Interleukin-11 treatment protected against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation and immune responses are crucial factors associated with the onset and progression of stroke. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a hematopoietic IL-6 family cytokine that functions as an anti-inflammatory agent against various inflammatory diseases. However, its roles in stroke remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-11 on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in a model of focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into five groups the vehicle group, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group, the MCAO plus adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C group, the MCAO plus IL-11 treatment group, and the MCAO plus IL-11 treatment and compound C group. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the left middle cerebral artery, and reperfusion was achieved by withdrawing the suture 2 h after ischemia. The protein expression levels of IL-11 were measured using Western blot analysis, and its location was detected using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. The infarct volume was examined using 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, and the neurobehavioral progression was assessed using the neurological scoring system. The expression of astrocytes and microglia was detected using immunochemistry, and real-time quantitative PCR was used for the gene quantification of inflammatory cytokines. The extent of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was tested using Nissl staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression of the apoptotic proteins Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 were detected using Western blot analysis, and the oxidative stress was also measured. RESULTS: The expression of IL-11 mRNA and protein significantly decreased after cerebral ischemia. Immunohistochemical staining showed a large amount of IL-11 in the cerebral cortex of the mice in the vehicle group, whereas the immunoreactivity of IL-11 remained weak for 24 h in the MCAO group. Immunofluorescent staining further confirmed that IL-11 was mainly expressed in the neurons. It was suggested that IL-11 (20 µg/kg) treatment ameliorated infarction and reduced neurological scores. In addition, IL-11 proved to reduce neuropathic damage, glial activation, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and increase the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines after cerebral ischemia. IL-11 was also able to alleviate oxidative stress caused by cerebral ischemia, and AMPK inhibition enhanced the alleviation. Moreover, IL-11 was found to inhibit apoptosis caused by cerebral ischemia, which could also be facilitated by AMPK inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE: Our research suggests that IL-11 is decreased during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, but IL-11 treatment can improve neurological function and reduce the cerebral infarct volume, which can trigger stroke in mice. AMPK inhibition can further promote the protective effect of IL-11 in stroke. Overall, we demonstrate that IL-11 is of therapeutic interest in controlling stroke and managing cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

[Comparative study on curative effects of stroke treated with acupuncture by NIRS].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the intracephalic imaging differences of stroke treated with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture and body acupuncture only, in order to apply the image basis for the differences of clinical curative effects. METHODS: Twenty cases of stroke were randomized into a body acupuncture group (group A) and a scalp and body acupuncture group (group B), ten cases in each group respectively. In group A, body acupuncture was applied simply, and different acupoints were selected according to the symptoms: Shousanli (LI 10), Jianliao (TE 14), Huantiao (GB 30) and Jiaji (EX-B 2) etc. were selected for hemiplegia, Fengchi (GB 20), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Quanliao (SI 18) etc. were for facial paralysis, Fengfu (GV 16) and Lianquan (CV 23) etc. were for aphasia. In group B, combined therapy were applied, the body acupoints selection was same as above; for scalp acupoints, corresponding motor area, sensory area and foot motor sensory area were selected. Instant changes of local cerebral blood flow before and after treatment were examined and evaluated by NIRS and the curative effects of both groups were evaluated. RESULTS: The total therapeutic effective rate was 90.0% (9/10) and the basically cured rate was 30.0% (3/10) in group A; and 100.0% (10/10) and 50.0% (5/10) respectively in group B, indicating that the clinical curative effect in group B was superior to that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05). Both imaging results showed that blood flows of prefrontal cortex in both groups were increased with varying degrees after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the cerebral blood flow in group B was much more improved than that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can significantly increase blood flow and oxygen saturation in brain cortex, and the effect with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture is superior to that with body acupuncture.

[Effects of electric-moxibustion on brain mantle accessed with near-infrared imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) or Shenque (CV 8) on the cerebral blood flow. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteer were treated by electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) or Shenque (CV 8) with multi-functional electric-moxibustion instrument. The changes of the forehead cortex blood flow during moxibustion were detected by dynamic continuous spectrum near-infrared imaging. RESULTS: There were significant differences as the forehead cortex blood flow after electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) for 20 and 30 minutes compared with their initial data (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and as the forehead cortex blood flow after electric-moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) for 10, 20 and 30 minutes compared with their initial data (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). CONCLUSION: Electric-moxibustion at both Baihui (GV 20) and Shenque (CV 8) can improve the volume of brain cortex blood flow and electric-moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) has rapid effect.

A green process to prepare chromic oxide green pigment.

A hydrogen reduction and activated sintering process was proposed to prepare chromic oxide green pigment. Through ICP, XRD, SEM, FT-IR, UV, and CIE-L*a*b* colorimetric analysis, key factors and mechanism that influenced preparation of chromic oxide green pigment were studied. The results revealed that lower hydrogen reduction temperature, suitable addition of Al and Ba, were beneficial to obtaining the high quality chromic oxide green pigment. Typically, when the hydrogen reduction temperature was kept at 450-500 degrees C, physicochemical properties and color performance of the prepared chromic oxide green pigment doped with about 0.1-0.2 wt % Al and 0.2-0.5 wt % Ba conformed to commercial pigment standards. Additionally, characteristics of the green process were discussed. About 90 wt % KOH was reused directly and about 90 wt % Cr(VI) was conversed to Cr(III) directly from potassium chromate to chromic oxide green pigment. Integrating the proprietary green metallurgical process from chromite ore to potassium chromate of this laboratory, more than 99 wt % Cr(VI) could be conversed to Cr(III) compounds and about 99 wt % KOH could be recycled to use. The whole green process, ranging from chromite ore to chromic oxide green pigment, eventually not only provided the possibility for producing the high quality chromic oxide green pigment, but could reach comprehensive utilization of resources, inner recycle of KOH, and zero emission of Cr(VI).

[Replacement of third-generation cephalosporins by piperacillin-tazobactam decreases colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing intestinal Escherichia coli].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of replacement of third-generation cephalosporins by piperacillin-tazobactam (pip-tazo) in influencing the colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) in intestinal tract. METHODS: The study was divided into two phases lasting altogether 9 months, namely the pre-replacement phase (phase I, 3 months) and replacement phase (phase II, 6 months). In the latter phase, third-generation cephalosporins was restricted and replaced by pip-tazo. In phase I and phase IIb (the last 3 months of phase II), clinical data and rectal swab were taken for E. coli isolation as follow: within 24 hrs after admission (baseline screening), every week and 48 hrs before discharge. ESBLs production was detected with double disc test. Acquisition rate of ESBLs-producing E. coli were calculated both in ES1 group (patients' rectal swab collected and tests at least 2 times) and ES2 group (ES1 but with negative ESBLs either at the time of screening on admission or at anytime during the hospital stay). Continuous variable was compared using unpaired t-test and categorical variables was compared using Pearson Chi square test. Fisher's exact test was used in the two phases. RESULTS: In phase IIb, as compared with in phase I, the total consumption of antibiotics other than pip-tazo was reduced by 38.40%, the third-generation cephalosporins consumption was reduced by 70.11%, but pip-tazo consumption was raised by 895.35%. Meanwhile, the acquisition rate of ESBLs-producing E. coli in rectal swab was significantly decreased in phase IIb as compared with phase I (11.4% vs 24.0%) in ES1 group and the same is true in ES2 group (11.8% vs 27.9%). CONCLUSION: Replacement of third-generation cephalosporin with pip-tazo can reduce colonization of ESBLs--producing E. coli in intestinal tract.

[Application of FTIR and XPS technique to the analysis of the mixture containing chromium in a low valence state].

Chromium has various valence states and in the process of preparing chromium oxides with low valence state of chromium, chromium compounds with different valence state of chromium can usually be produced as intermediates. Due to the difference in property of these intermediates, they always have remarkable influences on the morphological characteristics of the final product. The composition of the intermediate was very complicated in the process of synthesizing chromium oxide with low valence state of chromium by reducing potassium chromate with hydrogen. To explore the reaction mechanism and further optimize the technical process, the composition of the intermediate obtained from the reduction of K2CrO4 with hydrogen was investigated through the combination of XPS, FTIR and XRD. The XPS results revealed that the intermediate of reducing potassium chromate with hydrogen is trivalent chromium compound; the results of FTIR and XRD indicated that the intermediate mainly consists of Cr(OH)3 x nH2O, HCrO2 and a little amount of KOH or KCrO2. On the basis of the above analysis of the intermediate, the possible reactions that occurred in the reduction process were suggested.

[Clinical observation on combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for treatment of 160 cases of polyneuritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on polyneuritis. METHODS: One hundred and sixty cases were treated with combined scalp acupuncture, body acupuncture (stimulating root of nerve as main), cupping and pricking at segmental root of nerve, and electric hot moxibustion, and their therapeutic effects were observed. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-eight cases were cured (86.3%) and the total effective rate was 100.0%. The average recovery time for clinical symptoms was 12.81 days, the average recovery time for nervous system signs was 19.76 days, the average recovery time for recovery of ocular muscular dyskinesia was 15.14 days. There was significant therapeutic effect for improvement of simple symptoms, with significant differences when the first and second therapeutic courses compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has a definite therapeutic effect on polyneuritis.