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Objective To investigate the influence of vitamin B supplementation on the plasma total homocysteine (Hcy), serum folate, serum vitamin B12, serum vitamin B6, and clinical state of senile epilepsy.Methods A total of 132 senile epilepsy patients with hyperhomocysteinemia, who visited the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2013 to July 2015, were enrolled into this study.Eighty-three patients who accepted the therapy of vitamin B supplementation (folate 2.5 mg/d, vitamin B6 10.0 mg/d, vitamin B12 1.5 mg/d) were selected as treatment group, and 49 patients with no vitamin B supplementation were selected as control group.All patients were followed-up for one year.The differences of serum Hcy, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and seizure frequency, MMSE scores, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDMA) scores between the treatment and the control groups were compared.According to the concentration of serum Hcy, 132 patients were divided into two groups: 75 patients (46 patients in the treatment group and 29 patients in the control group) with mild hyperhomocysteinemia (Hcy: 15.0-29.9 μmol/L), 57 patients (37 patients in the treatment group and 20 patients in the control group) with moderate-severe hyperhomocysteinemia (Hcy≥30.0 μmol/L).The differences of serum Hcy, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and seizure frequency, MMSE scores, HDMA scores between the treatment and the control group in the mild hyperhomocysteinemia group and in the moderate-severe hyperhomocysteinemia group were compared.And the influence factors of Hcy were analyzed.Results Correlation analysis revealed that Hcy was positively correlated with age (r=0.269, P=0.002), and negatively correlated with folate (r=-0.222, P=0.010).Hcy was associated with smoking (χ2=7.363,P=0.007), hypertension (χ2=6.187,P=0.013), and two or more antiepileptic drugs polytherapy (χ2=4.708,P=0.030).After vitamin B supplementation in the group of moderate-severe hyperhomocysteinemia, serum Hcy concentration ((15.68±4.85) μmol/L in the treatment group vs (31.14±11.18) μmol/L in the control group, t=5.890, P0.05).Conclusions It is necessary to monitor serum Hcy for senile epilepsy.Vitamin B supplementation is a safe and inexpensive way to reduce the concentration of Hcy, assist to control seizures and improve the clinical symptom of depression and cognitive impairment for senile epilepsy with moderate-severe hyperhomocysteinemia.
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Objective To investigate the influence of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy),folate,vitamin B12 and B6 in patients with post-stroke epilepsy (PSE).Methods The serum levels of Hcy,folate,vitamin B12 and B6 of 194 PSE patients with AEDs treatment for more than 1 year (AEDs treatment group) and 40 newly diagnosed PSE patients without AEDs therapy (control group) were detected.The effects of AEDs on above indexes were analyzed.Results Compared with control group,the serum level of serum Hcy was significantly increased,and the serum levels of folate,B12 were significantly decreased in AEDs treatment group (all P<0.05).The difference of the serum levels of vitamin B6 among the groups was not significant.Compared with monothetapy subgroup,the serum levels of Hcy was significantly increased in the combination therapy subgroup (P<0.05).Compared with control group,the serum levels of Hcy were significantly increased in patients with Valproate (VPA),Carbamazepine (CBZ) and Oxcarbazepine (OXC) monotherapy,the serum levels of folate were significantly decreased in patients with VPA and CBZ monotherapy,and the serum level of B12 was significantly decreased in patients with VPA monotherapy (all P<0.05).Compared with control group,the serum levels of Hcy were significantly increased in patients with 2 kinds of AEDs combination treatment [VPA+CBZ,VPA+Levetiracetam (LEV),VPA+OXC,CBZ+LEV] or ≥3 kinds of AEDs combination treatment,the serum levels of folate was significantly decreased in patients with 2 kinds of AEDs combination treatment (VPA+LEV,VPA+OXC,CBZ+LEV) or ≥3 kinds of AEDs combination treatment,the serum levels of B12 were siginificantly decreased in patients with 2 kinds of AEDs combination treatment (VPA+CBZ,VPA+OXC,CBZ+LEV) or ≥3 kinds of AEDs combination treatment (all P<0.05).The incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in AEDs treatment group (36.6%) was significantly higher than that in control group (20.0%) (χ2=4.085,P=0.043).And the difference of HHcy incidence between the combination therapy subgroup (47.6%) and the control group was statistical significant (χ2=6.950,P=0.008).The difference of HHcy incidence between the monotherapy subgroup (33.6%) and the control group was not significant.The HHcy incidence of patients with VPA and CBZ monotherapy (40.5%;43.8%) were significantly higer than those in the control group (χ2=3.871,P=0.049;χ2=4.726,P=0.030).The differences of HHcy incidence between patients with OXC,LEV monotherapy (29.2%;22.9%) and the control group were not significant.Conclusions AEDs therapy has little influence on the serum levels of vitamin B6,while has great influence on the serum levels of Hcy,folate and vitamin B12.Combination treatment of AEDs and monotherapy of VPA,CBZ may increase the incidence of HHcy in PSE patients.
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Carotid artery stent fracture (CASF) is a rare complication after carotid artery stenting (CAS).Its occurrence may be associated with vascular angulation,calcification,stent type,stent length,and overlapping.This article reviews the incidence,influencing factors,classification,consequences and treatment methods of CASF.
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Objective To investigate the major risk factors for posterior circulation stroke and the clinical and imaging features of posterior circulation stroke patients with diabetes.Methods The patients with acute cerebral infarction were enrolled.The clinical data of patients with posterior circulation and anterior circulation stroke were compared.The patients with posterior circulation stroke were further divided into either a diabetic group or a non-diabetic group,and the vascular risk factors and imaging features of both groups were compared.The patients with posterior circulation stroke were divided into proximal segment,middle segment and distal segment and mixed groups according to the distribution of vascular lesions.The correlations between diabetes and each group and the imaging features were analyzed.Results A total of 328 patients with posterior circulation stroke (male 194,the diabetic group 108) and 336 patients with anterior circulation stroke (male 214,the diabetes group 59)were enrolled.The proportions of patients with diabetes (32.9％ vs.21.7％ ; x2 =10.501,P =0.001),hyperlipidemia (60.1％ vs.47.9％ ;x2 =9.852,P =0.002),previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (29.0％ vs.22.0％ ;x2 =4.213,P =0.040) in the posterior circulation ischemic stroke group were significantly higher than those in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group,and the proportion of smoking patients was significantly lower than that in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group (18.3％ vs.26.2％ ; x2 =5.977,P =0.014).The levels of total cholesterol (4.72 ±1.07 mmol/L vs.4.56 ± 0.98 mmol/L; t =2.079,P =0.038),triglycerides (1.54 ± 1.07 mmol/L vs.1.33±0.71 mmol/L; t=3.085,P=0.002) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.91±0.90 mmol/L vs.2.75 ±0.80 mmol/L; t =2.373,P =0.018) were significantly higher than those in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group,and the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower than that in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group (1.13 ± 0.31 mmol/L vs.1.18 ±0.32 mmol/L; t =2.045,P=0.041).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.560,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.086-2.239; P =0.016) and previous stroke or TIA history (OR 1.455,95％ CI 1.013-2.090; P =0.042) were the independent risk factors for posterior circulation ischemic stroke.In patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke,the patient's proportions of hyperllpidemia (66.7％ vs.55.5％ ;x2 =5.069,P =0.024) and drinking (13.0％ vs.4.5％;x2 =7.568,P=0.006) in the diabetic group (n =108) were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group (n =220); the proportion of atrial fibrillation patients was significantly lower than that in the non-diabetic group (3.7％ vs.11.4％ ;x2 =5.274,P =0.022).The levels of triglycerides (1.70 ± 0.93 rnmol/L vs.1.45 ± 1.11 mmol/L; t =1.989,P =0.048),fasting glucose (8.46 ± 2.96) mmol/L vs.5.30± 0.96 mmol/L; t=10.706,P=0.000) and glycosylated hemoglobin (8.36％ ± 1.94％ vs.6.07％ ± 0.55％ ; t =10.576,P =0.000) in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group.The proportion of patients with large artery atherosclerosis stroke in the diabetic group was significantly higher than that in the non-diabetic group (73.1％ vs.60.0％; x2=5.457,P=0.019); the proportion of the patients with cardioembolism was significantly lower than that of the non-diabetic group (2.8％ vs.9.1％;x2 =4.428,P =0.035).The proportion of patients with posterior circulation middle segment infarction in the diabetic group was significantly higher than that of the non-diabetic group (49.1％ vs.31.4％ ;x2 =9.726,P =0.002).The proportions of the patients with brainstem infarction (60.2％ vs.48.2％ ;x2 =4.182,P =0.041) and single brainstem infarction (55.6％ vs.30.5％ ;x2 =19.235,P =0.000) in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group.In patients with single brainstem infarction,the proportions of the patients with pontine infarction (43.5％ vs.25.9％ ;x2 =10.374,P =0.001) and medulla oblongata infarction (7.4％ vs.1.8％ ; P =0.023) in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group.Conclusions Diabetes and previous stroke or TIA history are the independent risk factor for posterior circulation stroke.Diabetes is closely associated with brainstem infarction,and it is more likely to result in pontine infarction.
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Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and hematoma enlargement of early intracerebral hemorrhage,outcome at 3 months and death.Methods A total of 316 patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage were included in the study.Their general information was documented.The patients underwent CT scans at 6 and 24 hours after onset.The lipids,blood glucose,blood pressure,and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were detected at the same time.The patients were followed up for 3 months and their modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores and the number of death were recorded.Results The decreased plasma LDL level (odds ratio [OR] 0.323,95％ confidence interval [CI] 0.128 - 0.819; P =0.017) and the increased systolic pressure (OR 1.015,95％ CI 1.000 -1.029; P =0.043) were independently associated with the early hematoma enlargement.The decreased plasma LDL level (OR 0.253,95％ CI 0.102-0.629; P=0.003) and the increased blood glucose (OR 1.458,95％ CI 1.257 - 1.693; P ＜ 0.001 ) were the independent risk factors for poor outcome at 3 months after onset.The decreased plasma LDL level (OR 0.211,95％ CI 0.075 - 0.597; P =0.003),the increased bloot glucose level (OR 1.406,95％ CI 1.212 - 1.632; P =0.001) and the increased blood glucose level (OR 1.026,95％ CI 1.009 - 1.043; P =0.002) were the independent risk factors for death within 3 months.Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the LDL level ＜ 2.58 mmol/L was an independent predictor for hematoma enlargement (sensitivity 71.79％,specificity 64.71％,positive predictive value 40.00％,and negative predictive value 87.50％ ).Conclusion The decreased plasma LDL level was the independent predictor for early hematoma enlargement,poor outcome and death at 3 months in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage.
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With the improvement of radiation therapy technology and the comprehensive treatment of malignant tumors,the survival time of patients with malignant tumors is gradually extended.In recent years,carotid stenosis and cerebrovascular disease complications after radiation therapy have received increasing attention.Existing studies have shown that carotid stenosis after radiation therapy is not only associated with atherosclerosis,it is likely to be an independent vascular lesion.This article reviews the correlation between head,neck and cerebral ischemic events,characteristics and mechanisms of vascular injury after radiation therapy,as well as the risk factors for carotid stenosis,clinical manifestations,and diagnosis and treatment methods after radiation therapy.
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Objective To investigate the cerebral infarction patterns and pathogenesis in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) severe stenosis (the degree of stenosis 70％- 99％ ) or occlusion in order to provide evidence for the individualized prevention and treatment strategies. Methods Seventy-six patients with acute cerebral infarction who showed the responsible lesions at the corresponding MCA territory on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into ICA lesion, MCA lesion and negative result on digital subtraction angiography and CT angiogaphy (NR) groups according to the vascular examinations. Their infarcts were divided into single and multiple infarctions. According to the positions, the former was divided into perforating artery infarct (PAI), pial infarct (PI), and border-zone infarct (BZ). Results The infarct morphologies in the MCA territory were divided into 9 types. The different lesions caused infarct morphologies were different (x2 =34. 000, P =0. 001). The distribution pattern of multiinfarcts accounted for 73.68％ of all patients (56/76). The distribution pattern of PAI + PI in the ICA lesion group was significantly more than that in the NR goup (17/42 vs. 1/16,x2 =6. 837, P =0. 009). There were some correlations between the degree of artery stenosis and the infarct morphology. The severe ICA lesions mostly showed PAI with PI (7/17 vs. 1/16,x2 =5. 475, P =0. 019), and the severe MCA lesions mostly showed PAI with BZ (3/8 vs. 1/17,x2 =4. 046, P =0. 040). Conclusions In patients with cerebral infarction of ICA or MCA severe stenosis or occlusion, most of them showed multiinfarct pattern. This suggested that the different mechanisms of stroke onset might be associated with the arterial-arterial embolization or hypoperfusion.
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Malnutrition in patients with acute stroke is quite common. It is an independent risk factor affecting stroke prognosis. Early enteral nutrition can improve the nutritional status of the stroke patients, lower infection rate and mortality, promote recovery of neurological function, and improve the quality of life. Therefore, under the premise of the gastrointestinal tolerance, the patients with severe stroke should select early enteral nutrition as early as possible.
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Objective To study the effect of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the recovery of neural function in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods Thirty cerebral infarction patients with hemiparalysis were divided randomly into three groups: unaffected side stimulation group ( 1Hz rTMS on M1 area of unaffected hemisphere, n = 10), affected side stimulation group ( 1Hz rTMS on M1 area of affected hemisphere, n = 10), and control group without rTMS, n = 10).All the groups were assessed with their motor function and ADL scores ( NIHSS, MBI) and corticospinal excitability (MEP, CMCT ) before and after 10 and 40 days of treatment.Three patients were chosen randomly in each group who accepted magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) examination before and after 40 days of treatment and assessed with regard to the ratio of N-acetyl aspartate/creating(NAA/Cr).Results Before treatment the scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Barthel Index( MBI), Motor evoked potential (MEP) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) were not statistically different among the three groups ( P > 0.05 ).After treatment, scores of NIHSS and MBI were obviously higher than those before treatment (P < 0.01 ) in rTMS groups no matter the rTMS was applied on the affected or unaffected hemisphere.However, the score in unaffected side stimulation group was higher than that in the affected side stimulation group ( P < 0.05 ).The MEP latency and CMCT was significantly shorter after treatment in all the stimulation groups, with the unaffected side stimulation group improved to a significantly greater extent, in terms of MEP latency and CMCT than the affected side stimulation and control groups at the 10th d and 40th d of treatment(P <0.05 or P <0.01 ).There was a significantly higher ratio of NAA/Cr in two rTMS treatment groups compared with control group.Conclusion Low frequency rTMS on M1 of the unaffected or affected hemisphere can both improve neural function in patients with acute cerebral infarction, rTMS on unaffected hemisphere seems more effective than that on affected hemisphere.
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Objective To evaluate the roles of multi-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the early diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND).Methods Seventy-eight out-patients and inpatients in Department of Neurology, the second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from December 2008 to September 2009 were recruited in this case-control study.Their cognitive functions were assessed with a wide range of neuropsychological battery of tests including Montreal cognitive assessment ( MoCA Beijing Version ), auditory verbal learning test ( AVLT), digital span test (DST), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (CFT) ,semantic and phonetic fluency tests, digit symbol coding subtest (DSCT), trail making test (TMT), clock drawing test (CDT) and the Stroop color-word test (SCWT).All patients were classified into vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND) group and cognitive normal control group based on the results of neuropsychological tests.Eighteen patients with VCIND and 18 gender-, age- and education-matched normal control were randomly selected for the following study.With multi-voxel 1H-MRS, the levels of N-acetylaspartartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) in gray matters of bilateral frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and thalamus were measured and the ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr were compared between the two groups.Meanwhile, the correlations between scores of MoCA and its sub-items and the ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr were analyzed in VCIND group.Informed consent was obtained from all participants and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital.Results Compared with control group, the ratios of NAA/Cr were significantly decreased in bilateral gray matters of thalamus ( left, 1.56 ± 0.49 vs 1.89 ± 0.48, F = 11.222, P = 0.002; right,1.63± 0.45 vs 1.86 ± 0.33, F = 5.358, P = 0.027 ).No significant difference were found in NAA/Cr in gray matters of bilateral frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and Cho/Cr in all regions between two groups ( all P ＞ 0.05 ).In VCIND group, the decreased degree of NAA/Cr in bilateral gray matters of thalamus was significantly positively correlated with the MoCA total score ( r = 0.54, 0.44 ) as well as the sub-scores in tested items of memory ( r = 0.61, 0.49 ), attention ( r = 0.43, 0.36 ), language ( r = 0.39,0.31) and visuospatial or executive( r = 0.29 , 0.33, all P＜0.05 orP＜0.01).Conclusions Cognitive impairment in patients with VCIND maybe related to metabolic dysfunction of neurons in bilateral thalamic.Multi-voxel 1H-MRS plays an important role in early diagnosis and monitoring disease progression of VCIND.
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Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2) can rapidly hydrolize and oxidize the oxidized phosphatidylcholine molecules produced in low density lipoprotein and atherogenic lipoprotein (a),generating the soluble proinflammatory and proapoptotic mediatorslyso-phosphatidylcholine and oxidized free fatty acids.It stimulates aggregation and activation of monocyte-macrophage system and induces apoptosis and damages the removal of dead cells.It plays an important role in the development of lipid necrotic core of atherosclerosis.Lp-PLA2 is not an independent risk marker of coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke,but also plays an important role in the development of atherosclerotic plaques.Selective Lp-PLA2 inhibitor reduces the development of necrotic cores.It may play a role in the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques.At the same time,it may represent a novel target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
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Objective To analyze imaging infarct patterns and features in patients with severe stenosis or occlusion of internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA)from the point of view of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and to investigate the infarction related mechanism. Methods Eighty-eight patients with acute ischemic stroke who had moderate to severe ICA or MCA stenosis or occlusion confirmed by cerebral angiography were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into ICA lesion and MCA lesion groups. The infarct patterns were classified as single and multiple according to DWI. The former were reclassified as perforating artery infarct (PAI), pial infarct (PI), watershed infarct, and large infarct. Results There were 11 types of infarct patterns in MCA territories. The DWI multi-infarct pattern accounted for 62.5% of all patients (55/88). PI with watershed infarction appeared more often in the ICA lesion group (11/45, P=0. 040), and PI with PAI appeared more often in the MCA lesion group (10/43, P = 0. 037). Conclusions In patients with cerebral infarction associated with ICA or MCA severe stenosis or occlusion, most of them showed multi-infarct pattern,which suggested the mixed mechanisms such as embolization, hypoperfusion/impaired clearance of emboli, and local perforating branch occlusion were the main mechanisms of the occurrence of cerebral infarction. The main mechanism of cerebral infarction in the ICA lesion group was embolization combined with hypoperfusion/impaired clearance of emboli, while in the MCA lesion group was embolization combined with local perforating branch occlusion.
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Objective To investigate the impact of motor imaginary therapy on the recovery of upper limb function in acute cerebral infarction patients with bemiplegia. Methods Fifty cerebral infarction patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into a control group (drug therapy + early exercise therapy) and a motor imaginary therapy group (drug therapy + early exercise therapy + motor imaginary therapy) using single-blind method (n = 25 in each group). Ipsilateral upper extremity function was assessed by the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) before the treatment and at day 40. The active range of motion (AROM) of the ipsilateral wrist was measured by a conimeter. Eating, washing, dressing, and putting on and off clothes were assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale. Results The scores of FMA, AROM and FIM were increased more significantly than those before the treatment in both groups (P <0.05). All the scores in the motor imaginary therapy group after the treatment were superior to those in the control group (P <0. 05) (FMA 28.33 ± 8.63 versus 15.93 ± 5.39;AROM 19.55 ± 8.30 versus11.97 ± 6.59; FIM 16.83 ± 5.43 versus 12.51 ± 3.36).Conclusions Conventional motor rehabilitation training + motor imaginary therapy during the acute phase may promote the motor function reco,,ery in cerebral infarction patients with hemiplegia.
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As a molecular switch,Rho can be transformed between the inactive GDP-bound form and the active GTP-bound form,transfering signals to downstream effector Rho kinase (ROCK),mediating specific biological effects,and participating in various neurological diseases, such as the pathological processes of ischemic stroke,cerebral vasospasm,and axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury.The application of ROCK inhibitor in the treatment of neurological diseases has achieved satisfactory effect.Rho/ROCK is expected to become a novel therapeutic target.
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Alzhelmer's disease (AD) is an important neurodegenerative disease. Recent evidence has indicated that the production and loss of the myelin,sheath are associated with AD because the particular vulnerability of oligodendrocytes produced in the late stage makes the loss of the myelin sheath take a core position in the changes of the earliest stage of AD. The loss of the myelin sheath disrupts synchronization of impulses on which normal brain functions highly depend, and ultimately results in the function disruption of cortical association regions and subsequent neuronal loss. Meanwfiile, there are diverse mechanisms that make oligodendrocytes degeneration exist in the brains of AD. Therefore, elucidating its specific mechanism may help better understanding of AD, and thus provide some help for its treatment.
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Objective To investigate the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)on the recovery of neurological function and the expression of neurofilament protein(NFP)-200 in rats with cerebral infarction.Methods The string-fastening method was used to establish focal ischemia-reperfusion models in 60 Sprague-Dawley rats and the rats were divided into the TMS group and the sham TMS group(composed of 30 rats each).Then each group were divided into the treated 1 d,3 d,7 d,14 d and 21 d subgroups(composed of 6 rats each).TMS group rats were administered with 2 sessions of TMS(200 pulses total)daily,keeping on corresponding days in different groups.The recovery of neurological function and the optical density of NFP-200 by immunohistochemistry in the infarct peripheral zone in two groups were detected after therapy.Results At the 14 d and 21 d after treatment,neurological deficit scores of TMS group(2.67?0.82,1.50?0.55) were significantly lower than those of the sham TMS group(3.67?0.52,3.17?0.75)(P
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Objective To explore the dissociation, purity and the culture method of spinal motoneurons in vitro and to find out an effective way to identify spinal motoneurons.Methods Spinal motoneurons were isolated from spinal cord of embryonic rat. Spinal tissues were digested and then the motoneurons through 6.8% metrizamide density gradient centrifugation, were obtained by collecting the top layer of metrizamide cushion. After the glia adhered to the plate wall, the enriched motoneurons were collected and plated in 24-well plates at a density of 4?10~5/ml. Cytosine arabinoside was added to the culture system after 24 hours in order to inhibit the outgrowth of glia. L-15 serum medium was used for the first 48 hours and then changed by serum-free medium. Later, neurons were cultured with 50% exchanged medium every two days. Spinal motoneurons were identified by immunostaining with polyclonal antibody to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) according to ABC method. Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to observe its structure.Results Spinal motoneurons were immunoreactive to the antibody against ChAT. The present experiment revealed that ChAT-positive cells more than 85% might live about seven to nine days.Conclusions This study suggests a method of spinal motoneuron culture successful. Spinal motoneurons could be specially labeled with ChAT antibody.
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Objective To investigate the relation of event-related potentials (ERPs), which are evoked by calculating and number recognizing stimuli.Methods We examined 26 healthy undergraduate students with double-digit (Arabic numbers) and single-digit modify a prescription problems. While the stimulus information was presented, electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded simultaneously. ERPs were extracted from EEG data, and then the feature and source of ERPs were analyzed.Results Both calculation and number recognizing induced positive and negative components of ERPs with similar wave form and different latency. The latency of ERPs was conspicuously shorter elicited by number recognizing than by calculating. Grand mean mapping showed the highest amplitudes of ERPs were presented in parietal lobe elicited both by calculating and number recognizing.Conclusion The processing of calculating is more complicated than number recognizing. Calculating and number recognizing may have different electrophysiological background, and they belong to diverse processing course in the brain. Parietal lobe is the functional domains of them.