Objective To study expression change of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) protein and mRNA in rat brain with cerebral hemorrhage and effect of traditional Chinese medicine complex Nao Yi An(NYA) on VEGF expression. Methods The intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) animal models were made by injecting collagenase type Ⅶstereotaxically into right globus pallidus. The experiment techniques of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were employed to detect the expression variation of VEGF at 3h,6h,12h,1d,4d,7d and 14d after cerebral hemorrhage by positive cell counting as an observation index. Results The VEGF expression in the rat brains was observed at 3h after cerebral hemorrhage, raising at 6h,peaking at 12h and remaining peak until 1d. In the fourth day, VEGF began to decrease and still expressed a little at 7d and 14d.NYA could increase the VEGF expression in rat brains with cerebral hemorhage obviously at 6h ,12h,1d and 4d (P

Objective To analyze the electrophysiological characteristics of Hirayama disease and explore their significance for its diagnosis.MethodsElectrophysiological tests were performed on 18 patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria for Hirayama disease. Sixteen were males and 2 were females. The mean age was 24.9years old ( 19-58 years), and the mean case history was 5.2 years ( 1-40 years). The Hirayama disease was clearly unilateral in 10 patients and bilateral in 3, with 5 cases suspected of being bilateral. Motor neuron conduction velocity (MCV) and sensory neuron conduction velocity (SCV) were measured in the median and ulnar nerves.Electromyograms (EMGs) of the abductor digiti minimi, abductor pollicis brevis, extensor digitorum communis,brachioradialis muscle, biceps brachii and sternocleidomastoid were recorded in all cases. The MCV and SCV of the common peroneal nerve and an EMG of the tibialis anterior muscle were examined in one leg. The MCV and SCV of the ulnar nerve and EMGs of the abductor digiti minimi, extensor digitorum communis and brachioradialis muscles were inspected on the contralateral sides of 8 cases, including the patients suspected of suffering bilateral Hirayama disease. The MCVs of the median and ulnar nerves were examined segmentally by stimulating the nerves distally as well as proximally, and recording the amplitude, duration and area of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) and changes in wave form, then determining whether there was a nerve conduction block.Results (1) No conduction block was detected in any median nerve or ulnar nerve among the 18 cases. (2) All the SCVs and sensory nerve action potentials of the median and ulnar nerves were normal. ( 3 ) All the MCVs and SCVs of the common peroneal nerve and the EMGs of the anterior tibialis muscles were normal. (4) MCV slowing in the upper limbs accounted for 41.3％ (19/44) of the examined nerves. The rates of MCV decrease were 72.2％ (13/18)in the ulnar nerve on the affected sides, 33.3％ (6/18) in the median nerve on the affected sides and 0％ (0/8)in the ulnar nerve on the contralateral sides. (5) Amplitude reduction in the CMAP in the upper limbs accounted for 81.8％ (36/44) of the examined nerves. The rates of amplitude decrease were 100％ (18/18) in the ulnar nerves of the affected sides, 77.8％(14/18) of median nerves on the affected side and 50％(4/8) of ulnar nerves on the contralateral side. ( 6 ) Upper limb EMGs revealed a rate of neurogenic damage of 47.0％ ( 62/132). The EMGs decreased in 100％ (18/18) of the abductor digiti minimi and abductor pollicis brevis on the affected side, 88.9％ (16/18) of extensor digitorum communis on the affected side, 62.5％ (5/8) of the abductor digiti minimi on the contralateral side, 37.5％ (3/8) of the extensor digitorum communis on the contralateral side,5.6％ ( 1/18 ) of the brachioradialis and biceps brachii muscles on the affected sides. There was no neurogenic damage of the contralateral brachioradialis muscle or the sternocleidomastoid on the affected side.Conclusions The electrophysiological features of Hirayama disease include unilateral or bilateral neurogenic damage in the upper limbs. According to the abnormal EMGs, spinal anterior horn cells on the affected sides were injured at C7-T1. C6and above C6 were rarely involved. The electrophysiological characteristics of Hirayama disease could provide a clear basis for localization and differentiation in Hirayama disease diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Growth-associated protein-43, a kind of protein relatedto axonal growth, plays a key role in promoting neural development, axonalregeneration, synaptic growth and structural and functional reconstructionand so on. In the study, we find that cyclovirobuxine D can protect braininjury in rats with experimental cerebral ischemia reperfusion.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of cyclovirobuxine D on the expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hypertensive rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion.DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province; Central Laboratory of Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: Cyclovirobuxine D is alkaloid monomer extracted from Chinese herb buxine. Cyclovirobuxine D powder with national protected traditional medicine number of ZYB20796057 was provided by Nanjing Xiaoyingyao Pharmaceutical Factory. Totally 120 two-to-three-month-old healthy male SD rats, of either gender, with body mass of 90 to 120 g, were used in this experiment.METHODS: This experiment was carried out in Foshan Hospital of Tra ditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province and at the Central Laboratory of Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 2005 and March 2006. ①Stroke-prone-renovascular-hypertensive-rats models (RHRSP)were created by bilaterally narrowing the renal artery with silk loop clips. Totally 120 rats were randomly divided into blank group (n=20,renovascular hypertensive rats were given no treatments), sham operation group (n=20, rats were given only surgical trauma), model group (n=40, rats were given treatment of cerebral ischemia reperfusion) and cyclovirobuxine D-treated group (n=40, rats were given cyclovirobuxine D).② Unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery ischemia reperfusion models were made with suture-occluded method. 6.48 mg/kg cyclovirobuxine D diluted by 1.5 mL normal saline was intraperitoneally injected into the rats of cyclovirobuxine D-treated group, twice per day; Normal saline was isochronously intraperitoneally injected into the rats of each subgroup of control group, 2 mL once, the method was the same as that of the cyclovirobuxine D-treated group; interval of injection time was 7 hours in each group. Rats in each group were executed on days 1, 7, 14 and 30after ischemia reperfusion. ③ Brain slice was prepared. The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA of rats in each group was detected with in situ hybridization.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA around ischemia are following ischemia reperfusion for 2 hours. ②The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hippocampus following ischemia reperfusion for 2 hours RESULTS: All the 120 rats entered the stage of result analysis. ① Immune in situ hybridization of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA: In situhybridization showed that expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA and expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA could be detected respectively in the hippocampus and marginal area of hematoma after ischemia and reperfusion.②The expression of growth-associated protein-43RNA around haematoma following cerebral ischemia reperfusion group as not found in blank group and sham-operation group; The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA was found in the marginal zones around haematoma of rats in the model group on the 1st day following ischemia reperfusion and it was significantly increased on the 7th day, gradually reduced on the 14th day and still expressed on the 30th day but less,with significant difference at each time point (P ＜ 0.01); Expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA around haematoma at each time point was more in the cyclovirobuxine D-treated group than in the model group ,with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05). ③There was no significant difference of the expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hippocampus of rats following cerebral ischemia reperfusion between blank group and sham-operation group; Expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA was found in hippocampus of rats in the model group on the 1st day after modeling, and it reached the peak on the 7th day, gradually decreased on the 14th day and significantly decreased on the 30th day, but significantly more than that of sham-operation group; The expression of growth-associated protein-43 mRNA in hippocampus was significantly more at each time point in cyclovirobuxine D-treated group than in model group, with significant difference (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Cyclovirobuxine D up-regulates the expression of growthassociated protein-43 mRNA after reperfusion and promotes axonal regeneration of rats with experimental cerebral ischemia.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electro-acupuncture combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on dysphagia in patients after acute cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods180 ACI patients with dysphagia were divided into the function training group (n=45)，electro-acupuncture group (n=45), NMES group (n=45) and comprehensive rehabilitation group (electro-acupuncture combined with NMES group, n=45). They were assessed with drinking water test before and 3 weeks after treatment. ResultsThe drinking water test scores improved after treatment in all the 4 groups (P<0.05), and more in the electro-acupuncture group, NMES group and comprehensive rehabilitation group than in the function training group (P<0.05). The drinking water test scores improved the most in comprehensive rehabilitation group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe electro-acupuncture combined NMES can effectively improve the therapeutic effect on dysphagia in patients after ACI.