Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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BACKGROUND Activation of AKT pathway attenuates brain damage and neuronal apoptosis during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. SC79 is a novel, selective and highly-efficient Akt activator. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of SC79 against cerebral I/R injury in a rat model, and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. ⋯ Furthermore, SC79 treatment alone attenuated apoptotic neuronal cell death, but abolished this effect in SC79 in combination with LY294002 treated groups. CONCLUSIONS SC79 significantly increased Akt activation and reduced infarct volume and subsequently improved neurological function in ischemic brain after cerebral I/R injury in rats. These findings suggested that SC79 may be as a neuroprotective drug to be potentially used in the clinic.
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BACKGROUND Physical changes due to aging lead to weakening of respiratory muscles and decreased lung functions that result in increasing risk of chronic respiratory disease. A complex respiratory rehabilitation program is needed to prevent respiratory diseases and improve lung functions and quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of respiratory training programs on pulmonary functions, cardiovascular endurance, and quality of life in elderly women. ⋯ MVV, MBS, and LSS were not significantly different between the 2 groups (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that the long-term respiration training program has positive effects on pulmonary functions, cardiopulmonary endurance, and quality of life. Various respiratory training programs and long-term implementations are needed to prevent respiratory illness and to improve lung functions and quality of life of respiratory patients.
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BACKGROUND Refractory abdominal pain during menstruation severely affects patients' quality of life and simultaneously places enormous psychological burdens on patients and their families. Several treatments for secondary dysmenorrhea are available; however, none can permanently treat all types of secondary dysmenorrhea. Since pain is transmitted by the nerves, we hypothesized that a neurolytic block could be used as a treatment for refractory abdominal pain during menstruation. ⋯ RESULTS The degrees of pain were significantly (p<0.05) decreased after neurolytic block (from 7.74±1.14 to 2.96±1.55). The patients showed significantly (p<0.05) less anxiety and improved bodily pain with mental health status. CONCLUSIONS Secondary dysmenorrhea can be effectively and safely treated with a neurolytic block of the superior hypogastric plexus.
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BACKGROUND Integrated pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may prevent acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness, before and 12 months after, the use of an integrated PR program in patients discharged from hospital for AECOPD. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective observational clinical study included patients diagnosed with COPD who participated in a domiciliary integrated PR program that included a weekly phone interview supervised by a respiratory team. ⋯ RESULTS Of the 303 eligible patients, 267 patients (88.1%), with a mean age of 64.9±8.7 years, a mean FEV1 percentage predicted of 48.8±12.9%, successfully completed the 12-month study program and achieved a significant improvement in their clinical performance with a significantly reduced frequency of episodes of EACOPD (3.1±1.7 vs. 2.0±1.4) (p<0.001), a significant reduction in emergency department visits (2.5±1.5 vs. 1.2±1.1) (p<0.001), and significantly reduced episodes of hospitalization (2.0±1.2 vs. 1.4±1.2) (p<0.001). Significant patient benefits were found during the 12-month study, on CAT, mMRC, and patient well-being when compared with the end of the study after 12 months (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS A multidisciplinary integrated PR program maintained a significant clinical improvement, in patients with COPD by reducing episodes of AECOPD, CAT, mMRC, emergency hospital admissions, and improved patient well-being, for the duration of the program.
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BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to use a rat model of femoral fracture healing to study the effects of curcumin on cell autophagy, compared with treatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an inhibitor of autophagy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats with right mid-femoral fracture were divided into three groups: the curcumin-treated group (N=12) (gavage with curcumin 400 mg/kg/day); the curcumin + 3-MA-treated group (gavage with curcumin 400 mg/kg/day + 3-MA 30 mg/kg/day); and the control group (N=12) (gavage normal saline). Each group underwent femoral bone imaging using anteroposterior X-ray and micro-computed tomography (CT) at two weeks and six weeks following bone fracture. ⋯ Imaging and histology showed that curcumin promoted the fracture healing in rats, which was reduced by treatment with 3-MA. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot showed that curcumin treatment increased the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3-II, which were reduced by treatment with the autophagy inhibitor, 3-MA. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study, in a rat model of femoral bone fracture healing, showed that curcumin promoted bone healing and autophagy, which were reduced by treatment with 3-MA, a known inhibitor of autophagy.