Effects of electroacupuncture combined with paliperidone palmitate long-acting injection on withdrawal symptoms and neurotransmitters in methamphetamine addicts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture combined with paliperidone palmitate long-acting injection (PP-LAI) on withdrawal symptoms and neurotransmitters in methamphetamine (MA) addicts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 109 methamphetamine addicts, who were treated in the hospital from October 2021 to October 2022, were selected. According to the random number table, the patients were divided into the study group (n=54) and the control group (n=55), in which the control group was treated with PP-LAI and the study group was treated with electroacupuncture on the basis of the control group; the methamphetamine withdrawal symptom score scale was used to assess the therapeutic effect before treatment and within 12 months after treatment; the changes of brain neurotransmitters dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, serotonin, acetylcholine values were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: 1) There was no statistical difference in MA withdrawal symptom scores between the two groups before treatment (p>0.05); 2) MA withdrawal symptom scores have a statistically significant difference between the study group and the control group after 3 and 6 months of treatment; 3) dopamine levels in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group after 6 months of completion of treatment, and γ-aminobutyric acid values and 5- serotonin values in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture combined with PP-LAI can partially improve the withdrawal symptoms and anxiety of methamphetamine addicts. This is a potential treatment for preventing relapse of withdrawal symptoms.

The Effect of Computer-Assisted Cognitive Remediation Therapy on Cognitive Function, Social Function and Quality of Life in Patients with Vascular Dementia.

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the effects of computer-assisted cognitive remediation therapy (CCRT) on cognitive function, social function and quality of life in patients with vascular dementia (VD). Methods: Ninety-eight patients with VD were treated with CCRT in four 45-minute sessions per week over a course of 40 sessions to exercise four cognitive functions, including flexibility, working memory, plan execution and social cognition. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS), Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), and Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOL-74) were used to assess before and after treatment. Results: (1) The scores of orientation (5.60 ± 1.35), calculation (2.20 ± 0.79), verbal ability (7.10 ± 0.36), spatial ability (0.78 ± 0.42), immediate memory (2.42 ± 0.53), short-term memory (1.17 ± 0.78) and MMSE (23.36 ± 2.98) were all improved after treatment (P < 0.05) compared with those before treatment; (2) The scores of SDSS, PSP and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) after treatment were 8.23 ± 0.94, 81.36 ± 14.23, and 32.7 ± 12.1, and all of which improved (P < 0.05); (3) The scores of physical health were 68.24 ± 7.44, mental health were 69.75 ± 7.15, social function were 69.08 ± 7.43, material life were 37.46 ± 4.85 and the total score were 230.79 ± 9.56, all of which improved (P < 0.05). Conclusion: For patients with VD, CCRT can improve their cognitive function, social function, daily life ability and quality of life.

Non-invasive brain stimulation for treating psychiatric symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), especially repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), is a promising therapeutic tool for managing the psychiatric symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). This meta-analysis aims to assess the effect of NIBS on psychiatric symptoms in patients with PD. METHODS: Several electronic databases were systematically searched for relevant literature from inception to October 18, 2021. The therapeutic effects of NIBS were evaluated using a random-effects meta-analysis based on the standard mean difference (SMD) and multivariable-adjusted effect estimates and subgroup analyses. Publication bias and sensitivity analyses were used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Finally, 57 and 15 studies with 4,010 participants were obtained from the meta-analysis and systematic review, respectively. Significant differences were found between NIBS and sham-stimulation/placebo participants for depression (SMD = -0.75, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: -0.99 to -0.50, I2 = 79 %), and rTMS combined with antidepressant therapy and antidepressant alone for depression (SMD = -0.98, 95 % CI: -1.37 to -0.59, I2 = 87 %) and anxiety (SMD = -1.46, 95 % CI: -2.44 to -0.48, I2 = 95 %). Meanwhile, lower risks were observed for post-treatment compared with pre-treatment for depression (relative risk [RR] = 0.66, 95 % CI: 0.57-0.76, I2 = 96 %) and anxiety (RR = 0.66, 95 % CI: 0.60-0.73, I2 = 67 %). CONCLUSIONS: NIBS can be considered an effective non-pharmacological option for treating PD depression; moreover, rTMS combined with antidepressants was demonstrated to be a useful tool against depression and anxiety in PD.

Analysis of Bactericidal Effect of Three Medical Ozonation Dosage Forms on Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria from Burn Patients.

Objective: To examine the bactericidal effects of three different states of medical ozone (liquid, gas, and oil) against drug-resistant strains of common bacteria on burn wounds, which could as a clinical reference. Methods: Three multidrug-resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, pan-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and ESBLs Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified from burn wounds. The colonies of the three varieties of bacteria were each carried out using the pour plate method prior to the start of the experiment. Then, depending on the state of ozone, different treatment procedures are applied. Group of ozone gas: in a closed glass jar, the bacterial liquid was injected into a single layer of sterile gauze, and the ozone gas concentration was held at 50 g/mL. The bacterial liquid was diluted and combined directly with ozone water in the ozone water group. Ozone is a type of oil: after the emulsifier was added to the oil group. The gas, water, and oil groups were rapidly neutralized and counted again after 5, 10, and 30 minutes. Results: Ozone gas and oil groups totally eliminated multidrug resistant bacteria in the above study within 30 minutes. (2) At 5 and 10 minutes, the difference in bactericidal effect between ozone gas group and ozone water and oil group was statistically significant (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between ozone water and oil groups (P>0.05); at the time of 30 minutes, the effects of bactericidal effect between ozone water group and ozone gas and oil had no significance (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Ozone has the ability to kill bacteria, depending on the treatment time, different ozone types should be chosen for sterilization and disinfection in clinical application.