Objectives This study aims to examine the possible association between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with post-stroke epilepsy. Methods Patients with post-stroke epilepsy admitted to Western China Hospital from January 2010 to June 2016 were consecutively enrolled in our study. CRP levels were assessed within one week of stroke onset, and then correlated with cognitive status assessed two years after stroke using the Six-Item Screener. Results Among the 96 patients with post-stroke epilepsy who included in our study, 24 patients were found to have cognitive impairment during the two years follow-up period. Our data showed a significant association between CRP levels and cognitive performance in these patients (31.5±36.2 vs. 11.9±19.4, P=0.029). In addition, this association persisted even after adjusting for potential confounders［OR=1.021, 95%CI (0.997, 1.206), P=0.037］. Conclusions Following ischemic stroke, higher CRP levels is associated with subsequent cognitive decline in patients with epilepsy. Association and prospective studies in larger sample size are needed in order to validate our findings, especially studies in which baseline CRP level and CRP level during follow-up are closely monitored.
White matter lesion (WML) of presumed vascular origin is one of the common imaging manifestations of cerebral small vessel diseases, which is the main reason of cognitive impairment and even vascular dementia in the elderly. However, there is a lack of early and effective diagnostic methods currently. In recent years, studies of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) have shown that cognitive impairment in patients with WMLs is associated with disrupted white matter microstructural and brain network connectivity. Therefore, it’s speculated that DTI and rs-fMRI can be effective in early imaging diagnosis of WMLs-related cognitive impairment. This article reviews the role and significance of DTI and rs-fMRI in WMLs-related cognitive impairment.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy of telephone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia. MethodsDatabases including PubMed, EMbase, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library (Issue 7, 2015), CBM and CNKI were searched from inception to July 2015, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) about telephone-delivered CBT for insomnia. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, RevMan 5.2 software was used to performing meta-analysis. ResultsFive RCTs involving 322 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:Compared with the waiting group, the sleep onset latency was shorter (MD=-30.31, 95% CI -40.41 to -20.22, P<0.00001), the waking after sleep onset was shorter (MD=-15.59, 95% CI -24.09 to -7.09, P=0.0003) and the sleep efficiency was higher (MD=11.02, 95% CI 7.87 to 14.18, P<0.00001) in the telephone-delivered CBT group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups in total sleep time (MD=13.45, 95% CI -37.01 to 63.92, P=0.60). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows, telephone-delivered CBT is effective for insomnia. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verified by more large-scale, high quality RCTs.
Objective To investigate the characteristics of cognitive function and its correlation to neuroendocrine status in patients with refractory depression. Methods A total of 41 patients diagnosed by ICD-10 as depression onset who have been treated with more than two antidepressants drugs, fulfilled the criteria of refractory depression. Another 40 patients diagnosed by ICD-10 as depression onset but who have not been treated, or have been treated with only one antidepressant drug were selected as controls. Patients in both groups were evaluated by WAIS-RC, STROOP, VF, TRAILS A, B, TOH and M-WCST, and the concentrations of CORT, ACTH, T3, FT3, T4, FT4, TSH were also determined. Results A significant difference was found in VF between the refractory depression group and the control group. This showed that the damage to short-term memory, attention and interference rejection capability was much more serious in the refractory depression group. The ACTH concentration in the refractory depression group was significantly different from that of the control group, which indicated that the damage to the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was more serious in the refractory depression group. In particular in relation to memory and attention defect. Conclusion Changes in the levels of CORT, ACTH, TSH, FT3 and T4 may be correlated to cognitive function damage in patients with refractory depression.
Objective This study aimed to observe the protective effects of 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) to the damage of phenobarbital (PB) upon the cognition of the newly-born rats. Methods Thirty healthy 3-day-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (10 rats), PB group (10 rats) and PB+17β-E2 group (10 rats). The control group were injected saline water with a dose of 10 mL/(kg·d); the PB group were injected with PB of 10 mg/(kg·d); the PB+17β-E2 group were injected with PB 10 mg/(kg·d) and 17β-E2 300 ug/(kg·d). All the rats were intraperitoneal injected once a day after weighing, for three continuous days. They were normally raised to one month old and then 8 rats were selected out of each group respectively for water maze test. Results The PB group was reported to have increasing latent periods in finding the underwater stage compared with control group (P<0.05). In comparison with the PB group, the PB+17β-E2 group has a shorter latent period in finding the underwater stage, and furthermore statistically significantly fewer times in finding validation areas (P<0.05). During the 120s test, the stage quadrant journey to total journey ratio of PB+17β-E2 group was lower than the ratio of PB groups, but no statistics significance had been detected. The PB+17β-E2 group exhibits no significance difference from the control group in the above-mentioned indexes. Conclusions Even a short-term injection of PB with an usual clinical dose will bring a long-term damage to an immature brain in terms of the learning ability and memory, whereas the 17β-E2 may play a protective role in this course.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for improving mental health and social functions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2016), CBM and CNKI from inception to May 2016, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) about CBT on mental health and social function in patients with MS. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 11 RCTs involving 1 102 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, the HADS scores (depression: MD=-1.28, 95%CI-2.07 to-0.48, P=0.002; anxiety: MD=-1.52, 95%CI-2.99 to-0.06, P=0.04), BDI scores (MD=-9.11, 95% CI-15.82 to-2.40, P=0.008), HRDS scores (MD=-7.23, 95% CI-13.65 to-0.82, P=0.03), Chalder scores (MD=-4.88, 95% CI-6.61 to-3.16, P < 0.000 01), MFIS scores (MD=-2.98, 95% CI-4.52 to-1.44, P=0.000 2) and GHQ-12 scores (MD=-3.61, 95%CI-5.20 to-2.02, P < 0.000 01) in the CBT group were lower than that in the control group. No significant difference was found in WSAS scores (MD=-1.98, 95%CI-4.88 to 0.93, P=0.18) between two groups. ConclusionCBT may be effective for improving the negative mental experience, fatigue and quality of life in MS. No evidence to support CBT has benefits in social functions. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verified by more high quality studies.
Objective To compare the effects of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and domestic paroxetine in the treatment of minor depression. Methods A therapeutic technique model for the treatment of minor depression was established. Sixty-four patients with minor depression meeting DSM-IV criteria were divided into CBT and paroxetine groups with 32 patients respectively, and were treated for six weeks. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy and relapse/recrudescence rate of the two groups. Side effects of paroxetine were also recorded. Results At the end of 2 weeks, no significant difference was noted in the reduction of the HAMD score between the two groups. At the end of 6 weeks, there was little difference in thHAMD score reduction between the two groups (F=8.3,P= 0). No significant difference was found in the curative effects between the two groups (u=316.5,P=0.06).In the paroxetine group, cure rate was 20.7%, significant improvement rate was 48.3%; In the CBT group, cure rate was 10.0%, significant improvement rate was 36.7%.The relapse/recrudescence rate after six in the paroxetine group was higher than in cognitive-behavior therapy group at 6 months’ follow-up (u=106.5,P=0.04).Conclusion The clinical efficacy of cognitive-behavior therapy for minor depression seems to be similar to that of paroxetine. The established model of CBT can be used in clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) on cognitive function of patients undergoing surgical therapy for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AD). MethodsBetween January 2009 and March 2012, 48 patients with acute Stanford type A AD underwent Sun's procedure (aortic arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation) under DHCA with ACP in Nanjing Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University. There were 40 males and 8 females with their age of 51.3±13.6 years. Circulatory arrest time and time for postoperative consciousness recovery were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative cognitive functions of each patient were evaluated by mini-mental status examination (MMSE). ResultsMean cardiopulmonary bypass time of the 48 patients was 237.3±58.5 minutes, and mean circulatory arrest time was 37.3 ±6.9 minutes. Four patients died postoperatively with the causes of death including lung infection, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, myocardial infarction and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Forty-one patients recovered their consciousness within 24 hours postoperatively, and the mean time for postoperative consciousness recovery was 15.3±6.5 hours. Preoperative MMSE score was 28.6±1.1 points, and MMSE score at 1 week postoperatively was 23.6±4.5 points. Thirty-one patients were followed up for 6 months with the follow-up rate of 70.45%. The average MMSE score of the 31 patients at 6 months after surgery was 27.6±2.1 points which was significantly higher than postoperative average MMSE score (P < 0.05), but not statistically different from preoperative average MMSE score (P > 0.05). ConclusionsDHCA with ACP can provide satisfactory cerebral protection for patients undergoing surgical therapy for acute Stanford type A AD, but patients' cognitive function may be adversely affected in the short term. As long as cerebral infarction or hemorrhage is excluded in CT scan of the brain, such adverse impact may generally disappear automatically within 6 months after surgery.
Objective To investigate the changes of cognitive function of epileptic patients after antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) therapy. Methods Twenty eight cases of epileptic patients with new diagnosis and untreatment from March 2015 to February 2016 were collected. According to the seizure type, degree of attack and drug efficacy, patients were divided into three groups and treated with one of three AEDs, including Lamotrigine (LTG), Oxcarbazepine (OXC), and Sodium valproate (VPA). Among them, 11 were LTG group, 12 were OXC group and 5 were VPA group.Then the patients were followed up for 1 year. The clinical memory scale was used to analyze cognitive function of epileptic patients before and after therapy. Results Compared to 30 cases of healthy volunteers, the scores of memory quotient (P<0.01), directed memory (P<0.05), associative learning (P<0.05) and image free recall (P<0.01) of epileptic patients were obviously decreased before AEDs therapy.AEDs therapy reduced or controlled seizures in new diagnostic epileptic patients, and the total effective rate was 85.7%. In the clinical memory scale tests, the scores of memory quotient (P<0.01), directed memory (P<0.05), associative learning (P<0.05), portrait characteristics contact memory (P<0.05) were improved after therapy. The scores of image free recall and meaningless graphics recognition were also improved, but there was no statistical significance. Besides, there was a statistically significant improvement in the score of portrait characteristics contact memory after LTG treatment (P<0.05), and directed memory after VPA treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions Epileptic patients accompanied with cognitive deficits before drug intervention. Through standard AEDs treatment, seizures could be better controlled. The cognitive function of epileptic patients was not declined after short-term（within 1 year） intervention of LTG, OCX or VPA. Moreover some parts of the cognitive domain could be improved.
Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treating insomnia in patients with breast cancer. Methods Such databases as CENTRAL (April 2011), The Cochrane Library (2005 to November 2011), MEDLINE (1948 to April 2011), EMbase (Junuary 1966 to April 2011), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, 1982 to April 2011), CBM (1978 to 2011) and CNKI (1979 to 2011) were searched to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about CBT treating insomnia in patients with breast cancer. Literature screening, data extraction and methodological quality assessment of the included studies were conducted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 5 RCTs were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the CBT group was higher in the score of subjective sleep efficiency; however, it was lower in the subjective sleep onset latency. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep onset latency and wake time after sleep onset measured by hypnocinematograph. Conclusion Cognitive behavioral therapy may improve the subjective sleep efficiency and sleep quality, and shorten the sleep onset latency in patients with breast cancer. However, its effect of improving objective sleep quality is still unverifiable at present. It suggests the following measures should be taken for providing better evidences: increasing sample size, adopting blind methods, confirming allocation concealment, and using unified hypnocinematograph.