Validation of the 33-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-33) in screening adolescents with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) are often misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), which delays the introduction of appropriate treatment resulting in adverse outcomes. This study examined the psychometric properties of the 33-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-33) and its accuracy to distinguish BD from MDD in adolescents. METHOD: A total of 248 participants (171 MDD and 77 BD patients) were recruited from a university-affiliated hospital in China. Depression was measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. All participants completed the assessment with the HCL-33. RESULTS: A two-factor structure was found for the HCL-33, which explained 30.2% of the total variance. The internal consistency and split half reliability of the total scale were acceptable. The optimal cut-off value of 18 generated sensitivity of 0.52 and specificity of 0.73 for distinguishing BD from MDD. CONCLUSION: The HCL-33 seems to be a useful screening instrument to distinguish BD from depressed adolescents. However, considering certain less than robust psychometric properties, the HCL-33 needs to be modified and further refined for adolescent patients.

[Moxibustion improves learning-memory ability by promoting cellular autophagy and regulating autophagy-related proteins in hippocampus and cerebral cortex in APP/PS1 transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion of acupoints of the Governor Vessel on the levels of cellular autophagy, ß amyloid protein (Aß) immunoactivity, and expression of LC3-Ⅰ， LC3-Ⅱ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins in the hippocampal tissue of APPswe/PS1de9 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice, so as to reveal its underlying mechanisms in improving AD. METHODS: APP/PS1 double-transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into AD model, moxibustion, autophagy-inducer (Rapamycin) and autophagy-inhibitor (3-MA)＋moxibustion groups (n＝10 in each group), and other 10 C57BL/6J male mice (the same age) were used as the normal control group. Herbal-cake (made of Chuanwu [Radix Aconiti Praeparata]) partitioned moxibustion was applied to "Baihui"(GV20), moxibustion was applied to "Fengfu"(GV16) and "Dazhui"(GV14), all for 20 min, once daily for 2 weeks, with one day's off between two weeks. For mice of the autophagy-inducer and 3-MA＋moxibustion groups, Rapamycin (2 mg•kg－1•d－1) and 3-MA (1.5 mg•kg－1•d－1) were separately administered by intraperitoneal injection for 2 weeks. The cognitive ability was examined by Morris water maze tests, and the ultrastructural changes (including autophagic lysosomes, etc.) of hippocampal neurons were observed by using transmission electron microscopy. The immunoactivity of cerebral cortex and hippocampal Amyloid ß peptide 1-42 (Aß1-42) was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression levels of hippocampal LC3-Ⅰ， LC3-Ⅱ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, the escape latency of Morris water maze tasks was prolonged in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.05) and obviously shortened in the moxibustion and autophagy-inducer groups (not the autophagy-inhibitor group) than in the model group (P<0.05). Results of transmission electron microscope showed deformed, irregular or atrophic neurons with rough and incomplete and fuzzy nuclear membrane, and decreased intracellular autophagosomes in the hippocampus in the model group, and partial irregular, atrophic neurons with more autophagic vesicles and lysosomes in the moxibustion group. The expression levels of Aß1-42 in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissues, and LC3-Ⅰ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins in the hippocampus were consi-derably up-regulated in the model group relevant to the normal control group (P<0.01), and evidently down-regulated in both moxibustion and autophagy-inducer groups (not the autophagy-inhibitor group) than in the model group (P<0.01), while that of hippocampal LC3-Ⅱ protein and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio levels were obviously down-regulated in the model group relevant to the normal control group (P<0.01), and significantly up-regulated in both moxibustion and autophagy-inducer groups (not the autophagy-inhibitor group) than in the model group (P<0.01)．. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion can improve the cognitive ability of APP/PS1 double-transgenic AD mice, which is associated with its effects in promoting hip-pocampal and cerebral cortex autophagy level, and down-regulating the expression levels of Aß1-42, LC3-Ⅰ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins in the hippocampus.

[Winter feeding sites selection of White-browed Hill Partridge].

The winter feeding sites of White-browed Hill Partridge (Arborophila gingica) was investigated in Jiuwanshan National Nature Reserve in Guangxi from November to December 2010. With the 34 found feeding sites, the used sites (n=25) were compared with the control sites (n=25), and 19 parameters were measured at each site. The results showed that White-browed Hill Partridge randomly use broadleaved forest, mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest, mixed broadleaved-bai bamboo (Indosasa shibataeoides) forest and bai bamboo forest, while they rarely occurred in mao bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest and China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forest. The birds prefer to select the southeast-facing slops of 20-44 degrees, with smaller bai bamboo-shrub and grass density, lower bai bamboo-shrub and grass coverage, and greater shatter coverage. We found that the main selection factors at the used and control feeding sites, using the Step DA, were the shatter coverage, slope, and bai bamboo-shrub coverage. The veracity to distinguish was 86.0%. The feeding sites selection of White-browed Hill Partridge is associate with food resources and safety index, thus, we suggest that the protection should focus on these two aspects.

Protecting mechanism of puerarin on the brain neurocyte of rat in acute local ischemia brain injury and local cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The present study was designed to investigate the possible properties of the injured brain neurocytes, the expression of heat shock protein70 (HSP70) and Fas protein after acute local ischemia brain injury and local cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and to investigate the protecting mechanism of puerarin on the brain neurocytes of rats in acute local ischemia brain injury and local cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. A rat model of acute local cerebral ischemia was made by ligatting the middle cerebral artery. The rat model of local cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury was made by ligatting the middle cerebral artery for 30 min then opened for 30 min. Rats of puerarin treating group were injected with puerarin in dose of 30 mg/kg(-1) by intraperitoneal injection 30 min before ischemia. HSP70 and Fas protein expressions in brain tissue were detected by SP method of histochemistry. In addition, dead brain neurocytes were counted and their morphology was observed. The results indicated that puerarin can limit the tissue injury caused by local cerebral ischemia injury through improving expression of HSP70, and limit the tissue injury caused by local cerebral ischemia-reperfusion through decreasing the Fas expression and improving expression of HSP70. On the basis of these results, it may be concluded that puerarin can protect the brain neurocytes of rats in acute local ischemia brain injury and local cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, which may be different according to the different injury mechanism.

[Effect of puerarin on the expression of Hsp70 in the rats with cerebral injury induced by acute local ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of puerarin on the expression of Hsp (heat shock protein) 70 in the rats with cerebral injury induced by acute local ischemia. METHOD: Rat model of acute local cerebral ischemia was made by ligating middle cerebral artery. The Hsp70 expression in brain tissue was detected by SP method of immunohistochemistry. RESULT: The expression of Hsp70 was significantly higher in puerarintreated rats than those in the rats with cerebral ischemia. CONCLUSION: Puerarin can enhance the level of Hsp70 expression in the rats with cerebral injury induced by acute local ischemia.

[Protection of puerarin on the cerebral injury in the rats with acute local ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protection of puerarin on the cerebral injury in the rats with acute local ischemia. METHOD: Rat was evaluated model of acute local cerebral ischemia was made by ligating middle cerebral artery. The cerebral damage toxylin and eosin((HE). RESULT: The number of died neurons were significantly less in puerarin-treated rats than in the rats with cerebral ischemia (P < 0. 05). Similarly, the cerebral edema were significantly attenuated in the puerarin-treated rats as compared with cerebrally ischemic rats. CONCLUSION: Puerarin can prevent the neuron from damage induced by acute cerebral ischemia.

[Progress in studies of pharmacological activities and clinical applications of preparations of dried leaf of Ginkgo biloba].

The progress in the research of the pharmacological activities and clinical applications of preparations of dried leaf of Ginkgo biloba is summarized. The preparations of G. biloba contain various chemical constituents, and have activities of relaxing blood vessel, oxidation, improving learning and memory. The clinical applications include treatments for coronary heart disease, cardiac angina, cerebral infarction, chronic brain syndrome and diabetic nephropathy, etc.

[Experimental study of puerarin injection on the hemorheology in acute blood-stasis model rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Puerarin Injection on the hemorheology in acute blood-stasis model rats. METHOD: The acute blood-stasis model rats were made by being soaked in ice water afer being injected adrenaline hydrochloride injection in a major dose. The changes of viscosity of whole blood and plasma, blood yield stress, erythrocyte aggregation and the maximum rate of platelet aggregation in the acute blood-stasis model rats were measured with Auto-Viscometer, and then the influence of Puerarin Injection on the hemorheology in the model rats was investigated. RESULT: The viscosity of whole blood and plasma, and blood yield stress in the acute blood-stasis model rats were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Both the high dose and the low dose of Puerarin Injection could reduce the viscosity of whole blood and plasma, blood yield stress and the maximum rate of platelet aggregation in the acute blood-stasis model rats (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The high dose could also reduce the erythrocyte aggregation and the deformed Index of red blood cell (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Puerarin Injection can ameliorate the hemorheology in acute blood-stasis model rats, and it has a dose-response relationship.