Kidney-tonifying recipe can reduce the accumulation of advanced glycation end products, prevent neuronal degeneration and improve cognitive functions in ovariectomized rats. Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae alcohol extrac...Kidney-tonifying recipe can reduce the accumulation of advanced glycation end products, prevent neuronal degeneration and improve cognitive functions in ovariectomized rats. Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae alcohol extracts may dose-dependently inhibit non-enzymatic saccharification in vitro. This study aimed to examine the effect of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae on advanced glycation end products and on learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized rats were treated with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae alcohol extracts （containing 1.5 g/kg crude drug） or 0.1% aminoguanidine for 12 weeks and behavioral testing was performed with the Y-electrical maze. This test revealed that Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae and aminoguanidine could improve the learning and memory capabilities of ovariectomized rats. Results of competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that treatment with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae or aminoguanidine reduced the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the frontal cortex of ovariectomized rats, while increasing content in the blood and urine. Biochemical tests showed that treatment with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae or aminoguanidine decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the serum and frontal cortex, and increased serum levels of glutathione peroxidase in ovariectomized rats. In addition there was no apparent effect on malondialdehyde levels. These experimental findings indicate that Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae inhibits production of advanced glycation end products and its accumulation in brain tissue, and improves learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats. These effects may be associated with an anti-oxidative action of the extract.展开更多
Built environments can induce contemplative states, but direct evidence for their impact on the brain is lacking. This exploratory work investigated brain correlates of internal states elicited by architecture designe...Built environments can induce contemplative states, but direct evidence for their impact on the brain is lacking. This exploratory work investigated brain correlates of internal states elicited by architecture designed for contemplative experience. Functional MRI and self-reports of 12 architects were assessed to study their responses to photographs of ordinary and contemplative architectures. Images of contemplative buildings： （1） induced attentive, receptive, and absorbing experiences and diminished internal dialogue; （2） involved decreased engagement of prefrontal cortex; and （3） activated the occipital lobe, precentra[ gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule. They suggest that viewing buildings designed for contemplation may evoke experiential and brain signatures that consistently differ from those induced by buildings that serve everyday functions. The depth of such externally induced states was inversely correlated with the engagement of the Default Mode Network. Our study points toward a novel avenue for investigating how contemplation can be cultivated in the human brain/mind.展开更多
Acutely,pain serves to protect us from potentially harmful stimuli,however damage to the somatosensory system can cause maladaptive changes in neurons leading to chronic pain.Although acute pain is fairly well control...Acutely,pain serves to protect us from potentially harmful stimuli,however damage to the somatosensory system can cause maladaptive changes in neurons leading to chronic pain.Although acute pain is fairly well controlled,chronic pain remains difficult to treat.Chronic pain is primarily a neuropathic condition,but studies examining the mechanisms underlying chronic pain are now looking beyond afferent nerve lesions and exploring new receptor targets,immune cells,and the role of the autonomic nervous system in contributing chronic pain conditions.The studies outlined in this review reveal how chronic pain is not only confined to alterations in the nervous system and presents findings on new treatment targets and for this debilitating disease.展开更多
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)plays an important role in the protection of dopaminergic neurons,but there are few reports of the relationship between GDNF and its precursors(α-pro-GDNF andβ-pro-GD...Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)plays an important role in the protection of dopaminergic neurons,but there are few reports of the relationship between GDNF and its precursors(α-pro-GDNF andβ-pro-GDNF)and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of GDNF and its precursors and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease,and to assess their potential as a diagnostic marker.Fifty-three primary outpatients and hospitalized patients with Parkinson’s disease(23 men and 30 women)with an average age of 66.58 years were enrolled from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University of China in this case-control study.The patients were divided into the Parkinson’s disease with cognitive impairment group(n=27)and the Parkinson’s disease with normal cognitive function group(n=26)based on their Mini-Mental State Examination,Montreal Cognitive Assessment,and Clinical Dementia Rating scores.In addition,26 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects were included as the healthy control group.Results demonstrated that serum GDNF levels were significantly higher in the Parkinson’s disease with normal cognitive function group than in the other two groups.There were no significant differences in GDNF precursor levels among the three groups.Correlation analysis revealed that serum GDNF levels,GDNF/α-pro-GDNF ratios,and GDNF/β-pro-GDNF ratios were moderately or highly correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination,Montreal Cognitive Assessment,and Clinical Dementia Rating scores.To explore the risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease,logistic regression analysis and stepwise linear regression analysis were performed.Both GDNF levels and Hoehn-Yahr stage were risk factors for cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease,and were the common influencing factors for cognitive scale scores.Neitherα-pro-GDNF norβ-pro-GDNF was risk factors for cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.A rece展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project for New Drug Creation Program by the Ministry of Science and Technology No.2009ZX09502-014
文摘Kidney-tonifying recipe can reduce the accumulation of advanced glycation end products, prevent neuronal degeneration and improve cognitive functions in ovariectomized rats. Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae alcohol extracts may dose-dependently inhibit non-enzymatic saccharification in vitro. This study aimed to examine the effect of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae on advanced glycation end products and on learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized rats were treated with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae alcohol extracts （containing 1.5 g/kg crude drug） or 0.1% aminoguanidine for 12 weeks and behavioral testing was performed with the Y-electrical maze. This test revealed that Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae and aminoguanidine could improve the learning and memory capabilities of ovariectomized rats. Results of competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that treatment with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae or aminoguanidine reduced the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the frontal cortex of ovariectomized rats, while increasing content in the blood and urine. Biochemical tests showed that treatment with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae or aminoguanidine decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the serum and frontal cortex, and increased serum levels of glutathione peroxidase in ovariectomized rats. In addition there was no apparent effect on malondialdehyde levels. These experimental findings indicate that Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae inhibits production of advanced glycation end products and its accumulation in brain tissue, and improves learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats. These effects may be associated with an anti-oxidative action of the extract.
文摘Built environments can induce contemplative states, but direct evidence for their impact on the brain is lacking. This exploratory work investigated brain correlates of internal states elicited by architecture designed for contemplative experience. Functional MRI and self-reports of 12 architects were assessed to study their responses to photographs of ordinary and contemplative architectures. Images of contemplative buildings： （1） induced attentive, receptive, and absorbing experiences and diminished internal dialogue; （2） involved decreased engagement of prefrontal cortex; and （3） activated the occipital lobe, precentra[ gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule. They suggest that viewing buildings designed for contemplation may evoke experiential and brain signatures that consistently differ from those induced by buildings that serve everyday functions. The depth of such externally induced states was inversely correlated with the engagement of the Default Mode Network. Our study points toward a novel avenue for investigating how contemplation can be cultivated in the human brain/mind.
文摘Acutely,pain serves to protect us from potentially harmful stimuli,however damage to the somatosensory system can cause maladaptive changes in neurons leading to chronic pain.Although acute pain is fairly well controlled,chronic pain remains difficult to treat.Chronic pain is primarily a neuropathic condition,but studies examining the mechanisms underlying chronic pain are now looking beyond afferent nerve lesions and exploring new receptor targets,immune cells,and the role of the autonomic nervous system in contributing chronic pain conditions.The studies outlined in this review reveal how chronic pain is not only confined to alterations in the nervous system and presents findings on new treatment targets and for this debilitating disease.
基金This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81971006(to DSG)the Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province of China,Nos.KYCX18_2193(to MYS),KYCX18_2171(to CXT).
文摘Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)plays an important role in the protection of dopaminergic neurons,but there are few reports of the relationship between GDNF and its precursors(α-pro-GDNF andβ-pro-GDNF)and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of GDNF and its precursors and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease,and to assess their potential as a diagnostic marker.Fifty-three primary outpatients and hospitalized patients with Parkinson’s disease(23 men and 30 women)with an average age of 66.58 years were enrolled from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University of China in this case-control study.The patients were divided into the Parkinson’s disease with cognitive impairment group(n=27)and the Parkinson’s disease with normal cognitive function group(n=26)based on their Mini-Mental State Examination,Montreal Cognitive Assessment,and Clinical Dementia Rating scores.In addition,26 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects were included as the healthy control group.Results demonstrated that serum GDNF levels were significantly higher in the Parkinson’s disease with normal cognitive function group than in the other two groups.There were no significant differences in GDNF precursor levels among the three groups.Correlation analysis revealed that serum GDNF levels,GDNF/α-pro-GDNF ratios,and GDNF/β-pro-GDNF ratios were moderately or highly correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination,Montreal Cognitive Assessment,and Clinical Dementia Rating scores.To explore the risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease,logistic regression analysis and stepwise linear regression analysis were performed.Both GDNF levels and Hoehn-Yahr stage were risk factors for cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease,and were the common influencing factors for cognitive scale scores.Neitherα-pro-GDNF norβ-pro-GDNF was risk factors for cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.A rece
