Hematoma enlargement-related factors in hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND:Continuous hemorrhage or hematoma enlargement often occurs following cerebral hemorrhage attacks. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the influential factors for hematoma enlargement in patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage prior to minimally invasive surgery. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A comparative analysis of 90 patients with cerebral hemorrhage undergoing minimally invasive surgery at the Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Scie...     

Electrocardiogram changes during hematoma enlargement in intracerebral hemorrhage patients**☆

BACKGROUND： It has been reported that cerebrovascular disease causes changes in electrocardiogram results. OBJECTIVE： To investigate changes in electrocardiogram results in patients with intracerebral bematoma enlargement. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The present case-retrospective analysis study was performed at the Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2005 to October 2006. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 225 intracerebral hemorrhage patients （142 males and 83 females） that were hospitalized at the Department of Neurology were enrolled the present study. The patient selection was in accordance with diagnostic criteria from the Fourth National Cerebrovascular Disease Congress of China in 1995, and diagnosis was confirmed using computed tomography. All patients underwent computed tomography twice within 24 hours following intracerebral hemorrhage, and were subjected to electrocardiogram examination after admission. METHODS： According to hematoma enlargement following intracerebral hemorrhage, all patients were divided into hematoma enlargement （n = 20） and non-hematoma enlargement （n = 205） groups. Because of the large patient number difference between the two groups, the hematoma enlargement group was matched with the non-hematoma enlargement group. Patients meeting these conditions were included in the non-hematoma enlargement group. Finally, 75 patients were included in the final analysis, 19 in the hematoma enlargement group and 56 in the non-hematoma enlargement group. Clinical data from the two groups were statistically analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The incidence of electrocardiographic abnormalities between the hematoma enlargement and non-hematoma enlargement groups. RESULTS： In the hematoma enlargement group, 15 patients （79%） developed electrocardiographic abnormafities. In the non-hematoma enlargement group, 24 patients （43%） presented with electrocardiographic abnormalities. There were sig     

Neurovascular compression and decompression of the intracranial vagus for blood pressure

BACKGROUND: Previous researches demonstrated that neurovascular decompression could cure hypertension; however, whether it could effectively control refractory hypertension after hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage should be further studied. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of neruovascular compression on intracranial vagus for blood pressure of dogs and investigate the effect of neurovascular decompression on blood pressure of patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study, clinical effects and retrospective analysis. SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from May to October 2006. A total of 15 healthy adult dogs of both genders were randomly divided into experimental group (n =10) and control group (n =5). Clinical observation: A total of 41 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were selected from the Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA and the Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from October 1999 to October 2006. Among them, one patient had brain stem hemorrhage. There were 27 males and 14 females aged from 41 to 66 years. Inclusion criteria: All patients were diagnosed with CT examination once or several times. Volume of hematoma ranged from 50 to 120 mL and had obviously operative indication. All patients provided consents. In addition, another 281 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who received traditionally internal and surgical therapies in our departments of neurosurgery, neurology and emergency room were selected in the control group. METHODS: ① Animal experiments: 20 cm autochthonous great saphenous vein was taken from dogs in the experimental group and coincided with tip of facial artery to form arterial loop so as to oppress left vagus and lateral bulb abdomen. In addition, 20 cm autochthonous great saphenous vein was taken from dogs in the control group and coincided with tip of facial artery to establish arterial loop so as to oppress left cerebellum to observe changes of blood pressure before and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after operation. ② Clinical observation: Among 41 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage including one with brain stem hemorrhage, they received microvascular decompression of vagus immediately after getting rid of intracerebral hematoma and stopping bleeding to observe its effect of depressurization. All patients and their relatives provided consents. ③ A total of 281 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who discharged after the treatment of traditionally internal and surgical therapies were studied retrospectively to observe changes of blood pressure after routine treatment and compare the results with neurovascular decompression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Changes of blood pressure of experimental dogs; ② effect of vascular decompression of vagus for blood pressure of patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage after clearing intracerebral hematoma; ③ different effects of neurovascular decompression and routinely internal and surgical therapies on hypertension. RESULTS: ① Results of animal experiments: Nine dogs in the experimental group survived. At 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after operation, blood pressure of dogs in the experimental group was (139.77±4.06), (149.11±4.90), (148.10±4.16), (147.76±4.15) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), which was higher than that of dogs in the control group [(117.20±2.74), (116.65±3.74), (116.26±1.8), (115.81±3.76) mm Hg, P < 0.01]. ② Results of clinical observation: Among 41 patients, 8 (20%) cases died during the operation. In addition, among other 33 (80%) survival patients, 11 (33%) cases had normal blood pressure; blood pressure of 14 (43%) cases was improved or closed to normal value; blood pressure of 8 (24%) cases was not changed obviously as compared with that before operation. ③ The results demonstrated that, by using traditionally internal and surgical therapies, among 281 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, blood pressure of about 15% cases was recovered or closed to normal value. Those mentioned above did not have history of hypertension before hemorrhage. However, patients who had history of hypertension before hemorrhage received the traditionally internal or surgical therapies, and the blood pressure was not improved to the normal value after the treatment. CONCLUSION: ① Neurovascular compression in left intracranial vagus can cause obvious increase of blood pressure of dogs, and the increasing volume was 30 mm Hg. ② Vascular decompression of vagus has a great effect on refractory hypertension, and the improvement of blood pressure is superior to traditionally internal and surgical therapies in clinic.     

The intra-neuroendoscopic technique: a new method for rapid removal of acute severe intraventricular hematoma

The mortality rate of acute severe intraventricular hematoma is extremely high, and the rate of disability in survivors is high. Intraventricular hematoma has always been a difficult problem for clinical treatment. Although minimally invasive endoscopic hematoma evacuation is widely used to treat this disease, the technique still has room for improvement. Equipment for the intra-neuroendoscopic technique(INET) consists of two of our patented inventions: a transparent sheath(Patent No. ZL 200820046232.0) and a hematoma aspirator(Patent No. ZL 201520248717.8). This study explored the safety and efficacy of INET by comparing it with extraventricular drainage in combination with urokinase thrombolytic therapy. This trial recruited 65 patients with severe intraventricular hemorrhage, including 35(19 men and 16 women, aged 53.2 ± 8.7 years) in the INET group and 30(17 men and 13 women, aged 51.5 ± 7.9 years) in the control group(extraventricular drainage plus urokinase thrombolytic therapy). Our results showed that compared with the control group, the INET group exhibited lower intraventricular hemorrhage volumes, shorter intensive care-unit monitoring and ventricular drainage-tube placement times, and fewer incidences of intracranial infection, secondary bleeding, and mortality. Thus, the prognosis of survivors had improved remarkably. These findings indicate that INET is a safe and efficient new method for treating severe intraventricular hematoma. This trial was registered with Clinical Trials.gov(NCT02515903).     

Surgical strategy for cerebral arteriovenous malformation with acute hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Presently, there have been craniocerebral operation, interventional embolization, stereotactic radiotherapy and other methods in treating cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM). However, the standard of different therapeutic regimens of cerebral AVM at the acute stage of hemorrhage has not been completely identified. OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical characteristics and therapeutic effects of AVM at the acute stage of hemorrhage in patients, and to analyze corresponding therapeutic strategies. DESIGN: Non-randomized clinical observation. SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, Foshan First People's Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six patients with cerebral AVM complicated by hemorrhage admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, Foshan First People's Hospital between January 1999 and December 2006, were involved in this study. All the patients were confirmed as cerebral AVM complicated by hemorrhage by brain angiography or/and postoperational pathology. The involved patients, 32 males and 14 females, averaged 25 years old, ranging from 6 to 62 years. Informed consents of therapeutic items were obtained from the relatives of all the patients. METHODS: ①On admission, skull CT and brain angiography were conducted in the involved subjects. ②The therapeutic method was confirmed according to the consciousness, hematoma region, hematoma volume, imageological results following comprehensive analysis. DSA examination was permitted to identify the size and position of abnormal vessel mass, and the distribution of feeding artery and draining vein. Craniocerebral operation was carried out as early as possible in patients with severe or progressive conscious disturbance, in which most of hematoma with obvious occupied effect or cerebral hernia was located in lobe of brain. The primary thing was to clean intracerebral hematoma for in time decompression. According to different situations, corresponding therapeutic measures were used for resecting abnormal vessel mass, and the treatments of patients were observed. ③The therapeutic effects were assessed following Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) at 3 months after hemorrhage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The examination results of skull CT and brain angiography of patients on admission. ② Treatment of patients. ③ GOS results at 3 months after hemorrhage. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were involved, and all of them participated in the final analysis. ① Examination results of skull CT and brain angiography: Bleeding part: frontal lobe in 7 cases, parietal lobe 15, temporal lobe 19, occipital lobe 3, cerebellar hemisphere 2, and hemorrhage rupturing into ventricle 10. Haematoma volume: small volume of hematoma （< 20 mL）in 4 cases, moderate volume of hematoma （20–50 mL）14 , large volume of hematoma （50–80 mL）21, great volume of hematoma (> 80 mL) 7; Abnormal vessel mass: Among 17 patients undergoing aortocranial angiography, abnormal vessel mass was found in 16 patients, including cortex 13 patients, basal ganglia and thalamencephalon(deep part) 2 patients , and posterior cranial fossa 1 patient. The size of abnormal vessel mass: small (< 3 cm) 4 patients, moderate (3–6 cm) 9 patients, and large (> 6 cm) 3 patients. The type of feeding artery: perforating branch blood-supply 1 patient, cortical branch blood supply 13 patients, mixed branch blood supply 2 patients. The type of draining vein: cortical draining (superficial part) 10 patients, deep part draining 2 patients, and mixed draining 4 patients. ② Treatment condition: Among 17 patients undergoing brain angiography followed by craniocerebral operation, hematoma was removed and AVM was completely resected in 12 patients, hematoma was removed and AVM was partially resected in 3 patients, and only hematoma was resected in 2 patients; Among 24 patients undergoing emergent craniocerebral operation, hematoma was removed and AVM was completely resected in 5 patients, hematoma was removed and AVM was partially resected in 9 patients, and only hematoma was resected in 10 patients; Expectant treatment was carried out in the early stage in 5 patients. When disease condition was stable, AVM resection was separately or complicatedly conducted in 13 patients, embolization in 4 patients, and γ- radiotherapy in 5 patients. ③GOS: 5 patients died in postoperative complications, and among the other patients, 19 had moderate or had not functional impairment, 13 had moderate disability, 6 had severe disability, 2 were vegetative state, and 2 died. ④ Post-operative re-examination of brain angiography: Among 16 patients undergoing AVM, vessel mass disappeared in 9 patients. CONCLUSION: Good therapeutic effects can be obtained by choosing proper therapeutic regimen according to clinical and imageological characteristics of patients with arteriovenous malformation complicated by hemorrhage at the acute stage.     

Individual idea about the micro-invasive aspiration and drainage of intracranial hematoma

AIM： This study aimed to expound the individual idea of micro-invasive surgery from pre-operative preparation, intra-operative processing and post-operative management. METHODS： Pre-operative preparation was improved by analyzing pathological factors and hematoma property, and considering patients＇ age, basic disease, blood pressure control, with persistent haemorrhagia/rehaemorrhagia or not, operative occasion choice, positioning and other procedures. In the surgery, positioner was used. Initial aspiration volume was cautiously controlled. After operation, vital signs of patients were kept stable by cautiously using hematoma liquefacient and combining with free radical scavenger. RESULTS： The core content of individual micro-invasive surgery was mainly to relieve intracranial pressure. Under the condition of sufficient pre-operative preparation known by patients＇ family members, precise positioning was determined and individual therapeutic regimen was made. Meanwhile, caution should be taken in hematoma aspiration. Liquefaction and drainage should be paid more attention, and complications were processed actively. CONCLUSION： During the process of micro-invasive evacuation of intracranial hematoma for treating cerebral hemorrhage, attention should be paid to analyzing cerebral hematoma etiology and pathophysiological mechanism, and individual idea should be considered in surgical treatment aiming at patients＇ concrete disease condition.     

Real-time analysis of inflammatory cytokines and regulatory gene expression in tissues surrounding the hematoma after intracerebral hemorrhage**○

BACKGROUND： Secondary lesions can occur in tissues surrounding the hematoma following intracerebral hemorrhage, with the presence of inflammatory reactions, cytokine expression and apoptosis These have been confirmed in animal studies. Our study sought to determine whether these could be detected in human tissues surrounding the hematoma following intracerebral hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE： To investigate expression of inflammatory cytokines, Bax and Bcl-x, and identify neural cell apoptosis in tissues surrounding the hematoma, and to analyze the correlation between them and pathological damage in intracerebral hemorrhage patients. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： This histopathology, controlled study was performed at the Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan People＇s Hospital, China, from January 2003 to January 2005. PARTICIPANTS： Brain tissues 1 cm from the hematoma in 30 intracerebral hemorrhage patients served as the experimental group. Brain tissues located away from the hematoma in 7 patients served as the control group. METHODS： TUNEL was used to detect neural cell apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry （labeled dextran polymer） and RT-PCR were used to measure tumor necrosis factor- α, interleukin-1 β, interleukin-6, Bax and Bcl-x protein and mRNA expression. Pathological changes in brain tissues surrounding the hematoma were observed following HE staining. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Neural cell apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines, Bax and Bcl-x protein and mRNA expression, pathological changes in brain tissues surrounding the hematoma. RESULTS： Brain tissues surrounding the hematoma were mildly damaged within 6 hours, severely damaged at 24-72 hours, and significantly improved 1 week following intracerebral hemorrhage. Expression of tumor necrosis factor- α protein and mRNA, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 mRNA was not significant in tissues surrounding the hematoma, which was identical to the control group within 6 hours after intracerebral hemorrhage. This expression was significantly higher compared with     

Plasma thrombomodulin changes in acute cerebral infarction or hypertension patients*★ An observation for verification

BACKGROUND： Thrombomodulin concentration greatly increases in plasma when vascular endothelial cells are injured, and it is one of the specific molecular markers for endothelial injury. OBJECTIVE： To analyze the plasma levels of thrombomodulin after cerebral infarction or hypertension, and to compare levels with those from healthy control subjects. DESIGN： A case-controlled observation. SETTING： Yuquan Hospital of Tsinghua University. PARTICIPANTS： Patients with hypertension （n = 37） and acute cerebral infarction （n = 26） were selected from the outpatient and inpatient Department of Neurology, Yuquan Hospital of Tsinghua University from February 2003 to February 2006. The cerebral infarction group consisted of 24 males and 2 females, 36-77 years of age, with a mean age of 62 years. All patients fulfilled the diagnosis criteria for cerebral infarction, according to the diagnostic standards revised by the Second National Academic Meeting for Cerebrovascular Disease, and were confirmed by CT or MRI. The hypertension group consisted of 27 males and 10 females, 36-77 years of age, with a mean age of 56 years. These patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for hypertension set by WHO. In addition, 43 healthy physical examinees were selected as the control group, consisting of 23 males and 20 females, 35-67 years of age. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. METHODS： In the cerebral infarction group, thrombomodulin plasma levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay at days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after attack. Thrombomodulin plasma levels were determined only once in the hypertension group and the control group. The results from the cerebral infarction group were compared with those from the hypertension group and the control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Level of thrombomodulin in plasma. RESULTS： All 63 patients and 43 healthy volunteers were included in the final analysis of results. （1） At 7 days after the attack, the plasma levels of thrombomodulin in the cereb     

Effect of Panaxtriol Saponins on synaptophysin and postsynaptic density-95 expression at different periods of cerebral infarction*☆

BACKGROUND： The change in expression of synaptophysin （Syp） and postsynaptic density-95 （PSD-95） alters after cerebral infarction, and the plasticity of synapses contributes greatly to nerve function recovery. Chinese medicinal substances may play an important role in the expression of Syp and PSD-95. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of Panaxtriol Saponins （PTS）, an active component in Sanqi tongshu capsules, on the expression of Syp and PSD-95 after cerebral infarction at different time points in rats, so as to examine the cerebral function remodeling mechanism. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized and controlled observation which was performed in Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to March, 2007. MATERIALS： Twenty-six healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were used to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion based on the Longa method. Sanqi tongshu capsules （containing 100 mg PTS per tablet） were provided by the Chengdu Huashen Group and nimodipine tablets （30 mg） by Tianjin Zhongyang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. METHODS： Twenty-six rats were randomly divided into an operation group （n = 21 ） and a control group （n = 5）. The operation group underwent the EZ Longa procedure to make the middle cerebral artery occlusion model. After surgery rats were randomly divided into a model group, a PTS group and a nimodipine group, with seven rats in each group. Rats were intragastrically administrated with saline （2 mL/d） in the model group, with Sanqi tongshu capsule （5.4 mg/100 g/d） in the PTS group, and with nimodipine （1.73 mg/100 g/d） in the nimodipine group. Rats in the control group did not undergo model establishment and drug administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The expressions of Syp and PSD-95 were measured by immunohistochemical and image analysis at days 3, 7 and 28 after the operation. RESULTS： The expression of Syp and PSD-95 in the operation group was significantly lower than in the control group at days 3, 7     

Dynamic changes in fibrinogen levels of patients with acute cerebral infarction after taking defibrase*☆

BACKGROUND： At present, as a therapeutic drug mainly for reducing fibrinogen （FIB） levels, the dynamic influence of defibrase on the FIB levels of patients with acute cerebral infarction has not been clearly ascertained. OBJECTIVE： To observe the dynamic changes in FIB levels of patients with acute cerebral infarction at different time points after taking defibrase. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized controlled clinical trial. The study was conducted in the Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, from June to November 2006. PARTICIPANTS： Sixty patients with acute cerebral infarction, who had been treated by the Neurological Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from June to November 2006, were selected, including 37 males and 23 females, aged 35-75 years. All cases met the diagnostic criteria formulated by the Fourth National Cerebrovascular Disease Conference within 12 hours of onset. All the patients were confirmed with definite hemiparesis and cerebral infarction without coma, and were randomly divided into two groups： a treatment group （n =40） and a control group （n =20）. Patients＇ families had the right to be informed and agree with the treatment, which had permission from the Hospital Ethics Committee. METHODS： Patients in the control group were given routine treatment with 30 mL fleabane and 0.75 g cytidine diphosphate added to 500 mL saline solution once a day for 14 consecutive days. Patients in the treatment group were given routine treatment and Haiwang defibrase injection （purchased from Changchu Guoao Bio-Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Approval document number H10983237） within 12 hours of infarction. Defibrase doses of 15, 12.5 and 10 U were given over 2 hours according to the patients＇ pre-treatment plasma FIB levels of ≥ 4.50 g/L, 3.50 4.49 g/L and 1.00 3.49 g/L, respectively. Plasma FIB levels in the treatment group were measured before, and once every six hours for 48 hours after administration of defib     

早年创伤对认知功能影响的研究进展

早年创伤是一个全球普遍存在的问题,严重影响儿童、青少年的大脑发育,继而导致认知功能、人格水平、社会行为的改变。早年创伤主要是父母、监护人或其他年长者对孩子施加躯体虐待、躯体忽视、情感虐待、情感忽视或性虐待。美国一项调查显示：儿童虐待事件的发生率高达1．2％[1]。早年创伤影响认知功能的多个领域,包括学习／工作记忆、视觉空间能力、执行功能、言语智能、复杂推理搜决策、学业表现等比]。创伤造成的认知功能改变是目前国内外神经科学和精神医学领域研究的热点,但其发病机制仍不明确,鉴于早年创伤与认知功能的关系问题,现就早年创伤对大脑发育、神经认知的影响加以综述。     

Brain network markers of abnormal cerebral glucose metabolism and blood flow in Parkinson＇s disease

Neuroimaging of cerebral glucose metabolism and blood flow is ideally suited to assay widely-distributed brain circuits as a result of local molecular events and behavioral modulation in the central nervous system. With the progress in novel analytical methodology, this endeavor has succeeded in unraveling the mechanisms underlying a wide spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, statistical brain mapping studies have made significant strides in describing the pathophysiology of Parkinson＇s disease （PD） and related disorders by providing signature biomarkers to determine the systemic abnormalities in brain function and evaluate disease progression, therapeutic responses, and clinical correlates in patients. In this article, we review the relevant clinical applications in patients in relation to healthy volunteers with a focus on the generation of unique spatial covariance patterns associated with the motor and cognitive symptoms underlying PD. These characteristic biomarkers can be potentially used not only to improve patient recruitment but also to predict outcomes in clinical trials.     

Differential cognitive responses to guqin music and piano music in Chinese subjects： an event-related potential study

Objective To compare the cognitive effects of guqin （the oldest Chinese instrument） music and piano music. Methods Behavioral and event-related potential （ERP） data in a standard two-stimulus auditory oddball task were recorded and analyzed. Results This study replicated the previous results of culture-familiar music effect on Chinese subjects： the greater P300 amplitude in frontal areas in a culture-familiar music environment. At the same time, the difference between guqin music and piano music was observed in NI and later positive complex （LPC： including P300 and P500）： a relatively higher participation of right anterior-temporal areas in Chinese subjects. Conclusion The results suggest that the special features of ERP responses to guqin music are the outcome of Chinese tonal language environments given the similarity between Guqin＇s tones and Mandarin lexical tones.     

Effect of Ganoderma lucidum spore on expression of insulin-like growth factor-1, nuclear factor-kappa B, and neuronal apoptosis in the epileptic rat brain*★

BACKGROUND：It has been reported that Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, a very well known Chinese traditional medicine, can affect immunoregulation, free radical scavenging, and anti-hypoxia responses. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder on expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1）, nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） and neuronal apoptosis in rats with pentylenetetrazol （PTZ）-induced epilepsy. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A cellular and molecular biology experiment with randomized controlled study design was performed at the Central Laboratory of Basic Medical College of Jiamusi University from June to August 2005. MATERIALS： Thirty healthy, adult, male, Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups （10 rats per group）： control, epilepsy model, and Ganoderma lucidum spore powder. A sub-eclampsia PTZ dose （35 mg/kg） was intraperitoneally injected to induce epilepsy in the latter two groups. Wild Ganoderma lucidum spore powder （30 g/L） was provided by the wild Ganoderma lucidum plant nursery at Jiamusi, China. Immunohistochemical detection and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediate dUTP nick end-labeling （TUNEL） kits were purchased from Wuhan Boster Biological Technology Co., Ltd., China. METHODS： Ganoderma lucidum spore powder was intragastrically administered at a dose of 10.0 mL/kg, once a day for 28 days. In the epilepsy and control groups, an equivalent volume of normal saline was intragastrically administered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Immunoreactivity for IGF-1 and NF-κB/P65 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Neuronal apoptosis was detected using TUNEL methods. RESULTS： The hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats with PTZ-induced epilepsy exhibited a higher number of apoptotic cells at high magnification （×400）, compared with the control group. Expression of IGF-1 and NF-κB were higher in the epilepsy group, compared with the control group （P 〈 0.01）. In Ganoderma lucidum spore-treated rats,     

Naoxintong dose effects on inflammatory factor expression in the rat brain following focal cerebral ischemia

BACKGROUND： Certain components of tetramethylpyrazine, a traditional Chinese medicine, exhibit protective effects against brain injury. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of different Naoxintong doses on expression of nuclear factor-kappa B （ kB）, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and complement 3 in rats following focal cerebral ischemia. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The randomized experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Neurology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2004 to June 2006. MATERIALS： A total of 150 adult, healthy, male, Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 280-320g, were selected. Naoxintong powder （mainly comprising szechwan lovage rhizome, milkvetch root, danshen root, and radix angelicae sinensis） was obtained from Buchang Pharmacy Co., Ltd. in Xianyang City of Shanxi Province of China, lot number 040608. METHODS： The rats were randomly assigned into sham operation, saline, high-dose Naoxintong, moderate-dose Naoxintong, and low-dose Naoxintong groups, with 30 rats in each group. Rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were established using the suture method, with the exception of the sham operation group. Rats in the high-dose, moderate-dose and low-dose Naoxintong groups received 4, 2, and 1 g/kg Naoxintong respectively, by gavage. Rats in the saline group were treated with 1 mL saline by gavage All rats were administered by gavage at 5 and 23 hours following surgery, and subsequently, once per day. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At 6, 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7 days following model establishment, brain water content was measured. Histopathological changes in brain tissues were detected using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of nuclear factor- kB, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor- α, and complement 3 was examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS： A total of 150 rats were included in the final analysis with no loss. Brain water content was significantly increased in the ischemic hemisphere of rats from the saline, as well as the high-dose, mo     

Effect of bilobalide B on cholinergic hippocampal neurons exposed to cholesterol and apolipoprotein E4*☆

BACKGROUND： Extracts of ginkgo biloba leaves have been reported to improve nerve function and activity in Alzheimer＇s disease, which is associated with reduced secretion of cholinergic neurotransmitter in hippocampal neurons. OBJECTIVE： To validate the protective effect of bilobalide B against in vitro injury of cholinergic neurons of the hippocampus induced by combined cholesterol and apoE4 DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： This randomized, controlled animal experiment was performed in the Pathology Laboratory, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2003 to July 2006. MATERIALS： Neonatal Wistar rats, 1-day-old, both male and female, and mean body mass of 5 g were selected for this study. Cholesterol and apolipoprotein E4 （apoE4） were purchased from Sigma Company （USA）, bilobalide B was purchased from Tianjin Zhongyi Pharmaceutical Factory, batch number 20050312. METHODS： Hippocampal neurons were divided into three groups： a normal control group （routinely added media）, a model group （exposed to media containing 40 mg/L cholesterol and 30 mg/L apoE4 for 24 hours） and a bilobalide B group （exposed to media containing 160 mg/L bilobalide B for 16 hours, and then with addition of 40 mg/L cholesterol and 30 mg/L apoE4 for an additional 24 hours）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Levels of acetylcholine （ACh） and activity of acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） and choline acetyltransferase （CHAT） in hippocampal neurons were determined by microdosage hydroxylamine colorimetry, hydroxylamine colorimetry and radiological chemistry, respectively. RESULTS： The ACh level was significantly lower in the model group than that in the normal control group （P 〈 0.01）, while it was markedly higher in the bilobalide B group than in the model group （P 〈 0.05）. Activity of AChE was significantly decreased in the model group compared with the normal control group （P 〈 0.05）. However, there was no significant difference between the model group and the bilobalide B group ?     

Changes of 5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the ventral horn of spinal cord

Objective To investigate changes of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） and its synthesis rate-limiting enzyme tryp-tophan hydroxylase （TPH） in the ventral horn of spinal cord after exercise-induced fatigue, and to further discuss the mecha- nism of exercise-induced central fatigue at spinal level. Methods Sixteen healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups： exercise-induced fatigue group and control group. Immunohistochemical staining for 5-HT and TPH in the ventral horn were performed and analysized quantitatively. The mean optic densities of 5-HT and TPH positive fibers or terminals were measured by computerized image analyzer. Results Both 5-HT and TPH positive fibers/terminals decreased in the exercise-induced fatigue group. The immunohistochemical staining was weaker and the mean optic densities decreased obviously in the fatigue group compared with those in the control group （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion 5-HT and TPH in the ventral horn of spinal cord might be involved in exercise-induced fatigue.     

Effects of realgar on stress proteins, inflammatory mediators, and complement in brain tissue and serum of rats with inflammatory brain injury*☆

BACKGROUND：The Chinese herbal compound realgar exerts detoxification effects as an adjuvant. It is suggested that realgar exerts detoxification via the following pathways： in the pathological state, realgar corrects the oxidative stress state by increasing stress levels, activating some endogenous protective factors and antagonizing the excessive release of inflammatory factors, as well as inhibiting complement activation. OBJECTIVE： To observe the changes in stress proteins, inflammatory mediators, and complement in the brain tissue and serum of rats with inflammatory brain injury, which have been treated with the Chinese herbal compound Angong Niuhuang, and to compare the efficacy of Angong Niuhuang with that of realgar, to verify the mechanism of action of realgar. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized, controlled, cytological experiment, performed in the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in March 2006. MATERIALS： Thirty-six healthy, male, Sprague Dawley rats received 250 U/kg Bordetella pertussis via the common carotid artery within 15 seconds to induce inflammatory brain injury. Reagents and kits were as follows： Realgar and Angong Niuhuang powder （Foshan Second Pharmaceutical Factory, China）, Bordetella pertussis diagnostic antigen （National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, China）, heat shock protein 70 （HSP70） enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay （ELISA） kit （Stressgen, USA）, tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） ELISA kit （Biosource, USA）, nitric oxide synthase （NOS） kit, Coomassie brilliant blue protein kit （Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Co.,Ltd., China）, and complements C3 and C4 （Shanghai Kehua Dongling Diagnositic Products Co.,Ltd., China）. METHODS： Thirty-six rats were randomly and evenly divided into the following six groups： normal control, model, high-, middle-, and low-dose realgar-treated, and Angong Niuhuang-treated groups. At one hour prior to establish     

癫癇社区防控策略可使更多农村地区癫癇患者受益

癫癇是一种临床常见的神经系统疾病。常于儿童和青少年期发病,若不接受正规治疗可反复发作,甚至迁延终身。该病不仅严重影响患者本人身体和心理健康,也给其家庭带来巨大痛苦和沉重的经济负担。据估计,全球约有逾50×106例癫癇患者,其中80%在发展中国家,发展中国家癫癇患病率是发达国家的2~3倍,且60%~90%的患者未接受治疗或仅接受非正规治疗[1-2]。癫癇的高患病率、高病死率及其对患者身心造成的严重不良影响已引起社会各界的重视,针对癫癇的各方面研究正在不断加强,     

阿尔茨海默病免疫治疗:对攻克神经变性疾病的几点启示

<正>阿尔茨海默病(AD)也称老年期痴呆,是老年人群高发的一种痴呆症,为临床常见的神经变性疾病,给社会和家庭带来巨大的经济负担和人文问题。临床常用的胆碱酯酶抑制药[多奈哌齐(donepezil)、加兰他敏(galantamine)、卡巴拉汀(rivastigmine)]和非竞争性N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)受体阻断药[美金刚(memantine)]均属于对症治疗,可短期缓解临床症状与体征,但不能达根治目的。因此,研制和发现能够阻断阿尔茨海默病进程并逆转其发病的治疗方法,即显得至关重要。20世纪80年代中期,有研究者发现了神经炎性斑[NPs,亦称老年斑([1]SPs)]的主要成分是β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ);随后,又克隆出位于第21号染色体的β-淀粉样前体蛋白(APP)基因[2],该基因突变被认为是导致家族性阿尔茨海默病的原因[3]。藉此"淀