Sexuality and Quality of Life in Eastern Taiwan People With Schizophrenia

Objective@#Patients with schizophrenia are living at the border of society and their sexuality is often neglected. The aim of the study is to explore the association among The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), quality of life (QoL), Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire, and Sexual Desire Inventory in people with schizophrenia (PwS). @*Methods@#This study used a cross-sectional design with 277 psychiatric inpatients. A descriptive analysis, difference analysis, and logistic regression model were presented to identify relevant variables that may affect the probability of good QoL. @*Results@#The study showed that male PwS had higher scores of standard deviation (SD) than females in PwS. The study also showed that smoking, early illness onset age, and shorter illness duration demonstrated a significantly higher SD. The logistic regression analysis showed that BPRS, depression, and SD significantly affected the probability of QoL. By structural equation model, SD would be positively correlated with mental status and SD would indirectly influence QoL. @*Conclusion@#Our results showed psychological and sociological factors interactions may contribute to the QoL and SD for PwS. This study also demonstrated a close relationship between SD, depression, and BPRS. These factors may predict the probability of good life quality for the PwS.

Application of precision-cut lung slice technology to study the role of DDR2 in pulmonary fibrosis / 生理学报

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe lung interstitial disease characterized by the destruction of lung tissue structure, excessive activation and proliferation of fibroblasts, secretion and accumulation of a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM), and impaired lung function. Due to the complexity of the disease, a suitable animal model to mimic human pulmonary fibrosis has not yet been established. Precision-cut lung slice (PCLS) has been a widely used in vitro method to study lung physiology and pathogenesis in recent years. This method is an in vitro culture technology at the level between organs and cells, because it can preserve the lung tissue structure and various types of airway cells in the lung tissue, simulate the in vivo lung environment, and conduct the observation of various interactions between cells and ECM. Therefore, PCLS can compensate for the limitations of other models such as cell culture. In order to explore the role of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) in pulmonary fibrosis, Ddr2flox/flox mice were successfully constructed. The Cre-LoxP system and PCLS technology were used to verify the deletion or knockdown of DDR2 in mouse PCLS. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) can induce fibrosis of mouse PCLS in vitro, which can simulate the in vivo environment of pulmonary fibrosis. In the DDR2 knock down-PCLS in vitro model, the expression of various fibrosis-related factors induced by TGF-β1 was significantly reduced, suggesting that knocking down DDR2 can inhibit the formation of pulmonary fibrosis. The results provide a new perspective for the clinical study of DDR2 as a therapeutic target in pulmonary fibrosis.

Protective Effects and Potential Mechanism of Tongxinluo on Mice with Thromboangiitis Obliterans Induced by Sodium Laurate / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo (TXL) on thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) and the underlying mechanisms.@*METHODS@#Ninety male C57/BL6J mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table: the sham group, TAO model group, Compound Danshen Tablet (CDT) group, and the high-, medium-, and low-dose TXL groups. All mice except the sham group were injected with sodium laurate (0.1 mL, 5 mg/mL) in the femoral artery to establish TAO mouse model. After modeling, mice in the sham and TAO model groups were intragastrically administered 0.5% (w/v) sodium carboxymethylcellulose, mice in the CDT group were intragastrically administered 0.52 g/kg CDT, and mice in the TXL-H, TXL-M, and TXL-L groups were intragastrically administered 1.5, 0.75, and 0.38 g/kg TXL, respectively. After 4 weeks of gavage, the recovery of blood flow in the lower limbs of mice was detected by Laser Doppler Imaging. The pathological changes and thrombosis of the femoral artery were observed by morphological examination. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the femoral artery wall were detected by HE staining. Levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α), endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB) were detected by a fully automated biochemical analyzer.@*RESULTS@#TXL promoted the restoration of blood flow in the lower limbs, reduced the area of thrombosis in the femoral artery, and alleviated the pathological changes in the femoral artery wall. Moreover, the levels of TXB2, ET-1, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and iNOS were significantly lower in the TXL groups compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the level of 6-keto-PGF1α was significantly higher (P<0.01). In addition, APTT, PT, and TT were significantly prolonged in TXL groups compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and FIB levels were significantly decreased compared with the model group (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#TXL had a protective effect on TAO mice, and the mechanism may involve inhibition of thrombosis and inflammatory responses. TXL may be a potential drug for the treatment of TAO.

Similarities and differences between Ginkgo biloba and Panax notoginseng in treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease / 中国中药杂志

Ginkgo biloba and Panax notoginseng are both herb medicines for cerebrovascular disease, and play an active role in treating ischemic cerebrovascular disease(ICVD). Their mechanisms of action include antioxidant stress, nerve protection, vascular protection. According to the comparative study of literatures, G. biloba has a certain protective effect from the early stage of free radical formation throughout the whole process of causing cell inflammation and apoptosis in antioxidant stress; while P. notoginseng has mainly anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis effects. In the nerve protection and repair of nerve damage caused by glutamate, both could promote neurogenesis, repair damaged axons and protect nerve cells. In addition, G. biloba could also relieve neurotoxicity caused by glutamate damage, while P. notoginseng have a unique effect in repairing blood-brain barrier(BBB) and blood vessel regeneration. In clinic, they are used as auxiliary drugs in combination with thrombolytic therapy, and play curative effects in alleviating inflammation, eliminating edema, improving the cure rate and the prognosis. For cerebral diseases caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, G. biloba could reduce inflammation and improve cognition. In addition, G. biloba could protect neurocyte by adjusting the secretion of dopamine in vivo, and has a certain effect on antidepressant diseases, which however needs further studies.

Sleep-related symptoms in multiple system atrophy: determinants and impact on disease severity / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Sleep disorders are common but under-researched symptoms in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). We investigated the frequency and factors associated with sleep-related symptoms in patients with MSA and the impact of sleep disturbances on disease severity.@*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study involved 165 patients with MSA. Three sleep-related symptoms, namely Parkinson's disease (PD)-related sleep problems (PD-SP), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), were evaluated using the PD Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and RBD Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ), respectively. Disease severity was evaluated using the Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS).@*RESULTS@#The frequency of PD-SP (PDSS-2 score of ≥18), EDS (ESS score of ≥10), and RBD (RBDSQ score of ≥5) in patients with MSA was 18.8%, 27.3%, and 49.7%, respectively. The frequency of coexistence of all three sleep-related symptoms was 7.3%. Compared with the cerebellar subtype of MSA (MSA-C), the parkinsonism subtype of MSA (MSA-P) was associated with a higher frequency of PD-SP and EDS, but not of RBD. Binary logistic regression revealed that the MSA-P subtype, a higher total UMSARS score, and anxiety were associated with PD-SP; that male sex, a higher total UMSARS score, the MSA-P subtype, and fatigue were associated with EDS; and that male sex, a higher total UMSARS score, and autonomic onset were associated with RBD in patients with MSA. Stepwise linear regression showed that the number of sleep-related symptoms (PD-SP, EDS, and RBD), disease duration, depression, fatigue, and total Montreal Cognitive Assessment score were predictors of disease severity in patients with MSA.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Sleep-related disorders were associated with both MSA subtypes and the severity of disease in patients with MSA, indicating that sleep disorders may reflect the distribution and degree of dopaminergic/non-dopaminergic neuron degeneration in MSA.

Screening, identification and activity evaluation of pancreatic lipase inhibition in Prunella vulgaris / 中国中药杂志

Pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitors were firstly screened from Prunella vulgaris with PL immobilized on carboxylic acid-terminated magnetic nanoparticles, then these possible inhibitors were identified by LC-MS/MS and mixed standards. Finally, their inhibitory effects and types on PL were tested by p-nitrophenol method. The results showed that four PL inhibitors were screened out from P. vulgaris and confirmed by LC-MS/MS and mixed standards. The IC₅₈ and inhibition types were as follows: caffeic acid [(252.3±3.6) mg·L⁻¹, anti-competitive inhibition], rutin [(91.2±1.6)mg·L⁻¹, competitive inhibition], hesperidin [(31.5±4.4) mg·L⁻¹, competitive inhibition] and ursolic acid [(41.3±2.2) mg·L⁻¹, competitive inhibition]. Their inhibitive types and abilities on PL were related to their molecular size, hydrophobicity and the number of hydrogen bond with PL triplet.

Simultaneous Determination of 4 Active Components in Compound Xiaosuanzao Chewable Tablets by HPLC-ELSD / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for the content determination of 4 active components in Compound xiaosuanzao chewable tablets.METHODS:HPLC-ELSD method was adopted.The determination was performed on a Grace Brava C18-BDS column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.The column temperature was 25 ℃,and sample size was 20 μL.The drift tube temperature is 100 ℃,and the carrier gas flow rate is 2.9 L/min.RESULTS:The linear ranges of betulic acid,betulinol,pachymic acid and glycyrrhizic acid were 44.50-890.0 μg/mL (r=0.999 3),20.28-405.6 μg/mL (r=0.999 7),20.50-656.0 μg/mL(r=0.999 7) and 10.50-336.0 μg/mL(r=0.999 6),respectively.RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility were all lower than 3.0％.The recoveries were 99.44％-101.12％ (RSD=0.57％,n=6),99.41％-100.39％ (RSD=0.34％,n=6),99.31％-100.46％ (RSD=0.51％,n=6),98.96％-101.19％ (RSD=0.84％,n=6),respectively.CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,precise,stable and reproducible,and can be used for simultaneous determination of 4 active components in Compound xiaosuanzao chewable tablets.

ApoE4 increases glycogen synthase kinase 3β expression and Tau phosphorylation in U87 cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relations among apolipoprotein E4, Tau protein and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>U87 cells were transfected with pIRES-EGFP (control) or the recombinant plasmids ApoE4/pIRES-EGFP or ApoE3/pIRES-EGFP, and the expression levels of p-Tau/Tau and GSK-3β in the cells were examined with Western blotting. To further confirm the effect of ApoE on GSK-3β and p-Tau expressions, a short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting ApoE (ApoE-siRNA) was transfected into U87 cells via Lipofectamine 2000 and the protein expressions were examined 24 h later.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those in the control group, the expressions levels of both GSK-3β and p-Tau/Tau increased significantly in the cells transfected with ApoE4 and ApoE3 plasmids (P<0.01), and the ApoE4 plasmid produced a more potent effect than the ApoE3 plasmid on the protein expressions (P<0.01). ApoE knockdown resulted in significantly reduced expressions of GSK-3β (P<0.001) and p-Tau (P<0.01) in the cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ApoE4 can enhance Tau phosphorylation though upregulating GSK-3β, which sheds light on a new role of ApoE4 in Alzheimer's disease.</p>

Optimization of extraction technology of compatibility of couplet medicines Epimedium brevicornu and Ligusticum chuanxiong by orthogonal design / 中国中药杂志

The study was using the orthogonal test and making the extraction rates of icariin, ferulic acid, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, baohuoside I and ligustilide determinated by HPLC multiwavelength switch, gradient elution and multi-index comprehensive weighted scoring method (weight coefficient was 0.47: 0.16: 0.07: 0.07: 0.08: 0.06: 0.09) as evaluation index, combine with SPSS 16.0 software to optimizing the best extraction. It was Yinpian soak 1 h, 12 times more than the volumn of 50% ethanol solution, by heating reflux extraction for 60 min. The compliance test indicates that the optimized compatibility extraction technology is stable and practical, and it has provided an experimental basis for compound preparation technology research of Epimedium brevicornu and Ligusticum chuanxiong.

Influence of veneer application on failure behavior and reliability of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic molar crowns / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the influence of veneer application on failure behavior and reliability of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (LDG) crowns of maxillary first molar, and thus to reveal the failure mechanism of bilayered LDG crowns.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six LDG maxillary first molar crowns were fabricated in a dental laboratory using IPS e. max Press or IPS e. max Press/Ceram. The crowns were randomly assigned into two groups (with or without veneer application) with thirteen in each group. The crowns were cemented on composite resin dies. After storage in water for one week, the sliding-contact fatigue test was performed by sliding the steatite ceramic ball indenter (6 mm in diameter) from central fossa up to the lingual surface of disto-buccal cusp, cyclic loaded 1 200 000 times with a weight of 100 N at 2 Hz with a fatigue chewing simulator. Survived specimens were subjected to single-load-to-fracture testing using a steatite ceramic ball of 6 mm in diameter at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min in a universal testing machine. Fracture load values were recorded and analyzed with t test. Weibull modulus was calculated to evaluate structure reliability. Fractographic analysis was carried out to determine fracture modes of the failed specimens by a stereomicroscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Statistical analysis results indicated a significant difference of the fracture load values between monolithic group [(2071.23 ± 397.05) N] and bilayered group [(1483.41 ± 327.87) N] (P < 0.001). Monolithic and bilayered groups present similar Weibull modulus (95% confidence interval) as 6.15 (5.15 ∼ 7.15) and 5.54 (4.01 ∼ 7.08) respectively, with no significant difference (the confidence bounds overlapped with each other). Bulk fracture initiating from the middle of oblique ridge of the first maxilla molar was the primary failure mode of monolithic/bilayered LDG crowns. Crack propagation initiated from core-veneer interfacial defects was another major failure mode of bilayered all-ceramic crowns.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Veneer application has some influence on fatigue failure of LDG crowns, but shows no effect on structure reliability. Accumulated damage combined with tensile stress concentration on the surface of veneer layer and defects within core-veneer interface lead to initiating of cracks. The mechanical property of veneering materials should be increased, and procedure of veneer application should be standardized and improved in order to reduce the failure rate of LDG molar crowns.</p>

Dynamic observation of the biomechanic properties of sciatic nerve at the suture site in rats following repairing / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the biomechanic properties of sciatic nerve at the suture site in rats following repairing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The right sciatic nerves of 40 white Sprague-Dawley 300-350 gm rats were exposed, cut and then repaired with 10-0 nylon sutures, laced in the epineurium. 0, 1, 3, 6 weeks after operation, the tensile strength of the sciatic nerves were measured, the data analyzed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The load-elongation curves for both the normal unoperated and operated nerves had the similar shape. The tensile strength of the 0 week was significant difference to 1, 3 and 6 weeks (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found among 1, 3 and 6 weeks.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The tensile strength of the injured nerves are recovered in the first week and resistant in 6 weeks after repairing.</p>

Study on complex system of Chinese materia medica GAP fulfilling / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide new model of thinking and management for Chinese Meteria Medica GAP fulfilling.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>After analyzing the problems of GAP fulfilling, and considering GAP a complex system, we had some initial discussions about the systematic structure, characteristics and the methods for fulfilling it.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The GAP was a complex system which consisted of biological system, environment system and management system with its own characteristics and methods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The GAP fulfilling still has some problems and needs the direction of systematic opinion of complex system.</p>

The Injury of Metronidazole on Morphology of Giardia lamblia in Vitro / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Trophozoites of Giardia lamblia were axenically cultivated with modified TYI-S-33 medium contained 500 ?g/ml metronidazole(12h LC50).The morphology of drug-treated trophozoites was observed with light and electron micro-scopes at 2,4,8,12 h respectively.The light microscopy revealed that the trophozoites treated with MTZ showed swollen,detached from the wall of the culture tube,and were with vacuoles in the cytoplasm.Movement of the flagella become slowly or stopped.Electronic microscopy showed that the trophozoites were swollen and deformed;lots of vacuoles were seen in the cytoplasm;the contents of cytoplasm were depleted and the nuclei deformed.This study indicated that MTZ has injured the morphology of G.lamblia.