Intermittent theta burst stimulation can improve the spatially-delayed responses of working memory / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective:To observe any effect of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on the spatially-delayed responses of working memory using cynomolgus macaques.Methods:The working memory of six male cynomolgus macaques (8-9 years old) was trained using a spatially-delayed response task. They were then randomly divided into an iTBS group and a control group, each of 3. The iTBS group was given iTBS at an intensity of 35% of the maximum output, with 2 seconds of stimulation followed by 8 seconds of rest with trains of 50Hz bursts repeated at a frequency of 5Hz over a period of 192 seconds once daily for 5 days, while the control group was given sham iTBS. Before and after the 5 days, the body weight and working memory of each animal were evaluated. The total number of effective feeding episodes, and of effective feeding episodes with short and long delay periods were recorded.Results:There was no significant change in the average body weight of either group before and after the modeling and iTBS intervention. After the intervention the number of total effective feeding cases and those with a short delay period were both significantly higher in the iTBS group than in the control group. However, no significant inter-group differences in the effective feeding cases with a long delay period were observed.Conclusions:iTBS is effective in improving the spatially-delayed responses of working memory, at least in cynomolgus macaques.

Impact of the Timing of Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy on the Therapeutic Effect and Prognosis of Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 / 中国医学科学院学报

To explore the optimal therapy time for the treatment of severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and its influence on the therapeutic effect and prognosis. The clinical data,laboratory findings,and outcomes of 64 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with TCM and western medicine in Chongqing from January 20,2020, to March 11,2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into early intervention group[TCM was initiated within 3 days (including day 3) after the first diagnosis of severe type/critical type COVID-19]and late intervention group[TCM was initiated after 7 days (including day 7) after the first diagnosis of severe type /critical type COVID-19].The changes in clinical parameters during the course of disease were compared between the two groups. On day 14,the oxygenation index was 292.5(252.0,351.0)mmHg in the early intervention group,which was significantly higher than that in the late intervention group [246.0(170.0,292.5)mmHg](=0.005).The length of hospital stay [(18.56±1.11)d (24.87±1.64)d,=0.001],duration of ICU stay [(14.12±0.91)d (20.00±1.53)d,=0.000] and time to negativity [(16.77±1.04)d (22.48±1.66)d,=0.001] in the early intervention group were significantly shorter than those in the late intervention group.The intubation rate(7.3%)in the early intervention group was significantly lower than that in the late intervention group(30.4%)(=0.028). Early TCM therapy within three days after a diagnosis of severe COVID-19 can shorten the length of hospital stay,duration of ICU stay,and time to negativity and decrease intubation rate.

Intracerebral Transplantation of BDNF-overexpressing Human Neural Stem Cells (HB1.F3.BDNF) Promotes Migration, Differentiation and Functional Recovery in a Rodent Model of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by abnormally expanded CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene. The huntingtin gene mutation leads to the progressive degeneration of striatal GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSN) and reduces the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in HD patient’s brain. BDNF is an essential neurotrophic factor for the cortico-striatal synaptic activity and the survival of GABAergic neurons. In this study, we transplanted BDNF-overexpressing human neural stem cells (HB1.F3.BDNF) into the contra-lateral side of unilateral quinolinic acid (QA)-lesioned striatum of HD rat model. The results of in vivo transplantation were monitored using various behavioral tests, 4.7 T animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and immunohistochemical staining. We observed that the QA-lesioned rats receiving HB1.F3.BDNF cells exhibited significant behavioral improvements in the stepping, rotarod and apomorphine-induced rotation tests. Interestingly, contralaterally transplanted cells were migrated to the QA-lesioned striatum and the size of lateral ventricle was reduced. Histological analyses further revealed that the transplanted cells, which had migrated to the QA lesion site, were differentiated into the cells of GABAergic, MSN-type neurons expressing DARPP-32, and neural networks were established between the transplanted cells and the host brain, as revealed by retrograde tracing. Finally, there was a significant reduction of inflammatory response in HB1.F3.BDNF-transplanted HD animal model, compared with vehicle-transplanted group. Taken together, these results suggest that HB1.F3.BDNF can be an effective therapeutic strategy to treat HD patients in the future.

Evaluation of neuroactive effects of ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis, Schisandrin, and Schisandrin B and determination of underlying mechanisms by zebrafish behavioral profiling / 中国天然药物

Schisandra chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used to treat sleep disorders. Zebrafish sleep/wake behavioral profiling provides a high-throughput platform to screen chemicals, but has never been used to study extracts and components from TCM. In the present study, the ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis and its two main lignin components, schisandrin and schisandrin B, were studied in zebrafish. We found that the ethanol extract had bidirectional improvement in rest and activity in zebrafish. Schisandrin and schisandrin B were both sedative and active components. We predicted that schisandrin was related to serotonin pathway and the enthanol extract of Schisandra chinensis was related to seoronin and domapine pathways using a database of zebrafish behaviors. These predictions were confirmed in experiments using Caenorhabditis elegans. In conclusion, zebrafish behavior profiling could be used as a high-throughput platform to screen neuroactive effects and predict molecular pathways of extracts and components from TCM.

Construction and evaluation of a simple and stable mouse model of traumatic brain injury / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To construct and evaluate a mouse model of traumatic brain injury (TBI)that simulates both motor and cognitive impairment.Methods Twenty-four healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a sham group and a TBI group (n=12/group).The TBI model was prepared by referring to the compression injury model with some modifications.The sham group underwent an identical process without mechanical trauma.Motor function was evaluated using the rotarod and beam-walking tasks at 1,3,7,14,21,28 days post-injury.Spatial learning and memory capacities were assessed at 28,29,30,31,32,33 days post-injury by the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test.Nissl staining was performed to observe pathological changes and immunofluorescence staining to detect the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor protein (Iba-1) in the mouse brain on the 34th day after modeling.Results The latency for the TBI group was significantly lower than that for the sham group,and the frequency of slipping off the beam by the right hindlimbs for the TBI group was significantly higher than that for the sham group at 1,3,7,14,21,28 days post-injury (P＜0.05).The escape latency for the TBI group was significantly longer than that for the sham group in the MWM test at 30,31 and 32 days after modeling (P＜0.05).The times of crossing the platform for the TBI group were significantly less than those for the sham group at day 33 after TBI (P＜ 0.05).The lesion volume for the sham group was significantly smaller than that for the TBI group [(0.55± 0.06)％ vs.(16.90±1.14)％,P＜0.05].The numbers of astrocytes in the TBI and sham groups were respectively 101.40±6.18/mm2 and 20.17±1.55/mm2,and the numbers ofmicroglia in the 2 groups were respectively 119.20±6.28/mm2 and 23.58±1.72/mm2,showing statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion Since the TBI model we constructed is simple and reproducible with stable motor deficits and cognitive impairments which are consistent with the pathological changes of moderate TBI.it can be used in animal TRI experiments.

Evaluation of neuroactive effects of ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis, Schisandrin, and Schisandrin B and determination of underlying mechanisms by zebrafish behavioral profiling / 中国天然药物

Schisandra chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used to treat sleep disorders. Zebrafish sleep/wake behavioral profiling provides a high-throughput platform to screen chemicals, but has never been used to study extracts and components from TCM. In the present study, the ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis and its two main lignin components, schisandrin and schisandrin B, were studied in zebrafish. We found that the ethanol extract had bidirectional improvement in rest and activity in zebrafish. Schisandrin and schisandrin B were both sedative and active components. We predicted that schisandrin was related to serotonin pathway and the enthanol extract of Schisandra chinensis was related to seoronin and domapine pathways using a database of zebrafish behaviors. These predictions were confirmed in experiments using Caenorhabditis elegans. In conclusion, zebrafish behavior profiling could be used as a high-throughput platform to screen neuroactive effects and predict molecular pathways of extracts and components from TCM.

Effect of berberine chloride on autophagy and β-secretase level in mice with traumatic brain injury / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine chloride on autophagy and β-secretase (BACE) level in mice with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods Eighteen female healthy C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups:control group,model group and berberine group (n=6).TBI models in the later two groups were established by a weight-drop hitting device and mice in berberine group were administered intragastricly with berberine chloride (50 mg/kg) once daily for 21 d.Immunofluorescent staining were used to assess LC3 and BACE expressions in ipsilateral cortex or thalamus,and then,their mean fluorescence intensities were calculated and compared among these three groups.Results LC3 expression in the ipsilateral cortex and thalamus and BACE expression in the ipsilateral cortex (0.02±0.01,0.06±0.02 and 0.04±0.01 in the control group,model group and berberine group) showed significant difference among the three groups (P＜0.05):LC3 expression in ipsilateral cortex and thalamus and BACE expression in the ipsilateral cortex of the model group were significantly increased as compared with those of the control group (P＜0.05);the LC3 expression in the ipsilateral cortex and thalamus and BACE expression in the ipsilateral cortex of the model group were significantly decreased as compared with those of the berberine group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Autophagy is over-activated in the ipsolateral cortex and thalamus and BACE is over-activated in the ipsolateral cortex after TBI,and these changes are significantly suppressed by berberine chloride.

Study on the rehabilitation effect and family satisfaction of patients with schizophrenia in the treatment of aripiprazole by synergistic nursing model / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To study the rehabilitation effect of aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia and the satisfaction of family members. Methods 64 patients with schizophrenia were randomly selected from the two groups. The control group and the observation group were randomly divided into two groups: the routine management and the cooperative nursing management model, and the social function evaluation scale and Family satisfaction questionnaire to investigate the results of the two groups of patients with the rehabilitation effect. Results The scores of rehabilitation questionnaire scores and family satisfaction scores in the experimental group were higher than those in the conventional condition (P<0.05), which indicated that the cooperative nursing model was helpful for the rehabilitation of schizophrenia. Conclusion The use of synergistic nursing model in the treatment of aripiprazole has a great effect on the rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia. The results are very good.

Study on the rehabilitation effect and family satisfaction of patients with schizophrenia in the treatment of aripiprazole by synergistic nursing model / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To study the rehabilitation effect of aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia and the satisfaction of family members. Methods 64 patients with schizophrenia were randomly selected from the two groups. The control group and the observation group were randomly divided into two groups: the routine management and the cooperative nursing management model, and the social function evaluation scale and Family satisfaction questionnaire to investigate the results of the two groups of patients with the rehabilitation effect. Results The scores of rehabilitation questionnaire scores and family satisfaction scores in the experimental group were higher than those in the conventional condition (P<0.05), which indicated that the cooperative nursing model was helpful for the rehabilitation of schizophrenia. Conclusion The use of synergistic nursing model in the treatment of aripiprazole has a great effect on the rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia. The results are very good.

A mouse cerebral cortical microinfarct model induced by ultrashort laser irradiation wih two-photon microscopy / 国际脑血管病杂志

ObjectiveTo verify the reliability of the mouse model of cerebral cortical microinfarct induced by two-photon microscopy and to explore its pathological changes.MethodsSeventeen male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a microinfarct group (n=11) or a sham operation group (n=6).A thinned cranial window of 3 mm diameter was performed over the cerebral cortex with a high-speed micro-drill until the small blood vessels were clearly observed under a dissecting microscope.Then, a permanent single cortical penetrating arteriole occlusion was induced with a gradually enhanced ultrashort laser irradiation through the thinned cranial window with two-photon microscopy.At 7 days after modeling, the cerebral microinfarct volume was measured with HE staining, and the neuron loss, activation of glial cells and deposition of 3-nitrotyrosine were assessed using immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe target vessels of cerebral cortex in 8 (72.7%) mice were occluded and the microinfarcts formed in the microinfarct group, and the average microinfarct volume was 317.23±20.29 μm3.There were remarkable neuron loss and microglia infiltration in the infarcted core, a large number of reactive astrocytes surrounding the infarcted lesion, and massive deposition of 3-nitrotyrosine in the peri-infarct area.No infarcts were observed in the sham operation group.The deposition of 3-nitrotyrosine in the sham operation group was significantly less than that in the microinfarct group (8.00±1.48 vs.98.38±9.10;t=23.962, P<0.001).Conclusions The mouse model of cerebral cortical microinfarct induced by two-photon microscopy is reliable, and its histopathologic changes are consistent with the pathologic features of cerebral microinfarct.

Effects of berberine chloride on secondary brain injury in contralateral parietal lobe cortex of TBI model mice / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To examine neuroinflammation,oxidative damage and neuron loss in the contralateral parie-tal lobecortex of TBI model mice, and to investigate effects of berberine chloride on such secondary damage.Methods TBI model was established by a weight-drop hitting device and mice in berberine group were administered intragastrically with berberine chloride (50mg/kg.day) for 21 days.Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess activity of microglia and astrocyte.Immunohistochemistry was used to assess DNA oxidative damage, neuron loss and expression of COX-2 and iN-OS.Results Activation of microglia and astrocyte, expressions of COX-2 and iNOS and DNA oxidative damage were ob-viously increased by TBI,(19.82 ±1.88)and(16.96 ±1.69)、(13.79 ±4.32)and(8.67 ±0.96)、(27.86 ±5.38) and (16.00 ±7.59)、(31.92 ±6.57)and(24.79 ±2.78)respectively (P0.05). Conclusions TBI can cause neuroinflammation and oxidative damage but not neuron loss in the contralateral parietal lobe cortex.Berberine chloride can significantly suppress neuroinflammtion in the contralateral parietal lobe cortex after TBI.

The clinical analysis of Huntington disease：a case study from 12 genetic diagnosis families / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestation, inherited pattern and the related factor of Hunting?ton disease families. Method The clinical data from 12 HD families was collected from 2013-2014. Patients received the genetic test and neurological evaluation including motor, cognitive and problem of behavior. Results There were 12 patients having the IT15 gene dynamic mutations, including 1 Juvenile Huntington disease patient and 3 pre-symptomat?ic mutant gene carriers. The average CAG repeats of these patients was between the range of 40 to 60, and the average on?set age ranged from 13 to 54 year-old. Positive family history and genetic anticipation could be observed. Patients pre?sented with different clinical manifestations at the early stage while had typical chorea movements, declined cognitive and psychiatric symptoms at the late stage of the illness. Conclusions There are typical triad symptoms in the late stage but not in the early stage nor pre-symptom stage illness. Clinical manifestation and the neuroimaging are both of great ref?erence value, and the genetic test is essential for final diagnosis.

Effects of insulin on vascular diameter of the peri -infarct region and infarct volume after cerebral infarction in mice / 国际脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of insulin on vascular diameter of the peri -infarct region and infarct volume after cerebral infarction in mice. Methods Forty male C57/BL6j mice w ere randomly divided into a control group ( n = 5), a cerebral infarction group ( n = 15), a cerebral insulin resistance group (n = 5), and a cerebral insulin resistance infarction group ( n = 15). A model of cerebral infarction w as induced by the photochemical method. A model of cerebral insulin resistance w as induced by intracerebroventricular injection of streptozocin. Tw o -photon confocal microscope w as used to in vivo evaluate the changes of vascular diameter in the peri-infarct region at 20 min after insulin injection into the cerebelomedulary cistern. After modeling of cerebral infarction, artificial cerebrospinal fluid or insulin (10 ng/ml) w as immediately injected into the cerebelomedulary cistern, and the effect of insulin on cerebral infarct volume w as evaluated at 24 h after infarction. Results Insulin did not have significant effect on various types of cerebral vascular diameters in the normal control group, but it significantly contracted cerebral arteries ( -23.16% ±6.86% and -23.32% ±6.40%, respectively; al P <0.001) and penetrating arteries ( -15.20% ±5.51% and -16.40% ±4.27%, respectively; al P < 0.001) in the cerebral insulin resistance group and the cerebral insulin resistance infarction group, but it did not have any effect on the diameters of the cerebral veins. There w ere no significant differences in the vasoactive effects of insulin betw een the cerebral infarction group and the normal control group, as w el as betw een the cerebral insulin resistance group and the cerebral insulin resistance infarction group. Insulin significantly reduced the volume of cerebral infarction in the cerebral infarction group (9.0 ±1.0 mm3 vs.6.0 ±1.2 mm3; t = 4.294,P =0.002), and it did not have significant effect on the volume of cerebral infarction in the cerebral insulin resistance infarction group ( 12.6 ±2.3 mm3 vs.11.6 ±1.7 mm3; t = 0.782, P = 0.456). Conclusions Insulin can reduce ischemic brain injury in normal mice and can not affect the cerebrovascular diameter of the peri-infarct region. The neuroprotective effect of insulin is not significant in cerebral insulin resistance in mice, and it may be associated w ith the vasoconstrictor effects of insulin in the peri -infarct region.

Long-term Efficacy of Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease: A 5-year Follow-up Study in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) is effective against advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), allowing dramatic improvement of Parkinsonism, in addition to a significant reduction in medication. Here we aimed to investigate the long-term effect of STN DBS in Chinese PD patients, which has not been thoroughly studied in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten PD patients were assessed before DBS and followed up 1, 3, and 5 years later using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS III), Parkinson's Disease Questionnatire-39, Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-Chinese Version, Mini-mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale. Stimulation parameters and drug dosages were recorded at each follow-up. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA for repeated measures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the "off" state (off medication), DBS improved UPDRS III scores by 35.87% in 5 years, compared with preoperative baseline (P < 0.001). In the "on" state (on medication), motor scores at 5 years were similar to the results of preoperative levodopa challenge test. The quality of life is improved by 58.18% (P < 0.001) from baseline to 3 years and gradually declined afterward. Sleep, cognition, and emotion were mostly unchanged. Levodopa equivalent daily dose was reduced from 660.4 ± 210.1 mg at baseline to 310.6 ± 158.4 mg at 5 years (by 52.96%, P < 0.001). The average pulse width, frequency and amplitude at 5 years were 75.0 ± 18.21 μs, 138.5 ± 19.34 Hz, and 2.68 ± 0.43 V, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>STN DBS is an effective intervention for PD, although associated with a slightly diminished efficacy after 5 years. Compared with other studies, patients in our study required lower voltage and medication for satisfactory symptom control.</p>

Cyclosporine A inhibits inflammation and improves the neurological function in a rat model of cerebral isch-emia reperfusion / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To explore the neuroprotective effect of cyclosporine A against cerebral ischemia in a rat model of cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Methods Fifty-two adult male SD rats, weighted 250-280 gram, were randomly divided into three groups: the sham group (group A, n=6), PBS control group (group B, n=23) and cyclosporine A group (group C, n=23). Group C received hypodermic injection of cyclosporine A 10mg/kg daily after surgery and group B re?ceived equal volume of PBS instead. Modified Neurological Severity(mNss)scores were used to assess the neurological deficits at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days following cerebral ischemia. The infarct volume were measured 3 days after reperfu?sion. The neurons, reactive microglia and astrocytes around the infract area were detected by immunofluorescence at 3 and 30 days after surgery. Results Modified Neurological Severity scores were significantly lower in group C than group B at the third(P=0.003),seventh (P=0.011),Fourteenth (P=0.000),twenty-first (P=0.003) and thirtieth (P=0.004) days after surgery. cyclosporine A reduced infarct volume, reactive microglia and astrocytes while increased survived neurons (P<0.001) in ischemic penumbra 3 and 30 days after reperfusion (all P<0.001). Conclusion Continuous injection of cyclosporine A not only protects neurons against ischemia damage but also improves neurological functional recovery af?ter acute stage of damage, possibly through reduction of reactive microglia cells and proliferation of astrocytes.

A study of in vivo two-photon imaging of cerebravascular CO2 reactivity in mice / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To examine cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 inhalation in mice. Methods In vivo Two-Pho?ton imaging technique was used to record the reaction of cerebral cortical vessels including penetrating artery, surface vein and capillary in 5 male C57 mice after CO2 inhalation under a thinned-skull cranial window. Nitric oxide syntheses inhibitor L-NAME and Prostaglandin syntheses inhibitor Indomethacin were used to block different vasodilator pathways, respectively. Results Different mouse cortical vessels displayed different degrees of dilation to 1-minute 5%CO2 inhala?tion. The penetrating artery exhibited the most obvious dilation (45.01%±4.45%). L-NAME intervention significantly di?minished cerebravascular CO2 reactivity(P<0.05). Indomethacin significantly attenuated the dilation of artery but not capillary comparing with L-NAME intervention(P<0.05). Conclusions Different vessels react differently to CO2 inhala?tion in which postaglandins and NO signal pathways are involved.

Application of [11C] CFT dopamine transporter PET imaging in the diagnosis and severity assessment of Parkinson disease / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical value of [11C]CFT PET in the diagnosis and severity assessment of Parkinson disease (PD). Methods Thirty-eight patients with PD at various Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stages were included and underwent a [11C]CFT PET scan. The correlation between [11C]CFT uptake and unified Parkinson disease rating scale part III (UPDRS III) of PD patients was evaluated by calculating Pearson’s regression coefficient. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis was performed to compare the difference of dopamine transporter (DAT) distribution between ear-ly and advanced PD patients. Results There was a significant reduction of [11C]CFT uptake in the bilateral striatum of PD patients. There was a significant negative correlation between clinical scores of UPDRS III, rigidity, bradykinesia, pos-ture, gait and [11C]CFT uptake in the striatum. The SPM analysis revealed a significant and asymmetric decrease of [11C] CFT uptake in the striatum, predominantly on the putamen and caudate nucleus contralateral to the onset limb, in the posterior area of ipsilateral putamen in early PD (H&Y 1-2) patients compared with the normal controls. There was a sig-nificant symmetric decrease of [11C]CFT uptake in both putamen and caudate nucleus in advanced PD (H&Y 3-5) pa- tients, compared with normal controls. Compared with early PD patients, the reduction of DAT was more severe in bilater-al caudate nucleus and the ipsilateral putamen in the advanced PD patients. Conclusions [11C]CFT PET is a sensitive biomarker in the diagnosis and assessment of disease severity of PD patients.

Association between improved trunk stability and walking capacity using ankle-foot orthosis in hemiparetic patients with stroke: evidence from three-dimensional gait analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Restoration of both normal movement of the pelvis and centre of mass is a primary goal of walking rehabilitation in post-stroke patients because these movements are essential components of effective gait. The aim of this study is to quantitatively analyze the effect of ankle-foot orthosis on walking ability, and to investigate the correlation between improvements in trunk motion and walking capacity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Walking speed, centre of mass displacement, and pelvic movements were examined in 20 post-stroke hemiparetic patients with and without ankle-foot orthosis using three-dimensional motion analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Using ankle-foot orthosis improved walking speed, pelvic rotation and tilt, and lateral and vertical displacements of the centre of mass (P < 0.01). Moreover, the gait asymmetry index was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the Functional Ambulation Categories score improved significantly when patients used an ankle-foot orthosis (P < 0.05). There was significant correlation between improvements in the walking capacity and the displacement of the centre of mass in both vertical and lateral directions (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Using ankle-foot orthosis improves the walking capacity by improving the stability and concordant of the trunk in hemiplegic patients. The improvement in the walking capacity from using an ankle-foot orthosis may be attributed to its prevention of foot drop and compensation for the instability of the ankle joint.</p>

Current status and challenges in neuroprotective agents for ischemic stroke / 国际脑血管病杂志

As a therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke,neuroprotective agents are used to antagonize a series of harmful molecular biological events in cerebral ischemia.This article reviewes the current status of neuroprotective agents in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke,and the challenges from pre-clinical evidences translating into the clinical trials.The vascular endothelial cells,glial cells and neurons should be studied as a whole.

Visuospatial attention deficit in patients with frontoparietal network lesions: Evidence from the attention network test / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To probe deficits in visuospatial attention using an attention network test (ANT) in patients with frontoparietal network lesions. Methods The ANT was used to measure the alertness, orienting and executive control abilities of 25 patients with local brain lesions, including 13 with frontal and 12 with parietal damage. Their results were compared with those of health adults. Results During ANT tasks, the patients' responses were significantly slower on each cue and target condition than controls', and showed deficits in their alerting and orienting networks. The efficiency of executive control was impaired in patients with frontal lesions, but increased with parietal lesions. Conclusions These findings suggest that the frontoparietal network is involved in alerting and orienting, but the executive control function may be selectively associated with the frontal lobe. ANT is an efficienttool for studying visual attention and cognition.