Mechanism of Liuwei Dihuangtang on Learning and Memory in Depressive Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Liuwei Dihuangtang on memory impairment in rats with chronic depression. Method::Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group (normal saline), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model group (normal saline), and low, medium and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangtang groups (2.60, 7.81, 23.50 g·kg-1·d-1). Except for the normal group, all of the other groups were included in the chronic unpredictable mild stress model. Weight were measured every week, changes in their behavioral indicators were observed. The mRNA expressions of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the rat hippocampus were determined by real-time fluorescence quantification polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The concentration of serum estrogen was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Result::Compared with normal group, model group showed decreases in weight, activity and interest. Liuwei Dihuangtang (2.60, 7.81, 23.50 g·kg-1) significantly increased the sucrose preference of CUMS rats (P<0.01) and standing times in the open field test (P<0.01), doses of 7.81, 23.50 g·kg-1 significantly increased the total distance of the open field test (P<0.05, P<0.01), doses of 2.60, 7.81 g·kg-1 shortened the latency of water maze experiment (P<0.01), and dose of 7.81 g·kg-1 increased serum estrogen concentration (P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of GPR30, PI3K, CREB and BDNF in hippocampus of CUMS model group decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), but the mRNA expression levels of GPR30, CREB in hippocampus of 2.60 g·kg-1 dose Liuwei Dihuangtang group increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA expression levels of GPR30, PI3K, CREB, BDNF in hippocampus of 7.81 g·kg-1 dose group increased significantly as well (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion::Liuwei Dihuangtang has effect in resisting depression, and reversing depression-like behavior and learning and memory impairment in CUMS rats, with the best effect in the medium-dose Liuwei Dihuangtang group. Its mechanism may be related to increase of serum estrogen and mRNA expressions of GPR30, PI3K, CREB and BDNF in rat hippocampus.

Comparison of second-trimester maternal serum free-beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein between normal singleton and twin pregnancies: a population-based study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The second-trimester maternal serum screening in twin pregnancy is still controversial, as the serum marker levels in twins are not as clear as those in singletons. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the levels of the second-trimester maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in normal twin and singleton pregnancies and to estimate feasible analysis methods for utilizing these markers in second trimester screening for twin pregnancy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On the basis of a prospective population-based study of second-trimester maternal serum screening, the concentrations of maternal serum AFP and free beta-HCG of 195 normal twin pregnancy and 26,512 singleton controls at gestational weeks 15 to 20 were measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in one laboratory. The levels of markers were compared between the twins and singletons using weight-correction and gestational age-specific model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the research protocol, 95 communities were randomly sampled, which covered the whole Jiangsu province, the east of China. A total of 26 803 pregnant women (98%), from the target population accepted prenatal screening for maternal serum AFP, beta-HCG detection, and all babies were followed up for at least six months. There were 197 (0.73%) twin pregnancies, of which one case had fetal trisomy 18, and one case with fetal anencephaly. The others were normal twin pregnancy. From a total enrollment of 26 803 women participants, 26 512 women with normal singleton pregnancies were selected as the model controls. The other 291 pregnancies, including trisomy 21, neural tube defect (NTD), trisomy 18, and other fetal abnormalities, were excluded. No significant differences were found in the medians of gestational age-specific maternal serum free beta-hCG and AFP in normal twin pregnancy comparing with twice those in model controls with the exception of the medians for free beta-hCG during the 16th gestational week (P = 0.012).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The weight-correction and gestational age-specific levels of Chinese Han population maternal serum free beta-hCG and AFP in normal twins were twice the levels as those in the singleton controls during the 17-19 gestational weeks.</p>

Effect of modified xiaoyao powder for improving sleep in patients with psychological stress insomnia / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To subjectively and objectively assess the effect of Jiawei Xiaoyao Powder (JXYP) on sleep in patients with psychological stress insomnia. METHHODS: A randomized controlled study was conducted in 33 patients with psychological stress insomnia. They were assigned to 4 groups, 4 in the TCM group treated with JXYP, 5 in the Western medicine (WM) group treated with Estazolam, 9 in the integrated medicine (IM) group treated with JXYP plus Estazolam, and 10 in the control group treated with placebo. Quality of sleep in patients was assessed subjectively and objectively before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating scale of sleep (SRSS) and polysomnography (PSG), respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Subjective assessment on sleep showed that after 6-week treatment, the scores of PSQI and SRSS remarkably reduced in the TCM, IM and control groups (P < 0.05), while the decrease was insignificant in the WM group (P > 0.05), but no significant difference between groups was shown. The objective assessment by PSG showed that no significant change was found after treatment in parameters of total sleep time (TST), sleep time of phase 1 and 2, slow wave phase, rapid-eye-movement (REM) phase, sleep latency, REM sleep latency, also in long waking and short waking times in all group (P > 0.05), but a significant increase of sleep efficacy (P < 0.05) and an increasing trend of TST (P > 0.05) were shown in the IM group, and an increasing trend of both in the TCM group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JXYP, combined with or without Estazolam, can improve the quality of sleep subjectively, and the combination of the two could enhance the efficacy of sleep in patients with psychological stress insomnia.</p>

Evaluating the applicability of MoM in second trimester maternal serum to screening for Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the applicability of MultiCalc software to prenatal screening of Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The gestational age-specific median of maternal serum marker was calculated by means of regression method. Regression functions for adjustment of Multiple of the Median (MoM) by weight were established for our own population.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before the adjustment by weight, the average level of alpha fetal protein(AFP) was 16% higher and the free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) was 14% higher than those of the Caucasian in MultiCalc software respectively. But when the AFP and free beta-hCG results were converted to weight-adjusted MoM levels, the values were 0.99 and 1.02 respectively. The median of MoM of AFP and the free beta-hCG were 1.00 through the regression model of gestational age and weight adjustment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was no difference of average weight-adjusted MoM levels between the Jiangsu population and the Caucasian, and the MultiCalc software was applicable to maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome of Jiangsu.</p>

Analysis of risk factors for selective devascularization in patients with portal hypertension / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the risk factors for selective devascularization in patients with portal hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 160 patients with portal hypertension underwent selective devascularization were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group according to the postoperative complications. Thirty-two clinical factors were analyzed using logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Single-factor analysis showed that history of jaundice, Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification, total bilirubin (before the operation), prolongation of prothrombin time, pre-operative free portal pressure, ascites, leukocyte count (1 week after the operation) and hemoglobin (1 week after the operation) were significantly different between the high-risk group and low-risk group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that decrease of free portal pressure, total bilirubin (before the operation), prolongation of prothrombin time, ascites, leukocyte count (1 week after the operation) and hemoglobin (1 week after the operation) were still significantly different between the two groups (chi2 = 53.337, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The risk factors of selective devascularization in patients with portal hypertension are decrease of free portal pressure, pre-operative total bilirubin, prolongation of prothrombin time, ascites, post-operative leukocyte count and hemoglobin.</p>