ObjectiveTo study the effects of astaxanthin on the apoptosis after spinal cord injury in rats.MethodsOne hundred and forty-four healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into experimental group, control group, and sham group according to the random number table (n=48). In the control group and the experimental group, the modified Allen’s method was used to make the spinal cord injury model; in the sham group, only the lamina was cut without damaging the spinal cord. At immediate after operation, the rats in the experimental group were given intragastric administration of astaxanthin (75 mg/kg) twice a day; and the rats in the control group and the sham group were given equal amount of olive oil by gavage twice a day. BBB score was used to assess the motor function at 1 day and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after operation. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was determined by the thiobarbituric acid method at 24 hours after operation; and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined by the xanthine oxidase method. Apoptosis index (AI) was determined by TUNEL method at 6, 24, and 48 hours after operation. At 48 hours after operation, the water content of spinal cord was measured by dry-wet weight method, the lesion ratio of spinal cord was calculated, the ultrastructure of the spinal cord was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and ultrastructure scoring was performed using the Kaptanoglu score method.ResultsThe BBB score in the control group and the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the sham group at each postoperative time point (P<0.05); and the BBB score in the experimental group were significantly higher than that in the control group at 1-4 weeks postoperatively (P<0.05). The MDA content in the control group and the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the sham group at 24 hours after operation, and in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The SOD activity in the control group and the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the sham group, and in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). At each time point postoperatively, the AI in the control group and the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the sham group, and in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). At 48 hours after operation, the water content of spinal cord, the lesion ratio of spinal cord, and the ultrastructure score in the control group and the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the sham group, and in the experimental group were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionAstaxanthin can inhibit the lipid peroxidation, reduce the apoptosis, reduce the spinal cord edema, reduce the spinal cord lesion, reduce the histopathological damage after spinal cord injury, and improve the motor function of rats with spinal cord injury, and protect the spinal cord tissue, showing an obvious neuroprotective effect.
ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological burden and change trend of five sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in China from 1990 to 2019. MethodsThe estimated numbers and standardized rates of STIs incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) in China and other regions were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The epidemic burden and change trend of STIs in China were compared and evaluated. ResultsIn 2019, STIs affected about 242 million people in China, resulting in 173 million new cases and 350 000 person years of DALY losses. Compared with 1990, the prevalence and incidence of STIs increased by 59.75% and 30.02%, respectively, and the number of DALY decreased by 35.19%. From 1990 to 2019, the incidence rate of chlamydia infection and gonococcal infection in the young and middle-aged group (aged 15-49 years) showed an upward trend; in addition, the DALY rate of genital herpes and trichomoniasis also increased. Among the 5 STIs, the disease burden caused by trichomoniasis infection in women was much higher than that in men. With the increase in the socio-demographic index (SDI), the burden of STIs in China gradually decreased. After the SDI exceeded 0.65, the decline rate of standardized DALY rate sharply increased. ConclusionThe disease burden of STIs in China shows a downward trend from 1990 to 2019, and the disease burden of the young and middle-aged group (aged 15-49 years) is the most significant, especially in trichomoniasis and chlamydia infection.