Memantine attenuated alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behaviors through down-regulating NR1-CaMKII-ERK signaling pathway.

Alcohol abuse and anxiety disorders often occur concurrently, but their underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors (NMDARs) have recently received attention from those interested in the neurobiology of anxiety. A chronic alcohol exposure rat model (28 consecutive days of 20% alcohol intake and 6 h of withdrawal) was established. Here, we investigated the NMDAR1 (NR1), Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) pathway in the modulation of anxiety-like behaviors in rats exposed to an open field and elevated plus maze (EPM) through systematic injections of memantine (a NMDAR inhibitor). We found that the NR1-CaMKII-ERK signaling pathway was activated after alcohol withdrawal in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) but not core (NAcC). Memantine treatment greatly ameliorated anxiety-like behavior in the rats experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Moreover, memantine uniformly suppressed the phosphorylation of NR1-CaMKII-ERK pathway induced by alcohol withdrawal. Our results suggest that activation of the NR1-CaMKII-ERK pathway in the mPFC and NAcSh is an important contributor to the molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety behaviors. NMDAR signaling pathway inhibitors are thus potential therapeutics for treating alcohol abuse.

Dynamic changes in blood flow and function of the heart using 13N-NH3 PET gated myocardial perfusion imaging in Beagle dogs after local heart irradiation / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To investigate the value of local myocardial blood flow and myocardial function parameters in monitoring the dynamic changes of radiation induced heart disease (RIHD) using 13NNH3 PET gated myocardial perfusion imaging(GMPI).Methods Six healthy male Beagle dogs underwent 13N-NH3 PET GMPI 1 week before irradiation and 3,6 and 12 months after irradiation in the anterior wall of the left ventricle with a single dose of 20 Gy.Global myocardial function parameters including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),end-diastolic volume (EDV),end-systolic volume (ESV),and regional myocardial function parameters including wall motion (WM),wall thickening (WT),end-diastolic perfusion (EDP),end-systolic perfusion (ESP) before and after irradiation were compared by repeated measures analysis of variance and paired t test.Results There were no significant changes between EDV,ESV and LVEF at baseline and those at 3 months after irradiation.EDV at 6 months after irradiation still had no change,compared with baseline value and EDV at 3 months after irradiation,but ESV was increased and LVEF was decreased.Twelve months after irradiation,ESV was further expanded,LVEF was further reduced,and EDV began to increase (F values:20.974-177.846,all P＜0.05).Compared with the baseline,WM,WT,EDP and ESP were increased in 10％(2/20),20％(4/20),10％(2/20) and 15％(3/20) of myocardial segments at 3 months after irradiation (t values:14.446-672.315,all P＜0.05);those parameters were decreased in 15％(3/20),20％(4/20),15％(3/20) and 25％(5/20) of myocardial segments at 6 months after irradiation (t values:18.171-723.156,all P＜0.05),and were decreased in 35％(7/20),45％(9/20),40％(8/20) and 60％ (12/20) of myocardial segments at 12 months after irradiation (t values:14.783-711.259,all P＜0.05).Conclusions 13N-NH3 PET GMPI could be used to detect RIHD early and monitor the dynamic development of RIHD.Compared with the global left ventricular function parameters,regional myocardial function parameters (WM,WT,EDP and ESP) are more sensitive,which may be served as the early monitoring indicators for RIHD.

The Influence of Naikan Therapyon on Depression in Patients with Schizophrenia / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective To study the influence of Naikan therapy on depression in patients with Schizophrenia.Methods 256 patients with Schizophrenia were divided into study group and control group according to the set sequence.The study group was simulated by Naikan therapy and the control group was given routine cure.All patients were assessed by Positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS),Simple coping style questionnaire (SCSQ),Defense way questionnaire (DSQ),Hamilton depression scale (HAMD),and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA).Restlts In the 6th week,the differences in HAMD score,Cover factor,negative coping were statistically significant between the two groups (t=2.37,2.33,2.36,P＜0.05).The differencs in HAMA score,Cover factor,negative coping were statistically significant between the 0th and the 6 th week in the study groups (t =2.31,2.42,2.47,P＜ 0.05).The difference of PANSS score were statistically significant between the 0th and 6th week of the two groups.Concltsion The Naikan therapy can improve the mental symptoms and depressive symptoms in patients with Schizophrenia.

The Influence of Naikan Therapy on the Family Function in Patients with Anxiety Disorder of Cerebral Infarction / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective To study the influence of Naikan therapy on the family function in patients with anxiety disorder of cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 192 patients with anxiety disorder of cerebral infarction were divided into control group and study group according to the set sequence.The study group was treated with Naikan therapy and the control group received routine therapy.All patients were assessed by family assessment device (FAD),Hamilton depression scale (HAMD),and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA).Results After 6-week treatment,the HAMD,HAMA,the affective reaction and behavior control scores in the study group were significantly lower than those before the treatment (t =2.24,2.43,2.37,2.35,P ＜ 0.05).The affective reaction and behavior control in the study group were obviously lower than that of the control group (t =2.51,2.41,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Naikan therapy can improve family function in patients with anxiety disorder of cerebral infarction.

Quality standard for Guipi Pills(concentrated pill) / 中成药

AIM: To establish the method for quality control of Guipi Pills(concentrated pill) (Radix Codonopsis,Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae,Radix Astragali,Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae,etc).and a quantitative method of determining astragaloside IV. METHODS: Radix Codonopsis,Radix Angelicae Sinensis,Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae and Radix Aucklandiae in the pill were identified by TLC.Astragaloside IV in the pill was determined by HPLC-ELSD. RESULTS: For astragaloside IV,the linear range was within 25.4-508.3 ?g and the average recovery was 99.1%,r=0.999 7 with RSD of 0.8%. CONCLUSION: The method is simple,reliable,accurate,practical.It can be used in the quality control of Gui Pipills(concentrated pills).