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Objective To investigate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative stress and cerebral edema after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD)in neonatal rats.Methods A total of 108 neonatal 7-day-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham-operated group(sham, n=36), HIBD group(HIBD, n=36) and alpha-lipoic acid-treated group (treated group, n=36).Each group was divided into 3 sub-groups (n=12, per sub-group) based on different time points after HIBD (1 d, 3 d, 7 d).HIBD rat models were established by ligating the left common carotid artery, The sham-operated group and the HIBD group were treated with normal sodium injection intraperitoneally; treated group were treated with alpha-lipoic acid 100 mg/kg every 12 hours in 5 days.Animals were sacrificed at different time points.Changes of brain water content were determined by dry-wet weight method.And the levels of SOD,MDA,GSH-PX were measured.Results HIBD group showed an upward trend in brain water content and the level of MDA after HIBD, were higher than that of sham-operated group at each time point (P<0.05).Meanwhile, the levels of SOD and GSH-PX showed the downward trend in HIBD group.The levels of brain water content and the level of MDA in treated group were significantly lower than HIBD group at each time point ( P<0.05 ) .And the levels of SOD and GSH-PX in treated group were significantly higher than HIBD group at 3 d and 7 d.on the contrary , the level of MDA in treated group was significantly lower than HIBD group at 3 d and 7 d.Conclusion Alpha-lipoic acid can amiliorate cerebral edema, so it can prevent HIBD.The neuronal protective mechanism might be reverse oxidative imbalance in the brain of neonatal rats with HIBD.
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Objective To explore the effects of low frequency electric stimulation at bilateral mastoid processes on motor function and cerebral blood flow of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods Ninety children with CP were randomly divided into two groups: an electric stimulation group (group 1) and an conventional rehabilitation control group (group 2), thirty healthy children served as the normal control group. The children of group 1 were treated with FES in addition to the routine rehabilitation treatment. The children of group 2 were given of the routine rehabilitation treatment only. All the patients were treated successively with the above protocol for 3 months. The clinical effect and motor development were evaluated with the gross motor function measure (GMFM), and the blood flow velocities of anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA) were measured by transcranial doppler (TCD) ultrasound before and after treatment. Results In group 1, significant or some improvement were achieved in 19 and 24 CP children, respectively, with an effective rate of 95.6% . In group 2, significant or some improvement were achieved in 10 and 27 CP children, respectively, with an effective rate of 82.2%. There was significant difference between the two groups with regard to the significant effective rate (P
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Objective:To identify the sensitivity,reliability in diagnosis and prediction the outcome for neonatal sepsis and septic shock.Methods:Plasma PCT levels of 108 neonates with sepsis(40 with septic shock) were measured by semi-quantitative solid phase immunoassay.At the same time,the plasma CRP and IL-6 levels were observed.Results:The positive rate of PCT was significantly higher in patients with neonatal sepsis and septic shock compared with control group and plasma PCT levels of septic shock group was the highest.The prevalence and fatality rate of septic shock were associated to the plasma levels of PCT,the higher was the PCT,the much higher was the prevalence and fatality rate of septic shock.The plasma PCT levels were significantly correlated with the plasma levels of CRP and IL-6.The sensitivity(87.5%),specificity(82.4%),positive predictive values(74.5%),accuracy(84.3%) of PCT all higher than that of CRP and IL-6.Conclusion:Increased plasma PCT levels in the early stage of neonatal sepsis and septic shock were associated with the severity of illness.PCT is superior than CRP and IL-6 as a marker of severe bacterial infection.