Psilocybin for End-of-Life Anxiety Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective@#To systematically examine the effectiveness and tolerability of psilocybin for treating end-of-life anxiety symptoms. @*Methods@#The Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO databases were searched up to November 25, 2020. We enrolled clinical trials investigating psilocybin for treating end-of-life anxiety symptoms. Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects model. @*Results@#Overall, five studies were included, revealing that psilocybin was superior to the placebo in treating state anxiety at 1 day (Hedges’ g, -0.70; 95% confidence interval, -1.01 to -0.39) and 2 weeks (-1.03; -1.47 to -0.60) after treatment. Psilocybin was more effective than placebo in treating trait anxiety at 1 day (-0.71; -1.15 to -0.26), 2 weeks (-1.08; -1.80 to -0.36), and 6 months (-0.84; -1.37 to -0.30) after treatment. Psilocybin was associated with transient elevation in systolic (19.00; 13.58–24.41 mm Hg) and diastolic (8.66; 5.18–12.15 mm Hg) blood pressure compared with placebo. The differences between psilocybin and placebo groups with regard to allcause discontinuation, serious adverse events, and heart rates were nonsignificant. @*Conclusion@#Psilocybin-assisted therapy could ameliorate end-of-life anxiety symptoms without serious adverse events. Because of the small sample sizes of the included studies and high heterogeneity on long-term outcomes, future randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes are needed.

Effect of high dose metformin on serum HE4, LPA and regulatory T cells in patients with ovarian cancer / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To analysis the effect of high dose metformin on serum HE4, LPA and regulatory T cells in patients with ovarian cancer.Methods 80 cases of unilateral ovarian cancer patients were given surgery and conventional chemotherapy ,were divided into four groups according to single metformin dose: (group A:0.25g each time, B group:0.25g each time, group C:0.25g each time; group D: conventional treatment only) and three times a day oral administration of metformin and two weeks in a row , before and after the treatment of detection each serum HE4, LPA, transformation growth factor beta 1 (TGF -beta 1), interleukin -10 (IL-10) content, and CD4 +CD25 +CD127 regulating T cell percentage.ResuIts Compared with B, C, and D group, the efficacy of patients in group A was better, as follows: Serum HE4 content decreased significantly ( P<0.05 ); serum LPA content decreased significantly ( P<0.05 ); blood CD4 +CD25 +CD127 regulatory T cell percentage decreased significantly ( P<0.05 ); serum TGF beta 1, IL-10 content decreased significantly ( P<0.05 ) .The results were statistically significant .ConcIusion High dose of metformin can reduce serum HE4 , LPA content, reduce the adjusting the percentage of T cells and related cytokines in patients with ovarian cancer , and play a positive role in inhibit cancer cell proliferation and invasion .

Progress in the physiological and pathophysiological functions of sodium calcium exchangers / 生理学报

Sodium calcium exchanger (NCX), which is widely expressed in the plasma membrane, mitochondrial membrane and secretory vesicles in diverse kinds of cells, belongs to a type of cation translocators. NCX works in two modes, the forward mode and reverse mode, to regulate the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration bi-directionally. In the forward mode, NCX carries Ca(2+) out of the cell against its electrochemical gradients coupled to the influx of Na(+) down its electrochemical gradients; alternatively, Ca(2+) enters through the reverse mode of NCX, and Na(+) is carried out of the cell. Exactly through the two-way modes, NCX can regulate intracellular Ca(2+) concentration fleetly and accurately, and plays a critical role in a series of physiological processes including intracellular signal transduction, growth and development of cells, excitation and its coupled functions of excitable cells. NCX are acknowledged to be involved in myofiber contraction, neurotransmission, migration and differentiation of neurogliocyte, activation of immune cells, secretion of cytokines and hormones etc. Moreover, abnormal activation of the reverse mode of NCX plays a vital role in many pathological processes including cell apoptosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, insulin secretion, tumor etc. Here we reviewed the research status about the NCX's participation in some physiological and pathophysiological processes, so as to provide comprehensive understanding about its functions.

Analysis of GJB2 gene and mitochondrial DNA A1555G mutations in 16 families with non-syndromic hearing loss / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen for genetic mutations in families featuring non-syndromic hearing loss.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen families with non-syndromic hearing loss were interviewed to identify medical histories by a questionnaire. Audiological and neurological examinations were conducted for all families. Coding regions of GJB2 and 12S rRNA genes were amplified and sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 17 patients with sensorineural hearing loss, 3 were homozygous mutation for GJB2 235 delC, 1 was 235 delC heterozygous mutation, 1 was 235 delC+299_300 delAT compound heterozygous mutation, and 6 were 79G>A+341G>A heterozygosis in cis mutation. No 1555A>G mutation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was found in the 16 families.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of mtDNA 12S rRNA 1555A>G mutation in Jiangsu province may be lower than the average across China. Mutations of GJB2 genes may account for as much as 64.7% of non-syndromic hearing loss in this study. Screening for such mutations and genetic counseling may play an important role in the prevention of hereditary hearing loss.</p>

Comparative study of negative emotion and behavioral problems between left-behind and non-left-behind children in rural areas during hospitalization / 中国实用护理杂志

ObjectiveTo discuss the incidence of negative emotion and behavioral problems between left-behind and non-left-behind children in rural areas during hospitalization. Methods175 participants included 90 cases of non-left-behind children patients and 85 left-behind children patients.The negative emotion and behavioral problems of all children were recorded and compared. ResultsCompared with the non-left-behind children patients,left-behind children manifested negative emotions such as anger,anxiety,depression and fear,more probability and incidence of behavioral problems such as dysphonia,special learning disabilities,sleep disorders,twitch disease,multiple tourtte's syndrome,attention deficit disorder,enuresis sickness and so on.There was significant differences between the two groups. ConclusionsCompared with the non-left-behind children,left-behind children patients are more likely to have negative emotion and behavioral prob-lems,it may have lasting influence on children and eventually influence the development of the physical and mental health,cause learning and adaptation difficulties.So more care and attention should be given to left-behind children,and given timely discovery and timely treatment of negative emotions and behavioral problems.

Psychological factors of adopting and maintaining physical activity for individuals with hypertension in a community / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To examine the impact of psychosocial factors on physical activity,so as to provide guidance for the development of an effective physical activity intervention program for individuals with hypertension.Methods This study used a baseline data from an intervention study on regular physical activity among hypertensive individuals.A multi-stage,stratified random sampling was utilized and finally 12 communities from 6 urban districts were chosen.Questionnaires were administrated through face-to-face interviews.A total of 586 participants were recruited and finally 559 completed the interviews with the response rate as 95.4％.Descriptive statistics and Cronbach' sα coefficients were used to test the reliability.General Linear Model analysis was used to analyze the relationship between stages of physical activity and psychological factors.Results Psychosocial measures on physical activity demonstrated good reliability with Cronbach α coefficient from 0.7 to 0.9.The scores for each psychological measures increased by increasing the scores of stages of physical activity.General Linear Model analysis revealed self-efficacy (β=0.379) while enjoyment of physical activity (β =0.234) was significantly correlated with physical activity (P＜0.05).The behavioral processes and family support marginally increased the physically activity (β =0.069 for behavioral processes and β=0.163 for family support,P＜0.10).Conclusion Our findings were informative for the development of community-based intervention programs on physical activity among hypertensive individuals.It indicated that physical activity intervention programs should be psychosocial theory-based,especially increasing their self-confidence and enjoyment,as well as with family support,in order to adopt and maintain the physical activities.

Expression of neurokinin B in hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between the genesis of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy and neurokinin B (NKB).Methods The serum NKB levels of 229 women including non-pregnant women (n = 62),normal pregnant women (n = 80) and pregnant women with preeclampsia (n=37) or gestational hypertension (n= 50) were examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.The umbilical blood levels of NKB and the NKB mRNA expression in the pregnant women were also tested by fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique.ANOVA and paired t-test were applied.Results (1)The maternal plasma NKB levels of normal pregnant women,patients with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia were significantly higher than that of non-pregnant women,respectively [(28.2±6.6)μg/L,(31.5±5.2)μg/L,(70.5±8.9)μg/L vs(3.2±1.8)μg/L,P＜ 0.01].In preeclampsia,gestational hypertension and normal pregnancy group,the NKB level in umbilical blood [(121.4±9.3)μg/L,(60.5±7.2)μg/L,(40.8±6.3)μg/L] were significantly higher than that of maternal plasma(P＜0.01).(2) The maternal plasma NKB level in gestational hypertension group was higher than that in normal pregnancy group,while the difference had no statistical significance (P＞0.05).The maternal plasma NKB level in preeclampsia group was higher than that in gestational hypertension group and normal pregnancy group (P＜0.01).Forty-eight hours after delivery,the maternal plasma NKB levels significantly decreased in the normal pregnant,gestational hypertension and preeclampsia group [ (14.1±4.2) μg/L,(16.4±3.8) μg/L,(25.4±5.2) μg/L],compared to the values before delivery (P＜0.01).(3) The expression of NKB mRNA in placenta of preeclampsia group was significantly higher than that of gestational hypertension group and normal pregnancy group [(3.8±0.6) × 10-3 vs(1.7±0.4) × 10-3 and (1.6±0.3) × 10-3,P＜0.01].No statistical difference was found in the expression of NKB mRNA in placenta between gestational hypertension group and normal pregnancy group (P＞0.05).Conclusions Elevated NKB level in placenta and maternal or umbilical blood might play an important role in the development of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.

Survival Analysis on the Hazard of Hypertension at Initial Diagnosed Age / 中国慢性病预防与控制

Objective To investigate the hazard of hypertension at initial diagnosis ages.Methods Using stratified cluster sampling,6 091 adults aged more than 18 years with/without hypertension were interviewed;meanwhile their blood pressures were measured.The hazard of hypertension at initial diagnosed age was analyzed with survival analysis.Results The prevalent rate of hypertension was 19.9%and the average initial diagnosed age of hypertension was 52.0?13.12)yrs.The hazard persistently increased with the age after 35 years old for male,and reached its peak of prevalent rate(26%)at the age of 75 years for female.Not significant difference of hazard existed between male and female.Conclusion Our data indicated that there is a close relationship between the risk of hypertension onset and the age,the hazard increasing with ages,especially for the population aged over 35 years old.Therefore,an early prevention of hypertension should be taken from adolescent period.