BACKGROUND On January 22,2020,Macao reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection.By August 2021,the situation had escalated into a crisis of community transmission.In response,the government ...BACKGROUND On January 22,2020,Macao reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection.By August 2021,the situation had escalated into a crisis of community transmission.In response,the government launched a recruitment campaign seeking assistance and services of healthcare workers(HCWs)from the private sector throughout Macao.These participants faced concerns about their own health and that of their families,as well as the responsibility of maintaining public health and wellness.This study aims to determine whether the ongoing epidemic has caused them physical and psychological distress.AIM To examine the influence of COVID-19 on the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs in private institutions in Macao during the pandemic.METHODS Data were collected from December 2020 to January 2022.Two consecutive surveys were conducted.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)scale,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)were employed as investigation tools.RESULTS In the first-stage survey,32%of HCWs experienced a sleep disorder,compared to 28.45%in the second-stage survey.A total of 31.25%of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 28.03%in the second had varying degrees of anxiety.A total of 50.00%of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 50.63%in the second experienced varying degrees of depression.No difference in PSQI scores,SAS scores,or SDS scores were observed between the two surveys,indicating that the COVID-19 epidemic influenced the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs.The negative influence persisted over both periods but did not increase remarkably for more than a year.However,a positive correlation was observed between the PSQI,SAS,and SDS scores(r=0.428-0.775,P<0.01),indicating that when one of these states deteriorated,the other two tended to deteriorate as well.CONCLUSION The sleep quality,anxiety,and depression of HCWs in private institution in Macao were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.While these factors did not deteriorate significantly,the negative effects persisted for a year and remained noteworthy.展开更多
Objective Alzheimer’s disease(AD)has become a significant global concern,but effective drugs able to slow down AD progression is still lacked.Electroacupuncture(EA)has been demonstrated to ameliorate cognitive impair...Objective Alzheimer’s disease(AD)has become a significant global concern,but effective drugs able to slow down AD progression is still lacked.Electroacupuncture(EA)has been demonstrated to ameliorate cognitive impairment in individuals with AD.However,the underlying mechanisms remains poorly understood.This study aimed at examining the neuroprotective properties of EA and its potential mechanism of action against AD.Methods APP/PS1 transgenic mice were employed to evaluate the protective effects of EA on Shenshu(BL 23)and Baihui(GV 20).Chemogenetic manipulation was used to activate or inhibit serotonergic neurons within the dorsal raphe nucleus(DRN).Learning and memory abilities were assessed by the novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests.Golgi staining,western blot,and immunostaining were utilized to determine EA-induced neuroprotection.Results EA at Shenshu(BL 23)and Baihui(GV 20)effectively ameliorated learning and memory impairments in APP/PS1 mice.EA attenuated dendritic spine loss,increased the expression levels of PSD95,synaptophysin,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in hippocampus.Activation of serotonergic neurons within the DRN can ameliorate cognitive deficits in AD by activating glutamatergic neurons mediated by 5-HT1B.Chemogenetic inhibition of serotonergic neurons in the DRN reversed the effects of EA on synaptic plasticity and memory.Conclusion EA can alleviate cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice by activating serotonergic neurons in the DRN.Further study is necessary to better understand how the serotonergic neurons-related neural circuits involves in EA-induced memory improvement in AD.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To compare and observe the effects of three kinds of cephalic acupuncture therapies commonly used in the clinic on promoting nerve function rehabilitation in the brain microenvironment of rats with cerebral ...OBJECTIVE:To compare and observe the effects of three kinds of cephalic acupuncture therapies commonly used in the clinic on promoting nerve function rehabilitation in the brain microenvironment of rats with cerebral palsy.METHODS:A negative control group,positive control group,and three cephalic acupuncture groups based on the administration of three cephalic acupuncture therapies were established.Ten experimental rats were selected from each group at 1,2,and 3 weeks after modeling.Neuromotor function after treatment was rated according to the Basso,Beattie,and Bresnahan method.White matter fiber bundles were evaluated by head diffusion tensor imaging.The expression levels of neuron-specific enolase,microtubule-associated protein 2,and myelin basic protein in the brain tissue extract were detected by Western blot analysis and the activities of ATPases were determined using a fixed phosphorus method.RESULTS:The pathological changes in brain tissue were restored and motor function scores were increased in the mice in each cephalic acupuncture group,and the expression of neuronal growth-related proteins in the brain tissue extract was significantly increased.Additionally,the activities of ATPases in the lesion area were significant enhanced(P<0.05).Diffusion tensor imaging revealed that the white matter fiber bundles of mice in each cephalic acupuncture group gradually increased and recovered.The nervous system structure was significantly improved.CONCLUSIONS:All three acupuncture methods promoted the rehabilitation of nerve function damaged by cerebral palsy.These effects are likely related to the improved expression of nerve growth-related proteins,enhancement of ATPase activities,and regulation of the brain microenvironment.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of scalp acupuncture Yikang therapy on Baihui(GV20),Sishencong(EX-HN1),Zhisanzhen,Niesanzhen,on neurobehavior in young rats with cerebral palsy based on Notch signaling pathway.ME...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of scalp acupuncture Yikang therapy on Baihui(GV20),Sishencong(EX-HN1),Zhisanzhen,Niesanzhen,on neurobehavior in young rats with cerebral palsy based on Notch signaling pathway.METHODS:Thirty 7-day-old rats were randomly divided into sham,model and acupuncture,10 rats in each group.The cerebral palsy model was established by the accepted modeling method,the acupuncture group selected"Baihui(GV20)","Sishencong(EX-HN1)","Zhisanzhen"and"Niesanzhen"for intervention 24 h after the model was made.The body masses were recorded before and after the treatment,respectively.After the intervention,the rats were subjected to suspension experiment,slope experiment,tactile stimulation experiment and Morris water maze experiment.After the end of the experiment,the morphological changes of hippocampal histology were observed by hematoxylineosin(HE)staining under light microscope,and the expression of Notch1,Notch3 and Hes5 were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).RESULTS:The changes in body mass of the rats in each group were different;in behavioral experiments,compared with the sham,the suspension time of the model was shortened,the slope experiment,tactile stimulation experiment,and escape latency time were prolonged,and the number of platform crossing was reduced in the model,compared with the model,the suspension time of the acupuncture was prolonged,the slope experiment,tactile stimulation experiment,and escape latency time were shortened,and the number of platform crossing times was increased;HE staining showed severe hippocampal damage in the model and reduced hippocampal damage in the acupuncture.Western Blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that the expression of Notch1,Notch3 and Hes5 were increased in the model and the expression of Notch1,Notch3,Hes5 in acupuncture were decreased.CONCLUSIONS:Scalp acupuncture Yikang therapy may improve neurobehavior and reduce brain injury in rats with cerebral palsy by downregulating the expression of Notch1,Notch3,and Hes5.展开更多
基金Supported by Specialized Subsidy Scheme for Macao Higher Education Institutions in the Area of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences,No.HSS-MUST-2020-04.
文摘BACKGROUND On January 22,2020,Macao reported its first case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection.By August 2021,the situation had escalated into a crisis of community transmission.In response,the government launched a recruitment campaign seeking assistance and services of healthcare workers(HCWs)from the private sector throughout Macao.These participants faced concerns about their own health and that of their families,as well as the responsibility of maintaining public health and wellness.This study aims to determine whether the ongoing epidemic has caused them physical and psychological distress.AIM To examine the influence of COVID-19 on the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs in private institutions in Macao during the pandemic.METHODS Data were collected from December 2020 to January 2022.Two consecutive surveys were conducted.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)scale,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)were employed as investigation tools.RESULTS In the first-stage survey,32%of HCWs experienced a sleep disorder,compared to 28.45%in the second-stage survey.A total of 31.25%of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 28.03%in the second had varying degrees of anxiety.A total of 50.00%of HCWs in the first-stage survey and 50.63%in the second experienced varying degrees of depression.No difference in PSQI scores,SAS scores,or SDS scores were observed between the two surveys,indicating that the COVID-19 epidemic influenced the sleep quality and psychological status of HCWs.The negative influence persisted over both periods but did not increase remarkably for more than a year.However,a positive correlation was observed between the PSQI,SAS,and SDS scores(r=0.428-0.775,P<0.01),indicating that when one of these states deteriorated,the other two tended to deteriorate as well.CONCLUSION The sleep quality,anxiety,and depression of HCWs in private institution in Macao were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.While these factors did not deteriorate significantly,the negative effects persisted for a year and remained noteworthy.
基金supported by grants from the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.2021-22154)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82205271,No.82374564,and No.82074566)+1 种基金Wuhan Medical Research Project(No.WZ21Q09)Key Chinese Medicine Project of Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.2023AFD112).
文摘Objective Alzheimer’s disease(AD)has become a significant global concern,but effective drugs able to slow down AD progression is still lacked.Electroacupuncture(EA)has been demonstrated to ameliorate cognitive impairment in individuals with AD.However,the underlying mechanisms remains poorly understood.This study aimed at examining the neuroprotective properties of EA and its potential mechanism of action against AD.Methods APP/PS1 transgenic mice were employed to evaluate the protective effects of EA on Shenshu(BL 23)and Baihui(GV 20).Chemogenetic manipulation was used to activate or inhibit serotonergic neurons within the dorsal raphe nucleus(DRN).Learning and memory abilities were assessed by the novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests.Golgi staining,western blot,and immunostaining were utilized to determine EA-induced neuroprotection.Results EA at Shenshu(BL 23)and Baihui(GV 20)effectively ameliorated learning and memory impairments in APP/PS1 mice.EA attenuated dendritic spine loss,increased the expression levels of PSD95,synaptophysin,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in hippocampus.Activation of serotonergic neurons within the DRN can ameliorate cognitive deficits in AD by activating glutamatergic neurons mediated by 5-HT1B.Chemogenetic inhibition of serotonergic neurons in the DRN reversed the effects of EA on synaptic plasticity and memory.Conclusion EA can alleviate cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice by activating serotonergic neurons in the DRN.Further study is necessary to better understand how the serotonergic neurons-related neural circuits involves in EA-induced memory improvement in AD.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China:Study on the Mechanism of Microenvironment in Cerebral Palsy Induced by Scalp Acupuncture based on Metabonomics Technique(No.81560795)Study on the Effect of Electroacupuncture Stimulation of Head Motor area on PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway on Neural Behavior in Neonatal Cerebral Palsy Rats(No.81303035)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To compare and observe the effects of three kinds of cephalic acupuncture therapies commonly used in the clinic on promoting nerve function rehabilitation in the brain microenvironment of rats with cerebral palsy.METHODS:A negative control group,positive control group,and three cephalic acupuncture groups based on the administration of three cephalic acupuncture therapies were established.Ten experimental rats were selected from each group at 1,2,and 3 weeks after modeling.Neuromotor function after treatment was rated according to the Basso,Beattie,and Bresnahan method.White matter fiber bundles were evaluated by head diffusion tensor imaging.The expression levels of neuron-specific enolase,microtubule-associated protein 2,and myelin basic protein in the brain tissue extract were detected by Western blot analysis and the activities of ATPases were determined using a fixed phosphorus method.RESULTS:The pathological changes in brain tissue were restored and motor function scores were increased in the mice in each cephalic acupuncture group,and the expression of neuronal growth-related proteins in the brain tissue extract was significantly increased.Additionally,the activities of ATPases in the lesion area were significant enhanced(P<0.05).Diffusion tensor imaging revealed that the white matter fiber bundles of mice in each cephalic acupuncture group gradually increased and recovered.The nervous system structure was significantly improved.CONCLUSIONS:All three acupuncture methods promoted the rehabilitation of nerve function damaged by cerebral palsy.These effects are likely related to the improved expression of nerve growth-related proteins,enhancement of ATPase activities,and regulation of the brain microenvironment.
基金Supported by Key Projects of Scientific Research in Higher Education Institutions in Hebei Province:Study on the Mechanism of Scalp Acupuncture Yikang Therapy in Cerebral Palsy Rats Based on Notch Signal Pathway(ZD2020144)Doctoral Research Project of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine:Study on the Mechanism of Scalp Acupuncture Yikang Therapy in Cerebral Palsy Rats Based on Notch Signal Pathway(BSZ2020002)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of scalp acupuncture Yikang therapy on Baihui(GV20),Sishencong(EX-HN1),Zhisanzhen,Niesanzhen,on neurobehavior in young rats with cerebral palsy based on Notch signaling pathway.METHODS:Thirty 7-day-old rats were randomly divided into sham,model and acupuncture,10 rats in each group.The cerebral palsy model was established by the accepted modeling method,the acupuncture group selected"Baihui(GV20)","Sishencong(EX-HN1)","Zhisanzhen"and"Niesanzhen"for intervention 24 h after the model was made.The body masses were recorded before and after the treatment,respectively.After the intervention,the rats were subjected to suspension experiment,slope experiment,tactile stimulation experiment and Morris water maze experiment.After the end of the experiment,the morphological changes of hippocampal histology were observed by hematoxylineosin(HE)staining under light microscope,and the expression of Notch1,Notch3 and Hes5 were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).RESULTS:The changes in body mass of the rats in each group were different;in behavioral experiments,compared with the sham,the suspension time of the model was shortened,the slope experiment,tactile stimulation experiment,and escape latency time were prolonged,and the number of platform crossing was reduced in the model,compared with the model,the suspension time of the acupuncture was prolonged,the slope experiment,tactile stimulation experiment,and escape latency time were shortened,and the number of platform crossing times was increased;HE staining showed severe hippocampal damage in the model and reduced hippocampal damage in the acupuncture.Western Blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that the expression of Notch1,Notch3 and Hes5 were increased in the model and the expression of Notch1,Notch3,Hes5 in acupuncture were decreased.CONCLUSIONS:Scalp acupuncture Yikang therapy may improve neurobehavior and reduce brain injury in rats with cerebral palsy by downregulating the expression of Notch1,Notch3,and Hes5.
