Correlation of changes in serum S100β, NSE and inflammatory factor levels with MMSE and MoCA in intracranial tumor patients with cognitive impairment

Effects of radiofrequency field from 5G communications on the spatial memory and emotionality in mice

The rapid development of 5G network technology has gained much popularity as well as concerns about its adverse effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of 4.9 GHz (one of working frequencies of 5G communication) radiofrequency (RF) field on emotional behaviours and spatial memory in adult male mice. Open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST) and Y maze were used to evaluate anxiety, depression-like behaviour and spatial memory ability, respectively. It was found that the anxiety-like behaviour and spatial memory ability of mice did not change, but the depression-like behaviour was induced in mice after 4.9 GHz RF exposure. In addition, the number of neurons significantly reduced and the level of pyroptosis obviously increased in amygdala rather than hippocampus. These results suggested that 4.9 GHz RF exposure could induce depression-like behaviour, which might be associated with the neuronal pyroptosis in amygdala.

Effect of acute hypervolemic hemodilution with bicarbonated Ringer's solution on perioperative S100β and NSE in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery

To explore the effect of acute hypervolemic hemodilution (AHH) with bicarbonated Ringer's solution (BRS) on perioperative serum S100β protein (S100β) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery. Ninety patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis and fracture surgery admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to August 2022 were selected as the study subjects, and they were randomly and equally divided into group H1 (AHH with BRS), group H2 (AHH with lactated Ringer's solution) and group C (no hemodilution). The serum contents of S100β and NSE of the three groups at different times were evaluated. There were significant differences in the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) among the three groups at T1 and T2 (P < 0.05). There were obvious differences in the contents of S100β and NSE among the three groups at T1 and T2 (P < 0.001), with no overt difference in the incidence of perioperative complications among the three groups (P > 0.05). The use of AHH with BRS can effectively reduce the effect on cognitive function in the elderly with spine surgery, which greatly reduces the nervous system injury, and has certain application value in clinic.

Predicative factors and development of a nomogram for postoperative delayed neurocognitive recovery in elderly patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Delayed neurocognitive recovery (DNR) is a common complication after radical gastrectomy and closely associated with poor outcomes. This study aimed to investigate predictors and develop a nomogram prediction model for DNR.

METHODS

Elderly gastric cancer (GC) patients (≥ 65 years) undergoing elective laparoscopic radical gastrectomy between 2018 and 2022 were prospectively included in this study. DNR was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V, 2013). Independent risk factors for DNR were screened by the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Based on these factors, the nomogram model was established and validated by R.

RESULTS

A total of 312 elderly GC patients were enrolled in the training set, with an incidence of DNR within postoperative 1 month of 23.4% (73/312). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age (OR: 1.207, 95%CI: 1.113-1.309, P < 0.001), nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) score (OR: 1.716, 95%CI: 1.211-2.433, P = 0.002), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (OR: 1.976, 95%CI: 1.099-3.552, P = 0.023), albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) (OR: 0.774, 95%CI: 0.620-0.966, P = 0.024), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (OR: 0.768, 95%CI: 0.706-0.835, P < 0.001) were five independent factors for DNR in elderly GC patients. The constructed nomogram model based on these five factors has a good predictive value for DNR with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.863.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusions, the established nomogram model based on age, NRS-2002, NLR, AFR, and PNI has a well predictive value for postoperative DNR in elderly GC patients.

Effect of TEAS combined with general anesthesia on early postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing single-port thoracoscopic lobectomy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on early cognitive function in elderly patients after single port thoracoscopic lobectomy.

METHODS

One hundred and nine patients who underwent single whole thoracoscopic lobectomy in Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to October 2021 were included in this single-center, retrospective observational study. According to the treatment records, before anesthesia, 56 patients received TEAS (TEAS-group), and 53 patients applied electrodes at the same acupoint without electrical stimulation (control-group). Preoperative and postoperative cognitive function (Mini mental state examination, MMSE score), serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), S100β protein and p-tau protein levels and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

After operation, the MMSE of the TEAS-group was significantly better than that of the Control-group, with the MMSE of the TEAS-group returned to the preoperative level 72 hours after operation. Serum NSE, S100β and p-tau concentrations 24 hours and 72 hours after operation in the TEAS-group returned to their preoperative level and were significantly lower than those in the control-group. Hospitalization time of the TEAS-group was significantly shorter and hospitalization expenses were significantly lower comparing to the control-group.

CONCLUSION

TEAS treatment could promote improved early postoperative cognitive function of elderly patients undergoing single port thoracoscopic lobectomy and could accelerate the recovery.

Modified Cangfu Daotan decoction ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance via NF-κB/LCN-2 signaling pathway in inflammatory microenvironment

This study explored the possible connection between the insulin resistance-targeting protein adipokine lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) and NF-κB signaling pathway in the inflammatory microenvironment in PCOS-IR model rats to determine the pharmacological mechanism of modified Cangfu Daotan decoction (MCDD) intervention for PCOS-IR. We used a high-fat diet (42 days) combined with letrozole (1 mg/kg/day, 42 days) to establish a PCOS-IR rat model. From the third week after modeling, the rats were given continuous administration of MCDD (high dose with 31.68 g/kg, medium dose with 15.84 g/kg, and low dose with 7.92 g/kg) for 28 days. Serum, ovarian tissue, liver, and adipose tissue were collected after the last gavage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blot experiments were performed to detect various indicators. Our results showed that MCDD could reduce body weight and abdominal fat weight; restore normal estrous cycle and ovarian function; alleviate fatty liver; regulate HOMA-IR and OGTT index; reduce serum inflammatory factor levels, LCN-2 level, and gene expression; and regulate the insulin signal transduction and NF-κB pathways in PCOS-IR rats. Thus, MCDD may play a role in improving ovarian function in PCOS-IR rats by downregulating NF-κB/LCN-2 proteins and upregulating the gene expression of Insr/Irs-1/Glut4 in the insulin signaling pathway in the inflammatory environment.

Significance of serum neuron-specific enolase in transient global amnesia

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a glycolytic enzyme, which is associated with neuronal cell dysfunction in the brain. This study evaluated the role of serum NSE levels of patients with transient global amnesia (TGA). In addition, the relationship between serum NSE levels and the clinical features of TGA was explored. Forty-eight patients with TGA were prospectively included, and their serum NSE levels were measured. We investigated serum NSE levels in patients with TGA. In addition, we analyzed the differences in clinical characteristics between patients with elevated and normal serum NSE levels. Of the 48 patients with TGA, 16 patients (33.3%) had elevated serum NSE levels (25.0 ± 11.5 ng/mL), whereas 32 patients (66.7%) showed normal serum NSE levels (12.8 ± 2.1 ng/mL). The patients with elevated serum NSE levels exhibited higher levels of cognitive impairment than those with normal serum NSE levels (4/16 vs. 1/32, p = 0.036). The serum NSE levels showed a relatively high discrimination (AUC 0.684) between patients with and without cognitive impairment, with 80.0% sensitivity and 74.4% specificity at a cut-off value 17.3 ng/mL. A third of all patients with TGA carry elevated serum NSE levels, which suggests that the neuronal cell dysfunction could be associated with TGA pathogenesis. In addition, it might be correlated with cognitive impairment.