Identification of Novel Circular RNA Targets in Key Penumbra Region of Rats After Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundantly and stably expressed in the brain of mammals and humans. Some circRNAs are implicated in ischemic stroke. Therefore, we aimed to detect how circRNAs change in the key penumbra area during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury. Rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), during which the permanent blocking period was 2 h and reperfusion time was 24 or 72 h. Then modified neurologic severity score (mNSS), triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and HE staining were used to exhibiting damage between rats in different groups. The penumbra regions of all rats were dissected and total RNA was further processed for high-throughput sequencing. CircRNA expression profiles were screened and bioinformatics analyses were conducted to investigate these differentially expressed circRNAs. Some of them were verified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), followed by the establishment of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and the detection of their downstream molecules. A total of 99 and 98 circRNAs were differentially expressed at CI/R 24 h and CI/R 72 h, respectively. Notably, 21 circRNAs significantly changed at both reperfusion points. Three circRNAs, namely circ.7225, circ.5415, and circ.20623 were found to be associated with CI/R injury and might be preferred targets. Common downstream miR-298-5p and Bcl-3 were found to make up the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Novel circRNA targets came to light in the penumbra of rats during CI/R injury and might establish the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA relationship, thus serving as potential biomarkers for ischemic stroke treatment.

[Clinical effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist on wrist joint contracture after stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training and simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with wrist joint contracture after stroke were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 36 cases in each one. In the control group, simple rehabilitation training was applied, 5 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist was adopted in the observation group. The tapping regions were wrist traveling parts of three yin meridians of hand, ranging from up 3 cun to below 1 cun of wrist crease, 3 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. The active range of motion (AROM) of active wrist extension, Fugl-Meyer score (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: The AROM, FMA scores and BI scores after treatment in the two groups were superior to before treatment (P<0.05), and the improvements of 3 indexes in the observation group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training is superior to simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke.