Dyskinesia is Closely Associated with Synchronization of Theta Oscillatory Activity Between the Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata and Motor Cortex in the Off L-dopa State in Rats / 神经科学通报·英文版

Excessive theta (θ) frequency oscillation and synchronization in the basal ganglia (BG) has been reported in elderly parkinsonian patients and animal models of levodopa (L-dopa)-induced dyskinesia (LID), particularly the θ oscillation recorded during periods when L-dopa is withdrawn (the off L-dopa state). To gain insight into processes underlying this activity, we explored the relationship between primary motor cortex (M1) oscillatory activity and BG output in LID. We recorded local field potentials in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and M1 of awake, inattentive resting rats before and after L-dopa priming in Sham control, Parkinson disease model, and LID model groups. We found that chronic L-dopa increased θ synchronization and information flow between the SNr and M1 in off L-dopa state LID rats, with a SNr-to-M1 flow directionality. Compared with the on state, θ oscillational activity (θ synchronization and information flow) during the off state were more closely associated with abnormal involuntary movements. Our findings indicate that θ oscillation in M1 may be consequent to abnormal synchronous discharges in the BG and support the notion that M1 θ oscillation may participate in the induction of dyskinesia.

Measurement and assessment of psychological pain / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Psychological pain is a subjective experience, mainly from the psychological needs of frustration. It is characterized by the perception of negative changes in self and its functions, accompanied by strong negative emotions. Psychological pain is often associated with the decline of mental health, which is considered to be the core of the suicide process. A higher level of psychological pain is closely related to suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior. Therefore, the measurement and evaluation of psychological pain plays an important role in outpatient screening, clinical treatment and crisis intervention. In order to improve the recognition of psychological pain and the accuracy of suicide risk prediction, after more than 20 years of application and development, more than 10 methods of measuring psychological pain can be included in clinical risk assessment. The traditional assessment methods are mostly based on Shneidman ’s definition of psychological pain and suicide theory, which are used to measure the intensity and frequency of psychological pain. In recent years, the development of suicide model and theory provides a new perspective and theoretical basis for the assessment of psychological pain. The latest assessment methods tend to be shorter and more convenient, or present the specific clinical characteristics of psychological pain. In addition, thematic apperception test, visual analogue scale, pictorial representation of illness and self measure and structured interview make up for the limitations of self-report. In the future, the assessment can be further combined with neurobiology, mobile internet and other means, while considering the application in diverse environments such as special populations and cross-cultural groups.

Meditation training and measures of meditation state / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

In recent decades,the research on meditation training has developed rapidly.How to establish the evaluation index of the meditation training and meditation state becomes the concern of researchers.To date,the traditional evaluation methods mainly based on the meditation practice time,self-reported meditation scores and the improvement of symptoms or ability.The direct evaluation methods uses the reporting method or the detecting method to evaluate the meditation state.In the future,researchers can develop the kinesthetic and auditory tasks,and establish multi-modal monitoring indicators based on the meditation breath counting task.Electroencephalograph and other biofeedback indicators could be also combined with it.Furthermore,the Chinese localization evaluation standard need to be established.

Effectiveness of 8-week mindfulness training improving negative emotions / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness training improving negative emotions, furthering to explore the mediating effect of the improvement of mindfulness levels for the training effects.Methods:Randomized control trail was used in this research.Ninety participants who suffered negative e-motions and resolved to alleviate stress by mindfulness training were recruited by lecture.They were randomized in-to mindfulness training group or waitlist control group,and 79 of them completed the intervention (38 in mindful-ness training group and 41 in waitlist control group).Participants in mindfulness training group received an 8-week mindfulness training,while participants in waitlist control group received no intervention.Participants were assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ,measuring mindfulness level)and Brief Profile of Mood State (POMS,measuring emotion)before and after intervention.Results:After 8-week intervention,participants in mindfulness training group got significantly higher total scores of FFMQ compared with baseline [(125.9 ±11.9) vs.(121.2 ±12.5),P0.05 ).The improvement of total scores of FFMQ mediated the reduction of total scores of POMS (95%CI=-6.24--0.73),and the intensity-anxiety (95%CI=-1.65 ~-0.12),depression-frustration (95%CI=-1.63--0.14),and fatigue scores (95%CI=-1.72--0.20)of POMS caused by mindfulness training.Conclusion:Mindfulness training could improve participants'negative emotions,and the enhanced mindfulness levels caused by mindfulness training will play a very important role for the improvement of negative emotions.

Relationship between long-term mortality and diabetic complications in 139 patients with diabetic foot ulcer / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To determine the mortality and associated risk factors in the patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Methods One hundred and sixty-three patients with diabetic foot ulcers hospitalized from January 2001 to December 2006 were followed up until December 2009. Mortality rates were derived from Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The prognostic factors were evaluated with Cox proportional hazard model. Results Follow-up was successful in 139 out of 163 patients, with a mean follow-up period of(3.71 + 1. 80)years. 55 patients(39 males and 16 females)died during the follow-up. The 5-year mortality was 45.8% and mean survival time was 5.38 years(95% CI 4.87-5.89). The median survival time was 6.83 years. Age, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetic nephropathy were found to be independent prognostic factors for mortality. Conclusions Diabetic foot ulcers increased the mortality of diabetic patients. Age, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetic nephropathy were predictive risk factors for mortality.