Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in primary Meige syndrome: motor and non-motor outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a promising treatment for movement disorders. This prospective study aims to evaluate the effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus DBS (STN-DBS) on motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with primary Meige syndrome. METHODS: Thirty patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS between April 2017 and June 2020 were included. Standardized and validated scales were utilized to assess the severity of dystonia, health-related quality of life, sleep, cognitive function and mental status at baseline and at 1 year and 3 years after neurostimulation. RESULTS: The Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale movement scores showed a mean improvement of 63.0% and 66.8% at 1 year and 3 years, respectively, after neurostimulation. Similarly, the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale disability scores improved by 60.8% and 63.3% at the same time points. Postoperative quality of life demonstrated a significant and sustained improvement throughout the follow-up period. However, cognitive function, mental status, sleep quality and other neuropsychological functions did not change after 3 years of neurostimulation. Eight adverse events occurred in six patients, but no deaths or permanent sequelae were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral STN-DBS is a safe and effective alternative treatment for primary Meige syndrome, leading to improvements in motor function and quality of life. Nevertheless, it did not yield significant amelioration in cognitive, mental, sleep status and other neuropsychological functions after 3 years of neurostimulation.

[Evaluation for preparation and anticancer efficacy in vitro of drug-loaded nanoerythrosomes].

The objective of this study is to develop a new-type biodegradable, biocompatible curcumin-loaded nanoerythrosomes (Cur-RBC-NPs) by means of the sonication method. The size of Cur-RBC-NPs was optimized by varying drug loading parameters. The morphology, size distribution, stability, in vitro release pattern, cellular uptake of nanoparticles and in vitro anti-tumor effects were evaluated, respectively. The results showed the prepared Cur-RBC-NPs were nearly uniform spheres, with an average diameter of (245.7 ± 1.3) nm. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and load efficiency (LE) of Cur-RBC-NPs were 50.65% ± 1.36% and 6.27% ± 0.29%. And the nanoparticles had a good sustained release property. According to the in vitro experiment, Cur-RBC-NPs were effectively taken in by tumor cells, and exhibited a significant anti-tumor effect. In conclusion, the method for preparing Cur-RBC-NPs is convenient, with a good sustained release behavior and anti-tumor efficacy, and so expected to be a new-type nano-drug delivery system in clinical practice.

Synergistic effects of biotic and abiotic elicitors on the production of tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root culture / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the synergistic effects of a biotic elicitor yeast extract and different abiotic elicitors (Ag+, Co2+ and alpha-amino isobutyric acid) on the production of tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Different elicitors and their combinations were added to S. miltiorrhiza hairy root culture and the contents of three major tanshinones (crypotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone II A) were analyzed by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The combinations of yeast extract with different abiotic elicitors had notable synergistic effects on the tanshinone I and tanshinone II A production but not on crypotanshinone. The combination of yeast extract and Ag+ (300 micromol x L(-1)) yielded the highest tanshinone I content, which was nearly 14-fold of the control, and the synergistic elicitation coefficient was 3.0. The combination of yeast extract and Co2+ (100 micromol L(-1)) led to the highest tanshinone IIA content, which was about 14.5-fold of the control, and the synergistic elicitation coefficient was 2.1. Only yeast extract combined with alpha-amino isobutyric acid (200 micromol x L(-1)) increased the crypotanshinone content more effectively than single elicitors. The highest crypotanshinone content was 1.28 mg x g(-1), about 30-fold of the control with a synergistic elicitation coefficient of 1.3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The elicitation by the combination of a biotic elicitor and an abiotic elicitor can generate a synergistic effect, which is more effective than single elicitors to promote secondary metabolite production in plant tissue cultures.</p>