ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of combining scalp acupuncture with hyperbaric oxygen on serum homocysteine and highly-sensitive c-reactive protein levels and functional recovery after cerebral infarction.Methods:A total of 101 survivors of cerebral infarction were divided randomly into a scalp acupuncture group ( n=33), a hyperbaric oxygen group ( n=34) and a combined treatment group ( n=34). All received routine treatment plus the appropriate supplementary treatment once a day for 10 days. The subjects were evaluated before the experiment as well as 10 and 90 days afterward. The National Institutes of Health′s stroke scale (NIHSS) was used to quantify neurological deficits and the Barthel Index quantified ability in the activities of daily living. Ninety days after the treatment, modified Rankin scale scores were also assigned. The levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy) and highly-sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) before and after 10 days of treatment were also compared among the 3 groups. Results:The average NIHSS and Barthel Index scores of all three groups had improved significantly after 10 days of treatment and the improvements persisted at the follow-up 3 months later. Both results were significantly better in the combined treatment group than in the scalp acupuncture group at the 90-day follow-up evaluation. The average Rankin score of the combined treatment group was lower at the last follow-up. Compared with before the intervention, the average Hcy of the scalp acupuncture group, the average hs-CRP of the hyperbaric oxygen group, as well as the average Hcy and hs-CRP of the combined treatment group were significantly lower after 10 days of treatment. Compared with the scalp acupuncture group, the average Hcy [(11.68±2.6) μmol/L] of the combined treatment group was significantly lower after the 10 days of treatment.Conclusions:Supplementing scalp acupuncture with hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the long-term outcomes of cerebral infarction, reducing the level of serum Hcy.
ABSTRACT
Liver fibrosis can progress to liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease, which may lead to poor prognosis. In addition to pathological angiogenesis and hepatic sinusoid remodeling, hepatic lymphangiogenesis also plays an important role in the progression of liver fibrosis. This article briefly describes lymphatic vessel markers and their expression in the liver, introduces the role of lymphangiogenesis in liver fibrosis, and reviews the role of liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) and lymphatic endothelial cells in lymphangiogenesis. It is pointed out lymphangiogenesis may become a potential target for the intervention of liver fibrosis, which plays an important role in the early treatment and reversal of liver fibrosis and the prevention of liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.
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Objective To explore the correlation between depressive symptoms and frailty,in order to provide evidence for prevention and relief of depressive symptoms in elderly inpatients.Methods A cross-sectional survey and comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)were conducted with 248 eligible elderly inpatients from December 2015 to February 2017 in our hospital.Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 5-Item Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS-5),and frailty was identified by the frailty phenotype method.Results In all respondents,50 (20.2 ％)patients showed depressive symptoms,93(37.5 ％)patients had pre-frailty and 39 (15.7 ％)patients had frailty.Correlation analysis showed that frailty degree,low grip strength,slow gait speed,low physical activity,fatigue,and weakness were all positively correlated with depressive symptoms in elderly inpatients (r =0.441,0.315,0.426,0.316,0.395 and 0.151,respectively,P ＜ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that patients who had more severe frailty faced a much higher risk of developing depressive symptoms (OR=2.608,P＜0.05).Of the 5 indicators of frailty,slow gait speed and frailty also increased the risk of having depressive symptoms (OR =2.801 and 3.484,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Frailty degree,gait speed and fatigue are associated with increased risk of depression in the elderly.Depressive symptoms can be reduced in elderly inpatients with prevention and intervention of pre-frailty and frailty.
ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the practice and value of comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)in geriatric care by conducting comprehensive evaluation of hospitalized elderly patients.Methods CGA was carried out in 91 hospitalized patients at our hospital from July 2015 to October 2015.Patients aged 65-75(6 cases),76-85(38 cases)and ＞85-99 years(47 cases)were assigned into three Groups.The incidence of geriatric syndromes ineach age group was calculated,and characteristics of geriatric syndromes among the patients were analyzed.ResultsFrailty had the highest incidence among all age groups 69(64.8％).In Group 65-75 years old,pain was mostfrequently reported 2(33.3％);in Group 76-85 years old,the three most frequent syndromes were frailty,dementiaand falls;in Group 85-99 years old,frailty,polypharracy and rnalnutrition occurred most often.Up to 37.4％％ of the patients showed coexistence of 3-4 common geriatric syndromes,and only 14.2％ of the patients had none Conclusions Frailty,dementia,falls,polypharrnacy,and malnutrition are the most common geriatric syndromes in hospitalized elderly patients.Coexistence of multiple geriatric syndromes is common among these patients.