Donepezil decreases heart rate in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Donepezil is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChI) that improves cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, AChIs are usually associated with peripheral adverse reactions. Here, we investigated the cardiac outcomes in elderly AD patients treated with donepezil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 82 AD patients (age, 75.47 ± 6.53 years) received 5 mg or 10 mg donepezil (n = 41/group) once daily for 12 weeks. Next, we examined the heart rate (HR), cardiac rhythm, and PR, QRS, and QTc intervals. RESULTS: Compared to the 5-mg donepezil-treated group, the HR was slower in the 10-mg donepezil-treated group at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of treatment (p = 0.041, 0.026, 0.008, respectively). The PR interval was longer in the 10-mg donepezil-treated group at the 12th week of treatment (p = 0.022). Compared to the pretreatment values, the post-treatment HR and PR interval in the 10-mg donepezil-treated group were significantly slower and longer, respectively (p = 0.002, p = 0.005). Further, the HR was significantly correlated to the donepezil dosage (p = 0.014). Similarly, donepezil dosage and treatment interval were significantly correlated (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Taken together, our findings suggest that 10 mg donepezil decreased the HR of elderly AD patients without inducing severe cardiac outcomes. Therefore, AD patients receiving donepezil should undergo regular cardiovascular monitoring.
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Effect of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets on Pregnancy Outcome and Offspring Development Quotient of SCH during Pregnancy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of levothyroxine sodium tablets (L-T4) on pregnancy outcome and offspring development quotient in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) during pregnancy. Material and Methods. Pregnant women with gestational age less than 12 weeks who underwent the first prenatal examination in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 were prospectively selected as subjects. According to the level of thyroid hormone in pregnant women, they were divided into the treatment group (n = 63) and received L-T4 treatment, untreated group (n = 64), and control group (n = 54). Three groups of pregnancy outcomes, children's physical development, and the development of offspring were compared at when one full year of life. Results: After treatment, the contrast difference of the three groups about abortion and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The abortion rate and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the untreated group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The contrast difference of the treatment group and control group about abortion and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is not statistically significant (P > 0.05); The contrast difference of the three groups about a filial generation at birth and one-year-old body length is not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The contrast difference between the three groups of individual children who are one-year old having the individual action energy, material ability, speech ability, and human ability is statistically significant (P < 0.05). One-year-old developmental quotient (DQ) of the treatment group and control group was higher than that of the untreated group (P < 0.05); the Pearson correlation analysis showed that the treatment group TSH levels have no correlation between the offspring developmental quotient (DQ) level of one-year-old children (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Levothyroxine sodium tablets (L-T4) can not only improve the pregnancy outcome of patients with SCH during pregnancy but also play a positive role in improving the neurointellectual development of their offspring.

Effects of Berberine on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Mild Metabolic Disorders Induced by Olanzapine.

Secondary metabolic disturbances in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may be attributed to olanzapine. It is important to prevent mild metabolic disorders progressing to metabolic syndrome. This study aims to investigate the effects of berberine on intestinal flora in patients with mild metabolic disorders induced by olanzapine. A total of 132 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective psychosis that had been treated with olanzapine for at least 9 months were randomly assigned ([Formula: see text] = 66 each) to receive berberine or placebo tablets for 12 weeks. Metabolic assessments and intestinal flora were quantified at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Incidence rates of adverse reactions were recorded. FPG, FPI, HOMA-IR, HbA1, TG, BMI, and WC were significantly lower in patients who received berberine compared to placebo after 12 weeks of treatment ([Formula: see text]< 0.05). The abundance of firmicutes and coliform were significantly lower and the abundance of bacteroides significantly higher in patients who received berberine compared to placebo after 12 weeks of treatment ([Formula: see text]< 0.05). In patients who received berberine, the abundance of firmicutes was significantly decreased, and the abundance of bacteroides was significantly increased, and in patients who received placebo, the abundance of firmicutes was significantly increased post-treatment, compared to baseline (both [Formula: see text]< 0.05). In conclusions, berberine may regulate intestinal flora and metabolism in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and mild metabolic disturbances induced by olanzapine.