ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of ratanasampil (RNSP) which is Traditional Tibetan Medicine on the levels of serum β-amyloid protein, interleukin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods One hundred AD patients were divided into two groups in randomized controlled study, including treatment group (RNSP 1 g/d) and control group (piracetam 2.4 g/d). The treatment lasted 12 weeks. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer' s disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADLs) were taken to evaluate the efficacy. Serum levels of amyloid peptides (Aβ40 and Aβ42 ) were measured by ELISA assay. The radioimmunologic assay was used to determine the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Results The scores of MMSE, ADAS-cog and ADL significantly improved at 12 weeks after RNSP treatment (P＜0.01, 0.01, 0.05, respectively), while had no significant changes in piracetam group (P＜0.05).The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and Aβ42 were significantly lower in RNSP group than in Piracetam group (P＜0.01). There was a decrease trend of the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio at 12 weeks after RNSP treatment (P＜0. 05, P＜0.01 ). The serum Aβ42 level had strong correlations with TNF-α, IL-1 β and IL-6. There were no significant differences in Aβ40 and IL-8 between RNSP group and piracetam group. No obvious drug side effect happened on the groups. Conclusions The reductions of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels after RNSP treatment may lead to decrease of Aβ42 production in AD patients. RNSP may decrease the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio and slow down the progress of AD. It may improve the learning and memory ability in treating patients with mild to moderate AD and is well tolerated and safe.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the relationships of hemoglobin(Hb)level with the levels of neurohormones,and cytokines,and the effect of them on ventricular remodeling in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF). Methods Hb level,serum angiotensinⅡ(Ang Ⅱ ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),nitric oxide(NO),soluble intereellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1)and B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP)were measured in 121 CHF patients.The left ventrieular ejection fraction (LVEF)from echocardiography,left ventricular mass index(LVMI),and mean wall stress(MWS)were calculated. Results The levels of Ang Ⅱ,TNF-α,NO,siCAM-1,BNP[(144.5±64.1)ng/L,(92.3±6.4)ng/L,(65.2±4.2)μmol/L,(253.6±26.0)μg/L,(1294.0±223.0)ng/L]and LVMI,MWS in the anemia group of CHF patients were higher than those in the non-anemia group[(76.7±48.5)ng/L,(55.6±10.2)ng/L,(42.1±11.9)μmol/L,(237.18±33.26)μg/L,(437.0±115.0)ng/L,all P＜0.01].With the increase of anemia severity,the levels of AngⅡ,TNF-α,NO,siCAM-1,BNP and LVMI,MWS were significantly increased.There were negative correlations between Hb level and the 1evels of AngⅡ,TNF-α,NO,siCAM-1,BNP,LVMI,MWS(r=-0.8173,-0.8509,-0.6001,-0.6692,-0.6283,-0.8604,-0.8733,all P＜0.01),and negative correlations between LVMI,MWS and Hb levels and LVEF(P＜0.01). Conclusions Neurohormones and cytokines play roles in ventrieular remodeling and anemia in CHF aggravates the severity of ventricular remodeling.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To study the changes of excretive amount of albumin(ALB) , N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) in patients with high altitude polycythemia(HAPC) at different altitude and its mechanism. METHODS: Urinary ALB, NAG, activity of red blood cell superoxide dismutase(RBC-SOD), malonyldialdehyde(MDA) and erythrocyte filtration index(EFI) of 231 healthy subjects and 86 patients with HAPC at different altitude were detected. RESULTS:Excretive amount of urinary ALB, NAG, and plasma MDA, EFI were higher,and RBC-SOD was lower in patients with HAPC than those in healthy subjects, the changes were significantly obvious, with increasing altitude. Urinary ALB and NAG were negatively correlates to EFI, and no correlated to the content of MDA and RBC-SOD. CONCLUSIONS: EFI exertes an independent influence on urinary ALB and NAG. The decrease in erythrocyte deformability caused by the increase of peroxidation of lipids might participate in the pathogenesis and progress of the increase of excretive amount of ALB and NAG in HAPC.