Tyrosine Hydroxylase, Tryptophan Hydroxylase, Biopterin, and Neopterin in the Brains of Normal Controls and Patients with Senile Dementia of Alzheimer Type

The activities of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase, and the concentrations of the biopterin cofactor and the precursor neopterin were measured in 14 regions of postmortem brains from four histologically verified patients of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and eight histologically normal controls. Neopterin concentrations were measured in the human brain for the first time. The activities of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase in the brains of patients with SDAT were significantly reduced in the substantia nigra and in the lateral segment of the globus pallidus, locus ceruleus, and substantia nigra, respectively. The concentrations of total biopterin in the brains of patients with SDAT were significantly reduced in the putamen and substantia nigra, but the total neopterin concentrations did not change significantly. These results suggest that the reduction in biogenic amines in SDAT might be related to reductions in biosynthetic enzymes associated with biogenic amines, due to destruction of monoaminergic neurons.     

Circadian Variations of Heart Rate and Premature Beats in Healthy Subjects and in Patients with Previous Myocardial Infarction

Chronobiological analysis of the circadian variations of heart rate, ventricular and atrial ectopies, was carried out on 11 patients with previous myocardial infarction matched with 11 controls. Individual circadian rhythms in heart rate were seen in all the control subjects but only in 6 patients with previous myocardial infarction. The behaviour of the individual circadian rhythms of premature beats was not significantly different between the two groups. A significant group rhythm in ectopies was not demonstrated, nevertheless a trend to higher frequency of arrhythmias during the activity span was detected. These results do not allow to postulate a circadian pattern of arrhythmias common to all the subjects examined. Therefore, the individual circadian behaviour of premature atrial and ventricular beats should be recognized for monitoring antiarrhythmic therapy. A significant group rhythm in heart rate was demonstrated for the two populations studied and linear discriminant analysis showed that the amplitude of this rhythm was significantly lower in patients than in controls. Possibly, myocardial infarction may affect the sinus node function producing a “flattened” range of heart rates during the 24 hours.     

Cortical Substance P-Like Immunoreactivity in Cases of Alzheimer's Disease and Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type

Abstract: The concentration of substance P-like immunoreactive material (SPLI) and somatostatin-like immunoreactive material (SLI) and the activity of acetyl-CoA: choline- O -acetyltransferase (ChAT; EC 2.3.1.6.) were measured in eight brain regions of 13 normal patients and 12 patients with Alzheimer disease/senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (AD/SDAT). SPLI was significantly lower in five of eight regions in the patients with AD/SDAT. Younger patients with AD/SDAT had significantly lower SLI in the parietal cortex than older patients. ChAT activity and SPLI in the parietal cortex of the presenile patients with ADISDAT were not significantly different from values found in older patients.     

老年痴呆关联基因的研究进展

阿尔茨海默类痴呆（AD）是老年痴呆中最常见的一种,它以渐进性的神经功能退化并伴随着整体认知能力的下降为特征。早发性AD主要是由β-淀粉样前体蛋白（APP）基因和早老素基因突变引起,而与晚发性AD发病明显相关的只有载脂蛋白E-ε4 ( APOE-ε4)等位基因。但是APOE-ε4等位基因对AD发病既非充分又非必要,而且只能解释少于50%的AD的遗传变异。所以有必要进一步寻找与AD的关联基因。 Abstract:Dementia of the Alzheimer type (AD) is the leading cause of dementias for the elders.It is a progressively neurodegenerative disorder characterized by global cognitive decline.While most of the rare early-onset AD can be explained by mutations in APP gene and presenilin genes,the genetic etiology of the more common late-onset AD is only partly explained by the APOE-ε4 genotype.But the APOE-ε4 allele is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause disease and it can only account for less than one-half of the genetic variance of AD.Thus,more genes involved in AD are our special attention.     

Polymorphism of Apolipoproteine E in Relation with Alzheimer and Vascular Dementia

Summary 1. The epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene increases the risk of late onset familial and sporadic Alzheimer disease. Relation of epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene to various types of dementia and the onset of dementia were analyzed in the present study.2. The study comprised 139 patients (50 men and 89 women) with dementia, mean age 73.61 years (range 47–98). The diagnosis of dementia was made according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and subtypes diagnoses were made according to NINCDS-ADRDA and NINDS-AIREN criteria. Minimental State Examination (MMSE) was used for the screening of dementia. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism was determined by the PCR-RFLP technique-polymerase chain reaction and subsequent digestion with specific restriction endonuclease. For statistical analyses chi-square test and the crude Gart′s odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used.3. From 139 dementia patients (MMSE ≤24 points) in 61 (45%) Alzheimer disease (AD) was present, in 44 patients (31%) vascular dementia (VD), and in 34 (24%) mixed dementia (MD) were revealed. In comparison with control group the presence of at least one ApoE-ɛ4 allele was significantly higher only in the group with AD (p < 0.001), (OR=2.76; 95%: 1.42–5.36). The frequency of ɛ4 allele carriers was significantly overrepresented in AD group compared with VD (χ²=5.94; p=0.0148). Differences between AD and MD or VD and MD were not confirmed.     

Randomized,DIM Light Controlled,Crossover test of Morning Bright Light Therapy for Rest-Activity Rhythm Disorders in Patients with Vascular Dementia and Dementia of Alzheimer's type

The authors compared the therapeutic effect of morning bright and dim light exposure on rest-activity (R-A) rhythm disorders in patients with vascular dementia (VD) and patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT). Participants in this study were 12 patients with VD (M/F = 5/7; average age = 81 years) and 10 patients with DAT (M/F = 4/6; average age = 78 years). They were exposed to 2 weeks of bright light (BL; 5000-8000 lux) and 2 weeks of dim light (DL; 300 lux) in the morning (09:00-11:00) in a randomized crossover design in which the 2-week treatment period took place between pretreatment (1 week) and posttreatment (1 week) periods. Continuous R-A monitoring was performed at 1-minute intervals throughout the study using an actigraph around the nondominant wrist. The BL exposure for 2 weeks induced a significant reduction in both nighttime activity and percentages of nighttime activity to total activity compared with the pretreatment period, as well as compared with the DL condition in the VD group, but not in the DAT group. These findings support the assumption that the therapeutic efficacies of morning BL exposure are prominent in VD patients and are mainly due to its photic effect rather than nonphotic effects such as the intensification of social interaction accompanying light therapy. (Chronobiology International, 15(6), 647-654, 1998)     

Heart Rate Orcadian Rhythm as a Biological Marker of Desynchronization in Major Depression: A Methodological and Preliminary Report

Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored during successive 24-hr periods in 19 healthy subjects and 26 major depressed patients (DSM III-R). Recordings were performed after a 2-week wash-out period and the morningness or eveningness typology of each subject was determined. The chronobiological parameters and rhythm percentage (RP) were calculated by the single cosinor method from the smoothed HR curves of each subject. In normal subjects, HR follows a circadian rhythm (RP > 65%) with the lowest values at night. Morning type subjects have an earlier peak time (13:30) than evening type subjects (17:30). Major depressive patients were split into two groups; in the first one HR circadian rhythm was still present (RP > 63%) with a decrease in amplitude (24%) while in the second group, no circadian rhythm of HR could be detected (RP < 25%, decrease in amplitude > 70%). In the group of patients with a persisting HK circadian rhythm, no veritable phase advance was observed. Our results suggest that circadian HR rhythm, which can be easily studied with non-invasive methods, might represent a chronobiological marker of some depressions. Given the lag that exists between the rhythms of morning type and evening type subjects, our study also stresses the importance of taking into account this behavioural trait in chronobiological studies.     

Effects of Amlodipine on Orcadian Rhythms in Blood Pressure,Heart Rate,and Motility: A Telemetric Study in Rats

In male Wistar rats [light (L): 07:00–19:00 h, dark (D): 19:00–07:00 h], the effects of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (1, 3, 10 mg/kg i.p.) on blood pressure, heart rate, and motor activity were studied by telemetric monitoring. Amlodipine was injected either at 07:00 h or at 19:00 h. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were dose-dependently decreased with more pronounced effects in the dark span, ED₅₀ values in D were about seven times lower than in L. In contrast, the dose-dependent increase in heart rate was more pronounced in L than in D. No significant effects of amlodipine were found on motor activity. The study gives evidence for a circadian phase-dependency in the cardiovascular effects amlodipine in rats.     

Effects of Amlodipine on Orcadian Rhythms in Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Motility: A Telemetric Study in Rats

In male Wistar rats [light (L): 07:00-19:00 h, dark (D): 19:00-07:00 h], the effects of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (1, 3, 10 mg/kg i.p.) on blood pressure, heart rate, and motor activity were studied by telemetric monitoring. Amlodipine was injected either at 07:00 h or at 19:00 h. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were dose-dependently decreased with more pronounced effects in the dark span, ED₅₀ values in D were about seven times lower than in L. In contrast, the dose-dependent increase in heart rate was more pronounced in L than in D. No significant effects of amlodipine were found on motor activity. The study gives evidence for a circadian phase-dependency in the cardiovascular effects amlodipine in rats.     

Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Cardiopathic Patients Before and After Heart Transplantation

The aim of this study was to investigate the natural history of the circadian rhythm of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in 10 patients with heart failure (class IV of the New York Heart Association), who underwent heart transplantation because of primary congestive cardiomyopathy. The control group was 10 age-matched clinically healthy subjects. The BP and HR monitor-ings were performed before and after transplantation. Preoperatively, analysis of variance and cosinor methods validated the occurrence of a statistically significant BP and HR circadian rhythm in cardiopathic patients. Over the 4 days after surgery, both the cosinor method and serial section analysis were unable to validate a 24-h periodicity for BP and HR in patients with heart transplants. Six months after surgery, the BP and HR circadian rhythm was not detected as well. One year after transplantation. the BP and HR circadian rhythm was statistically validated. The recovery of the BP and HR circadian rhythm 1 year after heart transplantation can be regarded as a clinical sign of a reacquired susceptibility to neurovegetative chronoregulation.     

二苯乙烯苷对AD模型鼠老年斑和行为障碍的影响

目的:观察二苯乙烯苷对Alzheimer病(AD)模型大鼠行为学及脑内海马区域老年斑的影响。方法:采用立体定向仪下于海马部位注射微量Aβ1-42造模,行Y-电迷宫实验检测学习记忆能力及刚果红染色法观察大鼠脑内老年斑的变化。结果:模型组躲避所需的电刺激次数明显增加(29.53±2.28),P<0.05,海马部位老年斑增多(6.87±1.21),P<0.01;二苯乙烯苷干预后,大鼠躲避所需的电刺激次数减少(19.13±2.47),P<0.05,同时,海马部位老年斑减少(4.13±1.19),P<0.05。结论:二苯乙烯苷能改善模型大鼠的学习记忆能力,抑制和清除海马结构中老年斑的沉积。     

24-Hour Variation in the Reactivity of Rate-Pressure-Product to Everyday Physical Activity in Patients Attending a Hypertension Clinic

The exercise-related response of the rate-pressure-product (RPP) is a prognostic marker of autonomic imbalance, cardiovascular mortality, and silent myocardial ischemia in hypertension. In view of the well-known 24 h variation in out-of-hospital sudden cardiac events, our aim was to investigate whether the reactivity of RPP to everyday physical activities varies over the 24 h. Ambulatory measurements of systolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were recorded every 20 min for 24 h in 440 diurnally active patients attending a hypertension clinic. Wrist activity counts were summed over the 15 min that preceded a BP measurement. An RPP reactivity index was derived for each of twelve 2 h data bins by regressing the change in RPP against the change in logged activity counts. The RPP showed 24 h variation (p?<?0.0005), with a peak of 11,004 (95% CI?=?10,757 to 11,250) beat?·?min^?1?·?mmHg occurring at 10:00 h (2 h after mean wake-time). The overall 24 h mean of RPP reactivity was 477 beat?·?min^?1?·?mmHg?·?logged activity counts^?1 (95% CI?=?426 to 529). The largest increase in RPP reactivity occurred within the first 2 h after waking (p?<?0.0005). There were no subsequent significant differences in RPP reactivity up to 14 h after waking. The lowest RPP reactivity was found 18–20 h after waking, with a peak-to-trough variation of 593 beat?·?min^?1?·?mmHg?·?logged activity counts^?1 (95% CI?=?394 to 791, p?<?0.0005). Although this variation was not moderated by BP status, age, or sex, less variability in RPP reactivity was found for the medicated individuals during the waking hours. These data suggest that under conditions of normal living, the reactivity of RPP to a given change in physical activity increases markedly during the first 2 h after waking from nocturnal sleep, the time when out-of-hospital sudden cardiac events are also most common. Therefore, these data add weight to the notion that reactivity of RPP to physical activity could be a prognostic marker of autonomic imbalance and cardiovascular mortality, although more research is needed to assess the specific prognostic value of 24 h ambulatory measurements of RPP and physical activity.     

冠心病患者静息心率与血小板活性相关研究

目的:探讨冠心病患者静息心率与血小板活性的相关研究。方法:选择2013年1月至2014年9月于我院住院患者474例,按静息心率快慢分为三组,心率70 bmp为第一组(Q1)150例,心率位于70~85 bmp为第二组(Q2)265例,心率85 bmp为第三组(Q3)59例,三组患者均于病情稳定时行血栓弹力图(TEG)中MA值检测,同时随访3个月,观察和比较三组患者MA值变化及预后。结果:三组患者MA值分别为61.16±7.29 mm、62.02±7.46 mm、65.32±6.56 mm,第三组患者MA值与第一组或第二组患者MA值比较差异均存在统计学意义(P0.05),通过血栓弹力图检测三组经花生四烯酸(AA)途径的血小板抑制率和经二磷酸腺苷(ADP)途径的血小板抑制率发现,静息心率高低与抗血小板药物作用疗效无相关关系(P0.05)。随访3个月,三组患者心绞痛、再住院、脑血管病及死亡的总发生率分别为28%、28.68%、40.67%。结论:冠心病患者静息心率越快,MA值越大即血小板活性越高,静息心率的高低与抗血小板药物作用疗效无关。     

An Examination of the Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Reactivity to a Mental Arithmetic Stressor

Resting heart rate variability can be an index of sympathetic or parasympathetic dominance, according to the frequency of the variability studied. Sympathetic dominance of this system has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Similarly, rapid and dramatic increases in heart rate reactivity to a stressor task have also been suggested as indicating increased risk of CVD via atherogenesis. Although both of these variables have been related to the development of cardiovascular disease, and both may be related to increased sympathetic activity or parasympathetic withdrawal, most research studies have tended to focus on either variable independently of the other. In order to investigate whether these two indices of stressor reactivity were related in relatively young and healthy subjects, resting heart rate variability data were collected from 80 volunteers for 20 minutes. In addition, heart rate reactivity data were collected during a 2-minute mental arithmetic stressor, which has been previously shown to induce significant increases in heart rate. After classifying subjects according to whether their heart rate variability data were above or below the mean for their gender, heart rate reactivity data were examined via MANOVA to detect significant differences between subject groups. Females showed significant effects, and males showed nonsignificant trends, but these two sets of data were in different directions, suggesting that gender may be a confounding factor in the relationship between heart rate reactivity and heart rate variability.     

Decreased Catalase Activity but Unchanged Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Brains of Patients with Dementia of Alzheimer Type

Abstract: "Oxidative stress" may be of significance in the etiopathogenesis of dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT). Therefore, we measured activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), which detoxicate reactive oxygen species. Enzyme activities were measured postmortem in basal ganglia, cortical, and limbic brain regions of patients with DAT and age-matched controls. SOD activity increased with age in basal nucleus of Meynert. However, there was no significant difference in SOD activity between DAT and controls. CAT activity was independent of age and postmortem time. There were significant reductions in CAT activity in parietotemporal cortex, basal ganglia, and amygdala in DAT compared with controls ( p < 0.05 to 0.01). Our findings are in line with the assumption that reactive oxygen species could contribute to the pathogenesis of DAT. Absence of these changes in basal nucleus of Meynert might reflect retrograde degeneration of cholinergic fibers.     

吡拉西坦联合黄芪颗粒对老年痴呆大鼠学习能力、认知功能的影响及机制分析

摘要 目的：观察吡拉西坦联合黄芪颗粒对老年痴呆大鼠学习能力、认知功能的影响,并探讨其可能机制。方法：采用双侧海马CA1区注射1 μg β-淀粉样蛋白1-40（Aβ1-40）建立老年痴呆大鼠模型。取40只建模成功的SD大鼠随机分为模型组、吡拉西坦组、黄芪颗粒组和联合组,每组10只。另取10只双侧海马CA1区注射1 μL生理盐水和10只未经任何处理的同龄SD大鼠分别作为假手术组和对照组。建模成功7 d后给予吡拉西坦组、黄芪颗粒组、联合组大鼠分别灌胃吡拉西坦溶液、黄芪颗粒溶液、吡拉西坦+黄芪颗粒混合溶液,给予对照组、假手术组、模型组大鼠灌胃等剂量生理盐水,所有大鼠均连续灌胃治疗30 d。采用Morris水迷宫测试评价大鼠学习和认知功能。处死大鼠后采用TUNEL法检测海马组织神经元凋亡情况,采用比色法检测海马组织天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶-3（caspase-3）和caspase-9活性。结果：（1）6组大鼠第1~5 d的逃避潜伏期均呈显著减少趋势,同组不同时间点比较有显著性差异（P<0.05）。模型组大鼠第1~5 d逃避潜伏期均显著长于其余5组,联合组第1 d的逃避潜伏期显著长于对照组和假手术组（P<0.05）,但第2~5 d时的逃避潜伏期与对照组和假手术组比较无差异（P>0.05）。（2）对照组、假手术组和联合组大鼠,吡拉西坦和黄芪颗粒组大鼠平台穿越次数比较无差异（P>0.05）。联合组大鼠平台穿越次数显著多于吡拉西坦组和黄芪颗粒组（P<0.05）。（3）吡拉西坦组、黄芪颗粒组和联合组大鼠海马组织神经元细胞凋亡比例均低于模型组,联合组大鼠海马组织神经元细胞凋亡比例低于吡拉西坦组、黄芪颗粒组（P<0.05）。（4）吡拉西坦组、黄芪颗粒组和联合组大鼠海马组织caspase-3和caspase-9活性均低于模型组,联合组大鼠海马组织caspase-3和caspase-9活性均低于吡拉西坦组、黄芪颗粒组（P<0.05）。结论：吡拉西坦联合黄芪颗粒能够有效改善老年痴呆大鼠学习和认知功能,效果优于单药,其机制可能与两药联合更能有效抑制神经元细胞凋亡信号通路,减轻海马组织神经元损伤有关。     

Long-Term Heart Rate Fluctuations in Postoperative and Brain-Dead Patients

Long-term heart rate fluctuations in postoperative and brain-dead patients were investigated. Heart rates were monitored continuously, and the data were stored, edited, and interpolated to allow for data lost during calibration and disconnection of the sensors for various treatments. Heart rate power spectra were calculated using the fast Fourier transform method. The power spectra of the patients who recovered showed that the heart rate fluctuated and produced a 1/f relationship, termed 1/f fluctuations, whereas those of patients who died in the intensive care unit (ICU) consisted of white-noise-like signals. The power spectra in brain-dead patients showed a 1/f relationship under steady-state conditions, while the power density and variation of the frequency distribution were lower than those in a normal subject. Therefore, 1/f fluctuations appear to be universal and occur independent of the central nervous system. (Chronobiology International, 15(6), 633-646, 1998)     

Influence of Time of Day on Body Temperature,Heart Rate,Arterial Pressure,and Other Biological Variables in Horses during Incremental Exercise

We examined the response to exercise of selected physiological variables in horses performing the identical routine for eight days, in the morning (a.m.) or in the afternoon (p.m.). Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), and body temperature (BT) were all consistently greater in the p.m. For BP and BT, the absolute increase above the a.m. values was the same at rest and during exercise. For HR, the absolute increase was greater during exercise, but the percent increase was the same as during rest. During exercise, blood glucose decreased, while blood lactate and skin temperature increased; these changes were the same during the a.m. and p.m. sessions. We conclude that there is no indication in horses of a difference in the responses of HR, BP, and BT to exercise between the a.m. and p.m. The circadian oscillations, however, alter the absolute values of these variables both at rest and during exercise, raising the possibility that the safety margins against hyperthermia and hypertension may decrease during p.m. exercise.     

蝮蛇抗栓酶伍用刺五加对冠心病心率变异性的影响

目的探讨蝮蛇抗栓酶伍用刺五加对冠心病心率异性的影响。方法观察蝮蛇抗栓酶伍用刺五加对冠心病变异性的影响,并与对照组对比。结果治疗组ＳＤＮＮ、ＨＦ、ＬＦ／ＨＦ改变较对照组有显著差异性（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论该方法能显著提高冠心病患者的心率变异性,对冠心病心源性猝死的预防有着重要意义。     

Chronotherapy in Coronary Heart Disease: Comparison of Two Nitrate Treatments

The purpose of this study was to assess the ischemic burden and the hemodynamic changes during daily activities in patients with coronary heart disease. Three exercise tests were performed during the day (10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.), recording ST-segment depression, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary wedge pressure, and cardiac output as well as heart rate and systemic blood pressure during placebo and nitrate therapy. With placebo as well as nitrate therapy there was a gradual increase of ischemia and preload and a decrease of cardiac output during the day. High nitrate concentrations led to a significant reduction of both preload and ST depression with a marked circadian phase dependency of cardiovascular effects.