[Effect of nape cluster acupuncture on swallowing function and respiratory function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of nape cluster acupuncture on swallowing function and respiratory function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia, and to explore its relationship to cerebral arterial flow and neurotrophic factors. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 60 patients in each one. The conventional swallowing rehabilitation therapy and respiratory function training were adopted in the control group. On the basis of treatment in the control group, nape cluster acupuncture was applied at Fengchi (GB 20), Tianzhu (BL 10), Wangu (GB 12), Lianquan (CV 23), Panglianquan (Extra), once a day; pricking blood was applied at Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13), once every 2 days. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The therapeutic efficacy was compared between the two groups, and the swallowing function (scores of Kubota water swallowing test, standardized swallowing assessment [SSA] and video fluoroscopic swallowing study [VFSS]), the respiratory function indexes (forced vital capacity [FVC], maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV] and maximal expiratory time), the bilateral cerebral arterial hemodynamics parameters (systolic peak velocity [Vs], mean flow velocity [Vm] and vascular resistance index [RI]) and the serology indexes (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], nerve growth factor [NGF] and insulin-like growth factors-1 [IGF-1]) before and after treatment were observed in the both groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 80.0% (48/60) in the observation group, which was superior to 60.0% (36/60) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of Kubota water swallowing test and SSA in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05), the VFSS score, FVC, MVV and maximal expiratory time were higher than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the Vs and Vm of bilateral cerebral artery and serum levels of BDNF, NGF and IGF-1 in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05), the RI of bilateral cerebral artery was lower than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the conventional rehabilitation training, nape cluster acupuncture can effectively improve the swallowing function and respiratory function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia, its mechanism may be related to the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics and the regulation of neurotrophic factors.

Indicatory bacteria and chemical composition related to sulfur distribution in the river-lake systems.

Sulfate related water quality and trophic status are crucial to operation of water diversion. Though the sulfur geochemistry in the lake sediment have been well studied, the effective indicator of surrounding environment conditions related to sulfur in river-lake systems are still unknown. In this study, Dongping Lake (DPH), Weishan Lake (WSH), and Hanzhuang trunk canal (HZQ) were selected as the typical river-lake systems in the eastern of China. Different spatial variations in sedimentary sulfate, total sulfur, and elemental composition of sediments were investigated in these areas. The relatively high sulfate in surface water and sediments appeared in portions of WSH. The biodiversity of HZQ and WSH surface sediments was much higher than that of DPH. Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Thiobacillus were the dominant genera of the river-lake systems. Among the different genera in distribution, genera such as Malikia, Sulfurovum and Lysinibacillus were significantly negatively correlated with sulfur related environmental factors. While the genera such as Pseudomonas, Vogesella and Acinetobacter were significantly positively correlated with these factors. Compared with connectivity in the largest interaction network, bacteria such as Proteus, Acidobacter and Chlorobacteria were identified as indicatory taxa to infer sulfate related conditions in the river-lake systems.

Sex Differences in the Motivational Contrast between Sucrose and Cocaine in Rats.

There are sex differences in the vulnerability to cocaine abuse and addiction. Understanding the differences is critical for developing the sex-tailored prevention and treatment strategies. Cocaine addiction is characterized by the pathological motivation for cocaine accompanied by the diminished motivation for natural rewards. Thus, the motivational impact of cocaine relative to natural rewards likely determines the attractiveness of cocaine and likely plays a role in the vulnerability to cocaine abuse and addiction. This study aimed to determine whether the relative magnitudes or contrast of the motivational impact between cocaine and sucrose is different between sexes. To this end, cocaine-naïve out bred Wistar rats were trained to self-administer sucrose pellets and the motivation for different amounts of sucrose was then determined as the breakpoints under the progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement. Following the sucrose tests, the same rats were trained to self-administer cocaine and the motivation for different doses of cocaine was similarly measured. For the female rats, the motivation was also measured during the diestrus and proestrus/estrus, respectively, to determine the impact of the estrous cycle on the motivational effects of cocaine and sucrose. The differences between the breakpoints of cocaine and sucrose were significantly larger in the males. The enhanced motivational contrast may contribute to the increased vulnerability to recreational cocaine abuse and addiction in the males.