ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on chronic neuropathic pain in rats.The behavior of rats with experimental chronic neuropathic pain was observed,and the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) and the activation and proliferation of astrocytes in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn were detected.Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups:sham-operated group,sham-rTMS group,1 Hz group and 20 Hz group (8 rats in each group).Chronic constriction nerve injury induced by sciatic nerve ligation was made to establish the models of the chronic neuropathic pain in rats except those in the sham-operated group.Then we applied different frequencies of rTMS to the primary motor cortex (M1) contralateral to the pain side once daily for 10 consecutive days.Pain behavior scores were observed before and after treatment.Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of nNOS in ipsilateral L4-6 DRGs.Double immunofluorescent labeling for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was employed to observe the activation and proliferation of astrocytes in the ipsilateral L4-6 spinal dorsal horn.After rTMS treatment,the spontaneous pain behavior scores were significantly lower in the 20 Hz group than those in the sham-rTMS group (P＜0.05).Moreover,the brush-evoked pain behavior scores were significantly lower in the 20 Hz group than those in the sham-rTMS and 1 Hz group (P＜0.05),suggesting that the spontaneous pain and brush-evoked pain in the 20 Hz group were significantly alleviated.Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of nNOS in ipsilateral L4-6 DRGs was significantly decreased in the 20 Hz group as compared with the sham-rTMS group and the 1 Hz group (P＜0.01) after rTMS treatment.Double immunofluorescence suggested that the expression of GFAP and the co-localization with BrdU in astrocytes were less in the sham-operated group than those in the sham-rTMS group and the 1 Hz group in L4-6 spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to the neuropathic pain.After rTMS treatment,the expression of GFAP and the co-localization with BrdU decreased in the 20 Hz group as compared with the sham-rTMS group and the 1 Hz group (P＜0.05).In addition,the alleviation degree of spontaneous pain and brush-evoked pain in the 20 Hz group was negatively correlated with the expression of nNOS in ipsilateral DRGs and the number of GFAP/BrdU co-labelled astrocytes in L4-6 spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to the neuropathic pain (P＜0.05).It was suggested that high-frequency rTMS may relieve neuropathic pain through down-regulating the overexpression of nNOS in ipsilateral DRGs and inhibiting the activity and proliferation of astrocytes in L4-6 spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to the neuropathic pain.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on chronic neuropathic pain in rats.The behavior of rats with experimental chronic neuropathic pain was observed,and the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) and the activation and proliferation of astrocytes in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn were detected.Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups:sham-operated group,sham-rTMS group,1 Hz group and 20 Hz group (8 rats in each group).Chronic constriction nerve injury induced by sciatic nerve ligation was made to establish the models of the chronic neuropathic pain in rats except those in the sham-operated group.Then we applied different frequencies of rTMS to the primary motor cortex (M1) contralateral to the pain side once daily for 10 consecutive days.Pain behavior scores were observed before and after treatment.Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of nNOS in ipsilateral L4-6 DRGs.Double immunofluorescent labeling for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was employed to observe the activation and proliferation of astrocytes in the ipsilateral L4-6 spinal dorsal horn.After rTMS treatment,the spontaneous pain behavior scores were significantly lower in the 20 Hz group than those in the sham-rTMS group (P＜0.05).Moreover,the brush-evoked pain behavior scores were significantly lower in the 20 Hz group than those in the sham-rTMS and 1 Hz group (P＜0.05),suggesting that the spontaneous pain and brush-evoked pain in the 20 Hz group were significantly alleviated.Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of nNOS in ipsilateral L4-6 DRGs was significantly decreased in the 20 Hz group as compared with the sham-rTMS group and the 1 Hz group (P＜0.01) after rTMS treatment.Double immunofluorescence suggested that the expression of GFAP and the co-localization with BrdU in astrocytes were less in the sham-operated group than those in the sham-rTMS group and the 1 Hz group in L4-6 spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to the neuropathic pain.After rTMS treatment,the expression of GFAP and the co-localization with BrdU decreased in the 20 Hz group as compared with the sham-rTMS group and the 1 Hz group (P＜0.05).In addition,the alleviation degree of spontaneous pain and brush-evoked pain in the 20 Hz group was negatively correlated with the expression of nNOS in ipsilateral DRGs and the number of GFAP/BrdU co-labelled astrocytes in L4-6 spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to the neuropathic pain (P＜0.05).It was suggested that high-frequency rTMS may relieve neuropathic pain through down-regulating the overexpression of nNOS in ipsilateral DRGs and inhibiting the activity and proliferation of astrocytes in L4-6 spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to the neuropathic pain.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlative factors affecting the IIEF-5 scores of the patient with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 149 T2DM patients were investigated for the relationships between their IIEF-5 score and such factors as age, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2hPG, insulin (INS), GHbA1c, C-peptide, nitric oxide (NO), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), the ratio of testosterone to estradiol (T/E), erythrocyte aldose reductase (AR), drinking, smoking, concomitant diseases, complications and medication.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The scores of the groups of smoking, complication, medication and concomitant disease were significantly lower than those of the controls. There was significant negative correlation between IIEF-5 scores and age, BMI, FPG, 2hPG, INS, GHbA1c and AR (P < 0.05), and significant positive correlation between IIEF-5 scores and NO (P < 0.05). But there was no correlation between drinking, T, E2 and T/E2 (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Many factors may affect the IIEF-5 scores of T2DM patients.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Age Factors , Aldehyde Reductase , Blood , Body Mass Index , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Epidemiology , Erectile Dysfunction , Epidemiology , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Glucose Tolerance Test , Nitric Oxide , Blood , Penile Erection , Physiology , Regression Analysis , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objective To assess the quality of life(QOL)in patients with stroke at the acute stage,and to determine whether all the dimensions of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36)are applicable to the stroke patients.Methods Fifty stroke patients at the acute stage were studied.The SF-36 was employed to assess the quality of life of the patients,and a self-designed questionnaire was used to record the general information of them.The data obtained from the patients was compared with the Chinese norm reported in literature. We also calculated the percentage of subjects who achieved the lowest possible score(score of 0,floor effect)and the percentage of subjects who achieved the highest possible score(score of 100,ceiling effect).Results The QOL of the acute stroke patients,as reflected by scores with all the dimensions of the SF-36 scale,was significantly reduced when compared with the norm data(P
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the angiogenesis in rats with cerebral ischemia.Methods 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal group,model group and EA group.After the establishment of acute middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO),the rats were treated with EA on DU20 and DU26.Then the expression of bFGF,Ang-2 and Tie-2 by immunohistochemical staining was ob- served.Results The expression of bFGF and Ang-2 around the infarction locus of EA group increased remarkably compared with normal group and model group and the increase of Tie-2 was not significant.Conclusion EA can increase the expression of bFGF and Ang-2 around the infarction locus and promote the angiogenesis in rats with cere- bral ischemia.