Objective To observe the effects of treadmill training on the recovery of neurological function and the expression of HSP70 and C-MYC in the brains of rats with focal cerebral ischemia. Methods Forty-two male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham group ( n =6), a model group (n =18) and a treadmill exercise group (n=18). Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the model group and exercise group using a modified version of Longa's method. The rats in the treadmill exercise group were given treadmill training 6 d per week for 2 weeks after 24 h of MCAO. By contrast, the rats in the sham group and the model group were reared in standard cages. Before the rats were sacrificed at the 3rd, 7th and 14th d after MCAO, their neurological functions were tested using modified neurological severity scores ( mNSS) , and the mRNA and protein levels of HSP70 and C-MYC were detected using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) , immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results Neurological function in the exercise group at the 7th and 14th days after MCAO had improved significantly compared with the control and model groups.The mRNA and protein levels of HSP70 and C-MYC were significantly upregulated at the 7th and 14th days. Conclusions Treadmill training can improve neurological function by upregulating the expression of HSP70 and C-MYC in the ischemic brain after MCAO.

Objective To investigate the inhibiting effect of interleukin-10 on the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(1CAM-1)and P-selectin in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion foci(I/R)in rats. Methods Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 4 groups randomly:Sham operated group(n=6),cerebral I/R group(6,24,48 hours post I/R,each had 6 rats),vehicle group(6,24,48 hours post I/R,each had 6 rats)and IL-10 treatment group(6,24,48 hours post I/R,each had 6 rats).I/R rat model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)with Longa's thread method. Immunohistochemical staining and retro-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expressions of ICAM-1 and P-selectin. Results ICAM-1(31.60±1.85,54.11±2.32,48.61±2.30)and P-selectin(29.39±5.16,50.44±4.38,37.89±4.74)expressions on endothelial cells 6,24 and 48 hours post I/R were significantly upregulated as compared with sham group(7.61±1.14,0,respectively)(alI P＜0.01),and the expressions of ICAM-1 (24.06±2.42,42.00±3.26,45.28±2.91)and P-selectin(27.28±1.84,42.78±2.51,36.00±3.22)on endothelial cells of IL-10 treatment group 6h,24h,48 h post I/R were significantly suppressed at any timepoint in comparison with vehicle group(P＜0.05). Conclusions IL-10 could inhibit the expressions of ICAM-1 and P-selectin on endothelial cells of cerebral I/R foci in rats.

Objective To study the effects of treadmill training on the recovery of neurological function and the expression of IGF-1/IGF-1Rin the brain poat focal cerebral ischemia.Metheods Forty-two male,adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham group(n=6),a model group(n=18)and a treadmill exercises group(n=18).Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in the latter two groups by right middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)using a modified Longa's metheod.The rats in the treadmill exercises group were given treadmill training 6 days a week for 4weeks beginning 24 h after the MCAO. Rats in the sham group and model groups were reared in standard cages and could move frddly. Before being sacrificed at the 7th 14th and 28th day after the MCAO,the rats' neurological function were tested giving modified neurological weverity scores (mNSS). The expression of IGF-1/IGF-1R was detected using the reverse transcriptsae polymersae chain reaction and immunohistochemical methods.Results Neurological runction in the exercises group at the 14th and 28th day was better than in the control group,and IGF-1 and IGF-1Rexpression were significcantly upregulated on the 7th,14th and 28th day after the MCAO.Conclusion Treadmill training can improve neurological function by upregulating the expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in the ischemic brain, at least in rats.

Objective To observe the effects on and the possible mechanism of early exercise training underlying the mobilization of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomized into two groups:an early exercise group (treated with exercise training,n =60) and a control group(no exercise training,n =60).Meanwhile,each group was divided into two different age groups (50-68 years group of 32 cases,＞ 68 years group of 28 cases in exercise group;50-68 years group of 29 cases,＞ 68 years of 31 cases in control group).The amount of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood was accounted by flow cytometry (FCM),while the level of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) in blood serum was examined by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS),Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to evaluate the patients at 1st day and 14th day after exercise.Results The amount of circulating progenitor cells after 14 days of exercise training in exercise group (from 27.93 ± 6.08/ml to 457.49 ± 73.02/ml)is higher than in control group(from 28.29 ± 5.93/ml to 81.87 ± 9.92/ml) (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the control group,the level of VEGF at 14th day of exercise group is significantly higher (P ＜ 0.01).The score of NIHSS,FMA,MBI were not significantly different between exercise group and control group (P ＜ 0.01).However,the score of NIHSS was decrease in both exercise group and control group after treatment.Furthermore,the amount of circulating progenitor cells was not significantly different between the age groups either in exercise group or control group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Early Exercise training may promote the mobilization of the circulating progenitor cells,which might be related to the increase of VEGF.The mobilization of the EPCs has no effect on the early neurological function after acute ischemic stroke.Age is not associated with the amount of circulating endothelial progenitor cells.

AIM: To explore the effects of adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation on the expression of IL-10 amd TNF-α after cerebral ischaemia in Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. METHODS: 72 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham group, MCAO group, Vehicle group and ADSC group (n=18). Rat's cerebral ischemia model was established by MCAO with Longa' s method. ADSC were labeled by DAPI before transplantation. One day after MCAO, 30 μL of cell suspension containing 1×10~6 ADSCs were injected into the lateral ventricle of ADSC group and the same dose of PBS was given to the Vehicle group. At day 4, day 7 and day 14 after MCAO, the rats were decapitated to detect the expression of IL-10 and TNF-α in ischaemic rat' s brain by ELISA, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, the expression of IL-10 and TNF-α significantly up-regulated at 4 d, 7 d of MCAO group(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference of IL-10 and TNF-α expression between MCAO and vehicle group ant any time point(P>0.05). Compared with Vehicle group, the expression of IL-10 significantly up-regulated while TNF-α expression significantly decreased of ADSC-treated group at any timepoint post MCAO(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The transplantation of ADSC could up-regulate the expression of IL-10 and down-regulate the expression of TNF-α in MCAO rat' s brain, which might contribute to its protective role upon cerebral ischaemia.

Objective To observe the effect of treadmill exercise on the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and its receptor Smad3 protein as well as on cell apoptosis in the ischemic boundary zone,so as to explore how exercise promotes the recovery of neurological function after cerebral ischemia.Methods Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham group (n=6),a model group (n=12) and an exercise group (n=12).A modified Longa's method was used to establish an animal model of cerebral ischemia by occluding the right middle cerebral artery in the rats of the model and exercise groups.Those of the sham group were subjected to the same surgical procedure except that no thread was inserted.After 24h the exercise group began treadmill training,while the other two groups were left on the treadmill without training.Modified neurological severity scores (mNSSs) were used to quantify the rats' neurological functioning on the 3rd,7th and 14th day after the surgery.The ischemic boundary zone tissue was then dissected to detect the expression of TGF-31 and Smad3 protein using western blotting.Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.Results The average mNSS scores of the exercise group on the 7th and the 14th day were significantly lower than those of the model group at the same time points.The average expression level of TGF-β1 and Smad3 protein in the exercise group was significantly higher than in the model group.The number of TUNEL-positive cells in the exercise group was significantly lower than in the model group on the 14th day.Conclusions Treadmill exercise can improve the recovery of neurological function after cerebral ischemia.It may be partly due to upregulating the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 protein,which inhibit cell apoptosis in the ischemic boundary zone.

Objective :To explore rehabilitative effect of low—frequency (1Hz ,LF) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined functional electrical stimulation (FES) on lower limb spasm and motor function in pa—tients with subacute ischemic stroke (SAIS).Methods : A total of 92 SAIS patients with lower limb spasm and motor dysfunction hospitalized in our department were randomly divided into sham stimulation + FES group (sham stimu—lation group ,n＝45) and low—frequency rTMS + FES group (LF—rTMS group ,n＝47) ,both groups were continu—ously treated for three weeks .Lower limb motor function and spasm severity were assessed by Fugl—Meyer motor as—sessment (FMA) and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) respectively before and after treatment ,and motor evoked potential (MEP) was detected .Results : Compared with before treatment ,there was significant rise in FMA score , and significant reductions in MAS score and MEP in two groups after three—week treatment , P＝ 0.001 all ;com—pared with sham stimulation group ,there was significant rise in FMA score [16. 0 (13.0 ,23. 5 ) scores vs. 19. 0 (16.0 ,27.0) scores] ,and significant reductions in MAS score [1. 5 (1. 3 ,1.5) scores vs. 1. 0 (0. 5 ,1. 5) scores] and MEP [ (24.64 ± 0. 39) ms vs. (24.43 ± 0.31) ms] in LF—rTMS group after treatment , P＜0.05 or ＜ 0. 01 . Conclusion : Compared with sham stimulation + FES ,LF—rTMS + FES can more significantly improve lower limb spasm and motor function in patients with subacute ischemic stroke .