The Interaction of Oxytocin and Social Support, Loneliness, and Cortisol Level in Major Depression

OBJECTIVE: Loneliness is a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. The present study examined whether the serum oxytocin level would interact with social support and buffers loneliness and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity in drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Twenty-six patients with MDD (male:female = 3:23; mean age, 45.54 ± 12.97 years) were recruited. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale and self-reported Measurement of Support Function Questionnaire were administered. Serum oxytocin and cortisol levels were assessed using a commercial immunoassay kits. RESULTS: In MDD patients, a negative association was found between degrees of social support and loneliness (β = −0.39, p = 0.04). The interaction between social support and serum oxytocin level was negatively associated with loneliness (β = −0.50, p = 0.017) and serum cortisol level (β = −0.55, p = 0.020) after adjusting for age. Follow-up analyses showed that the association between higher social support and lower loneliness was observed only in the higher-oxytocin group (r = −0.75, p = 0.003) but not in the lower group (r = −0.19, p = 0.53). The significance remained after further adjusting for sex and depression severity. CONCLUSION: Low oxytocin level is a vulnerability factor for the buffering effect of social support for loneliness and aberrant HPA-axis activity in MDD patients.

Antimyoclonic Effect of Levetiracetam and Clonazepam Combined Treatment on Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged-Red Fiber Syndrome with m.8344A>G Mutation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Treatment of myoclonic seizures in myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRFs) has been empirical and ineffective. Guideline on this disease is not available. Additional trials must be conducted to find more suitable treatments for it. In this study, the antimyoclonic effects of monotherapies, including levetiracetam (LEV), clonazepam (CZP), valproic acid (VPA), and topiramate (TPM) compared to combination therapy group with LEV and CZP on MERRF, were evaluated to find a more advantageous approach on the treatment of myoclonic seizures.</p><p><b>Methods</b>Treatments of myoclonic seizures with VPA, LEV, CZP, and TPM were reported as monotherapies in 17 MERRF patients from Qilu Hospital between 2003 and 2016, who were diagnosed through clinical data and genetic testing. After 1-4 months of follow-up (mean: 82.9 ± 28.1 days), 12 patients that exhibited poor responses to monotherapy were given a combined treatment consisting of LEV and CZP subsequently. The follow-up period was 4-144 months (mean: 66.3 ± 45.3 months), the effective rates of monotherapy group (17 patients) and combination therapy group (12 patients) were analyzed by Chi-square test.</p><p><b>Results</b>The m.8344 A>G mutation was detected in all patients. There were four patients with partial response (4/17, two in the CZP group and two in the LEV group), ten patients with stable disease (10/17, six in the CZP group, three in the LEV group, and one in the TPM group), and three patients with progressive disease (3/18, two in the VPA group and one in the TPM group). Twelve of the patients with LEV combined with CZP showed a positive effect and good tolerance (12/12), eight of them demonstrated improved cognition and coordination. There was a significant difference between the monotherapy group and combination therapy group in the efficacy of antimyoclonic seizures (χ = 13.7, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>LEV in combination with CZP is an efficient and safe treatment for myoclonic seizures in patients with this disease exhibiting the m.8344A>G mutation.</p>

Study on optimal harvest period of Lonicera Flos (Lonicera macranthoides) / 中国中药杂志

To ascertain the optimal harvest period of Lonicera Flos (Lonicera macranthoides) the configuration yield and quality of L. macranthiodes bloom verity and bud verity flower at different develop periods were Observed. The quality of L. macranthiodes which harvested at different times of the day was Compared. The configuration was significant difference between different develop period of L. macranthiodes flower. As bud growth, yield increased. Bloom verity of L. macranthoides chlorogenic acid content was significantly lower after opening (silver flower stage, golden flower stage), before opening (young bud stage, green-white stage) have no significant difference of the quality. Bud verity of L. macranthoides macranthoidin B is significant lower at yellow-white stage, young bud stage and green-white stage have no significant difference of the quality. The chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid A content is significant difference between L. macranthoides harvested at different time of the day. The optimal harvest period of bloom verity is the white stage, picking time for 10:00 before and after 18:00. The optimal harvest period is the green-white stage, picking time is 8:00 before and after 18:00.

Effect of fibrous root extract of Coptis chinensis on soil microbes and enzyme activities / 中国中药杂志

Coptis chinensis is widely used as Chinese medicine herbs and serious soil problems occur after continual cultivation of this medicinal plant. In the preset experiment, fibrous root extract of C. chinensis (REC) was added into soil to study the effect of REC on microbes and enzyme activity in soil. The results showed that both bacteria and actinomycetes decreased by about 2 times in contrast to fungi, which increased by about 3 folds. Phosphorus bacteria, potassium bacteria, azotobacter, ammonia bacteria, and nitrifying bacteria were also reduced significantly by REC, suggesting the inhibition of nitrogen biofixation and supply, mobilization of phosphorus and potassium, ad plant growth promotion as REC added into soil. There were multiple influences of REC on soil enzyme activities. Invertase activity was stimulated, while urease was inhibited and dehydrogenase unchanged by REC, indicating the interference of biochemical reactions in soil. In addition, type and total content of phosphorus lipid fatty acids (PLFAs) , the signature of microbes, decreased while the ratio of bacterium to fungus PLFAs increased as REC increased in soil, which suggested that fungi increased relatively with bacteria decreased thereby leading to easy occurrence of crop fungus diseases following cultivation of C. chinensis. The decrease in diversity and evenness indexes of microbial community in soil by REC indicated soil ecosystem deterioration and reduction of microbial groups and densities in soil. Therefore, allelopathic chemicals released from the roots of C. chinensis could change microbial community structure and resulted in serious soil problems by continual cropping of this medicinal plant.

Allelopathic effect of artemisinin on green algae / 中国中药杂志

To study the growth effects of differing concentrations of artemisinin on green algae and to evaluate the ecological risk. The effects of artemisinin on the growth and the content change of chlorophyll, protein, oxygen, conductivity, SOD, CAT, MDA in Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus oblique were studied through 96 h toxicity tests. Artemisinin accelerated the growth of algae at a lower concentration ( <40 microg . L-1) with content increase of chlorophyll or protein and so on, and it inhibited the growth of algae at higher concentration ( >80 microg . L-1). The content of chlorophyll or protein in algae cells reduced with the increasing concentration of artemisinin, exhibiting the good concentration-effect relationship. SOD and CAT activity was stimulated at low concentrations ( <40 microg . L-1 ) and inhibited at high concentrations ( >80 microg . L- 1). However, MDA content increased significantly with the increase of concentration. According to the seven kinds of indicators changes, the time-response and dose-response suggested that the surfactant first hurt in Ch. pyrenoidosa was damaging membrane by changing membrane lipid molecules soluble. And primary mechanism on Chlorophyta cells might be related to the oxidation damage of lipid and other biological large molecules caused by artemisinin. The large-scale intensive planting of Artemisia annua may reduce the surrounding water productivity.

Effect of fertilization on phenolic components and antioxidant activities of Artemisia annua / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A pot experiment with variable fertilizer treatments was carried out to study the influence of fertilization on the concentration and accumulation of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin in roots, stems and leaves and their antioxidant activities. The main aims were to fertilize scientifically in cultivation of Artemisia annua and improve the quality of the harvest organs.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>These active components in leaves, stems and roots in the squaring stage were analyzed by HPLC and antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by ultraviolet visible light colorimetric method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The result showed the highest concentration of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin was in leaves, followed by stems and the lowest in roots. The antioxidant activities of the leaf extracts correlated positively with the concentrations of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin. Furthermore, fertilization promoted significantly the growth of A. annua, the biomass was increased by 57.37% (chemical fertilizer), 91.63% (mixture of chemical fertilizer and manure) and 92.27% (manure), respectively, compared to the blank control (without fertilizer). Fertilization, particularly mixture fertilization of chemical fertilizer and manure, increased generally the concentration and accumulation of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin as well as DPPH x scavenging ratio.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin could be synthesized and stored mainly in leaves. The leaves might thus be the chief organ of A. annua for medical treatment. Finally, the mixture fertilization of chemical fertilizer and manure should be used to increase the yield and quality of A. annua.</p>

Analysis of risk factors for spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the risk factors for spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (SRHC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis of 34 consecutive patients with SRHC treated by emergency interventional embolization in our hospital from July 2003 to July 2011 was conducted. General condition, laboratory examination and imaging data were analyzed, and compared with the data of 34 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma but without rupture, randomly selected from 215 concurrent patients. The patients with SRHC were selected for risk factor analysis, and the non-SRHC patients were taken as control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference between the SRHC group and control group was found in age, sex, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) grade, Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage, HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcAb, prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), international normalized ratio (INR), glucose (GLU), cirrhosis, portal tumor thrombus, the maximum diameter of tumor, location, and cholecystitis or cholelithiasis. The univariate analysis showed that activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), lower or normal plasma fibrinogen (FIB) level, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), tumor protrusion > 1 cm above the liver surface were all associated with increased risk of SRHC (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis only showed that lower or normal level of FIB (P = 0.033) and tumor protrusion > 1 cm above the liver surface (P = 0.041) were significant independent risk factors for SRHC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lower or normal level of FIB and tumor protrusion > 1 cm above the liver surface are significant independent risk factors for spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma.</p>

Interspecific association of companion species in Artemisia annua community in southwest of China / 中国中药杂志

The interspecific association of companion species in Artemisia annua community in 48 region of southwest China was analyzed by variance analysis, chi2-test and association indices. The total related variance ratio among species in A. annua community was 2.05. Among 45 species pairs of 10 main species in the community, only 4 pairs showed significant negative correlations. Chi2 test, PC, OI, DI and AC values indicated pairs 1-8 (A. annua- A. lactiflora), 1-9 (A. annua- Setaria viridis) and 1-10 (A. annua- Bidens pilosa) showed a high correlations, and common utilization to non-restrictive resources. The results indicated that there was a significant positive correlation among species,and the community was at a stable stage, showed strong ability to human interference.

Allelopathic effects of extracts from fibrous roots of Coptis chinensis on two leguminous species / 中国中药杂志

An experiment was carried out to study the allelopathic effects of Coptis chinensis fibrous root extracts (CRE) on the germination and seedling growth of Vicia faba and Pisum sativum in order to alleviate the allelopathic effects and increase land productivity. The seeds of both garden pea (P. sativum) and broad been (V. faba) were germinated in CRE solution of various concentrations, the germination rate, seedling growth and related physiological indexes were measured. The result indicated that there were no significant effects of CRE in low concentrations on seed germination, including both the rate and index, and seed vitality and membrane permeability. With the increment of CRE concentrations, however, the high seed membrane permeability and germination inhibition were observed. For example, the germination rates were reduced by 23.4% (P. sativum) and 9.5% (V. faba), respectively, in CRE solution with 800 mg . L-1. Simultaneously, soluble sugars and the free amino acids in the seeds were lower than those in the control (without CRE) after soaking seeds in CRE solutions. In addition, the seedling growth and nitrate reductase activity were stimulated by CRE at low concentrations in contrast to high concentrations which behaved otherwise and inhibited the nutrient utilization in endosperm. Therefore, the large amount of allelochemicals released from the roots and remains of C. chinensis in soils could inhibit the seed germination and seedling growth of legumes, which may lead to decrease even fail crop yields after growing this medical plant.

Research on population dynamics of Lonicera macranthoides aphid and natural enemy in Xiushan and evolution of pesticides / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the population dynamics of aphid on Lonicera macranthoides and their natural enemy in Xiushan and control method of pesticide so as to provide scientific basis for its integrated pests management (IPM).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The field investigation and the field controlling trial were carried out for the research.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Semiaphis heraclei was the dominant species among L. macranthoides aphids. The population dynamics of apterous aphids went through five consecutive stages: initial, fluctuating, rising, peak and declining. The population dynamics of alate aphids was 4-7 days later than that apterous aphid's. Significant positive correlations were found between the population size of spiders and ladybugs which were natural enemies and number of aphids. The result of pesticides against aphids in field trial showed that 25% thiamethoxam WG, 70% imidacloprid WG and 20% acetamiprid WP had well controlling effect.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Aphids on L. macranthoides could be well controlled while 25% thiamethoxam WG, 70% imidacloprid WG and 20% acetamiprid WP are sprayed during the period of aphid population raising, the early April to the mid May.</p>