ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the characteristics of functional connectivity (FC) and regional spontaneous brain activity in patients in a minimally-conscious state (MCS).Methods:Resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (rs-fNIRS) was used. Ten minimally-conscious patients were studied along with 12 healthy counterparts as healthy controls (HC). Five minutes of rs-fNIRS data were recorded from each subject and FC and the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFFs) of 53 channels were computed using the NIRS-KIT toolbox. The results were compared between the two groups.Results:Compared with the HC group, a significant decrease was observed in the average FC strength of seventeen channel pairs after false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Most were in the right and left frontal pole, as well as the dorsolateral prefrontal lobe. Compared with the HC group, the average fALFF values of Broca′s area (channel 2), the premotor cortex and the supplementary motor cortex (channels 4, 10, and 40), the dorsolateral prefrontal lobe (channels 6, 11, 25, 39), the eye motor area of the frontal lobe (channel 12) and the frontal pole (channels 23, 27, 36) were significantly greater in the MCS group. The fluctuations of the frontal pole (channel 19) were significantly less (after FDR correction).Conclusion:In an MCS spontaneous neural activity is over-active in the prefrontal lobe and some speech- and motor-related brain regions, and coordination of the internal prefrontal functional network is disordered.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore any changes in the topology of the brain′s resting-state functional networks after an ischemic stroke causing cognitive impairment (iPSCI) and their relationship with the impairment.Methods:Twenty-one patients with impaired cognition after a stroke were recruited into an iPSCI group, and 21 healthy counterparts matched in gender, age and the education level formed the control (HC) group. Three-dimensional T1-weighted anatomical images and resting state functional magnetic resonance images of all of the subjects were collected and any differences in brain network topology were analyzed using graph theory. The degree of centrality (DC), between centrality (BC) and the global topological properties of each brain region were compared using independent-sample t-tests. Spearman correlation coefficients were computed to analyze the significance of any correlation between topology differences and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) or Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores.Results:Compared with the HC group, a significant DC increase was observed in the orbital part of the right of middle frontal gyrus (ORBmid.R), the right hippocampus (HIP.R), and the right thalamus (THA.R). There was a significant decrease in the left Rolandic operculum (ROL.L), the left postcentral gyrus (PoCG.L), the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG.L), the left angular gyrus (ANG.L), the left and right caudate nucleus (CAU.L and CAU.R), the putamen of the left lenticular nucleus (PUT.L), the left Heschl gyrus (HES.L), the left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L), and the temporal pole of the left superior temporal gyrus (TPOsup.L). Compared with the HC group, the brain regions of the iPSCI group in which the BC had increased significantly were the orbital part of the left middle frontal gyrus (ORBmid.L), the left cuneus (CUN.L), and the right precuneus (PCUN.R). DC was significantly decreased in the left caudate nucleus (CAU.L), the left temporal pole of the superior temporal gyrus (TPOsup.L), and the left of inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.L). Compared with the HC group, the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of the shortest path length (Lp) and the normalized Lp (λ) of the iPSCI group increased significantly, and the AUC of the normalized clustering coefficient (γ) and small-worldness (σ) decreased significantly. The DCs of the ROL.L, PoCG.L, CAU.L, HES.L, STG.L and TPOsup.L regions showed moderate positive correlation with the MoCA and MMSE scores ( r>0.4), as did the BC of the CAU.L and TPOsup.L regions ( r>0.4). Conclusions:Cognitive impairment is mainly associated with decreased nodal properties in the brain regions related to language and in the caudate nucleus. The topology of the frontal lobe, hippocampus, thalamus, striatum and default networks may self-repair after an iPSCI. The brain′s functional network after an iPSCI still has small-world properties, but with low efficiency and high cost.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) deficiency on neuromyelitis optica (NMO) model of spinal cord sections induced by NMO-IgG and complement in vitro.Methods NMO-IgG was extracted from the patients with NMO,and complementary serum from healthy people.The spinal cord sections of seven days old C57BL / 6J mice with wild type (WT) or ApoE knockout (ApoE-/-) were cultured for seven days.The spinal cords of the two genotypes were randomly divided into experimental groups (NMO-ApoE-/-group,NMO-WT group) and control groups (C-AopE-/-group,C-WT group),respectively.The experimental groups were treated with NMO-IgG and complementary serum,and the control groups only with complementary serum.Then all the sections were continued incubating for 24 h before harvested.Immunofluorescence staining and modified thick tissue film immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4),glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP),ionic calcium fibronectin (IBA1),myelin basic protein (MBP) and human neurofilament protein L (NFL) respectively.The lesion score was calculated according to the areas percentage of AQP4 and GFAP deficiency in spinal cord sections.Results Compared with the respective control groups,the expressions of AQP4,GFAP,MBP and NFL were deficient in the experimental groups (The percentages of missing area in the NMO-ApoE-/-group were 83.88％ ± 5.01％,82.44％ ± 6.11％,45.02％ ± 5.11％ and 54.65％ ± 7.66％ respectively,while the percentages of missing area in the C-ApoE-/-group were 10.44％ ± 4.07％,5.73％ ±0.82％,9.12％ ±1.41％ and 5.72％ ±0.81％,t=34.143,37.269,20.300,19.051,allP ＜0.05;The percentages of missing area in the NMO-WT group were 77.74％ ± 6.75％,75.62％ ± 5.76％,37.60％ ± 4.88％ and 46.29％ ± 4.98％,while the percentages of missing area in the C-WT group were 9.31％ ± 2.97％,5.80％ ± 0.82％,9.10％ ± 1.63％,5.80％ ± 0.81％ respectively,t =27.828,35.934,16.613,24.057,all P ＜ 0.05).While IBA1 was up-regulated and the damage scores were higher in both the NMO-ApoE-/-group and the NMO-WT group.The percentages of missing area in the NMO-ApoE-/-group and the NMO-WT group showed statistically significant difference (t =2.194,2.436,3.149,2.746,all P ＜ 0.05).The expression level of IBA1 in the NMO-WT group was higher than that in the C-WT group (19.88 ± 1.11 vs 11.18 ±0.65,t =25.270,P ＜0.05),while the expression level of IBA1 in the NMO-ApoE-/-group was higher than that in the NMO-WT group (25.81 ± 1.61 vs 19.88 ± 1.11,t =9.101,P ＜0.05).The degree of deficiency or up-regulation of above-mentioned proteins was more obvious in the NMO-ApoE-/-group than that in the NMO-WT group.Conclusions NMO-IgG extracted from NMO patients can induce NMO-like damage in isolated tissue at the presence of complement.ApoE deficiency promotes the further activation of microglia,thereby aggravates the injury of astrocyte in the model of NMO.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of high-frequency, repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) together with mirror neuron training on the cognition of persons with vascular cognitive impairment but without dementia (VCIND). Methods Thirty-three persons with VCIND were randomly divided into an rTMS+MNS group (n =17) and an rTMS group (n =16) using a random number table. Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation training and rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 10 Hz, 2000 pulses per day at their individual motor thresholds on weekdays for 4 weeks using a CCY- I stimulator. The rTMS+MNS group was additionally given mirror neuron training. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the modified Barthel Index (MBI) were administered before and after the treatment. The P300 latency and amplitude of both groups were also measured. Results Before the treatment, no significant differences were found in any of the measurements. After the treatment, the average MoCA, MMSE and MBI scores had increased significantly in both groups, with those of the rTMS+MNS group increasing significantly more than those of the rTMS group. After the treatment, the average P300 latency and amplitude of both groups were also significantly better than before the treatment. Compared with the rTMS group, the average P300 latency of the rTMS+MNS group was significantly shorter, while the average amplitude was significantly greater. Conclusion Mirror neuron training combined with rTMS is more effective than rTMS alone in improving the cognition and ADL performance of VCIND patients. It is worth applying in clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the effect of the three kinds of EE on the cognitive function and the expression of SYN and MAP-2,and the dentritic growth of pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex in rats.Method:Forty-eight male SD rats were divided into preserving the physique EE group (EE1),preserving the spirit EE group (EE2),preservation for both physique and spirit EE group(EE3) and standard group (SE),12 rats in each group.Rats were put into the three kinds of EE or standard cages after pre-training.The environmental enrollment lasted for 14 days and followed by a 6-days Morris water maze test.After the Morris water maze test,all the rats were sacrificed for histological study,including using the immunohistochemistry method to detect the expression of SYN and MAP-2,and using the Golgi-Cox staining to study the dentritic growth of pyramidal cells in cerebral cortex.Result:In the Morris water maze,the EE3 group exhibited shorter escape latency than the MCAO+SE group (P＜0.05) on day 5,while no significant differences were seen for the time spent in the target quadrant among the 4 groups (P＞ 0.05).The results of immunohistochemical staining of SYN showed that the expression of SYN was the lowest in the SE group,and there was no significant difference between EE1 and EE3 groups but significantly higher than the EE2 group.The expression of MAP-2 was the lowest in the SE group,and there was no significant difference of expression between EE1 and EE2 groups but significantly lower than the EE3 group.The results of Golgi-Cox staining showed that there was no difference of the dentritic branch among groups in mPFC (P＞ 0.05) while the spine density of the EE1 group was significantly greater than that of the SE and EE2 groups (P ＜ 0.05),but significantly lower than that of the EE3 group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion:Two weeks of preservation from both physique and spirit EE can improve the cognitive function,and promote the expression of MAP-2 and SYN and the dentritic growth of pyramidal cells in normal rats.
ABSTRACT
Objective To systematically review the clinical efficacy of botulinum toxin A for the treatment of upper limb spasticity after stroke. Methods PubMed,EMbase,Cochrane Library,CBM, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI),and Wanfang Data were retrieved by a computer. The randomized controlled trials and Case-control study of comparing botulinum toxin A combined with rehabilitation training and routine rehabilitation treatment for upper limb spasticity after stroke were collected. The retrieval time was from the foundation of the database to September 1,2016. At least two reviewers conducted literature screening,data extraction,and quality evaluation according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Rev-Man 5. 3 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration was used to conduct the Meta-analysis. Results A total of 356 articles were retrieved. Finally,11 articles met the inclusion criteria. The modified Jadad score showed that the scores of 9 articles were more than 4,which belonged to high-quality literature. Eleven articles included 614 patients,in which 316 were treated with botulinum toxin A. There were 298 patients in the control group. The results of Meta-analysis indicated that the Fugl-Meyer score (SMD =0. 94,95% CI 0. 75 to 1. 12),modified Ashworth score (SMD = - 1. 59,95% CI - 1. 78 to - 1. 40),and modified Barthel index (SMD = 0. 86,95% CI 0. 65 to 1. 08)in the botulinum toxin treatment group were superior to the control group. There were significant differences (all P 0. 05). Conclusion The efficacy of treatment of upper limb spasticity after stroke with botulinum toxin A is exact,and the security is high. The appropriate rehabilitation training can effectively improve the limb motor function,muscle tension,and quality of life of patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training on the upper extremity function of post-stroke patients and the possible mechanisms. Methods Twenty-one post-stroke patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group (10 patients) or a control group (ll patients).The patients in the treatment group were given conventional rehabilitation therapy and mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training for 4 weeks.The control group was given only the same conventional rehabilitation treatment as the treatment group and upper extremity task-oriented training for 4 weeks.Both groups trained 1 h/d,5 d/week.Upper-extremity motor ability was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and the Hong Kong version of the functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity (FTHUE-HK).Ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) pre-treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Results At the 2nd week and 4th week evaluations,the FMA,FTHUE-HK and BI scores in both groups had all significantly increased compared with pretreatment.The average FMA score in the treatment group increased significantly more than in the control group at week 2,but by the 4th week both FMA and FTHUE-HK scores in the treatment group significantly exceeded those in the control group.There was no significant difference between the two groups in the improvement of their average BI scores. Conclusions Implementing mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training is efficacious.It may promote upper-extremity motor ability in patients with hemiparesis soon after stroke,but there is no definite improvement in ADL ability.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:To decrease operation amount of finite element analysis and increase its clinical practice,previous studies explored the material properties and 10 kinds of material attributes were assigned,which met the requirements of finite element analysis.Moreover,it can be used to calculate bone density.OBJECTIVE:To explore a method for measurement of bone density based on three-dimensional reconstruction and finite element analysis.METHODS:A total of 11 specimens of femoral superior segment were selected.The mass of control group was firstly measured.The experimental groups were treated with thin-slice high resolution CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction in Mimics 10.0,volume meshing in Ansys,assigned with 10,100 and 400 kinds of material attributes Mimics,exported to Ansys to calculat the volumes of the block elements of every types of material attributes.The mass and the density of the specimens was harvested according to the empirical formula concerning the gray value and the bone density.All results were treated with one-way ANOVA.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:One-way ANOVA showed that there were no significant differences between control group and experimental groups assigned with 10,100 and 400 kinds of material attributes (P＞0.28),and there were no significantly among the experimental groups (P＞0.8).Results show that the method was able to measure the mass and the density of bone quantitatively,as well as the proportion between compact bone and cancellous bone;to assign 10 kinds of material attributes to three-dimensional model of femur could match the needs for measurements.The results can be used as an initial preparation for the unification of bone density and finite element analysis for osteoporosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of music therapy in treating cognitive dysfunction in early stroke patients. Methods Forty patients who had suffered a stroke in the previous four weeks were randomly di-vided into two groups of 20. One received music therapy as part of their cognitive training ( observation group) , and the other did not (control group). Before and after 6 weeks of treatment, cognitive functioning was evaluated using the second Chinese edition of Loewenstein's occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA). The patients' a-bility in the activities of daily living was also evaluated using the modified Barthel index (MBI). Results After treatment, the total LOTCA and MBI scores in both groups were significantly higher than before. Both LOTCA and MBI scores in the observation group were significantly higher than in the control group, and there were also signifi-cant differences between the observation and control groups on all of the LOTCA sub-items except spatial percep-tion. Conclusions Music therapy can improve the effects of rehabilitation on cognition and the ADL ability of early stroke patients.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Based on previously theoretical derivation,it thought that assignment with 10 kinds of material attributes to three-dimensional model of bone can match the needs of finite element analysis,however,whether the results is consistent with actual needs to be validated by experimental results.OBJECTIVE:Twelve specimens of femoral superior segment were used for finite element analysis,which were verified with results of biomechanical testing,to explore a reasonable method for material assignment of bone.METHODS:All 12 specimens of femoral superior segment were treated with CT scan,three-dimensional reconstruction in Mimics 10.0 and volume meshing in Ansys.The finite element analysis group was divided into 2 kinds (compact bone and cancellated bone),10,50,100,200,400 kinds of material attributes groups based on the gray value.All models were assigned with material attributes and tested in Ansys for mechanics data of nodes on surface of femoral neck.In biomechanical testing group,12 specimens of femoral superior segment were treated with compressed testing to harvest mechanics data of measuring point same as that of finite element analysis group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The one-way analysis of variance showed that the differences between the biomechanical testing group and finite element analysis group of 2 kinds of material attributes had no obvious significance (P=0.082).Compared to the 10,50,100,200,400 kinds of material attributes group,the difference had no significance (P > 0.39).However,the differences between the 2 kinds of material attributes and the 10,50,100,200,400 kinds of material attributes in the finite element analysis group were obviously difference (P< 0.05),which was no difference in the 10,50,100,200,400 kinds of material attributes (P>0.9).The results demonstrated that to assign 10 kinds of material attributes to three-dimensional model of bone can match the needs of finite element analysis.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The investigated the effects of Dengzhan Xixin on brain water content, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), metabolites and the lesion ratio after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injuries (IRI).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The 65 rats were randomly individed into three groups, the sham-operated group, the ischemia-reperfusion group and the Dengzhan Xixin treatment group. The models of ischemia-reperfusion of middle cerebral artery in rats were established by placing an intraluminal suture. The Dengzhan Xixin treatment group were injected 10% Dengzhan Xixin injection 22.5 mg kg(-1) after ischemia 1.5 h. The sh am-operated group (n=5) were sacrificed on 1 to measure brain water content and BBB permeability. The rats of the ischemia-reperfusion group (n=30) and the Dengzhan Xixin treatment group (n=30) were sacrificed at reperfusion for 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 4 d, 7 d, respectively, after ischemia 1.5 h. The additional 35 rats were individed into the same three groups. The changes of T2WI and metabolites in the brain were observed, and rats were sacrificed at reperfusion for 1 d, 2 d, 4 d after ischemia 1.5 h to determine the lesion ratio by TTC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In the ischemia-reperfusion group, brain water content(77.93+/-0.68)% and BBB permeability (3.77+/-0.28) increased after reperfusion for 6 h. The peak time of brain water content was at 4 d (83.82+/-0.49)% and BBB permeability was at 2 d (5.51+/-0.24)%. In the ischemia-reperfusion group and the Dengzhan Xixin treatment group, there were hyperintense signals in the injury region of T2WI. In the ischemia-reperfusion group after reperfusion for 1 d, the ratio of NAA/Cr decreased and Cho/Cr increased. In the Dengzhan Xixin treatment group, the ratio of NAA/Cr increased and Cho/Cr decreased. In the treatment group, the lesion ratio decreased by TTC was 16.78+/-1.45 and in the ischemia-reperfusion group was 21.27+/-1.73 at 2 d.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dengzhan Xixin may relieve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by influencing the metabolites of brain, stabilizing BBB and decreasing brain edema.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Blood-Brain Barrier , Metabolism , Brain Ischemia , Metabolism , Pathology , Flavonoids , Pharmacology , Permeability , Rats, Wistar , Reperfusion Injury , Metabolism , Pathology , Water , MetabolismABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of enriched rehabilitative training on the expression of microtu-bule associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and synaptophysin (SYN), and to explore its relationship with brain plasticity. Methods Seventy-seven male Wistar rats weighing 160 to 200 g were randomly divided into an ischemia + enriched rehabilitation group (IE, n=36), an ischemia + standard rehabilitation group(IS, n=8), a sham ischemia + en-riched rehabilitation group (SE, n=21) and a sham ischemia + standard rehabilitation group (SS, n=12). Rats in the ischemia groups had their middle cerebral artery sutured for two hours before reperfusion, while those in the sham groups had a similar operation without occlusion. The enriched groups were given enriched rehabilitative train-ing, while the standard groups were left without any training. Behavioral tests, including the acrobatic performance, were administered once daily 2 days after operation, and SP staining of MAP2 and SYN were used to observe the func-tional recovery and brain plasticity changes among the groups at 1,7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the operations. Re-sults Acrobatic performance times reduced gradually. Bederson scores were significantly better in the IE than in the IS group by the 28th day after the operation). There was no significant difference between IE and IS groups in a foot fault test). The expression of MAP-2 and SYN around the infarct and in the hippocampus decreased significantly at first), then recovered gradually. The expression of MAP-2 and SYN in the IE group was significantly higher than that in the IS group at various time points of observation). Conclusion Enriched rehabilitative training can improve functional recovery and the expression of MAP-2 and SYN after brain ischemia, and the functional enhancement may attribute to the brain plasticity.
ABSTRACT
@#ObjectiveTo study effect of Herba Erigerontis on metabolites in cerebral ischemia rats with high-resolution magic angle spinning 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(HR MAS 1H NMR). Methods18 male Wistar rats, weighing 150～200 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups such as normal (n=6), ischemia (n=6), Herba Erigerontis treatment (n=6). Rat ischemia model was established with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), reperfusing or dosed with Herba Erigerontis after 3 h ischemia. The metabolites, including N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cre), choline (Cho), glutamate (Glu), and aspartate (Asp) etc., of cerebra and cerebella was observed using HR MAS 1H NMR. ResultsExcluding Cho, Glu, Asp, the concentrations of most metabolites of rat brain during ischemia were significantly lower than that of normal rats, and could be increased after drug treatment. ConclusionHerba Erigerontis shows positive effect on metabolites in cerebral ischemia rats.
ABSTRACT
@#ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Angelica sinensis on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Flt-1, Flk-1 mRNA after the brain ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.MethodsWistar rats were randomly divided into the group A, group B and normal control group. The group A underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2h by suture, group B underwent MCAO for 2h meanwhile received treatment with Angelica sinensis (5 g/kg). Immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique were used to examine the gene expression of VEGF.ResultsThe result of immunohistry revealed that VEGF in the group A and group B reached its peak at 24 h after reperfusion then declined gradually. The result of RT-PCR manifested that the gene expression of VEGF in the group A increased from 3 h after reperfusion and reached its peak at 6 h; in the group B reached its peak on the 3rd day. The expression of VEGF in the group B was significantly increased than group A at the same time point.ConclusionAngelica sinensis can enhance the expression of Flt-1, Flk-1 after transient interruption of cerebral blood flow in rats.
ABSTRACT
@#ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of nimodipine combined with electroacupuncture therapeutics protecting rats from cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.Methods60 rats were divided randomly into 3 groups, 24 rats in treatment group that accepted nimodipine combined with electroacupuncture therapy after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for one hour, and 24 in control group,which acceptd normal saline after ischemia and reperfusion injury, and 12 rats in normal group. One or three days later, all rats were decapitated and their brains were extracted for superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and malonaldehyde(MDA) concentration assay. And immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of growth associated protein 43(GAP-43),microtubule associated protein 2(MAP-2) and cyclin D1 protein.ResultsAfter ischemia and reperfusion injury,SOD activity markedly decreased in both treatment and control group while MDA concentration increased, compared with normal group(P<0.01).Level of MAP-2 expression in treatment and control group was markedly lower than normal group(P<0.01), while levels of GAP-43 and cyclin D1 expression were higher (P<0.01). Contrasted to control group, SOD activity was higher and MDA concentration was lower in treatment group. Level of GAP-43 and MAP-2 expression in treatment group were higher than those in control group, while level of cyclin D1 lower. Differences between treatment group and control group were significent(P<0.01).ConclusionsNimodipine combined with electroacupuncture therapeutics can prevent brains from ischemia and reperfusion injury. It's actions of wiping free radicals out, inhibiting apoptosis and protein hydrolysis and promoting nerve regeneration are involved in the mechanism.
ABSTRACT
@#ObjectiveTo explore the relationship of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and the infarction area after transient focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.MethodsModels of transient focal ischemia of MCA in rats were built by placing an intraluminal suture and the neurologic deficit score, lesion area and MMP-9 expression were analyzed.ResultsThe expression of MMP-9 and the infarction area were positive correlation, but there is no correlation between the neurologic deficit score and the MMP-9 expression.ConclusionAfter cerebral ischemia-reperfusion the MMP-9 expression is upregulated. The study suggests that MMP-9 may be involved in infarction lesion.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the utility of infrared thermography in evaluating the effects of treating cervicicardiac syndrome. Methods Sixty-six patients with cervicicardiac syndrome were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (observation group and control group). Stellate ganglion blocking was carried out in the observation group, in addition to traditional treatments including local injection and physiotherapy. Only traditional treatment was given to the patients of the control group. Before and after treatment, the two groups were measured using infrared thermography to observe the variety of the thermometric points. Results After 2 courses of treatment, 30 patients showed better effects in the observed group, and 17 patients in the control group. Regarding the thermometric points, there were significant differences between the observation group and the control group except at the neck point. Conclusion Infrared thermography can be a supplementary method of evaluating curative effects in cervicicardiac syndrome. This method should be of value in clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors(VEGFR) mRNA at different time points after focal cerebral ischemic-reperfusion(CIR) in rats. Methods Following the establishment of the of transient ischemia modelof middle cerebral artery in rats by Zea-Longa′s method, the expression of VEGF and its receptors mRNA was measured with semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at different time points. Results The expression of VEGF mRNA increased 3 h after CIR,and peaked at 6 h, and then declined, returned to the baseline at 7 d. The expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 mRNA was enhanced at 3 h, and reached its peak at 3 d, then declined gradually. Conclusion The expression of VEGF、Flt-1 and Flk-1 mRNA can be induced by focal CIR in rats.