Objective To observe the effects of Huoxue Xifeng Decoction (HXD) on endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the blood and brain tissue of focal cerebral infarction (FCI) rats. Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups:sham-operation, FCI model and HXD-high, HXD-middle, HXD-low dose groups, with 8 rats in each group. The model of FCI rats was established by photo-chemistry method, and intragastric administration were continue 7 days before operation. HXD-high, HXD-middle, HXD-low dose groups were given HXD 20, 10, 5 g/(kg?d) respectively, and other groups were given the same volume distilled water. Blood and brain tissue samples were gotten 24 h after operation, and radio-immunity method was used to measure ET-1 level, spectrophotometric method was used to measure NO level. Results Compared with FCI model group, HXD decreased ET-1 level in plasma and brain tissue after infarction, and decreased NO level in the brain tissue, increased NO level in serum (P

PURPOSE: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a key role in tissue repair and regeneration. Previous studies have shown that infusion of human umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial colony-forming cells improves outcomes in mice subjected to experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the efficiency of cell transplantation is not satisfactory. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the survival of transplanted cells following ischemic reperfusion injury. This observational clinical study investigated the correlation between the number of circulating EPCs and plasma levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 20 patients with mild TBI at day-1, day-2, day-3, day-4, and day-7 post TBI. The number of circulating EPCs and the plasma levels of SOD and MDA were measured. RESULTS: The average of circulating EPCs in TBI patients decreased initially, but increased thereafter, compared with healthy controls. Plasma levels of SOD in TBI patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls at day-4 post-TBI. MDA levels showed no difference between the two groups. Furthermore, when assessed on day-7 post-TBI, the circulating EPC number were correlated with the plasma levels of SOD and MDA. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the number of circulating EPCs is weakly to moderately correlated with plasma levels of SOD and MDA at day-7 post-TBI, which may offer a novel antioxidant strategy for EPCs transplantation after TBI.
Animals ; Brain Injuries* ; Cell Transplantation ; Clinical Study ; Endothelial Progenitor Cells* ; Humans ; Malondialdehyde ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress* ; Plasma ; Regeneration ; Reperfusion Injury ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Transplants ; Umbilical Cord