Mice Lacking the Transcriptional Coactivator PGC-1α Exhibit Hyperactivity.

Significant evidence from various sources suggests that structural alterations in mitochondrial function may play a role in both the pathogenesis of mood disorders and the therapeutic effects of available treatments. PGC-1α is a distinct transcriptional regulator designed to mediate the synchronous release of neurotransmitter in the brain and thereby to coordinate a number of gene expression pathways to promote mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation. The role of PGC-1α in the context of affective disorder phenotypes and treatments has been suggested but not studied in depth. To further investigate the possible involvement of PGC-1α in affective disorders, we generated conditional PGC-1α null mice through transgenic expression of cre recombinase under the control of a Dlx5/6 promoter; cre-mediated excision events were limited to γ-amino-butyric-acid (GABA)-ergic specific neurons. We tested these mice in a battery of behavioral tests related to affective change including spontaneous activity, elevated plus maze, forced swim test, and tail suspension test. Results demonstrated that mice lacking PGC-1α in GABAergic neurons exhibited increased activity across tests that might be related to a mania-like phenotype. These results suggest possible relevance of PGC-1α to affective change, which corresponds with data connecting mitochondrial function and affective disorders and their treatment.

[Effect of Sijunzi Decoction and enteral nutrition on T-cell subsets and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer after operation: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of perioperative application of Sijunzi Decoction and enteral nutrition on T-cell subsets and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer after operation. METHODS: In this prospective, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial, fifty-nine patients with gastric cancer were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n=20) and two study groups (group A, n=21; group B, n=18). Sjunzi Decoction (100 ml) was administered via nasogastric tube to the patients in the study group B from the second postoperation day to the 9th postoperation day. Patients in the two study groups were given an isocaloric and isonitrogonous enteral diet, which was started on the second day after operation, and continued for eight days. Patients in the control group were given an isocaloric and isonitrogonous parenteral diet for 9 days. All variables of nutritional status such as serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PA), transferrin (TRF) and T-cell subsets were measured one day before operation, and one day and 10 days after operation. RESULTS: All the nutritional variables and the levels of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) were decreased significantly after operation. Ten days after operation, T-cell subsets and nutritional variables in the two study groups were increased as compare with the control group. The levels of ALB, TRF and T-cell subsets in the study group B were increased significantly as compared with the study group A (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Enteral nutrition assisted with Sijunzi Decoction can positively improve and optimize cellular immune function and nutritional status in the patients with gastric cancer after operation.

[Virtual image-guided minimal incision sugary unicondylar knee arthroplasty].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative effect of virtual image-guided minimal incision sugary unicondylar knee arthroplasty (MIS-UKA). METHODS: Twenty-six patients of knee osteoarthritis (with 26 knees) received virtual image-guided MIS-UKA and followed up for (8.2 +/- 2.4) months. The incision length, operative time, hemorrhage, and 48 h drainage were calculated. The patients were evaluated by hand injury severity score (HISS) system knee score. X-ray film of the whole lower limb was taken to observe the line of force and range of motion of knee. RESULTS: MIS-UKA was successfully performed on the 26 knees with the average incision length of 7.4 +/- 0.6 cm, the average operative time of 78 +/- 12 min, the average hemorrhage of 114 +/- 18 ml, and the 48 h drainage of 122 +/- 13 ml. Two weeks after the operation, the average HISS hip score was 98, higher than that before the operation (72), the hip-knee-ankle angle was 0.8 degree +/- 0.6 degree, larger than that before the operation (7.6 degrees +/- 1.8 degrees), the flexion contraction angle was 1.8 degrees +/- 1.1 degrees, smaller than that before the operation (6.8 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees), and the joint range of motion of knee was 132.6 degrees +/- 3.5 degrees, larger than that before the operation (107.5 degrees +/- 6.2 degrees). No infection, prosthesis cacothesis, and patellofemoral joint pain were found. CONCLUSION: The surgical navigation system surmounts the disadvantage of small visual field, observes the line of force of the lower limbs, knee joint rotational apposition, and ligament balance dynamically with digital 3D bone mode, provide geometry and morphology data, and rebuilds knee joint vitodynamically and anatomically, and heightens the accuracy of prostheses replacement, thus having important clinic value in MIS-UKA.

[Application of monitoring phosphocreatine kinase continuously and dynamically in early diagnosis of compartment syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of phosphocreatine kinase in the early diagnosis of compartment syndrome. METHODS: Forty patients with compartment syndrome of limbs were reviewed from 2005 to 2008 including 34 males and 6 females with an average age of (37.03 +/- 13.02) years. Monitoring phosphocreatine kinase continuously and dynamically after injured 2, 24 hours, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks later. The concentration of CK were measured by using Japanese Olympus automatic biochemistry analysator. The muscle preparations from affected extremity were taken after operation and 1, 2, 3 weeks later for biopsy. RESULTS: Two hours later after injury, the contents of CK increased sharply and the contents of CK were about 20 times more than the nomal. Twenty-four hours later, the contents of CK reached its maximum,the contents of CK were about 42 times more than the nomal. One week later, the contents of CK recovered to normal level. Pathological changes of muscle were irreversible. CONCLUSION: The change of the contents of CK can reflect the progression of disease objectively. If it increased sharply, the chance of compartment syndrome was high. Monitored it dynamicly and continuously can provide assistant for early diagnosis of compartment syndrome and evaluating pathogenetic condition.