Functional connectivity and structural changes of thalamic subregions in episodic migraine.

BACKGROUND: The thalamus plays a crucial role in transmitting nociceptive information to various cortical regions involving migraine-related allodynia and photophobia. Abnormal structural and functional alterations related to the thalamus have been well established. However, it is unknown whether the brain structure and function of the thalamic subregions are differentially affected in this disorder. In this study, we aimed to clarify this issue by comparing the structure and function of 16 thalamic subregions between patients with episodic migraine (EM) and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with EM and 30 sex-, age- and education-matched HCs underwent resting-state functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging scans. Functional connectivity (rsFC), grey matter volume (GMV), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of each subregion of the thalamus were calculated and compared between the two groups. Furthermore, correlation analyses between neuroimaging changes and clinical features were performed in this study. RESULTS: First, compared with HCs, patients with EM exhibited decreased rsFC between the anterior-medial-posterior subregions of the thalamus and brain regions mainly involved in the medial system of the pain processing pathway and default mode network (DMN). Second, for the whole thalamus and each of its subregions, there were no significant differences in GMV between patients with EM and HCs (P > 0.05, Bonferroni corrected). Third, there was no significant difference in DTI parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05). Finally, decreased rsFC was closely related to scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) and Big Five Inventory (BFI) scales. CONCLUSION: Selective functional hypoconnectivity in the thalamic subregions provides neuroimaging evidence supporting the important role of thalamocortical pathway dysfunction in episodic migraine, specifically, that it may modulate emotion and different personality traits in migraine patients.

Dural sac cross-sectional area is a highly effective parameter for spinal anesthesia in geriatric patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate: a prospective, double blinded, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia is optimal choice for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), but the sensory block should not cross the T10 level. With advancing age, the sensory blockade level increases after spinal injection in some patients with spinal canal stenosis. We optimize the dose of spinal anesthesia according to the decreased ratio of the dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA), the purpose of this study is to hypothesis that if DSCSA is an effective parameter to modify the dosage of spinal anesthetics to achieve a T10 blockade in geriatric patients undergoing TURP. METHODS: Sixty geriatric patients schedule for TURP surgery were enrolled in this study. All subjects were randomized divided into two groups, the ultrasound (group U) and the control (group C) groups, patient receive either a dose of 2 ml of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine in group C, or a modified dose of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine in group U. We measured the sagittal anteroposterior diameter (D) of the dural sac at the L3-4 level with ultrasound, and calculated the approximate DSCSA (A) according to the following formula: A = π(D/2)2, ( π = 3.14). The modified dosage of bupivacaine was adjusted according to the decreased ratio of the DSCSA. RESULTS: The cephalad spread of the sensory blockade level was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in group U (T10, range T7-T12) compared with group C (T3, range T2-T9). The dosage of bupivacaine was significantly decreased in group U compared with group C (P < 0.001). The regression times of the two segments were delay in group U compared with group C (P < 0.001). The maximal decrease in MAP was significantly higher in the group C than in group U after spinal injection (P < 0.001), without any modifications HR in either group. Eight patients in group C and two patients in group U required ephedrine (P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The DSCSA is a highly effective parameter for spinal anesthesia in geriatric patients undergoing TURP, a modified dose of local anesthetic is a critical factor for controlling the sensory level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR1800015566).on 8, April, 2018.

Harpagide from Scrophularia protects rat cortical neurons from oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation-induced injury by decreasing endoplasmic reticulum stress.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Harpagide is the main ingredient in Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl which is used for the therapeutic purpose of treating encephalopathy. Harpagide has shown promise in the treatment of oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced brain injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. AIM OF STUDY: In this study, we aimed to determine the neuroprotective effect of harpagide on rat cortical neurons under OGD/R conditions that induce the development of ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R). MATERIALS AND METHODS: To explore the biological function of harpagide in cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), The CIRI model was established by oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) on rat cortical neurons. It tested cell survival rate by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+] i by cofocal laser, and expressions related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: We found that pretreatment with harpagide (50 µM) prevented OGD/R-induced apoptotic cell death. Harpagide also significantly decreased the gene expression levels and protein production of ERS-related proteins. We found that harpagide also exerted a neuroprotective effect on TG-induced apoptosis in rat cortical neurons and decreased the gene expression levels and protein production of GRP78, caspase-12 and CHOP. We also measured the intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) in neurons and found that harpagide significantly decreased the [Ca2+]i induced by OGD/R and TG. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that harpagide protects against OGD/R-induced cell apoptosis, likely by decreasing ERS. Collectively, harpagide was demonstrated to be a prominent suppressor of ERS and prevented the apoptosis of rat cortical neurons. Based on the results, harpagide could potentially serve as a therapeutic agent of ischaemia-like injury associated with excessive ERS and apoptosis.

Effects of a multivitamin/multimineral supplement on young males with physical overtraining: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded cross-over trial / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of vitamin-mineral supplement on young males with physical overtraining.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and forty male Chinese field artillery personnel who undertook large scale and endurance military training and were on ordinary Chinese diet were randomized to receive a multivitamin/multimineral supplement or a placebo for 1 week. After a 1-week wash-out period, a cross-over with 1 week course of a placebo or multivitamin/multimineral supplement was conducted. Blood and urine samples were analyzed for adrenal, gonadal and thyroid hormones. In addition, cellular immune parameters (CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD4/CD8, CD3-CD56+, CD3-CD19+) were examined and psychological tests were performed before and after the training program and nutrition intervention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After a large scale and endurance military training, the participants showed significantly increased thyroid function, decreased adrenal cortex, testosterone and immunological function, and significantly increased somatization, anger and tension. Compared to placebo, multivitamin/ multimineral intervention showed significant effects on functional recovery of the pituitary - adrenal axis, pituitary-gonadal axis, pituitary- thyroid axis and immune system as well as psychological parameters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High-intensity military operations have significant impacts on the psychology, physical ability and neuroendocrine-immune system in young males. Appropriate supplementation of multivitamin/multimineral can facilitate the recovery of the psychology, physical ability and neuroendocrine-immune system in young males who take ordinary Chinese diet.</p>

Current progress of research on measuring sphygmus information / 生物医学工程学杂志

Based on summarizing the physical features to describe the sphygmus information in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this paper surveys the methodologies of sphygmus measuring, such as single-probe measurement and multi-probe measurement based on pressure sensors, as well as measurement methods based on non-pressure sensors. It is concluded that to achieve the comprehensiveness on the sphygmus information measurement and analysis, researchers need to do further studies of the underlying mechanism and the information properties of the sphygmus. In addition, the sphygmus system should be modeled physically and mathematically.