To establish a rat model of diabetes-associated cerebral ischemia due to qi and yin deficiency and blood stasis, and to investigate the effects of Radix Ginseng, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati and Rhizoma Polygonati Sibirici Granule (Shenxiong Yujing Granule), which has the function of strengthening qi, nourishing yin, and activating blood, on proliferation, differentiation and survival of neural cells in rats with diabetes-associated cerebral ischemia.

Objective To investigate the clinical features,the radiological characteristics,and the pathological changes of cerebral sparganosis.Methods We retrospectively collectted and summarized the clinical data of 42 patients with cerebral sparganosis from the Iinstitute of Anti-parasitic Diseases of Jiangxi Province and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University during January 2000 to January 2014.The follow-up period of the 42 patients ranged from 4 to 96 months.Results Forty-two cases (30 males and 12 females) with cerebral sparganosis were enrolled in the study.Among the 42 patients,34 cases suffered from seizures,16 cases experienced headaches,and 14 cases had limb weakness.The brain CT scan showed the small and punctuate calcifications scattering around the lesions in 18 cases.The features of enhanced MRI included aggregating ring-like enhancement in 38 cases,tunnel lesions in 14 cases,and lesion migration in 13 cases.Twenty-four of the 42 patients were performed surgery.The brain tissues revealed multiple inflammatory tunnels,in which live or degenerated larvae were identified in 20 cases,but only eosinophilia tunnels were observed in the other 4 cases.The serum and cerebro-spiral fluid specimens from 18 patients without surgery were positive to spirometra mansoni antigen.Their cerebral lesions disappeared and got a favorable prognosis after administration of praziquantel in long term follow-ups.Conclusions There is a high incidence of cerebral sparganosis in Poyang lake basin.The clinical features of cerebral sparganosis mainly include seizure,headache and hemiparesis.The enhanced lesions show knot or tunnel signs on multi-planar MRI which are associated with the multiple inflammatory tunnels of larvae migration.A longterm administration of high dose opraziquantel can also get a good treatment prognosis without the classical surgical therapy for cerebral sparganosis.

Objective To observe the effect of Huangxiong Kangshuan capsule on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods Ninety-two patients with acute cerebral infarction admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicinefrom July 2013 to December 2016 were enrolled, and they were divided into an observation group (47 cases) and a control group (45 cases) by random number table. The control group was given conventional treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease, while the observation group was additionally treated by Huangxiong Kangshuan capsule orally taken, once 3 tablets, 3 times a day, on the basis of routine treatment; the duration of treatment was 2 weeks in both groups. After 2 weeks of treatment, the clinical effects of the two groups and the changes of serum hs-CRP and IL-6 levels were observed.Results After treatment, the levels of serum hs-CRP and IL-6 were decreased significantly compared with those before treatment in the two groups [observation group: hs-CRP (mg/L) was 6.18±2.17 vs. 14.11±3.01, IL-6 (ng/L): 28.10±11.47 vs. 120.83±24.51; control group: hs-CRP (mg/L) was 8.89±2.46 vs. 13.97±2.69, IL-6 (ng/L) was 49.48±16.43 vs. 115.25±24.05], and the degree of decline in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group [hs-CRP (mg/L): 6.18±2.17 vs. 8.89±2.46, IL-6 (ng/L): 28.10±11.47 vs. 49.48±16.43, bothP < 0.01]; the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group [87.2% (41/47) vs. 71.1% (32/45),P < 0.05]. Conclusion Huangxiong Kangshuan capsule can decrease the serum hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction, and has a role in brain protection and nerve function defect improvement.