Influence of folic acid and vitamin B12 combined therapy on plasma Hcy, inflammatory factor levels and blood vessels endothelial function in patients with vascular dementia and type H hypertension

Objective:To investigate influence of folic acid and vitamin B12 combined therapy on plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level, blood vessels endothelial function and inflammatory factors in patients with vascular dementia and type H hypertension.Methods:100 cases of patients with vascular dementia and type H hypertension accorded with the inclusion criteria were selected as research objects. They were randomly divided as the control group and the therapeutic group, 50 cases each. For control group, Enalapril tablets were administered by mouth for treatment. For therapeutic group, folic acid and vitamin B12 treatment were provided on the basis of treatment for control group. Treatments were continued for 12 weeks. Plasma Hcy levels, inflammatory factors [(interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and hypersensitive C reaction protein (hs-CRP)], blood vessels endothelial function indexes variation in patients before and after treatment were observed and detected.Results:Plasma Hcy, IL-6, IL-8 and hs-CRP levels in two groups of patients after treatment were significantly decreased comparing with the same group before treatment, and the above index levels in therapeutic group after treatment were significantly lower than control group (P<0.05);For comparison of blood vessels endothelial function indexes in the patients, NO levels in two groups after treatment were increased in various degrees, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were decreased. The differences between levels of the two indexes in therapeutic group before and after treatment were significant, and levels after treatment in therapeutic group were significantly better than in control group (P<0.05). While variations of the differences in control group before and after treatment were not significant (P>0.05);After treatment, diastolic pressure and systolic pressure in the two groups of patients were significantly improved comparing with before treatment (P<0.05). However, after treatment, the differences of levels between therapeutic group and control group were not significant (P>0.05). MMSE score in therapeutic group after treatment was significantly higher than before treatment, and significantly higher than in control group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Combined therapy of folic acid and vitamin B12 for treating vascular dementia with type H hypertension could effectively decrease plasma Hcy and inflammatory factor levels, and improve blood vessels endothelial function and dementia degree on patients. It has certain clinical value which deserves to be promoted.

Locomotor kinematics of the gecko(Tokay gecko) upon challenge with various inclines

Tokay geckos are skillful climbers and are able to negotiate difficult terrain such as steep slopes and overhanging inclines without losing their foothold. Here,we present data on the changes in locomotor kinematics when geckos are challenged to walk on various inclined surfaces. We trained individual geckos to move along a platform which can be tilted to simulate different slopes.The animals were filmed using a high-speed video camera.The results showed that their speed decreased with increasing slope angle, and their speed on the steep and inverted slopes(sloped angle >60°) decreased at a faster rate than on the shallow slopes(sloped angle<60°). The geckos' stride length was much greater on the shallow slopes compared to the inverted slopes. The influence of stride length and stride frequency on speed was different when the geckos moved across different slopes. There are significant differences duty factor, which varied from 0.54 when wall climbing(90° slope) to 0.84 when walking on the ceiling(180° slope). The mechanisms revealed this study will improve our understanding of control strategies in kinematics and inspire the design of robots with greater mobility.