Traditional Pediatric Massage Enhanced Hippocampal GR, BDNF and IGF-1 Expressions and Exerted an Anti-depressant Effect in an Adolescent Rat Model of CUMS-induced Depression

This study aimed to investigate the anti-depressant effect of traditional pediatric massage (TPM) in adolescent rats and its possible mechanism. The adolescent depression model in rats was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). All rats were randomly divided into five groups (seven per group), including the groups of control (CON), CUMS, CUMS with TPM, CUMS with back stroking massage (BSM) and CUMS with fluoxetine (FLX). The tests of sucrose preference, Morris water maze and elevated plus maze were used to evaluate depression-related behaviors. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) level was measured by ELISA. The gene and protein expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured by RT-qPCR and IHC respectively. The results showed that CUMS induced depression-related behaviors in the adolescent rats, along with decreased weight gain and reduced hippocampal expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF. TPM could effectively prevent depression-related behaviors in CUMS-exposed adolescent rats, manifested as increasing weight gain, sucrose consumption, ratio of open-arm entry, times of crossing the specific quadrant and shortening escape latency. TPM also decreased CORT level in plasma, together with enhancing expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF in the hippocampus. These results may support the clinical application of TPM to prevent and treat adolescent depression.

[Mediator effect analysis of the trait coping style on job stress and fatigue of the military personnel stationed in plateau and high cold region]

Objective: To investigate the fatigue status of military personnel stationed in plateau and high cold region, and to analyze the mediator effect of trait coping style on job stress and fatigue. Methods: In October 2010, with the method of cluster random sampling survey, 531 military personnel stationed in plateau and high cold region were chosen as subject. The fatigue status were evaluated by the Chinese version multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) , job stress were evaluated by the Job Stress Survey (JSS) , and trait coping style were evaluated by the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ) . Results: According to the information of different population characteristics, mean rank of physical fatigue about the urban (town) group were higher than that of rural group (Z=-2.200, P<0.05) ; mean rank of reduced motivation about the urban (town) group were higher than that of rural group (Z=-2.781, P<0.05) ; mean rank of general fatigue scores about the urban (town) group were higher than that of rural group (Z=-3.026, P<0.05) ; mean rank of physical fatigue about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-4.045, P<0.05) ; mean rank of reduced motivation about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-2.182, P<0.05) ; mean rank of mental fatigue about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-2.879, P<0.05) ; mean rank of general fatigue scores about the up or equal 20-years old age group were higher than that of below 20-years old age group (Z=-3.647, P<0.05) ; mean rank of reduced motivation were significant statistical difference among the military officers, sergeancy and soldier group (F=18.965, P<0.05) ; mean rank of general fatigue scores were significant statistical difference among the military officers, sergeancy and soldier group (F=14.711, P<0.05) . The score of negative coping style were positively correlated with the score of physical fatigue (r(s)=0.129) , reduced activity (r(s)=0.123) , reduced motivation (r(s)=0.149) and general fatigue (r(s)=0.174) respectively, the score of organizational support lack strength were positively correlated with the score of physical fatigue (r(s)=0.090) , reduced activity (r(s)=0.098) , reduced motivation (r(s)=0.099) and general fatigue (r(s)=0.130) respectively. The mediator effect of negative coping style on the job stress and fatigue was 0.013 (P<0.01) . Conclusion: The fatigue statuses of the urban (town) group and the up or equal 20-years old age group are poor, and the negative coping style plays mediator effect on the job stress and fatigue.

Overweight and Obesity in Young Adulthood and the Risk of Stroke: a Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A systematic review assessing the association between overweight and obesity in young adulthood and stroke risk is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between overweight and obesity in young adulthood and stroke risk.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Embase databases for related studies of human subjects in the English language. Two investigators independently selected original studies in a 2-step process. Fixed- and random-effects models were used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled adjusted RR of stroke was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.28-1.44) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.81 (95% CI: 1.45-2.25) for obesity in young adulthood. In subgroup analyses, overweight and obesity in young adulthood increased the risk of stroke in most groups, except for the group of stroke subtype. For ischemic stroke, the adjusted RR was 1.40 (95% CI: 1.24-1.58) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.78 (95% CI: 1.003-3.16) for obesity in young adulthood, whereas adjusted RR for hemorrhagic stroke was 1.25 (95% CI: .83-1.90) for overweight in young adulthood and 1.80 (95% CI: .97-3.35) for obesity in young adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight and obesity in young adulthood are associated with an increased risk of stroke, probably, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. The risk effect gradually increases with increasing body weight.

Comparative effectiveness of electro-acupuncture plus lifestyle modification treatment for patients with simple obesity and overweight: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture is considered to be an effective and safe treatment for obese and overweight patients, although high-quality evidence regarding the effects of acupuncture on obesity are not conclusive. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture plus lifestyle modification for treating obese and overweight patients, in comparison with lifestyle modification alone in China.

METHODS/DESIGN

To compare the effectiveness of acupuncture plus lifestyle modification, a 2-armed, controlled trial with randomization using minimization will be conducted on 150 simple obesity and overweight patients, aged 18-50 years, for a 36-week study duration. All patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups and will receive either acupuncture plus lifestyle modification or lifestyle modification alone. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks during treatment as well as at 6-week, 12-week, and 24-week follow-up. The primary endpoint is change of body mass index (BMI) during the 12th week. Secondary endpoints are body weight; waist-to-hip ratio; biochemical tests including serum cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels; and answers to the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lite Version (IWQOL-Lite). Statistical analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle. The main endpoint will be analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and the objective outcome results will be analyzed by logistic regression analysis. To avoid potential confounding factors, additional sensitivity analyses will be conducted following these statistical analyses.

DISCUSSION

This trial is the first to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture plus lifestyle modification for treating obesity relative to lifestyle modification treatment alone by using a pragmatic study design. We hope that the results of this study will contribute to advancing the current methodology of acupuncture trials for obesity and will facilitate the application of useful acupuncture strategies in real-world clinical settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-TRC- 12002762 . The date of registration is 31 October 2012.

The influence of psychological stress on arginine vasopressin concentration in the human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid

Psychological stress is strain affecting the intangible self, caused by problems in adaptation, perception, and emotions. Previous studies have demonstrated that arginine vasopressin (AVP) plays an important role in psychological stress. The goal of present study was to investigate the interaction between AVP release and cardiovascular functions by measuring AVP concentration and recording blood pressure or heart rate during psychological stress in human. The results showed that (1) psychological stress not only increased the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, but also elevated the cortisol and AVP concentration in both plasma and CSF in a stress level-dependent manner; (2) there was a positive relationship between plasma AVP concentration and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate or plasma cortisol concentration; (3) there was also a positive relationship between AVP concentrations in plasma and CSF AVP. The data suggested that plasma AVP, which might come from the central nervous system, might influence the cardiovascular functions during psychological stress in human.

Effect of the gamma knife treatment on the trigeminal nerve root in Chinese patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia

AIM

To understand the mechanism of the gamma knife treating the trigeminal neuralgia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using the MASEP-SRRS type gamma knife treatment system, 140 Chinese patients with trigeminal neuralgia (NT) were treated in our hospital from 2002 to 2010, in which the pain relief rate reached 95% and recurrence rate was 3% only. We investigated the effect of the gamma knife treatment on the trigeminal nerve root in 20 Chinese patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia by the magnetic resonance imager (MRI) observation.

RESULTS

1) The cross-sectional area of trigeminal nerve root became smaller and MRI signals were lower in the treatment side than those in the non-treatment side after the gamma knife treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia; 2) in the treatment side, the cross-sectional area of the trigeminal nerve root decreased significantly after the gamma knife treatment; 3) there was good correlation between the clinical improvement and the MRI findings; and 4) the straight distance between the trigeminal nerve root and the brainstem did not change after the gamma knife treatment.

CONCLUSION

The pain relief induced the gamma knife radiosurgery might be related with the atrophy of the trigeminal nerve root in Chinese patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia.

[Effects of cytochalasin B upon mitosis of Physarum polycephalum]

Cytochalasin B, known as a functional inhibitor of actin, was microinjected into naturally synchronous plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum, and the mitotic behaviours of both CB-treated specimens and the control were examined with light and electron microscopy. Mitosis in the CB-treated specimens began about 20 to 60 minutes later than that of the control. It was delayed 35 minutes in the specimens treated with CB in the S phase of the cell cycle, and the delayed time was 20 minutes and 45 minutes, respectively. In the specimens treated with CB in early and middle G2 phase, the longest delay was 60 minutes found in the specimens treated in late G2 phase, indicating that mitosis was affected in Physarum polycephalum when the function of actin was inhibited by CB treatment. The CB-treated specimens and the control showed similarities in the process of mitosis and dynamic changes of nuclear structures, suggesting that the main effect of CB treatment upon mitosis may be to delay the triggering of the mitosis.

Characterization of two clones isolated from the TC-1 murine marrow stromal cell line: growth factor and retrovirus production and physical support of hemopoiesis

We previously reported the isolation of an adherent murine marrow cell line termed TC-1, and the initial characterization of two subclones derived from this line. In this study we report a further characterization of two subclones from the non-cloned TC-1 cell line. One subclone, TC-1-C-3, consisted of large, slow-growing syncytial polypoid cells that grew to relatively low saturation densities, did not form colonies in soft agar and showed desmosome-like junctions. The other subclone, TC-1-C-11, consisted of smaller, rapidly growing fibroblast-like diploid cells which showed anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. Both these subclones produced growth factors which stimulated giant macrophage colonies in soft agar culture in vitro, but only the TC-1-C-3 subclone produced a retrovirus, whose source was most likely the endogenous ecotropic Emv-2 provirus present in chromosomal DNA in C57BL mice. This retrovirus from the TC-1-C-3 subclone did not appear capable of transforming TC-1-C-11 cells. Together, these data suggest that TC-1-C-3 cells have a special capacity for supporting hemopoiesis. The question of whether the mechanism of this support relates to an intrinsic property of the cell or is possibly related to retrovirus production remains unanswered.

Multilineage synergistic activity produced by a murine adherent marrow cell line

We reported previously that a cell line (TC-1) derived from adherent marrow cells produced colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) and a separate activity that acts synergistically with CSF-1 to stimulate giant macrophage colonies. We now report that an activity in TC-1 conditioned media (CM) separate from CSF-1 also synergizes multilineage colony formation by pure interleukin 3 (IL 3) and a crude source of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity (GM-CSA) (murine lung-conditioned media). IL 3-induced megakaryocyte colony formation is also synergized. The CSF-1-dependent synergistic activity is not blocked by antibodies to IL 3 and is characterized as a nondialyzable (mol wt cutoff 3,000), heat-stable (56 degrees C, 30') activity that binds to DE-52 cellulose under conditions in which IL 3 does not. This material has an apparent mol wt of approximately 200,000 by Sephadex G100 chromatography, and the bulk of it binds to Concanavalin A (Con A) and elutes off with alpha-methyl mannoside, indicating that it is a glycoprotein. As reported separately, these purified active fractions also have a pre-B cell-inducing activity. In addition, a non-IL 3 activity stimulates proliferation of the factor-dependent cell lines FDC-P1 and DA-1. These data indicate that an adherent marrow cell line produces a growth factor(s) that synergizes with IL 3, GM-CSA, and CSF-1 and induces pre-B cell formation. This may be an important regulator of early multilineage lymphohemopoiesis.

Hematopoietic factor production by a cell line (TC-1) derived from adherent murine marrow cells

An adherent cell line, termed TC-1, has been isolated from long-term liquid culture of murine marrow cells by repeated exposure of the adherent cells to 0.1% trypsin. This is an alkaline phosphatase-positive cell line showing variable staining with acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase. On electron microscopy, the cells have moderate amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and variable numbers of polyribosomes. Some cells contain large clusters of laked glycogen particles. Intermediate junctions are present between some cells. Conditioned medium from this cell line produced from 384 to 638 units of CSF-1 per milliliter by radioimmunoassay and a CSF-1-dependent synergistic activity, which stimulates giant macrophage colony formation of marrow cells in soft agar. The conditioned medium also stimulates 3H-TdR incorporation by marrow cells in liquid culture and induces secondary adherent cell lines. The growth factor(s) produced by the TC-1 stromal cell line may be important in the regulation of early stages of hematopoietic differentiation. Two subclones, TC-1-C-11 and TC-1-C-3, have been isolated from passage 25 of the TC-1 cells by a penicylinder separation technique. The TC-1-C-11 is phenotypically like the parent TC-1 line and produces macrophage growth factors. The TC-1-C-3 grows as an epithelioid monolayer with visible junctions among adjacent cells under phase contrast microscopy. This subclone produces retrovirus and is capable of providing anchorage support for hematopoietic stem cells. The TC-1 cell line and its subclones may provide models for the control of early stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

Radioresistant murine marrow stromal cells: a morphologic and functional characterization

Two types of murine marrow adherent cells derived from Dexter cultures have been characterized. Exposure of C57B1/6J, ICR, or BDF1 mice to 1000 R x-ray 24 h prior to killing and establishment of liquid marrow cultures resulted in the growth of two types of adherent cells. A macrophage-like cell was phagocytic, nonspecific esterase, and acid phosphatase, positive and alkaline phosphatase, myeloperoxidase, and factor-VIII negative. The second cell was large and epithelioid in appearance, had a subpopulation of giant fat cells, was nonphagocytic, alkaline phosphatase positive, and negative for acid phosphatase, nonspecific esterase, myeloperoxidase, and factor VIII. At low inoculum levels these cells formed three types of colonies within 1-3 weeks--macrophage, epithelioid, and mixed--while at higher inoculum levels they formed confluent monolayers. These radioresistant cells supported myeloid pluripotent stem cells (CFU-S) and granulocyte-macrophage stem cells (GM-CFU-C) in liquid culture of long term nonadherent marrow cells and stimulated GM-CFU-C in agar over-lays. Refeeding liquid cultures with nonadherent cells from long-term Dexter cultures revealed that myeloperoxidase-positive cells adhered predominantly to the colonies containing epithelioid cells.