic nerve was stimulated electrically, and the latent period and the diaphragmatic compound muscle action potential (dCMAP) were recorded. Results The VC%, MVV%, FEV1% , IC and ERV of the patients with OSAS were significantly lower than those of the controls. There was no significant difference between the patients and the controls with regard to their PNC latency. In the OSAS patients the amplitude ratio of their dCMAPs was positively correlated with VC% , MVV% , FEV1% , IC and ERV, and negatively with an apnea hypopnea index (AHI).Conclusions PNC examination can provide valuable information for evaluating diaphragmatic dysfunction in those with abnormal lung function. Decreased dCMAP might be associated with abnormal lung function.

MRI findings of neurologic complications in the enterovirus 71-infected hand-foot-mouth disease / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To explore the imaging characteristics of neurologic complications associated with the enterovirus 71 ( EV71 ) epidemic by analyzing 25 cases and reviewing the literature. Methods Twenty-five cases of hand-foot-mouth disease with neurologic complications during the recent EV71 outbreaks of Hainan province were studied for the clinical features and imaging findings, and literature were reviewed.Results In 5 cases, acute flaccid paralysis associated with EV71-infected hand-foot-mouth disease was related to the linear high signal in the spinal cord on sagittal images. Two cases showed symmetrical, welldefined hyperintense lesions in the spinal cord on T2WI transverse. Strong enhancement of the ventral horns and root was seen on the contrast-enhanced axial T1WI. In brainstem encephalitis, all lesions presented with significant hyperintensity on T2WI and hypointense on T1WI in the posterior portions of the medulla oblongata, midbrain, and pons. The manifestations of aseptic meningitis (AM) on MRI have no characteristics, but subdural effusion, meningeal enhancement and hydrocephalus can be the indirect signs of AM. Conclusions MRI is an effective method to investigate neurologic complications associated with the EV71 epidemic. Posterior portions of the medulla oblongata and pons, bilateral ventral horns of spinal involvement are characteristic findings of enteroviral encephalomyelitis.

Effect of Consciousness-restoring Obstruction-clearing Needing Technique Combined with Swallowing Function Training on Dysphagia after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To observe the effect of consciousness-restoring obstruction-clearing needing technique combined with swallowing function training on pseudobulbar paralysis after stroke.Methods 80 stroke patients with pseudobulbar paralysis were randomly divided into the trial group and control group with 40 cases in each group.The patients of the trial group were treated with consciousness-restoring obstruction-clearing needing technique combined with swallowing function training and routine medicine,those of the control group were treated only with routine medicine.Results After treatment,the whole effective rate of the trial group was 92.5%,that of the control group was 60.0%,there was a significant difference between two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapeutic effect of consciousness-restoring obstruction-clearing needing technique combined with swallowing function training and routine medicine on pscudobulbar paralysis after stroke is superior to simply routine medicine.

Chronic nicotine induces the changes of locomotor activities in rats by increasing the mRNA levels of dopamine D1 receptor in striatum / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Nicotine, which is a known central nervous system stimulant, appears to be the neuroprotective factor of Parkinson disease(PD). It has been reported that PD patients' symptoms such as trembling,rigor, hypokinesia are ameliorated during smoking, but its mechanism still keeps unclear.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of nicotine on gene expression levels of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors (D1R,D2R)in striatum of rats and analyze the possible mechanism of behavioral changes of rats induced by nicotine.DESIGN:Randomized and controlled experiment.SETTING:Institute of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University.MATERIALS :Twenty-four SD rats aged at 10 weeks were chosen,weighing 180-200 g. Nicotine (Sigma),revert AidTM M-Mulv reverse transcriptase (MBI Fermentas,USA), polymerase chain reaction (RCR,Beckman),densitometric scanning imaging system (Stratagene Eagle Eye Ⅱ ,USA).METHODS :This experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Institute of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital,Central South University from July 2001 to July 2002. These rats were divided into two groups: control group (n=12)and nicotine group(n=12). The level of D1 and D2 receptors on striatum of rats was estimated at the timepoint of thirty-minute after chronic nicotine administration (4 mg/kg per day s.c.), and the behavioral activities were also recorded at the same timepoint for thirty minutes. The functional behavioral activities recorded included: rearing up repeatedly, moving about, provoking, climbing, grooming, yawning, rotating, smelling and vomiting. At the fourteenth day, all rats were killed after thirty minutes of nicotine injection,the brains were dissected out and the region of striatum was separated immediately. Total RNA was extracted from striatum by RNeasy Total RNA Kit. PCR amplification was performed at special condition. For semi-quantitative analysis, 10 μ L of PCR products for each was examined by electrophoresis on 12 g/L agarose gel containing 0.5 mg/L ethidium bromide,and absorbance (A value) was quantitated by using densitometric scanning imaging system, thuse D1R,D2R mRNA expression were determined. Differences between means were analyzed with two-tailed student's t test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURFS: Changes of locomotor activities and the gene mRNA expression levels of D1 R and D2R in the regions of striatum in rats.RESULTS: Totally 24 SD rats were involved in the final results.① Locomotor activities of rats become more active after 3-day nicotine administration and reach the top during 7-14 days.②The A value of total RNA ratio of A260/A280 ＞1.8, and the total RNA had no degradation with 12 g/L agarose gels electrophoresis. ③As expected, PCR amplification product lengths of D1R, D2R,βA were 350 bp, 399 bp, 218 bp respectively. A significant increase of 23% of D1R mRNA expression in the region of striatum detected in the nicotine group compared with that of control group (98.63±1.13 and 65.29±1.45 seperately,P ＜ 0.01), no difference was detected on the level of D2R mRNA expression in the same regions above (76.73±1.45 and 78.21±1.69 respectively ,P ＞ 0.05 ).CONCLUSION: Nicotine may induce changes of locomotor activities of rats by up-regulating D1R mRNA expression in striatum.