Objective To determine the effect of inhaling rosemary compound essential oil on learning and memory and the expression of choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in rats with vascular dementia (VD).Methods A modified 2-VO method was used to induce permanent brain hypoperfusion,and thus VD,in 60 male SD rats aged 2 months.They were then randomly divided into a normal control group (n =10),a sham-operation group (n =10),a model group (n =10),a rosemary compound essential oil group (n =10) and an edaravone group (n =10).The rosemary compound essential oil group inhaled a compound of the essential oils of rosemary,eugenol and peppermint once a day; the edaravone group was given a daily injection of edaravone injecta.Both the interventions lasted for 65 days.A water maze was used to test their learning and memory abilities.Morphological damage in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and the expression of ChAT were also observed.Results The learning and memory abilities of the model group were significantly weaker compared with the sham-operated group and the normal controls.The rats in the rosemary compound essential oil and edaravone groups were obviously better than those in the model group,but there was no significant difference between rosemary compound essential oil group and the edaravone group.The morphological damage observed in the hippocampus and striatum of the model group was significantly greater,on average,than that observed in the rosemary compound essential oil group and the edaravone group.The average number of ChAT positive units in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was significantly greater in both the rosemary compound essential oil group and the edaravone group compared with the model group,but there was no significant difference between the rosemary compound essential oil group and the edaravone group.Conclusions Inhaling rosemary compound essential oil can improve the learning and memory abilities of rats with VD caused by permanent chronic brain hypoperfusion.It decreases the damage to the neurons of the hippocampus,increases the expression of ChAT,and shows a therapeutic effect on VD,at least in rats.

Objective : To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on rabbit knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model and to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in the treatment of KOA in rabbits． Methods: Eighteen healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a blank control group，a model control group and an electroacupuncture group，with 6 rabbits in each group．The rabbits were kept normally in the blank control group， while the model control and electroacupuncture groups were fixed in a modified Videman left hind limb extension and braking position for 6 weeks to create a KOA model，and electroacupuncture was given to the electroacupuncture group 1 week after completion of the modeling for 4 weeks，five times a week for 20 min each time．The functional score of the left knee joint of rabbits was evaluated by Lequesne's functional algorithm index ; serum and joint fluid interleukin (IL) -1 β and IL-6 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent ( ELISA) assay ; serum and joint fluid nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by Griess ; morphological changes in knee cartilage were observed by hematoxylin-eosin ( HE) staining，and the degree of cartilage degeneration was evaluated by Mankin' s scale ; p-P38MAPK positive cell expression in knee cartilage was observed by immunofluorescence technique. Results : Compared with the blank control group ，the Lequesne score increased in the model control group (P < 0. 05) ; the levels of IL-1 β, IL-6，and NO in serum and joint fluid increased (P＜0. 05) ; the cartilage surface was less smooth and the Mankin score increased (P ＜0. 05) ; and the immunofluorescence staining positive cells increased (P＜0. 05) ．Compared with the model control group，the Lequesne score was reduced in the electroacupuncture group (P ＜0. 05 ) ; the levels of IL-1 β , IL-6 ，and NO in serum and joint fluid were reduced ( P < 0. 05) ; the cartilage surface was smoother，and the Mankin score was reduced (P＜0. 05) ; and the immunofluorescence staining positive cells were reduced (P＜0. 05) ． Conclusion Electroacupuncture can effectively improve knee joint behavior in rabbit KOA model，and the mechanism may be to delay the onset of KOA by decreasing the expression level of inflammatory factors and affecting the expression of MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective : To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at pinch points (EX⁃B2) on motor function and Notch signaling pathway after spinal cord injury(SCI) . Methods : Seventy⁃two Sprague⁃Dawley (SD) male rats weighing (250 ± 20) g were randomly divided into sham operation group , SCI , electroacupuncture group (SCI + EA) and acupuncture group (SCI + AP) , with 18 rats in each group. A rat acute SCI model of T10 was established by the modified Allen ′s method. The SCI + EA and SCI + AP groups received 15 minutes of electro acupuncture or acupuncture treatment per day. The motor function of the hind limbs of rats was assessed by Basso , Beattie and Bresnahan ( BBB) scoring method , the pathological recovery changes of spinal cord tissues were observed by Hematoxylin⁃eosin (HE) staining , and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Hes 3 , Notch 3 and Notch 4 were detected by real⁃time quantitative PCR and estern blot method , respectively , after 3 , 7 and 14 days of intervention. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was detected by immunohistochemistry after 14 days of intervention. Results : Compared with the sham group , the BBB scores were reduced in rats after SCI surgery and there was significant hemorrhage , structural destruction and degeneration of spinal cord tissue ( P < 0. 05) , while the SCI + EA and SCI + AP groups were milder than the SCI group (P < 0. 05) . The mRNA expression levels and protein expression levels of Hes 3 , Notch 3 and Notch 4 as well as the expression levels of GFAP appeared significantly higher in the SCI group compared with the sham group (P < 0. 05) , while the SCI + EA group appeared lower compared with the SCI group (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion EA of EX⁃B2 can improve the locomotor function of rats with SCI , which may be related to inhibiting the expression of GFAP and the activation of Notch signaling pathway.

Objective : To observe the role of the renin-angiotensin system in myocardial injury induced by experi- mental vascular dementia． Methods : Eighteen adult male rats were categorized into a normal group，sham group， and modified 2-vessel occlusion group ( model) ．To assess the myocardial injury caused by experimental vascular dementia，immunostaining was conducted to evaluate the interstitial collagen fraction and myocyte cross-sectional ar- ea．The concentrations of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ ) and angiotensin 1-7 (Ang1-7) in the serum，as well as the ex- pression levels of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) ，angiotensin converting enzyme 2 ( ACE2) ，Ang Ⅱ , Ang1- 7，angiotensin type 1 ( AT1) receptor，and Mas receptor in the myocardium，were assessed. Results : Modified 2- vessel occlusion led to pronounced cognitive dysfunction (P ＜0. 01 ) and myocardial injury (P ＜0. 000 1 ) when compared to the sham and normal groups．Additionally，modified 2-vessel occlusion induced significant upregulation of the ACE / Ang Ⅱ / AT1 receptor axis(P＜0. 01) and downregulation of the ACE2 / Ang1-7 / Mas axis(P＜0. 05) of the renin-angiotensin system in the myocardium． Conclusion Myocardial injury in rats with experimental vascu- lar dementia may be related to dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system.

Objective : To observe the effects of brain-computer interface-controlled pedal training system on bal- ance function and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in ischemic stroke pa- tients． Methods : Forty patients with ischemic stroke who were hospitalized from September 2022 to September 2023 were selected as observation subjects．The patients were equally divided into stroke control group and stroke experimental group according to the random number table method．At the same time，20 healthy subjects with similar gender and age were recruited as the healthy control group to collect relevant plantar pressure data．Patients in the stroke control group received conventional rehabilitation training including the upper and lower extremity active and passive motor training system，and the stroke experimental group replaced the upper and lower extremity active and passive motor training system in the stroke control group with the brain-computer interface-controlled pedal training system for rehabilitation treatment，and other things remained unchanged．Bilateral plantar pressure symmetry index (SI) and center of body pressure ( COP) swing area were collected from both groups of stroke patients with eyes open and closed using the plantar pressure assessment system before and after 4 weeks of treatment．Fugl-meyer low- er extremity motor function score (FMA-LE) and berg balance scale (BBS) were used to evaluate the two groups of stroke patients．Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were also compared between the two groups before and after treat- ment. Results : ① The SI value and COP swing area in the eyes open and closed state improved in both groups of stroke patients after treatment compared with that before admission，and the results of the stroke experimental group were better than those of the stroke control group (P ＜0. 05) ，but there was still a gap with the healthy control group (P＜0. 05) . ② The BBS and FMA-LE scores of stroke patients in both groups were higher after treatment than before treatment，and the scores of the stroke experimental group were greater than those of the stroke control group，with statistically significant differences (all P＜0. 05) . ③ Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels decreased in both groups of stroke patients after treatment compared with before，and the degree of decrease in serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the stroke experimental group was greater than that in the stroke control group，and the difference was sta- tistically significant (P＜0. 001，P＜0. 05) ． Conclusion Brain-computer interface-controlled pedal training sys- tem has a facilitating effect on the recovery of balance function in hemiplegic patients with ischemic stroke，and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels.

Objectives : To investigate the effect of sciatic nerve electrical stimulation ( SNES) on motor function recovery in rats with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and its possible mechanism. Methods : The incomplete SCI model was constructed by modified Allen ′s method. Forty⁃five Sprague⁃Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups : Sham , SCI , and SNES. Electrical stimulation parameters were 1 ms pulse width and 100 Hz , with 20 mins each time , once a day for 21 days. The motor function was assessed by Basso⁃Beattie⁃Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor function scale , and the action potential conduction was detected by electrophysiology. Hematoxy⁃lin⁃eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the spinal cord and the average cross⁃sectional area (CSA) of biceps femoris muscle fibers. The number of brain⁃derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin⁃related kinase B (TrkB) positive cells , relative mRNA and protein expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) and Western blot separately. Results: On 21 d , the BBB score and average amplitude of action potential of SNES group were higher than those of SCI group , and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05) . Compared with SCI group , the pathological injury of spinal cord tissue in SNES group was significantly improved , and the average CSA of biceps femoris muscles had a statistical difference (P < 0. 05) . The number of BDNF and TrkB positive cells in SNES group was higher than that in SCI group , and there were statistical differences (P < 0. 05) . The relative mRNA and protein expressions of BDNF and TrkB in SNES group were higher than those in SCI group , with statistical differences ( P <0. 05) . The relative mRNA and protein expressions of BDNF and TrkB in SNES group were higher than those in SCI group , with statistical differences ( P <0. 05) . Conclusion These results show that SNES contributes to alleviating spinal cord tissue injury , promoting the recovery of motor function and delaying the atrophy of muscles below the injury level. The possible mechanism is related to the increased expression of BDNF⁃TrkB proteins.