A role for the cerebellum in motor-triggered alleviation of anxiety.

Physical exercise is known to reduce anxiety, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we explore a hypothalamo-cerebello-amygdalar circuit that may mediate motor-dependent alleviation of anxiety. This three-neuron loop, in which the cerebellar dentate nucleus takes center stage, bridges the motor system with the emotional system. Subjecting animals to a constant rotarod engages glutamatergic cerebellar dentate neurons that drive PKCδ+ amygdalar neurons to elicit an anxiolytic effect. Moreover, challenging animals on an accelerated rather than a constant rotarod engages hypothalamic neurons that provide a superimposed anxiolytic effect via an orexinergic projection to the dentate neurons that activate the amygdala. Our findings reveal a cerebello-limbic pathway that may contribute to motor-triggered alleviation of anxiety and that may be optimally exploited during challenging physical exercise.

Treatment of Radical Resected NSCLC by Chinese Medicine Combined with Adjuvant Chemother- apy: a Clinical Study / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) combined adjuvant chemotherapy in postponing relapse and metastasis of radical resected Ib-IIIa stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and to explore its effect in improving their quality of life (QOL) and clinical symptoms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We designed a cohort study of 336 radical resected Ib-IIIa NSCLC patients by analyzing disease free survival (DFS) using Log-rank test. They were randomly assigned to the control group (155 cases, treated by adjuvant chemotherapy group) and the test group (181 cases, treated by adjuvant chemotherapy combined CM). By using controlled method, 60 radical resected NSCLC patients undergoing NP/NC program in 2012 (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2, combined with cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1 and day 8/on day 1 or on day 1, 2, and 3; or carboplatin AUC = 5 on day 1) were assigned to the control group (29 cases) and the test group (31 cases). QOL scores (using EORTC QLQ-LC43 questionnaire) and TCM symptoms scores were compared between the two groups before chemotherapy, peri-chemotherapy (one day before the 2nd course of chemotherapy) , and after chemotherapy (20 days after ending the 4th course of chemotherapy).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The median DFS was longer in the test group than in the control group, but with no statistical difference between the two groups (42.73 months vs 35.57 months , P = 0.179). In the subgroup analysis, there was statistical difference in IIIa stage DFS. The median IIIa stage DFS of was longer in the test group than in the control group with statistical difference (27.87 months vs 19. 93 months, P = 0.047). (2) In the control study, repeated measured data indicated there was significant difference in physical functions between the two groups (P < 0.05). Total scores for health states decreased more in the test group than in the control group, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). Scores for constipation and CM syndrome scores were higher in the test group than in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CM had advantages in postponing DFS of radical resected NSCLC patients, especially in IIIa stage. CM could improve their QOL and clinical symptoms during adjuvant chemotherapy.</p>

Long-term results of a prospective, randomized trial comparing retroperitoneoscopic partial versus total adrenalectomy for aldosterone producing adenoma.

PURPOSE: The indication for laparoscopic total or partial adrenalectomy in patients with aldosterone producing adrenal adenoma remains controversial. We compared retroperitoneoscopic partial and total adrenalectomy for aldosterone producing adrenal adenoma in a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with aldosterone producing adrenal adenoma were randomized to retroperitoneoscopic partial or total adrenalectomy. Patient characteristics, surgical data, complications and postoperative clinical results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: From July 2000 to March 2004, 212 patients were enrolled in this study, including 108 and 104 who underwent total and partial adrenalectomy, respectively. The 2 groups were comparable in patient age, gender, body mass index and tumor site. Mean followup was 96 months in each group. No conversion to open surgery was needed and no major complications developed. Partial adrenalectomy required a shorter operative time than total adrenalectomy but this did not attain statistical significance. Intraoperative blood loss in the partial adrenalectomy group was significant higher than in the total adrenalectomy group (p <0.05) but no patient needed blood transfusion. All patients in each group showed improvement in hypertension, and in all plasma renin activity and aldosterone returned to normal after surgery. No patient required potassium supplements postoperatively. In the total and partial adrenalectomy groups 32 (29.6%) and 29 patients (27.9%), respectively, were prescribed a decreased dose of or fewer antihypertensive medicines at final followup. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneoscopic partial adrenalectomy is technically safe. It has therapeutic results similar to those of total adrenalectomy in patients with primary aldosteronism due to aldosteronoma.

Comparative study on quality of Tongrentang red ginseng and Korean red ginseng--determination of ginsenosides and polysaccharides / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish methods for quantitative determination of ginseng saponins, ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1 and polysaccarides and compare the qualities of Tongrentang Red Ginseng and Korean Red Ginseng.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Macroreticular resin-colorimetric method was developed to determine ginseng saponins and a new HPLC method with gradient eluents was established for determination of ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1. For ginseng polysaccharides, phenol-oil of vitriol colorimetric method was developed and some factors were also optimized.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The content of ginseng saponins in Tongrentang Red Ginseng was not lower than that of Korean Red Ginseng. Ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 in Tongrentang Red Ginseng were higher than those in Korean Red Ginseng, while Ginsenoside Re was slightly lower than that of Korean Red Ginseng. However, the amount of Ginseng Polysaccharides in Tongrentang Red Ginseng was greater than those in Korean Red Ginseng.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The contents of ginseng saponins and ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1 in Tongrentang Red Ginseng were not lower than that in Korean Red Ginseng. The methods for determination of ginsenosides and ginseng polysaccharides were quite accurate and reliable to the quality control of Ginseng.</p>

A review of recent ten-year study on alpha-asarone / 中国中药杂志

This article is brief review of study on alpha-asarone after 1996. The summary mainly includes the dosage forms, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, pharmacological effects, toxicology and clinical uses during the past ten years.