Anti-epileptic and Neuroprotective Effects of Ultra-low Dose NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor Dextromethorphan on Kainic Acid-induced Chronic Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Rats.

Neuroinflammation mediated by microglia and oxidative stress play pivotal roles in the development of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We postulated that kainic acid (KA)-Induced status epilepticus triggers microglia-dependent inflammation, leading to neuronal damage, a lowered seizure threshold, and the emergence of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Extensive evidence from our laboratory suggests that dextromethorphan (DM), even in ultra-low doses, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in many animal models of neurodegenerative disease. Our results showed that administration of DM (10 ng/kg per day; subcutaneously via osmotic minipump for 4 weeks) significantly mitigated the residual effects of KA, including the frequency of SRS and seizure susceptibility. In addition, DM-treated rats showed improved cognitive function and reduced hippocampal neuronal loss. We found suppressed microglial activation-mediated neuroinflammation and decreased expression of hippocampal gp91phox and p47phox proteins in KA-induced chronic TLE rats. Notably, even after discontinuation of DM treatment, ultra-low doses of DM continued to confer long-term anti-seizure and neuroprotective effects, which were attributed to the inhibition of microglial NADPH oxidase 2 as revealed by mechanistic studies.

[Temporal and spatial variability of livestock and poultry productions and manure nutrients in Shanxi Province, China].

China's livestock and poultry productions have changed significantly in the last three decades, from mainly traditional and small-scale systems in early 1980s towards more intensive and industrialized ones in recent years, due to the booming economy and the changes in people' diet. There is an urgent need to increase the understanding of the changes in the livestock and poultry productions and the impact of manure recycle on the environment. Here, we reported on a systematic and quantitative analysis on the temporal and spatial variability of livestock and poultry productions and manure nutrients in Shanxi Province, China, using a large database and a coupled food chain nutrient flow model (NUFER) with GIS. In the period of 1978 to 2012, total animal manure production increased from 1.61 x 107 t to 2.75 x 107 t by 171%. The manure N increased from 7.74 x 104 t to 17.32 x 104 t, and the manure P from 1.09x104 t to 3.39x104 t. Besides the huge increase in total animal manure production, the distribution of animal manure was much uneven among regions, with high amounts of manure N and P per unit land in the north, middle and southeastern regions and low values in the north-central and southwestern regions, based on the results of 2012. The uneven distribution of manure was the combined effect of regional specializations in livestock and poultry productions and related policies. Our findings suggested that optimizing the structure of livestock and poultry productions and enhancing interregional collaborations on nutrient management could be two effective measures for reducing pollution and environmental risks, while achieving efficient and sustainable use of manure nutrient in the long term.

[Soil carbon and nitrogen storage of different land use types in northwestern Shanxi Loess Plateau].

The soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) storage under five different land use patterns, i. e. , poplar and Caragana microphylla plantation, C. microphylla artificial shrubland, poplar plantation, bare land and cropland were studied in the hilly [ness Plateau of northwestern Shanxi. The results showed that the contents, densities and storage of SOC and TN varied remarkably under the different land-use patterns. Soil carbon and nitrogen contents and storage in the 0-20 cm soil layer were significantly higher in the 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm soil layers under each of the five land use patterns. In the same soil layer, the contents and densities of SOC and TN under the five land use patterns were in the order of poplar and C. microphylla plantation > C. microphylla artificial shrubland > poplar plantation > bare land > cropland. The SOC storage in the 0-60 cm soil layer was in the order of poplar and C. microphylla plantation (30.09 t x hm(-2)) > C. microphylla artificial shrubland (24.78 t x hm(-2)) > poplar plantation (24.14 t x hm(-2)) > bare land (22.06 t x hm(-2)) > cropland (17.59 t x hm(-2)). Soil TN storage had the same trend as SOC storage, and TN storage in the 0-60 cm soil layer was the highest (4.94 t x hm(-2)) in poplar and Caragana microphylla plantation, followed by C. microphylla artificial shrubland (3.53 t x hm(-2)), poplar plantation (3.51 t x hm(-2)), bare land (3.40 t x hm(-2)), and cropland (2.71 t x hm(-2)). Poplar and C. microphylla plantation and C. microphylla artificial shrubland were the good land use patterns in the process of vegetation construction and ecological restoration in the hilly Loess Plateau of northwestern Shanxi.

[Investigation of social support for inpatients with occupational diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyze the social support for inpatients with occupational diseases and to provide reference and basis for relevant medical and nursing interventions. METHODS: The social support rating scale (SSRS) was used to investigate the social support for 95 inpatients with occupational diseases. RESULTS: The total SSRS score of these patients was significantly lower than the national norm (32.5±9.31 vs 34.56±3.73, P < 0.05). The social support was mainly from the family, but medical staff and spiritual support were the main source and type of social support that are expected. CONCLUSION: Patients with occupational diseases have gained little social support, in both economic and spiritual aspects. In clinical practice, the patient's demand for knowledge of diseases and spiritual needs should be satisfied, and appropriate social support should be provided.

[A study of sympathetic skin response to the damage of autonomic nerves function in patients with chronic N-hexane poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To study the sympathetic skin response (SSR) to the effects of N-hexane on autonomic nerves function in patients with chronic N-hexane poisoning. METHODS: The subjects in present study included 30 controls and 37 cases with chronic N-hexane poisoning. Also 37 patients were divided into 3 subgroups (mild, moderate and severe poisoning) according to diagnostic criteria of occupational diseases. All subjects were examined by SSR test and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test. All patients were reexamined by SSR and NCV every 1 ∼ 2 months. The differences in SSR parameters (latency, amplitude) among groups were observed. In the severe poisoning subgroup, the changes of SSR and NCV parameters (conduction velocity, amplitude) in different poisoning stages were observed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in SSR latency of upper extremity among groups and the significant differences in SSR amplitude of upper and lower extremity among groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences in SSR parameters were found between the adjacent groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in SSR latency of upper extremity during different periods and the significant differences in SSR amplitude of upper and lower extremity during different periods among all groups (P < 0.05). The change of SSR parameters consistent with that in NCV. The longest SSR latency of upper extremity and the smallest SSR amplitudes of upper and lower extremity appears 1 - 2 months earlier than that of the smallest action potential amplitude. CONCLUSION: The damage of autonomic nerves induced by N-hexane increased with poisoning progresses. The damage of autonomic nerves corresponded with the damage of myelin sheath of large myelinated nerves, but which appeared 1 - 2 months earlier than the damage of axon of large myelinated nerves. SSR test may serve as a method to detect the damage of autonomic nerves function in patients with chronic N-hexane poisoning.

[Research of xuebijing injection combined with glucocorticoid in treating dermatitis medicamentosa like of trichloroethylene with systemic inflammatory response syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the better efficacy of clinic treatment for dermatitis medicamentosa like of trichloroethylene (DMLT) and observe the clinic efficacy of Xuebejing injection for DMLT patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS: 16 DMLT patients with SIRS were randomly divided into control group (conventional therapy) and xuebijing group (conventional therapy plus xuebijing). We evaluated all the patients with APACHE II before treatment and checked the TNF-alpha in blood at the different time (before treatment and the 7th day of treatment). The total usages, first dosage of medrol and the time of therapy for each group were counted. RESULTS: All patients were cured, there was no significant difference according to APACHE II and TNF-alpha before treatment in two groups . The level of TNF-alpha of all the patients were decreased markedly, but more significantly in xuebijing group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the treatment group patients were given relatively less total usages, first dosage of medrol and time of therapy (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Xuebejing injection combined glucocorticoids can cure DMLT patients with SIRS effectively, and reduce the total usages, first dosage of medrol and time of therapy.