Yizhi Xingnao prescription improves the cognitive function of patients after a transient ischemic attack

Patients with mild cognitive impairment after a transient ischemic attack were included in this study. They were treated with Yizhi Xingnao prescription, ergoloid mesylates or aspirin for 60 days. Evaluation using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale showed that cognitive function was significantly improved in all patients, especially after the combined treatment of Yizhi Xingnao and aspirin. The scores from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale were improved overall and the effective treatment rate was as high as 79%, which was higher than patients treated with a combination of ergoloid mesylates and aspirin, or aspirin alone. Our experimental findings indicate that YizhiXingnao prescription can improve mild cognitive impairment after a transient ischemic attack, and that it is more effective than ergoloid mesylates.

Evaluation of retinal and choroidal changes in patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia using optical coherence tomography angiography

AIM:To evaluate the changes in fundus parameters in patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia(ATD)using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),to record flash electroretinograms(ERG)using the RETeval system and to explore changes in retinal function.METHODS:Twenty-nine patients with ATD and 26 age-matched normal subjects were enrolled.All subjects underwent OCTA scans to analyse the superficial retinal vessel parameters in the macular area,including the vessel length density,the vessel perfusion density and the area of foveal avascular zone(FAZ),as well as the choroidal thickness.The differences between the patients with ATD and the normal control group were compared and explored the relevant factors affecting vessel parameters.We also recorded the flash ERGs using the RETeval system and intended to explore changes in retinal function by analysing the ERG image amplitude in patients with ATD.RESULTS:The vessel parameters[Pvessel length density=0.005 and Pvessel perfusion density=0.006]and average choroid thickness(P<0.001)in the macular area of the ATD group was less than the control group.The FAZ area was statistically significantly enlarged in the ATD group(P<0.001).These parameters were correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)score and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA).CONCLUSION:Patients with ATD exhibit decreases in the parameters associated with fundus.In addition,these indicators significantly correlate with the MMSE score and the MoCA score.OCTA may be an adjunct tool with strong potential to track changes in the diagnosis and monitoring the progression of the disease.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of CAHS among renal transplant recipients

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to assess the applicability of the Chinese version of Cognitive Appraisal of Health Scale(CAHS)for renal transplant recipients,and to make a preliminary evaluation of its reliability and validity.Methods:A total of 147 renal transplant recipients who attended a transplant follow-up clinic in a Level 3,Grade A hospital in Beijing were asked to complete the Chinese version of CAHS.Following completion the reliability and validity of the scale were tested.Results:The Cronbach alpha coefficient of Chinese version of CAHS among subscales of threat,harm,challenge and benign-irrelevant were 0.857,0.806,0.680,0.100 respectively;and the test-retest reliability coefficient were 0.791,0.601,0.624,0.470(p<0.01).Spearman correlation was used to test the four subscales'correlation between the item score and the total score,in which threat was 0.598e0.748,challenge was 0.517e0.651,harm was 0.528 e0.735 and benign-irrelevant was 0.507e0.651.These correlations were all statistically significant.The four common factors were extracted using factor analysis.The four factors accounted for 50.356%of the total variance.The SF-36 Physical Component Summary(PCS)and Mental Component Summary(MCS)scores were correlated with each subscale score in CAHS.Threat was weakly correlated to PCS,and was moderately correlated to MCS;harm was moderately correlated to both PCS and MCS;challenge was weakly correlated to both PCS and MCS and benign-irrelevant did not correlate with neither PCS nor MCS.The Chinese version of CAHS has been shown to have good discriminate and convergent validity.Conclusion:The Chinese version of the CAHS was supported to be applicable and to provide measurable performance in renal transplant recipients,thus it can be utilized with renal transplant recipients in China.