张荫麟:自云“素痴”,谁解其味?

张荫麟是民国史上罕见的史学天才,他的未竟之作《中国史纲》,文笔优美,论述流畅,特色鲜明,不仅是历史系学生案头必备之书,也是史学爱好者口口相传的畅销读物。张荫麟37岁就因病去世。他像一颗流星,短暂而耀眼。直到现在,我们依旧能感受到那束炫目的光。

Minocycline attenuates cognitive impairment and restrains oxidative stress in the hippocampus of rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

Objective Nitric oxide （NO） was speculated to play an Minocycline, a tetracycline derivative, reduced inflammation important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. and protected against cerebral ischemia. To study the neuroprotection mechanism of minocycline for vascular dementia, the influences of minocycline on expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS） were observed in the brains of Wistar rats. Methods The vascular dementia rat model was established by permanent bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion （BCCAO）. Wistar rats were divideded into 3 groups randomly： sham-operation group （S group）, vascular dementia model group （M group）, and minocycline treatment group （MT group）. The behaviour was tested with Morris water maze and open-field task. Expressions of iNOS and eNOS were measured by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. The optical density value was measured by imaging analysis. Percentage of positive ceils with iNOS and eNOS expression was analyzed with optical microscope. Results Minocycline attenuated cognitive impairment. Inducible NOS was significantly down-regulated in MT group, compared with that in M group （P 〈 0.01）, while eNOS was significantly up-regulated, compared with that in M group （P 〈 0.01）. The expressions of iNOS and eNOS in M and MT groups were higher than those in S group （P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion Minocycline can down-regulate the expression of iNOS and up-regulate the expression of eNOS in vascular dementia, which restrains apoptosis and oxidative stress to protect neural function.

CLINICAL RESEARCH OF IMPACTS ON PLASMA ENDOTHELIN AND INTELLIGENCE IN MULTI-INFARCT DEMATIA TREATED WITH CLUSTER PRICKING ON HEAD POINTS

Objective To probe into the impacts on the therapeutic effects and endothelin （ET） in multi-infarct dementia （MID） treated with cluster pricking on head points.Methods 60 cases of MID were randomized into acupuncture group and western medicine group,treated with cluster pricking on head points and huperzien A tablet respectively.Plasma ET lever,HDS,ADL and CNFDS （clinical neurological functional defect scoring） were determined before treatment,and the statistical analysis showed that there were no significant difference （P〉0.05）.Results In 8-week treatment,ET level in both groups were decreased,but it was decreased much more obviously in acupuncture group,indicating significant difference in the statistical comparison （P〈0.05）.The scores of HDS and ADL were all up in acupuncture and western medicine groups,but the significant statistical difference was obtained in the comparison between acupuncture group and western medicine group （P〈0.05）.In acupuncture group,the result of CNFDS was much down comparing with that before the treatment,indicating significant difference （P〈0.05）;but in western medicine group,there was no significant difference in CNFDS before and after treatment （P〉0.05）,suggesting that acupuncture reduces CNFDS of MID patient,neither for western medicine.Conclusion Cluster pricking on head points improves the intelligence of MID patient,reduces ET level and grades up HDS and ADL,moreover,it reduces CNFDS of MID patients and releases the symptoms.

Effects of K. Lysolecithin on Blood Levels of Monoamines in Mice

In this research, Lysolecithin-a substance made with 100% natural ingredients - was given to ICR mice as medication to measure its periodic effect on the noradrenalin (NA), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT) levels of the brain. Both ICR and SAM mice were separated into two groups - control group and Lysolecithin (K. Lysolecithin: hydrolytic lysolecithin) medicated group, and given 1-week preparation period. The K. Lysolecithin group was given 500mg/kg of K. Lysolecithin at 0.2mL per dosage for 4 weeks, and the control group was given the same amount of dosage of water during the same period. NA, DA and 5-HT concentrations were measured from the blood before medication and 8 weeks / 12 weeks / 16 weeks after the first medication. For the SAM mice, 8 weeks after they were medicated with K .Lysolecithin, Morris Water Maze Test was conducted for 7 consecutive days and then the concentrations were measured by drawing blood from the heart. The K. Lysolecithin medicated group showed a tendency to have a statistically significant higher concentrations of 5-HT and NA in the blood. Also, periodic examination showed that the monoamine levels were highest in the 12th week and declined thereafter.

Atorvastatin attenuates oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease

Objective： To investigate serum level of SOD, MDA, ox-LDL, AchE and Ach in AD, to study atorvastatin influence on serum level of SOD, MDA, ox-LDL, Ache and Ach in AD and its neuroprotection mechanisms. Methods Subjects were divided into： normal blood lipid level group with Alzheimer＇s disease （A）, higher blood lipid level group with Alzheimer＇s disease （AH）, normal blood lipid level Alzheimer＇s disease group with atorvastatin treeatment （AT）, higher blood lipid level Alzheimer＇s disease group with atorvastatin treeatment（AHT）. Ox-LDL was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; SOD, MDA, ox-LDL, AchE, Ach and blood lipid level in AD was measured by biochemistry. Results： The serum level of MDA, Ache in AH group after atorvastatin treatment is lower ;The serum level of SOD, Ach in AH group is more increased than that of in A group; The serum level of ox-LDL in AH, A groups is lower than that of in A group; The dementia degree is lower after atorvastatin treatment. Conclusion： Atorvastatin can decrease serum level of MDA, AchE and ox-LDL, and increase that of SOD, Ach, and attenuate dementia symptom in AD, especially, with hyperlipemia. The hypothesis of atorvastatin neuroprotection is concluded that atorvastatin may restrain free radical reaction and retard oxidation in AD.

Effect of moxibustion on vascular dementia and neuropeptide substance content in cerebral spinal fluid

Objective To observe the effects of moxibustion therapy on the improvements of clinical symptom scale score and neuropeptide substance in vascular dementia （VD） and investigate a mechanism of moxibustion for VD. Methods Eighty-seven cases of VD were divided randomly into a moxibustion group （43 cases） and a medication group （44 cases）. In moxibustion group, the isolated moxibustion with Typhonium Rhizome was applied to Baihui （百会 GV 20）, and suspended moxibustion was used on Shenting （神庭 GV 24） and Dazhui （大椎 GV 14）. In medication group, Piracetam tablet was taken orally. After 4-session treatment, the scores in Hasegawa＇s Dementia Scale （HDS）, Mini Mental Status Examination （MMSE） and Activity of Daily Living Scale （ADL） as well as the content of active substances, somatostatin （SS） and arginine vasopressin （AVP） in cerebral spinal fluid relevant with learning and memory were compared with those before treatment. Results The total effective rate was 81.4% （35/43） in moxibustion group, which was superior to 63.6% （28/44） in medication group （P〈0.01）. The scores in HDS, MMSE and ADL after treatment were all improved as compared with those before treatment in two groups （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. The improvements of the scores in MMSE and ADL in moxibustion group were superior to those in medication group （both P〈0.05）. After treatment, SS and AVP content in cerebral spinal fluid increased remarkably as compared with those before treatment in two groups （both P〈0.01）, and SS and AVP levels after treatment in moxibustion group were improved significantly as compared with those in medication group （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Conclusion Moxibustion therapy is superior to oral administration of Piracetam tablet no matter in the improvement of symptom scores or in the regulation of neuropeptide substances relevant with learning and memory, which deserves to be promoted in application.

Effect of Sancaijiangtang on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia:a single-blind randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Sancaijiangtang powders on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels. We sought to identify the common pathological link and mechanism of action for Traditional Chinese medicine in type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia,and to explicate the material basis for treating the different diseases with the same method in Traditional Chinese Medicine.METHODS: In total,168 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia were enrolled in the study,and randomly divided into two groups by simple randomization. Patients in the treatment group received oral Sancaijiangtang powders with pioglitazone hydrochloride three times daily,while patients in the control group received pioglitazone hydrochloride alone. The treatment course was for12 weeks. Mini-mental state examinations(Chinese version) and Montreal Cognitive Assessments(Beijing version) were performed,and fasting plasma glucose,fasting insulin,hemoglobin A1 c,homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance,plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels were measured before and after the treatment.RESULTS: The post-treatment levels for all measurements in both groups were better than pre-treatment levels(P < 0.05). The post-treatment levels for all measurements in the treatment group were better than the levels measured in the control group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia have common pathological mechanisms for insulin resistance and endothelium dysfunction. Sancaijiangtang powders could improve the release of nitric oxide and inhibit the secretion of endothelin-1. Therefore,the material basis exists for treating the different diseases with the same method in Traditional Chinese Medicine.