ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen in treating depression after cerebral stroke.Method A total of 120 patients with depression after cerebral stroke were randomized into a treatment group of 60 cases and a control group of 60 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen, while the control group was intervened by Fluoxetine. Before the treatment, and respectively after 14-d and 28-d treatments, the patients were evaluated by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the therapeutic efficacies were compared between the two groups. Result The treatment group was significantly superior to the control group in comparing therapeutic efficacy (P<0.01). After 1 course of treatment, the HAMD and NIHSS scores dropped significantly in the treatment group (P<0.01); the scores in the control group showed a declining tendency but without statistical significances (P>0.05). After 2 treatment courses, the HAMD and NIHSS scores were significantly different from those before the treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and the differences were more significant in the treatment group (P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen is effective in treating depression after cerebral stroke, and it can obviously improve the neural function.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen in treating depression after cerebral stroke.Method A total of 120 patients with depression after cerebral stroke were randomized into a treatment group of 60 cases and a control group of 60 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen, while the control group was intervened by Fluoxetine. Before the treatment, and respectively after 14-d and 28-d treatments, the patients were evaluated by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the therapeutic efficacies were compared between the two groups. Result The treatment group was significantly superior to the control group in comparing therapeutic efficacy (P<0.01). After 1 course of treatment, the HAMD and NIHSS scores dropped significantly in the treatment group (P<0.01); the scores in the control group showed a declining tendency but without statistical significances (P>0.05). After 2 treatment courses, the HAMD and NIHSS scores were significantly different from those before the treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and the differences were more significant in the treatment group (P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture plus hyperbaric oxygen is effective in treating depression after cerebral stroke, and it can obviously improve the neural function.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of advanced glycated albumin (AGE-alb) on the activation of caspase-12, a key molecule in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-associated apoptotic pathway, and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of macrophage apoptosis. RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with AGE-alb (2, 4 and 6 g/L), control albumin (C-alb, 4 g/L), tunicamycin (TM, 4 mg/L), or pretreated with 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA, 5 mmol/L) for 1 h and then treated with AGE-alb (4 g/L). After incubation for 24 h, the cell viability and apoptosis were determined by using MTT assay and TUNEL detection kit, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in media was determined by using an assay kit. The protein levels of caspase-12 were examined by Western blot analysis. The results showed that like TM (an ERS inducer), incubation with AGE-alb led to significant decrease in viability and increase in LDH activity in media and apoptotic rate in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, AGE-alb induced activation of caspase-12 especially at the concentration of 4 and 6 g/L (P < 0.01), which was similar to TM. However, PBA (an ERS inhibitor) protected RAW264.7 macrophages from AGE-alb-induced decrease in viability and increases in LDH activity and apoptosis. Moreover, PBA also inhibited the caspase-12 activation induced by AGE-alb (P < 0.05). These results suggest that AGE-alb may induce apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of ERS-associated apoptotic pathway mediated by caspase-12.