Associations of Physiological State, Cognitive Function, Sensory Function, and Biochemical Index with Frailty Status Among Patients with Schizophrenia

The literature on the prevalence and effect of the frailty status of patients with schizophrenia is limited. The interactions between frailty and psychiatric disorders warrant exploration. This study primarily aimed to explore the associations of physiological state, cognitive function, sensory function, and biochemical index with frailty status among patients with schizophrenia. A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Patients with schizophrenia were selected using purposive sampling. Frailty was revealed to be more prevalent with lower educational attainment, more hospitalization days, higher skeletal muscle percentage, higher basal metabolic rate, having fallen in the past year, use of anxiolytics or tranquilizers and sleeping pills, lower cognitive function, and use of assistive equipment. In addition, physiological state, cognitive function, and sensory function differed depending on the incidence of frailty among patients with schizophrenia. Cognitive function and the reduction of frailty incidence should be emphasized. Institutional nursing staff should regularly assess patients’ frailty risk, pay attention to changes in patients’ physiological state, monitor the cognitive function of patients, and recommend physical therapy and exercises to improve the strength, conditioning, and mobility of patients with schizophrenia for health maintenance and positive aging.

A traditional Chinese Medicine Proves the Treatment of Endometrial Hyperplasia Via Regulating the HPO Axis in Rats

Background: Dysfunctional uterine bleeding, accompanied by endometrial hyperplasia, is a common gynecological disease regulated by multiple hormones, which seriously affects female physical and mental health. Some drugs have been prompted to cure the disease, but most drugs have certain side effects and limitations. Nonetheless, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could provide a novel perspective for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia and related complications. Methods: The active components from Saururus chinensis, Celosia cristata and Spatholobus suberectus (Referred to as SCS) were determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. An acute high-dose SCS test was performed to evaluate the toxicity of SCS. The serum samples were used to identify the alterations involved in the biochemical index and concentration of four key hormones related to the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis. In addition, the expression of two essential genes regulated by the HPO axis was determined by the RT-qPCR method.Results: In the present study, we identified the active components (e.g., sauchinone and formononetin) from the Chinese herbs via TLC and HPLC methods. In addition, the results from the serum biochemical index and histologic section found that acute high-dose SCS exerted no adverse impacts on the rats. We then illustrated that SCS could shorten hemostatic, coagulation time and degree of swelling on rats. Furthermore, SCS decreased the value of erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and hematocrit in serum. Further studies were conducted to provide direct evidence that the recovery of endometrial hyperplasia was associated with the modulation of four hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol and progesterone). Besides, SCS altered mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 on the uterine endometrium, thereby promoting the repair of proliferating endometrium in the rats. Conclusion: Collectively, we demonstrated that an unexploited Chinese traditional medicine, a combination of S. chinensis, C. cristata and S. suberectus, could be used for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia and associated complications in the rats, and uncovers the mechanism at molecular and gene expression levels.

Effect of Shengmaisan on expression of blood and blood biochemical index and heat shock protein 72 in flying-saucer-shooter trained under high temperature

目的 研究加味生脉散对飞碟运动员高温训练前后外周血中热休克蛋白72（HSP72）的表达和血液生化的影响，为防热疾病药物增强飞碟运动员热耐力、预防热疾病提供实验依据。方法 选取浙江省飞碟运动员24人，采用随机数字表方法分为对照组、中药组两组，每组12人。其中，未饮用加味生脉散者为对照组，饮用加味生脉散者为中药组。在夏训期间，进行高温训练任务2周，中药组飞碟运动员每日上、下午训练前饮用加味生脉散，实验前及2周后分别抽取每组外周静脉血，分别进行淋巴细胞HSP72含量、血液常规及生化指标测定。结果 实验前，经测定，对照组、中药组的血液常规、生化检测值、HSP72表达均无异常，经比较，无显著差异（P> 0.05）。高温训练结束后，中药组的HSP72表达显著高于训练前及对照组（P< 0.05），白细胞计数实验前后存在显著差异（P< 0.05）。结论 服用加味生脉散能显著提高飞碟运动员受热刺激后HSP72表达的上调，达到增强热耐受性、预防热疾病的作用。