Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a disease with dramatic manifestations. It is often induced by the physical or psychogenic factors, and is characterized by a sudden onset of anterograde amnesia accompanied by repeated asking of questions, lasting for minutes or hours. The study of TGA mainly focused on the aspects of etiological and pathological mecha-nisms. Currently, there are several following hypotheses: Transient ischemic attack, epilepsy,migraine, cerebral venous ischemia or venous embolism, personality disorder or emotional stimulation. The prognosis of TGA is better with low recurrence rate. No specific treatment is needed. This article reviews the advances in research on TGA.

BACKGROUND:Both in vivo and vitro microenvironment can influence the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). In addition, cell culture solution plays variable roles in cell proliferation and differentiation.OBJECTIVE:To develop a convenient and rapid method to promote NSC primary culture by modifying traditional serum-free medium. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING:Randomized controlled cell trial was performed at Institute of Brain Science, Qingdao University Medical School from November 2005 to September 2006.MATERIALS:Ten Wistar rat of gestation for 12-16 days; cell suspension fron brain tissue of embryonic rat. METHODS:Cell suspension were seeded into four 50-mL culture flasks with cell density of 1×106 mL-1, and divided into 2 groups with 2 flasks in each group. The control cells (flasks A and B) were cultured in serum-free medium containing DMEM/F12, B27 (2%), basic fibroblast growth factor (20 μg/L), and epidermal growth factor (20μg/L), and the experimental cells (flasks C and D) were firstly cultured with DMEM/F12 containing fetal bovine serum (FBS, 5%), following by the same serum-free medium 2 to 3 days later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The proliferation of NSCs was observed by inverted microscopy and immunocytochemistry.RESULTS:①Most of the cells in two culture conditions expressed nestin, the specific marker of NSCs, and were immunocytochemically positive. ②Neural stem cells cultured with FBS formed neurospheres 3-4 days earlier than those without FBS. ③There were no significant differences in cell number, but the neurospheres under the experimental condition were larger than those in control group. Some of the cells were neurone specific enolase-positive after serum-conditioned induction, and some were glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive, indicating NSCs had differentiated into neuron-like cells and neurogliocytes.CONCLUSION:FBS-conditioned pre-culture can accelerate the proliferation of neural stem cells.

Objective To evaluate the effect of diets rich in Ruditapes philippinarum on the development of atherosclerosis. Methods The rabbits were fed with normal forage or high lipid diet with a daily supplement of Ruditapes philippinarum for 8 weeks respectively. Serum lipid, the area of atherosclerotic plaque and IMT were analysed.Results Compared with control group, serum lipid profiles didn't change obviously and atherosclerotic lesion was not observed in group fed with a supplement of RP. Compared with model group, the concentration of serum TC, TG and LDL C/HDL C decreased significantly, while the concentration of serum HDL C increased significantly in group fed with high lipid forage and a supplement of RP (p

Objective To study the relationship between cerebral vascular disease (CVD) and meteorological factors. Methods From 1998 to 2002, 6186 patients with CVD in Qingdao urban were studied. There were 1179 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage (CH), 4821cases of cerebral infarction (CI) and 186 cases of subarachnoid hemorrage (SAH). The relationship between the onset of CVD and meteorological factors including temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind velocity was analyzed by circular distribution analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple stepwise regression. Results High incidence of CH was found in winter and the mean angle was in January ((P

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes and its clinical significance of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods We consecutively collected 47 cases of acute cerebral infarction. The serum specimens were gathered on admission, at 3rd and 5th day after onset. The serum levels of GFAP were compared according to Oxford community stroke project (OCSP) and CT classifications, and the relationships between serum GFAP levels and patient's condition and prognosis of disease were analyzed. Results Serum GFAP level in TACI group was significantly higher than those in control group and other 3 subtype groups within 48 h of onset, and continuously increased at 3rd day and 5th day. The GFAP level in PACI group reached peak at 3rd day and returned nearly to normal level at 5th day. There was no significant difference between POCI group and LACI group and control group. Serum levels of GFAP were significantly higher in large infarcts and in corticosubcortical infarcts. GFAP level was related with score of NIHSS (r=0.410, P

Objective To explore the association of risk factors with amnestic versus nonamnestic of mild cognitive impairment.Methods All the subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) aged 65-75 years were recruited from Neurology Department of 3 third-class hospitals of Qingdao,admitted from January 2011 to September 2011.They were systematically evaluated with mini-mental state examination( MMSE )and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA),then health conditions were collected.According to Petersen's standards,patients were divided into 89 cases with amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI) and 51 cases with non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (non-aMCI)groups to compare different risk factors between them.Results There were statistical differences in high total cholesterol (P=0.011),diabetes mellitus (P=0.009),MoCA score (P=0.040) between aMCI and non-aMCIgroups.MoCAscore (OR=1.081,95％CI:1.001-1.204,P=0.040) in the aMCI group was lower than that in non aMCI group.Diabetes mellitus ratio (OR=0.258,95％CI:0.096-0.695,P=0.009) was higher in non-aMCI group than in aMCI group.The level of total-cholesterol(OR=13.345,95％CI:1.127-158.085,P=0.011) in aMCI group was higher than that in non-aMCI group.The high total cholesterol was a independent risk factor for aMCI.Conclusions Different risk factors appear to exert different effects for aMCI and nonaMCI.

Objective To investigate the features and its risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarct (LI) and white matter lesion (WML).Methods The inpatients with LI and WML aged 65 to 75 years old were enrolled.Their demographic and clinical data were collected.LI and WML were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) was used to evaluate cognitive function.Self-Rating Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale were used to exclude patients with depression and anxiety.The patients were divided into either a cognitive impairment group or a normal cognitive function group.The demographic and clinical data of both groups were compared.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze and determine the independent risk factors for cognitive impairment.The characteristics of cognitive impairment of LI and WML were compared.Results A total of 130 patients with LI or WML were enrolled,92 of them had cognitive impairment,and 38 had normal cognitive function; 85 had LI,and 45 had WML; 53 were males and 77 were females.Univariate analysis showed that years of education in the cognitive impairment group (7.54 ±4.65 years vs.11.29 ±3.17 years; t =4.286,P=0.001) was significantly lower than that of the normal cognitive function group,while the constituent ratios of hypertension (54.6％ vs.16.2％ ;x2 =4.477,P =0.018),hyperlipidemia (53.1％ vs.16.2％ ;x2 =5.263; P =0.044),diabetes mellitus (46.9％ vs.10.8％;x2 =3.827,P=0.017),as well as LI (43.8％ vs.21.5％;x2 =3.928,P=0.015) and WML (26.9％ vs.7.7％ ;x2 =4.072,P =0.009) were significantly higher than those of the normal cognitive function group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that years of education (odds ratio [OR],1.305,95％confidence interval [CI] 1.104-7.975; P =0.001),diabetes mellitus (OR 1.328,95％ CI 1.292-3.422;P =0.015),hypertension (OR 1.978,95％ CI 1.034-5.443; P =0.028,LI (OR 1.224,95％ CI 1.004-2.007; P =0.013),and WML (OR 1.489,95％ CI 1.202-3.778; P =0.010) were the independent risk factors for cognitive impairment.The total MoCA score (21.61 ± 5.33 vs.19.19 ± 7.07; t =1.841,P =0.038) and cube copy (0.43 ± 0.50 vs.0.31 ± 0.47; t =1.104,P =0.010),clock drawing test (2.53 ±0.89 vs.2.04 ± 1.22; t =2.229,P =0.008),letters identification (0.85 ±0.36 vs.0.62 ±0.50; t =2.585,P==0.000),and 100 minus 7 consecutively (2.62 ±0.79 vs.2.19 ± 1.17; t =2.113; P=0.001) of the WML group were significantly lower than those of the LI group.Conclusions The patients with LI and WML often had cognitive impairment,and the cognitive impairment in patients with WML was more serious.Years of education,hypertension and diabetes were the independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with LI and WML.Visuospatial executive function and attention damage in patients with WML were severer than those of the patients with LI.

Objective To investigate the risk factors and clinical features of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with ischemic cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) for early diagnosis and prevention.Methods Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) was used to screen MCI.The related risk factors and other clinical data were collected,and other neuropsychological tests were conducted.SVD was divided into leukoaraiosis (LA),lacunar infarction (LI),and LA + LI.Results A total of 143 patients with SVD were enrolled (68 in an MCI group,75 in a non-MCI group).Univariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of age and gender between the MCI group and the non-MCI group,but the years of education in the MCI group was shorter than that in the non-MCI group,while the composition ratios of hypertension (69.11％ vs.45.33 ％;x2 =8.215,P =0.004),diabetes (57.35％ vs.40.00％;x2 =4.301,P =0.038),hyperlipidemia (48.53％ vs.24.00％ ; x2 =9.352,P =0.002),carotid atherosclerosis (41.18％ vs.21.33％ ;x2 =6.592,P =0.010),and smoking (32.35％ vs.14.67％ ;x2 =6.285,P =0.012),as well as the levels of uric acid (351.81 ± 83.21 mmol/L vs.323.03 ± 80.43 mmol/L; t =2.102,P =0.037) and total cholesterol (5.26 ± 1.26 mmol/L vs.4.56 ± 1.23 mmol/L; t =3.326,P =0.001) were significantly higher than those in the non-MCI group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension (odds ratio OR]2.227,95％ confidence interval [CI],1.001-4.954; P =0.026),diabetes (OR 2.056,95％ CI 1.862-4.937; P =0.046),hyperlipidemia (OR 2.528,95％ CI 1.361-5.770; P =0.028),carotid atherosclerosis (OR 2.658,95％ CI 1.110-6.367; P =0.029),smoking (OR 2.566,95％ CI 1.017-6.474; P =0.046),and years of education (OR 0.825,95％ CI 0.745-0.914; P =0.000) were the independent risk factors for the occurrence of MCI in patients with SVD.The subscores in the MCI group,including MoCA total score (18.44 ± 5.60 vs.27.09 ± 1.37; t =-12.422; P =0.000),as well as visuoconstructional skills (2.65 ± 1.39 vs.4.49 ± 0.74; t =-9.762; P =0.000),attention (4.48 ± 1.70vs.5.89 ± 0.31; t =6.706,P=0.000),language (1.69 ± 0.80vs.2.41 ± 0.95 ; t =4.893,P=0.018),abstraction (0.85 ± 0.69 vs.1.71 ± 0.53; t=-7.081,P=0.000),delayed recall (1.29 ±1.01 vs.4.04 ± 0.99; t =13.824,P =0.000) were significantly lower than those in the non-MCI group,and there were no significant differences in naming and orientation scores.In the MCI group,the subscores such as theMoCA total score in the LA+LI group (17.04 ± 6.15 vs.21.04 ± 3.98; P＜0.05),as well as visuoconstructional skills (1.68 ± 1.16 vs.3.24 ± 1.13; P ＜ 0.05),attention (3.92 ± 2.03 vs.5.19 ±0.87; P ＜0.05),delayed recall (1.35 ± 1.01 vs.1.86 ± 1.58; P ＜0.05) were significantly lower than those in the LI group; the subscores such as the MoCA total score in the LA group (18.18 ± 5.31 vs.21.04 ± 3.98; ＜ =0.05),as well as visuoconstructional skills (2.56 ± 1.78 vs.3.24 ± 1.13; P＜0.05),language (0.64 ± 0.23 vs.1.24 ± 0.83; P ＜0.05),delayed recall (0.69 ± 0.58vs.1.86 ± 1.58;P＜0.01)were significantly lower than those in the LI group; the visuoconstructional skills in the LA + LI group was significantly lower than that in the LA group (1.68 ± 1.16 vs.2.56 ± 1.78; P＜0.05) and the LI group (1.68 ± 1.16 vs.3.24 ± 1.13; P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,carotid atherosclerosis,smoking,and the low level of education were the independent risk factors for MCI in patients with SVD.After SVD,the cognitive impairment in MCI presented as multiple cognitive domains impairments,including visuoconstructional skills and delayed recall.Cognitive impairment differed among the different types of SVD.

Objective To investigate the treatment delay in patients with acute cerebrovascular disease in different levels of hospital in Qingdao area and to analyze its influencing factors. Methods A total of 700 patients with acute cerebrovascular disease from the city, county and township hospitals in Qingdao were selected from June 2008 to February 2009. A questionnaire survey was used to investigate and analyze the visiting time in patients with stroke and its possible influencing factors. Results The average visiting rate in patients with acute cerebrovascular disease was 30% within 4.5 hours after the onset in Qingdao area. The average visiting rate of the township hospitals was lowest (26%), of the city hospitals was moderate (28%), and of the county hospitals was highest (36%). For the city hospitals, the male patients usually delayed the visiting. The patients with high school or higher education level, urban medical insurance, 120 transportation, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ＜ 3 could usually he treated timely; For the county hospitals, the patients with secondary school or lower education level, 120 transportation, and NIHSS ＜3 could usually be treated timely. For the township hospitals, the patients with NIHSS ＞ 7 and unconsciousness could usually be treated timely. Conclusions The patients with acute cerebrovascular disease in the city, county and township hospitals in Qingdao area had significant treatment delay. Of those, 120 transportation and higher levels of education could decrease the treatment delay of patients. Therefore, perfecting stroke emergency network, raising people's level of education, and strengthening propaganda and education on stroke knowledge in all levels of hospitals are essential for timely treatment of stroke patients.

Objective To identify the thromolysis rate in patients with ischemic ccrebrovascular disease in Qingdao area and to analyze the causes of influcncing thrombolytic therapy and investigate their influencing factors. Methods We adopted a unified questionnaire about the status of diagnosis and treatment of stroke in Qigndao. The patients with acute stroke in the 11 departments of neurology of Qingdao municipal and county hospitals (all with thrombolytic conditios) from October 1,2008 to October 31,2009 were collected retrospectively. A face to face questionnaire survey was performed, their clinical data were collected and the factors of influencing thrombolytic therapy were analyzed. Results Actually 864 patients with ischemic eerebrovascular disease were investigated. Only 10 patients received thrombolytic therapy. The thrombolysis rate was 1.16%, and the thrombolysis rate within a 4.5-hour time widow was 6. 33 %. Logistic regression analysis showed that in addition to thrombolytic contraindications,the factors that influencing thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke included the treatment in different level-hospitals (OR =0.061,95% CI O. 006-0. 703, P =0. 040) and the United States National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR = 0.810,95% CI 0. 729-0.900, P = 0.000) at presentation. Conclusions The thrombolysis rate in patients with cerebrovascular disease in Qingdao area was relatively lower. In addition to thrombolytic contraindications, the factors that influencing thrombolytic therapy in ptients with acute ischemic stroke included the treatment in different level-hospitals and NIHSS score at presentation.