Combined measurement of thyroid and plasma homocysteic acid for detecting the severity of vascular dementia

BACKGROUND: Recent researches demonstrate that onset of cerebral infarction always accompanies with obvious changes of function of thyroid axis; while, high-homocysteic acidemia has been proved as one of risk factors of vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease. Meanwhile, it is found that level of plasma homocysteic acid is positive correlation with injured degrees of cognitive function and brain damage. OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of function of thyroid and level of homocysteic acid among patients with vascular dementia and compare with those patients without dementia cerebral infarction. DESIGN: Randomized grouping and contrast observation. SETTING: Department of Neurology, People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yunyang Medical College, South China Hospital of Wuhan University. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 38 patients with vascular dementia were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yunyang Medical College from February 2004 to December 2005. All patients met the diagnostic criteria of the Fourth Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV) established by American Psychiatric Association. Based on educational degrees, Mini-mental Status Examination (MMSE) was classified into illiteracy (≤ 17 points), education of primary school (educational duration ≤ 6 years, ≤ 24 points) and education of middle school or above (educational duration > 6 years, ≤ 24 points). Forty patients with non-dementia cerebral infarction were regarded as the control group and checked with CT examination. There were no significant differences of sex and age between the two groups. All patients and relatives were provided the consent. METHODS: Within 24 hours after hospitalization, patients with vascular dementia received MMSE scores, and the degrees were classified based on the scoring results: mild (20-24 points), moderate (10-19 points) and severe (below 10 points). Levels of thyroxine were measured with radioimmunodetection and content of homocysteic acid was measured with high performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC) electrochemical detection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Levels of homocysteic acid and thyroxine among patients with vascular dementia and non-dementia cerebral infarction. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients with vascular dementia and 40 patients with non-dementia cerebral infarction were involved in the final analysis. ① Levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and free T3 (FT3) were (0.9±0.4) μg/L, (92.9±26.4) μg/L and (3.9±1.8) pmol/L in vascular dementia group respectively, which were higher than those in control group [(1.3±0.3) μg/L, (110.2±28.7) μg/L, (7.2±2.1) pmol/L, t =2.766 6-7.433 6, P < 0.01]; while, level of homocysteic acid was (29.57±7.12) μmol/L in vascular dementia group, which was higher than that in control group [(24.53±4.98) μmol/L, t =3.637 7, P < 0.01]. There were no significant differences of free T4 (FT4) and thyrotropic-stimulating hormone (TSH) between the two groups (P > 0.05). ② Levels of FT3 of patients with mild, moderate and severe vascular dementia were (1.0±0.2), (0.9±0.1) and (0.8±0.1) μg/L, respectively; levels of homocysteic acid were (26.52±4.84), (29.59±5.56) and (32.71±6.17) μmol/L, respectively. There were significant differences among patients at the three degrees of vascular dementia (F =3.59-32.4, P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences of T4, FT4 and TSH among the three kinds of patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Levels of thyroxine of patients with vascular dementia decrease; however, levels of homocysteic acid increase. Therefore, the results can indirectly reflect severities of vascular dementia.

Amino Acid Analysis of Astragalus Membranaceus (Fisch.)Bge

Amino acid composition of Astragalus Membranaceus Bge(AMB)was analysed by automatic analyzer.The results showed that the amount of combined amino acids was 8.05%of total weight,the free amino acids was 0.38%and the whole amino acids was 8.43%.AMB contains all of the essential amino acids except Trp xysshhant.Besides the therapy effect,the AMB has significant nutrient effect.

An Evaluation of Genotoxicity and Cytotoxicity of Melamine in Combination with Cyanuric Acid at Three Mass Ratios

Melamine in combination with cyanuric acid has been considered to be more toxic than either melamine or cyanuric acid alone. The objective of this study was designed to evaluate the combined genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of melamine （M） and cyanuric acid （C） at three mass ratios （1：1, 1：2, 2：1）. MC （1：1）, MC （1：2）, and MC （2：1） were evaluated for their potential genotoxic risk, at gene level by Ames test, and at chromosomal level by micronucleus test. In order to evaluate cytotoxicity in HEK-293 cells, the MTT assay was included. Western blot was also employed to investigate the renal injury molecule-1 （Kim-1） expression in HEK-293 cells exposed to MC. Neither genotoxicity at gene level nor at chromosomal level was observed for MC （1：1）, MC （1：2）, and MC （2：1）. Based on MTT assay, three ratios of MC at 82.5 and 165 μg/mL slightly inhibited viability of HEK-293 cells （P〈0.05）. MC （1：1） at 41.25 and 82.50 IJg/mL could elevate the Kim-1 expression in HEK-293 cells.

Helicobacter pylori eradication combined with folic acid in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis: a long-term follow-up study

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological outcome of gastric mucosa lesions in chronic atrophic gastritis treated with Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)eradication combined with folic acid(three months treatments).Methods From December 2009 to December2010,outpatients with chronic atrophic gastritis were selected and divided into H.pylori positive group and H.

Analysis of the linkage positions and isomers of monosaccharide units in oligosaccharides by negative secondary ion mass spectrometry in combination with the stereoselective reaction with substituted boronic acid

The negative secondary ion mass spectrometry,in combination with the stereoselective derivatizations with substituted boronic acid RB(OH)_2,was used in the analysis of fourteen oligosac- charides.The mass spectra of the derivatives provide information on their linkage Positions and iso- merism of the individual monoscaccharide units.The results indicated that among the derivatives of the oligosaccharides analyzed,those with 1—4 and 1—6 linkages all presented the ion peaks at m/z 287,sometimes one more peak at m/z 449.Furthermore,a relationship was found between the linkage positions and the intensity orders of the derivative ions.Finally,the derivatives of the disaccharides with a galactose presented an intense ion peak at m/z 347,and those of oligosaccharides with 1—6 linkage to a galactose at terminal presented the ion at m/z 317.In the case of oligosaccharides with a fructose residue,characteristic ion of m/z 155 was produced.The conditions of stereoselective derivatizations and mass spectrometry were studied,in order to obtain a better reproducibility of the mass spectra.