The relation between spirituality and quality of life among individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine how spiritual-based coping relates to quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design, Setting, & Participants: A telephone interview of 75 participants, primarily Caucasian single men aged 19 to 71 (enrolled in the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury Model System). Measures: Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Duke Health Profile, Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, Diener's Satisfaction With Life Survey. Results: Virtually all participants (98.7%) reported using some form of spiritual-based coping. Quality of life was highest among participants who use existential spiritual as opposed to religious spiritual coping. In particular, existential spirituality shared 27% variance with overall perceived life quality. Conclusions: Spiritual-based coping might be encouraged as a possible strategy to improve life quality. Clinicians should be cognizant of ongoing spiritual practices among persons with SCI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting longitudinal patterns of functional deficits in children with traumatic brain injury.

Longitudinal patterns of functional deficits were investigated in 37 children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), 40 children with moderate TBI, and 44 children with orthopedic injuries. They were from 6 to 12 years of age when injured. Their neuropsychological, behavioral, adaptive, and academic functioning were assessed at 6 months, 12 months, and 3–5 years postinjury. Functional deficits (     

Maladaptive Coping Strategies and Injury-Related Distress Following Traumatic Physical Injury.

Objectives: To identify coping strategies associated with injury-related distress in a mixed sample of physically injured adults. Study Design: Correlational. Setting: Level 1 trauma center. Participants: Orthopedic hand (n=22), multiple trauma (n=35), and burn-injured patients (n=11); ages 18-66; English speaking. Measures: Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (TSC-40) and Brief Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Scale. Results: Positive associations were found between 5 coping strategies and TSC-40 scores. Multiple regression revealed 3 strategies that explained significant variability in TSC-40 scores (R2=.36; emotional venting: β=.28, p=.02; behavioral disengagement: β=.25, p=.02; self-blame: β=.26, p=.05). Conclusions: Use of certain coping strategies was associated with injury-related distress among acutely injured adults. Psychosocial and educational interventions for coping in the immediate aftermath of traumatic physical injury may mediate and prevent injury-related distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) extract prevents ethanol-induced liver injury in rats

Ethanol metabolism-associated oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. We examined the effect of a Mate tea extract on ethanol-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo models. Isolated hepatocytes were incubated with ethanol. An extract of Yerba-Mate tea (EMT) was added to the cultures simultaneously with ethanol. EMT treatment suppressed the ethanol-induced increase in cell death by inhibiting cytochrome p450 2E1 (CYP2E1) activity, which is related to the production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, we examined the effects of EMT on serum transaminase activity, and the progression of liver fibrosis in rats treated with ethanol and CCl₄. Rats were fed a diet that included 0.005% or 0.02% EMT or no EMT. For a period of 3 weeks, the animals were provided drinking water containing 5% ethanol and were also treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) (0.1 ml/kg of body weight). EMT treatment suppressed plasma ALT and AST activities in the ethanol- and CCl₄-treated rats. EMT treatment also decreased CYP2E1 expression and increased ADH expression in the ethanol- and CCl₄-treated rats. EMT treatment fully protected the rats against ethanol- and CCl₄-induced liver injury. These results suggest that EMT may serve as a candidate for preventing ethanol-induced liver injury.     

葛根保健饮料的研制及其对大鼠酒精性肝损伤的保护作用

采用正交试验方法对葛根保健饮料配方进行筛选;SD大鼠随机分为5组:正常组、模型组、阳性对照组、保健饮料大、小剂量组,采用白酒灌胃辅以造模饲料的方法建立大鼠酒精性肝损伤模型,给予葛根保健饮料保护。检测大鼠血清转氨酶(ALT、AST)水平和肝组织过氧化指标(GSH-Px、MDA),HE染色观察肝脏病理变化。结果表明,葛根保健饮料的最优配方为:中草药提取液10%,蔗糖浓度6%,柠檬酸浓度0.1%,蜂蜜用量0.4%;饮料能显著降低酒精性肝损伤大鼠血清ALT、AST活性水平和肝组织TG含量、MDA含量、肝脏指数,显著升高其肝组织GSH-Px活性,使肝组织病变好转。葛根保健饮料对酒精性肝损伤具有明显的保护作用。     

发酵时间对水豆豉胃损伤预防作用的影响

水豆豉是一种短时间发酵的大豆制品。采用动物模型进行分析,研究不同发酵时间水豆豉的胃损伤预防效果。研究结果表明,发酵48 h的水豆豉比其他发酵时间的水豆豉降低了IL(白介素)-6、IL-12、TNF(肿瘤坏死因子)-α和IFN(干扰素)-γ炎症细胞因子水平。本试验中,48 h发酵的水豆豉的胃损伤预防效果最好,达到77.6%。综合分析得出,发酵48 h的水豆豉具有最好的胃损伤预防效果。     

钻井液侵入引起煤岩膨胀对煤储层的伤害

在分析了煤层气储层岩性特征和煤层水特征的基础上,通过室内静态实验测定了沁水盆地郑庄3号主力煤层煤样分别在蒸馏水、煤层水和1%KCl盐水中的线性膨胀率;并测定了煤样的水敏性。研究结果表明,煤岩遇水膨胀程度直接受煤中黏土矿物的影响,煤粉膨胀主要发生在开始与水接触的1h时间内,配制钻井液的地表水进入煤层后将造成煤岩膨胀,降低煤储层渗透率,对煤储层造成损害。     

急进高原个体胆汁返流与急性胃肠粘膜损伤的关系探讨

目的：对急进高原个体胆汁返流与急性胃肠粘膜损伤的关系进行探讨。方法：对20例由平原急进高原个体进入高原前、进入高原第3天和第7天进行胃镜检查,对其胆汁返流、胃黏膜损伤及其消化系统的症状发生情况进行调查。结果：20例急进高原个体进入高原后胆汁返流及胃粘膜损伤与进入高原前比较,除进入高原第7天胆汁返流无显著差异外,其余均有显著差异（分别为P〈0.01和P〈0.05）,其中胆汁返流进入高原前、进入高原第3天及第7天分别为0例（0%）1、0例（50%）、5例（25%）;粘膜损伤分别为2例（10%）1、7例（85%）、10例（50%）;其中13例有不同程度的消化系统症状（占65%）。结论：高原急性缺氧可引发急进高原个体胆汁返流的高发生率,并因此而导致急性胃肠粘膜损伤。     

贮前热处理对青椒冷害、活性氧代谢和膜脂过氧化的影响

贮前50℃10min或53℃5min热水浸泡处理极显著降低了2℃贮藏青椒的冷害,显著抑制了膜透性的上升。与对照相比,50℃热处理对青椒SOD活性影响不明显,而53℃热处理显著提高了3、4和5周时SOD的活性。两热处理均极显著提高了青椒CAT和APX活性。两热处理青椒贮藏过程中POD活性变化较小,而对照组青椒POD活性7周时骤然上升。热处理还导致青椒的LOX活性3周后迅速下降。贮前热处理通过提高活性氧清除酶特别是CAT和APX活性,维持活性氧代谢的平衡,降低LOX活性,抑制膜脂过氧化,从而减轻了青椒的冷害。     

Role of Bevacizumab on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice after Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is believed to play a key role in TBI and to be overexpressed in the absence of apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, demonstrated neuroprotective activity in several models of TBI. However, the effects of bevacizumab on Apo-E deficient mice are not well studied. The present study aimed to evaluate VEGF expression and the effects of bevacizumab on BBB and neuroinflammation in ApoE^−/− mice undergoing TBI. Furthermore, for the first time, this study evaluates the effects of bevacizumab on the long-term consequences of TBI, such as atherosclerosis. The results showed that motor deficits induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI) were accompanied by increased brain edema and VEGF expression. Treatment with bevacizumab significantly improved motor deficits and significantly decreased VEGF levels, as well as brain edema compared to the control group. Furthermore, the results showed that bevacizumab preserves the integrity of the BBB and reduces the neuroinflammation induced by TBI. Regarding the effects of bevacizumab on atherosclerosis, it was observed for the first time that its ability to modulate VEGF in the acute phase of head injury prevents the acceleration of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study demonstrates not only the neuroprotective activity of bevacizumab but also its action on the vascular consequences related to TBI.