Objective To explore the effect of total glucosides of Cistanche deserticola on oxidative stress and cognitive function in rats with intermittent hypoxia. Methods Adult male Wistar rats (n=72) were randomly divided into three groups: a blank control group, a 5% intermittent hypoxia group (IH group) and a total glucosides of Cistanche deserticola intervention group (TGs intervention group). The 5% intermittent hypoxia rat model was simulated by using the self-made cabin of intermittent hypoxia. The rats in the IH group and the TGs intervention group were given 5% intermittent hypoxia respectively, and the rats in the TGs intervention group were treated with total glucosides of Cistanche deserticola simultaneously. Learning and memory function was tested by Morris water maze in three groups at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week respectively. The expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in hippocampus were detected by test kit. Results Compared with the blank control group, the escape latency time of the rats in the IH group and the TGs intervention group was significantly prolonged at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week respectively (P<0.05). The time to cross the target quadrant in the IH group and the TGs intervention group was gradually shortened at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the IH group, the escape latency gradually shortened at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week in the TGs intervention group (P<0.05), while the time to cross the target quadrant was gradually prolonged at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week (P<0.05). The expressions of MDA in hippocampal tissue in the IH group and the TGs intervention group increased at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week (P<0.05), which were significantly higher than those in the blank control group; and the expressions of SOD at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th week were all lower than those in the blank control group(P<0.05). Compared with the IH group, the expression of MDA protein in hippocampal tissue in the TGs intervention group decreased at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week, while the expression of SOD protein at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The total glycosides of Cistanche deserticola can improve the learning and memory function of intermittent hypoxia rats by inhibiting oxidative stress.
Objective To explore the correlation of protein and mRNA levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) with cognitive function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with or without hypoxemia, in order to identify the serum indexes of early cognitive impairment in patients with COPD, and investigate the effect of hypoxemia on cognitive impairment. Methods Sixty-two COPD patients admitted in the respiratory department of Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology from January 2013 to January 2017 were included in the study. The COPD patients were divided into a hypoxemia group (25 cases) and a non-hypoxemia group (37 cases) according to blood gas analysis. Meanwhile 30 healthy subjects were recruited as control. ELISA was used to measure the concentration of serum MCP-1 and SAA in all subjects, and RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of MCP-1 and SAA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA scale) was used to determine cognitive function. The expression levels of MCP-1 and SAA were compared between three groups, and the correlations with cognitive dysfunction were analyzed. Results The expression levels of serum MCP-1 and SAA had the same trend as those of MCP-1 mRNA and SAA mRNA in peripheral blood in the COPD patients. The protein and mRNA levels of MCP-1 and SAA were higher than those in the healthy control group (all P<0.05). The COPD hypoxemia group and the COPD non-hypoxemia group were lower than the control group in MoCA score, and the MoCA score of the COPD hypoxemia group decreased more obviously (allP<0.05). The protein and mRNA levels of SAA and MCP-1 were negatively correlated with MoCA score (allP<0.05). Conclusion The protein and mRNA levels of MCP-1 and SAA in peripheral blood increase in COPD patients, and hypoxemia may be involved in cognitive dysfunction in COPD patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in lung tissue of chronic intermittent hypoxia rats, and explore the intervention effect of edaravone and its possible mechanism.MethodsA total of 120 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a normal control group (UC group), a chronic intermittent hypoxia group (CIH group), an edaravone intervention group (NE group), and a normal saline group (NS group). The above four groups were also randomly divided into five time subgroups of 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days, respectively, with 6 rats in each time subgroup. The histopathological changes of lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and the expression of CHOP in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method.ResultsHE staining results showed that there was no obvious pathological change in UC group. The epithelial cells of lung tissue in CIH group showed edema, hyperemia, widening of alveolar septum and inflammatory cell infiltration. The pathological injury was more serious with the prolongation of intermittent hypoxia time. There were also pathological changes in NE group, but the degree of lung tissue injury was significantly lower than that in CIH group. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of CHOP in CIH group was significantly higher than that in UC group. The expression of CHOP in NE group was higher than that in UC group, but it was still significantly lower than that in CIH group.ConclusionsThe expression of CHOP protein in lung tissue of chronic intermittent hypoxic rats is enhanced and the high expression of CHOP protein plays a certain role in the lung injury of chronic intermittent hypoxia rats complicated with lung injury. Edaravone may protect lung tissue from chronic intermittent hypoxia by inhibiting the expression of CHOP.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and clinical significance of edaravone on serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).MethodsA total of 90 elderly patients with moderate to severe OSAHS confirmed by polysomnography were recruited from North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital in February 2016 to October 2017. According to random number table method the OSAHS patients were randomly divided into group A (n=30), group B (n=30) and group C (n=30). Group A received continuous positive airway pressure treatment for six months, group B received edaravone therapy and continuous positive airway pressure treatment for six months, and group C only received edaravone therapy for six months. The changes of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and ICAM-1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and after treatment.ResultsThe differences of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and ICAM-1 before treatment in the three groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with before treatment, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and ICAM-1 decreased in the three groups (P<0.05). After six months of treatment, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and ICAM-1 decreased in group A and group B compared with group C (P<0.05), and decreased significantly in group B compared with group A (P<0.05).ConclusionEdaravone can inhibit the expressions of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and ICAM-1 in elderly patients with moderate to severe OSAHS, and thereby reduce vascular endothelial dysfunction and injury.