Assessment of risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass surgery: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Aim: To find out risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to provide basis for clinical prevention of POCD. A total of 88 patients who underwent CABG were surveyed with Telephone Questionnaire (TICS-M) for their cognitive impairment after 3, 7, 21, 90, 180 days post-surgery. The occurrence of POCD was diagnosed by Neuropsychological Battery which included Vocabular Learning Test (VLT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Trail Making Test (TMT) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors were assessed by the χ² or t test. Multivariate analysis was used to study the correlation between the risk factors and the occurrence of POCD. Age, aortic plaque, carotid artery stenosis, cerebrovascular disease, anesthesia time, the rate of decline in intraoperative hemoglobin concentration (ΔHb) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score on postoperative day 2 had statistically significant (P<0.05) influence on the occurrence of POCD. Aortic plaque, carotid artery stenosis, anesthesia time and SIRS score (odds ratio (OR) value > 1, P<0.05) are the risk factors for POCD. The incidence of day-21 and -180 POCD was approximately 26.1 and 22.7%, respectively.     

右美托咪定通过抑制线粒体凋亡水平缓解大鼠脑缺血后记忆障碍的实验研究

摘要 目的：探右美托咪定缓解缺血性脑损伤记忆障碍大鼠记忆功能的作用机制。方法：选择雄性SD大鼠36只,随机分为三组,分别为：假手术组（12只）、缺血性脑损伤模型组（12只）、右美托咪定组（12只）,除假手术组外其余动物均采用双侧颈动脉结扎术建立慢性脑缺血模型。假手术组和模型组给予生理盐水静注,右美托咪定组给予右美托咪定0.5 μg /kg,静注,均在15 min内滴完。比较大鼠给药前和给药后4 w的记忆情况以及线粒体凋亡因子Bcl-2、Cleaved Caspase-3、Caspase-9的表达水平。结果：（1）与假手术组相比,模型组和右美托咪定组大鼠逃逸潜伏期明显增高（P＜0.05）,右美托咪定组逃逸潜伏期与模型组相比有显著降低（P＜0.05）;与假手术组相比,模型组和右美托咪定组大鼠游泳路程明显延长（P＜0.05）,右美托咪定组游泳路程与模型组相比有显著降低（P＜0.05）;（2）与假手术组相比,模型组和右美托咪定组大鼠海马区部分凋亡因子Bcl-2,Cleaved Caspase-9,Cleaved Caspase-3的蛋白表达均有明显提升（P＜0.05）;与模型组相比,右美托咪定组在给药4 w后上述蛋白的表达有明显降低（P＜0.05）。结论：右美托咪定对脑缺血记忆障碍大鼠的记忆功能有显著改善作用,其作用机制可能与抑制线粒体凋亡水平有关,具体信号通路还有待进一步探索。     

奥拉西坦联合阿托伐他汀对血管性认知障碍患者血清NO、MMP-9、ET-1水平的影响

摘要 目的：研究奥拉西坦联合阿托伐他汀对血管性认知障碍患者血清血清一氧化氮 (Nitric oxide, NO)、基质金属蛋白酶(Matrix metalloproteinases, MMP)-9和内皮素(Endothelin, ET)-1水平的影响。方法：选择2015年1月～2019年12月于我院诊治的70例血管性认知障碍患者,随机分为两组。对照组单独服用奥拉西坦,每天3次,每次0.8 g;观察组联合服用阿托伐他汀,每天晚上1次,每次20 mg。比较两组的简易精神智能量表（MMSE）和蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评分,血清NO、MMP-9、ET-1水平、纤维蛋白原、总胆固醇、血浆黏度、甘油三酯水平。结果：治疗后,观察组的有效率明显高于对照组(P<0.05);两组的MMSE评分和Mo CA评分、血清NO水平明显升高,血清MMP-9和ET-1水平、纤维蛋白原、总胆固醇、血浆黏度、甘油三酯水平显著降低(P<0.05),且观察组的上述指标显著优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论：奥拉西坦联合阿托伐他汀对血管性认知障碍患者有较好的调脂作用,能改善其认知功能和血液流变学,其机制可能与改善血清NO、MMP-9、ET-1水平有关。     

Therapeutic efficacy of novel memantine nitrate MN‐08 in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer''s disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia in elderly individuals and therapeutic options for AD are very limited. Over‐activation of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors, amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation, a decrease in cerebral blood flow (CBF), and downstream pathological events play important roles in the disease progression of AD. In the present study, MN‐08, a novel memantine nitrate, was found to inhibit Aβ accumulation, prevent neuronal and dendritic spine loss, and consequently attenuate cognitive deficits in 2‐month‐old APP/PS1 transgenic mice (for a 6‐month preventative course) and in the 8‐month‐old triple‐transgenic (3×Tg‐AD) mice (for a 4‐month therapeutic course). In vitro, MN‐08 could bind to and antagonize NMDA receptors, inhibit the calcium influx, and reverse the dysregulations of ERK and PI3K/Akt/GSK3β pathway, subsequently preventing glutamate‐induced neuronal loss. In addition, MN‐08 had favorable pharmacokinetics, blood‐brain barrier penetration, and safety profiles in rats and beagle dogs. These findings suggest that the novel memantine nitrate MN‐08 may be a useful therapeutic agent for AD.     

Effects of aging in postural strategies during a seated auto-stabilization task

Impaired sensory, motor and central processing systems combining with biomechanical changes are risk of fall factors in the elderly population. The aim of this study was to assess the auto-adaptation and the regulation of the dynamic control of equilibrium in age-related adaptive strategies, by using a seated position on a seesaw. 15 young adults and 12 healthy middle-aged adults were asked to actively maintain a sitting posture as stable as possible during 12.8 s, on a 1-degree of freedom seesaw (auto-stabilization paradigm), with and without vision. The seesaw was placed in order to allow roll or pitch oscillations. We determine length and surfaces CoP shifts, mean positions and variability, a Postural Performance Index (PI) and a Strategy Organization Ratio (SOR). Our results shows that adopted strategies are plane-dependant during auto-stabilization (parallel and perpendicular axes control is impacted) and age-dependant. PI_x during roll seated auto-stabilization tasks appears as the most relevant parameter of aged-related instability. The visual effect, during pitch auto-stabilization, characterizes the postural sensory-motor human behavior. The quantitative and qualitative postural assessment, thanks to seated auto-stabilization task, need to be promoted for long-term health care and probably for the rehabilitation of various disorders.     

Comparison of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels using mass spectrometer and urine albumin creatinine ratio as a predictor of development of diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Background. Measurement of urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) has recently become more popular as a means of assessing oxidative stress in the human body. The aim of this study is to compare the levels of urine 8-OHdG in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without nephropathy and to evaluate its role as a biochemical marker for distinguishing these patients from healthy and patients without complications. Methods. For this purpose, 52 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (32 with nephropathy (DMN), 20 without nephropathy (DM)) and 20 healthy control subjects (C) were included in this study. The urine concentrations of 8-OHdG were measured by modified LC-MS/MS method and compared with the first morning voiding urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and HbA1c values of the same patients. Results. The concentrations of urine 8-OHdG in DMN and DM patients were higher than those of the control subjects (3.47?±?0.94, 2.92?±?1.73, 2.1?±?0.93 nmol/mol creatinine, respectively). But there was no statistical difference between DMN and DM (p =?0.115). There is significant correlation between urinary 8-OHdG and UACR (r =?0.501, p <?0.001). According to ROC analysis, the AUC value of HbA1c was higher than the value of the AUC of 8-OHdG (0.882 and 0.771, respectively). Conclusions. This study shows that the urine 8-OHdG levels increase in diabetic patients. However, urinary 8-OHdG is not a useful clinical marker, compared with UACR, to predict the development of diabetic nephropathy in diabetic patients.     

Macrophage inhibitory cytokine‐1 is associated with cognitive impairment and predicts cognitive decline – the Sydney Memory and Aging Study

Higher levels of macrophage inhibitory cytokine‐1, also known as growth differentiation factor 15 (MIC‐1/GDF15), are associated with adverse health outcomes and all‐cause mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between MIC‐1/GDF15 serum levels and global cognition, five cognitive domains, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), at baseline (Wave 1) and prospectively at 2 years (Wave 2), in nondemented participants aged 70–90 years. Analyses were controlled for age, sex, education, Framingham risk score, history of cerebrovascular accident, acute myocardial infarction, angina, cancer, depression, C‐reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukins 6 and 12, and apolipoprotein ε4 genotype. Higher MIC‐1/GDF15 levels were significantly associated with lower global cognition at both waves. Cross‐sectional associations were found between MIC‐1/GDF15 and all cognitive domains in Wave 1 (all P < 0.001) and between processing speed, memory, and executive function in Wave 2 (all P < 0.001). Only a trend was found for the prospective analyses, individuals with high MIC‐1/GDF15 at baseline declined in global cognition, executive function, memory, and processing speed. However, when categorizing MIC‐1/GDF15 by tertiles, prospective analyses revealed statistically significant lower memory and executive function in Wave 2 in those in the upper tertile compared with the lower tertile. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine MIC‐1/GDF15 cutoff values associated with cognitive decline and showed that a MIC‐1/GDF15 level exceeding 2764 pg/ml was associated with a 20% chance of decline from normal to MCI or dementia. In summary, MIC‐1/GDF15 levels are associated with cognitive performance and cognitive decline. Further research is required to determine the pathophysiology of this relationship.     

The effect of substituted thiophene and benzothiophene derivates on PPARγ expression and glucose metabolism

Eighteen substituted thiophene and benzothiophene derivatives were studied for their effects on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in HepG2 cells. Three derivatives (compounds 5, 120.97%; 15, 102.14%; and 17, 113.82%) were found to transactivate PPARγ in vitro. By comparison, the positive control rosiglitazone (Ros) transactivated PPARγ by 311.53%. The three compounds were studied for their effects on glucose metabolism in vivo in KK/Ay diabetic mice. In vivo, the 2-(β-carbonyl/sulfonyl) butyryl-thiophene compounds 5 and 15 significantly decreased blood glucose levels (compounds 5, to?<?15.6?mmol/L; 15, to?<?10?mmol/L), improved glucose tolerance, improved impaired pancreatic islet β-cells, and lowered serum insulin levels.     

Genetic variants of eNOS gene may modify the susceptibility to idiopathic male infertility

Abstract

In testis, eNOS is responsible for synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) which is an essential gas message regulator in spermatogenesis, suggesting that eNOS gene plays a role in normal spermatogenesis and the genetic variants of eNOS gene may be potential genetic risk factors of spermatogenesis impairment. In this study, the polymorphic distributions of three common polymorphism loci including T-786C, 4A4B and G894T in eNOS gene were investigated in 355 Chinese infertile patients with azoospermia or oligozoospermia and 246 healthy fertile men and a meta-analysis was carried in order to explore the possible relationship between the three loci of eNOS gene and male infertility with spermatogenesis impairment. As a result, allele -786C of T-786C (11.4% versus 6.5%, p?=?0.004) and 4A of 4A4B (11.0% versus 6.3%, p?=?0.005) as well as genotype TC of T-786C (22.8% versus 13.0%, p?=?0.002) and AB of 4A4B (18% versus 11%, p?=?0.015) were significantly associated with idiopathic male infertility. The haplotypes T-4A-G (7.4% versus 4.1%, p?=?0.015) and C-4B-G (7.6% versus 4.4%, p?=?0.028) could increase the susceptibility to male infertility, whereas haplotype T-4B-G (67.0% versus 75.2%, p?=?0.002) might be a protective factor for male infertility. The results of meta-analysis revealed that the polymorphism of T-786C was associated with male infertility. These findings suggested that the variants of eNOS gene may modify the susceptibility to male infertility with impaired spermatogenesis.