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BACKGROUND:In the offspring of obese mothers,some metabolic genes are"silent"under certain environmental influences.These"silent"genes may be"awakened"under the acquired environment and then cause metabolic regulation disorders. OBJECTIVE:In the case of offspring with different diets,to explore the metabolic genetic effects of long-term high-fat and exercise intervention in female mice. METHODS:Seventy 3-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were divided into high-fat diet(HFD)and high-at exercise groups(high-fat diet+exercise,HFD-Ex),and they gave birth naturally after 16 weeks of intervention.After 4-week lactation,16 male offspring mice from each group were randomly selected.Totally 32 offspring mice were randomly divided into 4 subgroups and given high-fat diet or standard chow diet for 6 weeks:HFD-HFD,HFD-Ex-HFD,HFD-standard chow diet,and HFD-Ex-standard chow diet.The offspring mice were subjected to glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test in the 10th week,followed by body composition analysis and sacrifice.Western blot was used to determine the level of p-Akt in the liver.Immunofluorescence of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus was used to analyze the expression of neuropeptide Y and pro-opiomelanocortion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under the high-fat diet,compared with the HFD group,the offspring of the HFD-Ex group had significantly improvements in glucose metabolism,body mass,and body composition(P<0.05).Under the standard chow diet,compared with the HFD group,the expression of neuropeptide Y in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of the HFD-Ex group was significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the expression of pro-opiomelanocortion was significantly up-regulated(P<0.05).In the case of insulin(-),the expression of phosphorylated Akt(Ser473)protein in the liver showed no significant difference between the two groups,but in the case of insulin(+),there was a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).In the high-fat diet mode,the metabolic protection effect of the maternal long-term exercise may gradually weaken with the prolongation of the offspring's high-fat exposure;in the standard chow diet mode,the maternal long-term exercise can improve the central regulation of energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity of the male offspring.
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Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in predicting the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) plus oxcarbazepine (OXC) treatment administered to children with epilepsy and to determine their prognosis. Overall, 193 children with epilepsy admitted to the hospital were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups according to different treatment methods: group A (n = 106, treated with LEV plus OXC combination) and group B (n = 87, treated with OXC only). After treatment, compared with group B, group A exhibited a remarkably higher total effective rate and a significantly lower total adverse reaction rate. Areas under the curve for MDR1 and NPY for predicting ineffective treatment were 0.867 and 0.834, whereas those for predicting epilepsy recurrence were 0.916 and 0.829, respectively. Electroencephalography abnormalities, intracranial hemorrhage, neonatal convulsion, premature delivery, and MDR1 and NPY levels were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with epilepsy. Serum MDR1 and NPY levels exhibited a high predictive value for early epilepsy diagnosis, treatment efficacy assessment, and prognostication in children with epilepsy treated with LEV plus OXC combination.
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Humans , Male , Female , Neuropeptide Y/analysis , Child , ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/analysis , Epilepsy/pathology , Levetiracetam/antagonists & inhibitors , Oxcarbazepine/antagonists & inhibitors , Efficacy , Electroencephalography/methodsABSTRACT
Abstract Background The neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most abundant neurotransmitters in the nervous system. NPY acts as a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, inflammation, and adipogenesis, through the NPY 2 receptor (NPY2R). Changes in the NPY signaling pathway have been linked to Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Objectives The purpose of this study is to determine the association between variants in the NPY and NPY2R genes, as well as the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods Approximately 221 ACS patients and 278 healthy controls were selected for this study. Four variants in NPY and two variants in NPY2R genes were genotyped using Taqman allelic discrimination and sequencing. The Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to verify the genotype frequencies. The logistic regression analyses were used for the evaluation of the studied variables. Haplotype analysis was used to evaluate the linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the variants (p<0.05). Results An association of NPY c.20T>C variant was found with the ACS group when compared to the healthy group. In the analysis between variants and risk factors in the ACS group, NPY c.84G>A was associated with hypertension. The analysis between TIMI risk showed a significance for NPY c.20T>C between the low and intermediate/high TIMI risk groups. In the haplotype analysis, strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) was found between the variants NPY c.150G>A and NPY c.-485T>C. Conclusion The NPY c.20T>C variant appears to contribute to the development of ACS. The NPY2R c.-1116A>G variant may contribute to the early development of ACS and the NPY c.84G>A variant appears to contribute to the development of hypertension. In addition, the NPY c.20T>C is associated with a protective effect in ACS severity.
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Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Young Adult , Neuropeptide Y , Acute Coronary Syndrome/etiology , Receptors, Neuropeptide Y , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Heart Disease Risk Factors , HypertensionABSTRACT
Objective To explore the relationship between the content of neuropeptide Y (NPY), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the changes of the corresponding receptors in myocardial tissue and the development of heart failure. Methods Doxorubicin was used to prepare rat heart failure models(10 rats), control group (10 rats), Cardiac ultrasound testing evaluated its cardiac function, the distribution of nerve fibers was detected by nerve staining kit method, the tissue expression levels of NPY, CGRP, iNOS and neuropeptide Y receptor Y1 (NPY1R), receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1), guanylate cyclase beta 1(GCYB1) were observed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining method. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of NPY, CGRP, iNOS and NPY1R, RAMP1, GCYB1 receptors in myocardial tissue. Results Compared with the control group, the protein expression level and tissue expression distribution of CGRP in the myocardial tissue of the heart failure group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the density of nerve fibers, the protein expression level and tissue expression distribution of NPY and iNOS were significantly increased (P<0.05). The protein expression levels of GCYB1 and RAMP1 in myocardial tissue of the heart failure group were significantly increased, while the protein expression levels of NPY1R were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion Heart failure can lead to remodeling of the content and distribution of nerve fibers, CGRP, NPY, iNOS and their receptors in myocardial tissue, which may be one of the causes of cardiac innervation disorders.
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Post-traumatic stress disorder is a persistent psychological disorder that occurs for a period of time after an individual has been directly or indirectly exposed to a traumatic event, and this disorder can seriously affect the individual's daily living status and work situation. According to studies, about 1/3 of people with PTSD have the disorder for life, and the suicide rate is 6 times higher than that of the general population. The pathogenesis of the disease is still inconclusive, and the effect of conventional clinical drug therapy is limited and has significant side effects. At the same time, increasing attention has been paid to the importance of neuropeptide Y (NPY) for individuals to cope with stress and recover from traumatic events. In this paper, we explore the relationship between neuropeptide Y and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, Glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid neurons, locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system, and corticotropin releasing factor, which are closely related to posttraumatic stress disorder, to identify the neural circuit of neuropeptide Y. It may provide a new perspective for the prevention and treatment of PTSD and for the understanding of its developmental mechanisms.
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Abstract Introduction The dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has a key role in drug addiction susceptibility. In addition to the well-known relationship between cortisol and the HPA axis, other molecules are involved with stress response and could modify the HPA activation, such as the neuropeptide Y (NPY), which has anxiolytic proprieties. There are few studies evaluating the effect of NPY levels on addiction, especially in crack cocaine dependence. Objective To evaluate NPY in crack users during early withdrawal to determine its relationship with drug use and cortisol levels. Methods We analyzed 25 male inpatient crack users. Serum NPY levels were measured at admission and discharge (mean of 24 days). Morning salivary cortisol was measured at admission. Results Serum NPY levels at admission and discharge were very similar. Lower NPY levels at discharge were associated with higher lifetime crack use. Also, a negative correlation was found between morning cortisol and delta NPY (NPY discharge - NPY admission). Conclusion These preliminary findings indicate that crack use influences the modulation of NPY levels and modifies stress response. The NPY pathway may play an important role in the pathophysiology of crack addiction, and the anxiolytic effect of NPY may be impaired in crack users. Future studies should consider NPY as a measurable indicator of the biological state in addiction.
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Adult , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Stress, Psychological/blood , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/blood , Neuropeptide Y/blood , Hydrocortisone/blood , Crack Cocaine , Cocaine-Related Disorders/blood , InpatientsABSTRACT
Anxiety disorders are a common mental illness that seriously endangered physical and mental health of human beings. The etiology of anxiety disorders is closely related to the abnormality of monoamines neurotransmitters, amino acids neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. The long-term use of anti-anxiety chemical drugs has some adverse effects, such as constipation, muscle relaxation, lethargy, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. However, traditional Chinese medicines have advantages of multi-component, multi-target coordination, with less adverse reactions. Therefore, it is a promising prospect to develop novel anti-anxiety drugs from traditional Chinese medicines and formulas. This article reviewed some traditional Chinese medicines and formulas that can relieve anxiety symptoms. These include traditional Chinese medicines(Panax ginseng, Lycium ruthenium, Morus alba, Bupleurum plus dragon bone oyster soup, Chailong Jieyu Pills, and Naogongtai Formulas) with the effect on monoamine neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine; traditional Chinese medicines(Rehmannia glutinosa, Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa, Jielv Anshen Decoction, Baixiangdan Capsules, Antianxietic Compound Prescription Capsules) with the effect on amino acid neurotransmitters, such as glutamic acid, γ-aminobutyrc acid; and traditional Chinese medicines(P. ginseng, Xiaoyao San, Shuyu Ningxin Decoction)with the effect on neuropeptide Y pathway, with the aim to provide theoretical basis for the further development of some novel and more effective anti-anxiety therapeutics from traditional Chinese medicine and formulas.
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Humans , Anti-Anxiety Agents/pharmacology , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Neurotransmitter Agents , Norepinephrine , SerotoninABSTRACT
Huntington's disease (HD),a single-gene autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease,is pathologically characterized by the great loss of striatal neurons in the brain.Clinical manifestations of HD show involuntary dance-like movements,cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms.The pathogenesis of HD is concerned with the protein expression of mutant huntingtin which leads to the selective degeneration of medium spiny neurons in the striatum and the onset of the disease.Cannabinoid receptor (CBR) plays a key role in the release of neurotransmitters,synaptic plasticity,gene expression and modulation of.neuronal activity through the CBR1 and CBR2 signaling pathways.Recent studies have found that CBR-mediated phosphoinositide3-kinases/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin complex1/brain derived neurotrophic factor,neuropeptide Y/neuronal nitric oxide synthase signaling pathway play a vital role in the regulation.of striatal neuroprotection in HD.This review reveals the research progress of CBR1 related signaling pathways in HD,which provides new theoretical basis and drug targets for the prevention and treatment of HD.
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Abstract Purpose: To investigate the relations of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions with fetal brain injury in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Methods: Sixty rats pregnant for 15 days were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The ICP model was established in experimental group. On the 21st day, the blood biochemical test, histopathological examination of pregnant rat liver and fetal brain tissues and immunohistochemical analysis of fetal rat brain tissues were performed. Results: On the 21st day, the alanineaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bile acid levels in experimental group were significantly higher than control group (P<0.01). Compared with control group, there was obvious vacuolar degeneration in pregnant rat liver tissue and fetal brain tissue in experimental group. NPY expression in fetal brain tissue was negative in control group and positive in experimental group. HO-1 expression in fetal brain tissue was strongly positive in control group and positive in experimental group. There was significant difference of immunohistochemical staining optical density between two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: In fetal brain of ICP rats, the NPY expression is increased, and the HO-1 expression is decreased, which may be related to the fetal brain injury.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Pregnancy , Rats , Pregnancy Complications/metabolism , Neuropeptide Y/metabolism , Brain Injuries/metabolism , Cholestasis, Intrahepatic/metabolism , Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism , Pregnancy Complications/pathology , Brain Injuries/etiology , Brain Injuries/pathology , Immunohistochemistry , Cholestasis, Intrahepatic/complications , Cholestasis, Intrahepatic/pathology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Disease Models, AnimalABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of moxa-stick moxibustion and joss-stick moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV4) on the activity of mast cells in the small intestine tissue in rats. METHODS: Twelve male SD rats were randomly divided into control, joss-stick moxibustion and moxa-stick moxibustion groups (n=4 rats in each group). Joss-stick or moxa-stick moxibustion was applied to CV4 for 10 min. After moxibustion, the skin temperature of the CV4 region was measured immediately with a thermometer. The mast cells and nerve fibers in the small intestine tissue were displayed by immunofluorescence histochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the skin temperature of the CV4 region in both the joss-stick and the moxa-stick groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the skin temperature of the moxa-stick group was significantly higher than that in the joss-stick group (P<0.05). There were a large number of tryptase-positive mast cells in the small intestine of rats, some of which were co-expressed with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1, displaying an activated state. The average numbers of mast cells in the control, joss-stick and moxa-stick groups were 9.2±3.6, 10.8±5.3 and 17.1±6.3, respectively, being significantly higher in the moxa-stick group than in the control and joss-stick groups (P<0.05). In addition, calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) and neuropeptide Y(NPY) positive nerve fibers were found around the mast cells in the small intestinal tissues. CONCLUSION: Moxa-stick moxibustion gives rise a higher temperature at CV4 to activate mast cells surrounded by CGRP and NPY positive nerve fibers in the small intestine tissue in rats, suggesting an involvement of the sensory and sympathetic nervous system in the activation of intestinal mast cells possibly by way of somatic sympathetic reflex.
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Inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are fundamental elements of cortical circuits and play critical roles in shaping network activity. Dysfunction of interneurons can lead to various brain disorders, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, and anxiety. Based on the electrophysiological properties, cell morphology, and molecular identity, interneurons could be classified into various subgroups. In this study, we investigated the density and laminar distribution of different interneuron types and the co-expression of molecular markers in epileptic human cortex. We found that parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) neurons were distributed in all cortical layers except layer I, while tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were abundant in the deep layers and white matter. Cholecystokinin (CCK) neurons showed a high density in layers IV and VI. Neurons with these markers constituted ~7.2% (PV), 2.6% (SST), 0.5% (TH), 0.5% (NPY), and 4.4% (CCK) of the gray-matter neuron population. Double- and triple-labeling revealed that NPY neurons were also SST-immunoreactive (97.7%), and TH neurons were more likely to express SST (34.2%) than PV (14.6%). A subpopulation of CCK neurons (28.0%) also expressed PV, but none contained SST. Together, these results revealed the density and distribution patterns of different interneuron populations and the overlap between molecular markers in epileptic human cortex.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Brain Chemistry , Genetics , Physiology , Cerebral Cortex , Metabolism , Pathology , Cholecystokinin , Metabolism , Epilepsy , Pathology , Gene Expression Regulation , Physiology , Interneurons , Metabolism , Neuropeptide Y , Metabolism , Parvalbumins , Metabolism , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase , Metabolism , Somatostatin , Metabolism , Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase , MetabolismABSTRACT
@#The neuropeptide Y receptors system is a receptor-ligand system composed of neuropeptide Y and its receptors, which is represented by two subtypes, including Y1 receptor (Y1R) and Y2 receptor (Y2R). The system is widely involved in pain modulation in mammals. These receptors are G protein-coupled receptors, participating in neuronal membrane signaling. Neuropeptide Y receptors distribute in the pain-related regions of the central nervous system, play a variety of roles in maintains neuronal activity of pain transmission, relate to the specificity of distribution. At the spinal level, Y1R plays an analgesic role, whereas Y2R is usually related to pain-promoting. The system can also take part in cerebral pain modulation at different nuclei.
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Skeleton metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis and fracture have posed an detrimental impact on the elderly, which is a primary cause of paralysis and even death in patients. Osteoblast and osteoclast are the two major parts in the regulation of bone homeostasis and imbalance of these two cells, which may result in dysfunction of bone metabolism. Recent researches indicated that bone homeostasis was primarily regulated by endocrine, paracrine, and local mechanical processes. However, increasing evidences have indicated that the significant role of nerve system may involve in bone metabolism via both central and peripheral pathways. Neuropeptide Y(NPY), a neurotransmitter that belongs to a family of peptides,serves as a critical hinge connecting nerve system and skeleton system. Several studies have suggested that NPY generated by both central and peripheral nerve system could regulate bone homeostasis and that NPY-energic nerve fibers distributed on bone surface and in intramedullary cavity and NPY receptors located at osteoblast, chondrocyte, and osteocytes also provide a basis for nerve-skeleton metabolic pathways. NPY can directly regulate osteoprogenitor, involving in the production and differentiation of osteoblast and osteoclast. In addition, as a pivotal molecular of energy homeostasis, NPY may affect glucose and fat homeostasis. Studies of animal models also have further indicated energy metabolism may directly or indirectly participate in the regulation of bone mass. Therefore, further researches on the relationship between NPY and bone homeostasis may facilitate to unveil the central and peripheral regulatory effect of NPY on bone homeostasis and provide a new sight for the treatment of skeleton metabolism-related diseases in the future.
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Objective To explore the relationship between the serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels and the pathogenesis,therapeutic intervention of schizophrenia. Methods One hundard twenty-five patients with schizophrenia (case group) with no medication for at least 4-week and 136 healthy controls (control group) were evaluated by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scala (PANSS). Simultaneously blood tests were performed to detect serum NPY levels. In the case group, PANSS was evaluated and blood collected again after 4 weeks of treatment with olanzapine. Result At the baseline,the serum NPY concentration was significantly lower in the case group than in control group (t=-5.79, P<0.01). The scores of RBANS and its factors were significantly lower in the case group than in control group (all P<0.01). The concentration was positively correlated with the score of the attention factor for RBANS scale (r=0.20, P=0.04). After treatment with olanzapine for 4 weeks,the serum NPY level in the case group was significantly increased (t=-2.23,P=0.03).The scores of PANSS total scale and subscale were significantly decreased(all P<0.01).There was no significant correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and PANSS total or subscale scores from baseline to 4-week (all P>0.05). Conclusion The present study has revealed a significant decrease in serum NPY levels in patients with schizophrenia which can be attenuated by treatment of Olanzapine.The action of Olanzapine may be related to the mechanism of action of Olanzapine.However,there is no correlation between alterations of the serum level of NPY and the improvement in the patientˊs clinical symptoms.
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Objective:To investigate the effects of an atypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine on the body mass index(BMI), leptin and hypothalamic neurohormone related to appetite regulation in the first-attack psychotic patients after 4-week treatment. Methods:Totally 38 first-attack psychotic patients meeting DSM-Ⅳ diagnostic criteria were treated with olanzapine for 4 weeks. The BMI,blood lipids,blood glucose and neurohormone were measured before and after the treatment. The normal control group was also considered the above indices. Results:After the 4-week treatment, the body weight and the body mass index increased significantly when compared with those before the treatment (P < 0.01),and the plasma levels of TC,TG and LDL were higher than those before the treatment(P < 0.05). Both leptin and NPY levels significantly increased in the patients after the treatment (P <0.05),while the NPY levels were significantly lower before the treatment when compared with those in the control group(P< 0.05). The α-MSH levels before and after the treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group(P < 0.01). The CART levels had no significant difference among the pre-treatment group, post-treatment group and control group (P >0.05). Conclusion:The levels of leptin and neurohormone may be changed in the early treatment of olanzapine in the patients with schizophrenia,which may cause weight gain.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of early acupuncture intervention on brain edema in patients with traumatic intracerebral hematoma and explore its mechanism on the basis of conventional western medicine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With stratified block randomization, sixty-four patients with glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 6 to 12 were divided into an acupuncture combined with medicine group (a combination group) and a western medication group, 32 cases in each one. In the western medication group, dehydration to reduce intracranial pressure and nutritional nerves were given as the basic treatment. In the combination group, on the basis of the treatment as the western medication group, acupuncture was applied at Xuehai (SP 10), Taixi (KI 3), Fenglong (ST 40), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The treatment was given once every day, for 6 times as one course; there was an interval of 1 day between two courses; a total of 4 courses were required. GCS score and recovery time were recored before treatment and on the 7 th, 14 th and 28 th days. 90 days follow-up after treatment, the GOS was observed, and the mortality and effective survival rate were calculated. The Barthel index (BI) score was evaluated before treatment and on the 14th, 21st, 28th days and 90 days follow-up after treatment. Before treatment and 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th days, cranial CT or MR scan was performed to calculate the brain edema index (BEI); Plasma interleukin-6 (6IL-6), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured before treatment and on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The GCS scores increased gradually in the two groups during treatment, and there was significant difference between the 28th days and before treatment (both <0.05). There were no significant difference between the two groups about GCS score and average recovery time on the 28th days treatment (all >0.05). (2) The mortality rate of the combination group was 6.3% (2/32) on 90 days follow-up, 9.4% (3/32) in the western medication group (>0.05). The effective survival rate was 81.3% (26/32) in the combination group, which was higher than 59.4% (19/32) in the western medication group (<0.05). (3) The BI score was significantly higher than that before treatment on the 28th days and 90 days follow-up in the two groups (all <0.05), and the result in the combination group was superior to that in the western medication group (both <0.05). (4) The BEI decreased on the 14th, 21st and 28th days in the two groups (all <0.05), and on the 14th day, the BEI decreased more significantly in the combination group than that in the western medication group (<0.05). (5) The levels of IL-6, NPY and NO decreased on the 7th and 14th days in the two groups (all <0.05), and decreased more significantly in the combination group than that in the western medication group on the 7th day (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>On the basis of conventional western medicine, early acupuncture can reduce cerebral edema and improve the prognosis of patients, and acupuncture combined with medicine are superior to western medicine alone. Acupuncture mechanism may be related to reducing the expression of inflammatory response.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Cerebral Hemorrhage , Therapeutics , Combined Modality Therapy , Hematoma , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) between the modified acupuncture and the routine acupuncture at unilateral/bilateral Renying (ST 9) as well as the impacts on the concentrations of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and urotensinⅡ(UⅡ) in the patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 160 patients were divided into a modified bilateral acupuncture group, a modified unilateral acupuncture group, a routine bilateral acupuncture group and a routine unilateral acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one according to the random number table. In the modified bilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the modified unilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine bilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine unilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). The treatment was given once every day, continuously for 6 days as one course. Two courses of treatment were required at the interval of 1 day. In each group, before and after treatment, we observed the peak systolic blood flow velocity (Vs) of the vertebral artery (VA) and the basilar artery (BA), cervical vertigo symptoms and functional assessment scales (ESCV) and the concentration of plasma NPY and UⅡ. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was 90.0% (36/40), which was better than 80.0% (32/40) in the modified unilateral acupuncture group, 77.5% (35/40) in the routine bilateral acupuncture group and 65.0% (26/40) in the routine unilateral acupuncture group (all <0.05). After treatment, Vs of VA and BA was improved remarkably in every group (all <0.01), and the result in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was higher than those in the other groups (all <0.01). After treatment, ESCV scores were all increased remarkably in every group (all <0.01). ESCV score and improvement index in the modified bilateral acupuncture group were all higher than those in the other groups (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the concentrations of plasma NPY and UⅡ were all reduced remarkably in every group (all <0.01) and the differences were significant among the groups (all <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The modified bilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) effectively regulates the blood supply of the vertebral basilar artery and improves the cerebral circulation. The effects are superior to those of the unilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9).</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Methods , Neuropeptide Y , Blood , Spondylosis , Blood , Therapeutics , Urotensins , Blood , Vertebral ArteryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Establishing a rabbit model of vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis(CSA) and to observe the characteristics of timeliness in improving the blood flow of vertebral artery by massage, and discusse the material basis of this timeliness based on NPY and ET-1.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty New Zealand healthy and white rabbits, 6-month-old, the body mass of (2.0±0.5) kg, with half males and half females, were randomly divided into blank group, model group, three massage groups(including massage for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min group by random number table), 10 rabbits in each group. In addition to the blank group, CSA rabbit model was made by injection of sclerosing agent in other groups. The rabbits of massage for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min groups received the massage therapy of corresponding duration, one times a day, continuous 10 days. The blood flow of vertebral artery in each group was detected by PeriFlux5000 laser doppler, and the contents of NPY and ET-1 in serum were detected by ELISA before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Changes in blood flow of vertebral artery before and after treatment:there was no significant difference between model group and massage for 10 min group;there was significant difference between model group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(<0.01); there was significant difference between massage for 10 min group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(<0.01); there was no significant difference between massage for 20 min group and massage for 30 min group. Changes of NPY content before and after treatment: there was significant difference between model group and massage for 10 min group(<0.05); there was significant difference between model group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(<0.01); there was significant difference between massage for 10 min group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(<0.01); there was no significant difference between massage for 20 min group and massage for 30 min group. Changes of ET-1 content before and after treatment:there was no significant difference between model group and massage for 10 min group;there was significant difference between model group and massage for 20, 30 min groups(<0.01); there was significant difference between massage for 10 min group and massage for 20 min, 30 groups (<0.01); there was no significant difference between massage for 20 min group and massage for 30 min group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Massage needed 20 min for rabbits with CSA can only significantly improve the blood flow of vertebral artery. However, prolonging the time of massage has no obvious effect. The material basis of this timeliness characteristic of massage is closely related to the change of NPY and ET-1 levels in serum.</p>
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Objective:To determine associations between postpartum depression (PPD) and plasma neurotransmitters.Methods:We conducted a case-control study nested to a prospective cohort established in 3 comprehensive tertiary hospitals in Changsha,Hunan,China from February to September 2007.The Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used at 2 weeks postpartum to screen PPD,with a score of 13 or higher as the cut-off for PPD.The women with matched age but without PPD and delivery within 5 years were selected as controls.The levels of plasma monoamine neurotransmitters including serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine,5-HT),dopamine (DA),and norepinephrine (NE),and peptide neurotransmitters including neuropeptide Y (NPY) and substance P (SP) in maternal blood samples taken at 2 weeks postpartum were measured and compared between PPD women (n=42) and controls (n=42).Results:Plasma levels of 5-HT and NPY were significantly lower while plasma levels of NE and SP were significantly higher in PPD women than those in the controls.For women with PPD,a negative correlation between NPY and NE (r=-0.36,P<0.05) was observed.Conclusion:There are changes in plasma levels of neurotransmitters in women with PPD,and there are potential interactions between different neurotransmitters.