Transcranial direct current stimulation in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients with oral cancer during perioperative period.

This study retrospectively investigated the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients with oral cancer (OC) during the perioperative period (PPP). This retrospective study reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent OC surgery and experienced anxiety and depression during PPP. The patients were divided into the treatment (n = 36) and control (n = 36) groups. The patients in the treatment group received tDCS, whereas those in the control group did not receive tDCS. The primary outcomes included the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Secondary outcomes included adverse events (AEs). We analyzed the outcome data before and after treatment. After treatment, patients in the treatment group achieved greater relief in SAS (P < .01) and SDS (P < .01) scores than those in the control group. Regarding safety, no electronic medical records reported any AEs in this study. The results of this study showed that tDCS may help relieve depression and anxiety in patients with OC during PPP. However, high-quality prospective randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings.

[Effects and mechanisms of Egr-1 on inflammatory responses induced by mechanical stress in human periodontal ligament cells].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of silencing Egr-1 on MS-mediated secretion and expression of inflammatory cytokines in hPDLs. METHODS: The secretion and expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-11 were detected using ELISA and RT-PCR when cells were cultured with or without various duration (6, 12, 24 and 48 h) and force (3%, 6%, 12%, 15%) of mechanica stress (MS). RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expression of Egr-1 under a 12% MS for 24 h. The roles of silencing Egr-1 in MS-mediated expression of inflammatory cytokines were determined using ELISA and RT-PCR. The protein levels of PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were determined using Western blotting. Moreover, cells were pretreated with 20 µmol/L LY294002 for 30 min, in order to study the mechanisms of Egr-1 in MS-mediated secretion and expression of inflammatory cytokines. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.0 software package. RESULTS: The secretion and expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-11 were increased gradually with the time under a MS force of 12% in hPDLs, and peaked in cells after exposure to MS for 24 h. The mRNA and protein levels of Egr-1 were elevated in hPDLs after exposure to 12% MS for 24 h. Moreover, depletion of Egr-1 inhibited MS-mediated secretion and expression of inflammatory cytokines. Knockdown of Egr-1 reduced the protein level of PTEN, and increased the protein expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt in hPDLs. LY294002 blocked partially the inhibitory roles of Egr-1 in the secretion and expression of inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: Depletion of Egr-1 suppressed the secretion and expression of inflammatory cytokines induced by MS through PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway.