ABSTRACT
【Objective】 To analyze the changes of gut microbes in patients with postpartum depression so as to explore the relationship between postpartum depression and gut microbes. 【Methods】 A total of 60 postpartum subjects were recruited to participate in this study. The depression status of the participants was scored using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Those with a score ≥13 were included in the postpartum depression group (PPD group), while those with a score less than 13 were included in the postpartum healthy control group (PPHC group). The feces of these 60 subjects were collected, and the fecal whole genome DNA was extracted for 16S rDNA sequencing. The data of changes in the bacterial diversity between the groups were obtained, and the possible correlation between the changes of intestinal microbes and postpartum depression was analyzed. 【Results】 The number of microorganisms in PPD patients was significantly reduced (P<0.001); the Chao1 index (P<0.001) and ACE index (P<0.001) of α diversity decreased significantly. There were also significant differences in β diversity between the two groups. Analysis of the bacteria in the groups showed that Acetanaerobacterium, Adlercreutzia, Allobaculum, Alloprevotella, Bifidobacterium, Christensenella, Escherichia, Eubacterium, Faecalicatena, Fusobacterium, Haemophilus, Intestinimonas, Lactobacillus, Megamonas, Monoglobumus, Muribaculum, Oscillospira, Paraprevotella, Streptococcus, Raoultibacter, Ruminococcus and Stomatobaculum were significantly enriched in PPHC group. In contrast, Kineothrix, Lachnoclostridium, Acinetobacter, Aquisphaera, Enterococcus, and Mucispirillum were enriched in PPD group. RDA/CCA analysis showed that EPDS was positively correlated with Prevotella, Kineothrix, and Alistipes, but negatively correlated with Lachnospira. 【Conclusion】 This study found that the intestinal flora of patients with postpartum depression was significantly disrupted, and there was a correlation between the intestinal flora and postpartum depression symptom score. Therefore, intestinal microbial markers may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with postpartum depression.
ABSTRACT
【Objective】 To study the correlation of clinical symptoms and cognitive functions with serum inflammatory factors in schizophrenia. 【Methods】 A total of 42 SCz patients (case group) and 47 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled in this study. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELSA) to determine six inflammatory factors in serum. PANSS was used to assess clinical symptoms and MCCB was used to assess the patients’ cognitive functions. 【Results】 ① Inflammatory factors: The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in case group than in control group (P<0.01). ② Cognitive functions: The scores of Trail Making Test, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Symbol Coding, Spatial Span, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, Assessment Battery-Mazes, Category Fluency and Test-Managing Emotions of case group were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.05). ③ Correlation between serum inflammatory factors and clinical symptoms: There was no correlation between serum inflammatory factors and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia. ④ Correlation between serum inflammatory factors and cognitive functions: The levels of IL-6 (rs=-0.33, P<0.05) and IL-8 (rs=-0.50, P<0.01) in case group were significantly negatively correlated with the scores of Space Scan test. 【Conclusion】 Patients with schizophrenia are presented with immune dysfunction, and the latter is correlated with cognitive impairments.
ABSTRACT
【Objective】 To investigate the relationship between rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and the incidence of angina pectoris (AP) in different genders. 【Methods】 We recruited 2710 participants from the Sleep Heart Health Study with an average age of (61.7±10.9)y, of whom 1 103 (40.7%) were male and 1 607(59.3%) were female. The participants were divided into grade 1 (25%) according to the percentage of REM sleep time (REM%). Complete polysomnography data and medical records were collected for all the participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to characterize the independent association between REM% and the occurrence of AP. 【Results】 REM% in the three groups varied significantly in age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, AHI, diabetes, and hypertension (P25% in women was closely related to AP (OR=1.523; 95% CI:1.132-2.051, P=0.006). 【Conclusion】 Participants with REM sleep time >25% have a significantly increased prevalence of AP in women, but not in men.
ABSTRACT
Purpose To explore the relationship of Tei index and the concentration of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Materials and Methods Fifty healthy individuals (control group) and fifty dilated cardiomyopathy patients (study group) were recruited in this study. BNP level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Color Doppler echocardiography were performed to measure the cardiac indices including left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd), interventricular septal thickness at diastole (IVSd), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Tei index was then calculated. The indices between the two groups were compared and correlation of Tei index and BNP with cardiac indices was analyzed. Results LVEDd, LVESd, Tei index, and BNP were significantly higher in study group than those in control group (t=14.4, 23.4, 21.9 and 22.3, P<0.01). IVSd and LVEF were significant lower in the study group (t=12.4 and 12.5, P<0.01). BNP was negatively correlated with LVEF (r= -0.266, P<0.05), and positively correlated with Tei index and LVEDd (r=0.401 and 0.326, P<0.05). Tei index was negatively correlated with LVEF and E/A (r= -0.480 and - 0.241, P<0.05), and positively correlated with LVEDd (r=0.375, P<0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the variates of BNP stepwise regression equation were Tei index, LVEF and LVEDd (t=5.984, -2.477 and 2.326, P<0.05); after correcting LVEF, the stepwise regression analysis showed closer relationship between Tei index and BNP (t=2.728, P<0.05). Conclusion There is correlation between Tei index and BNP. Tei index may be a good index for accurately estimating global ventricular function.