Objective To explore the variation trends of interleukin-1β( IL-1β) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in both normal and affected sides of brain tissues in rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury and the therapeutic action of electroacupuncture.Methods The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model was established with suture embolization in the right middle cerebral artery.The rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and electroacupunture group.Each group was then divided into six subgroups by the time after operation (12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h,96 h,144 h), ten rats in each subgroup. Frozen sections of brain tissues were prepared and the expression of IL-1βand ICAM-1 in brain tissues of both sides were detec-ted by immunohistochemistry.Results The expressions of IL-1βand ICAM-1 showed typical bimodal pattern in both affected is-chemic region and contralateral normal region.In the model group, the peaks of IL-1βin the cerebral ischemic region were at 12 h and 48 h, while in the contralateral normal region the peaks were at 12 h and 144 h, the expression of IL-1βin the ischemic region was significantly higher than that in the contralateral normal region at 48 h (P<0.05), and lower at 96 h and 144 h (P <0.05).In the electroacupuncture group, the expressions of IL-1βin the ipsilateral region were significantly lower than that in the contralateral region at 24 h, 48 h and 144 h (P<0.05).In the model group, the peaks of ICAM-1 in the cerebral ischemic regions were at 24 h and 72 h, while in the contralateral normal regions the peaks were at 24 h and 144 h.In the electroacupunc-ture group, the expressions of ICAM-1 in the ischemic regions were significantly lower than that in the contralateral normal re-gions at all the 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 144 h (P<0.05).Conclusions Our findings suggest that electroacupuncture may inhibit the inflammation of ischemia/reperfusion brain tissue through reducing the expression of IL-1βand ICAM-1 to relieve the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

This paper elaborated on "yang(qi)deficiency generating wind"as the stroke pathogenesis, proposed by Professor Wang Yongyan,from the following aspects:diagnosis & treatment,previous re-search,interpretation of wind in TCM,and understanding of this disease in Western medicine.From long-term clinical practice,Professor Wang Yongyan found that at the beginning of the stroke onset,qi defi-ciency even yang deficiency symptoms were commonly present in some patients,including flaccid limbs, lassitude,and pale complexion,which were aggravated upon physical exertion.Boosting qi and supple-menting yang appears to be more effective than usual treatment methods.Professor Wang proposed this new pathogenesis theory from an imaging diagnostic process of "identifying causes from manifestations,i-dentifying symptoms from causes,and identifying pattern from symptoms".Differing from the previous views of "qi deficiency or yang deficiency inducing stroke"held by ancient TCMpractitioners,Professor Wang's theory is based on both clinical practice and TCMtheory with reference to corresponding changes of hemodynamics and pathogenesis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in Western medicine.The theory, yang(qi)deficiency generating wind,was developed as a new pathogenesis of stroke from the disease, symptoms,treatment,and clinical validation,so as to supplement and improve the core pathogenesis,"wind,fire,phlegm and blood stasis"for the acute phrase of stroke.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of pattern of phlegm heat and bowel excess in acute stage of stroke involving meridian-collateral or involving zang-fu organs from the aspects of severity of neurological impairment, pattern distribution at different time points and duration of bowel excess.Methods The basic information,scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS), whether bowel qi being unobstructed or not,duration of bowel excess,and pattern distribution at different time points(onset for 1 d to 3 d,onset for 4 d to 7 d and onset for 8 d to 14 d)were inputted based on structured data by using retrospective analysis of medical records in 204 cases of pattern of phlegm heat and bowel excess of stroke involving meridian-collateral(meridian-collateral group)and 217 cases of pattern of phlegm heat and bowel excess of stroke involving zang-fu organs(zang-fu organ group).The clinical characteristics from the data were compared, analyzed and studied.Results The severity of neurological impairment except of conscious state was significantly higher in zang-fu organ group than that in meridian-collateral group(P<0.01).The average duration of unobstructed bowel qi was significantly longer in zang-fu organ group than that in meridian-collateral group(P<0.01), and the percentage of patients with throughout obstructed bowel qi was significantly higher in zang -fu organ group than that in meridian-collateral group in acute stage of stroke.The pattern of phlegm heat and bowel excess showed a decline trend after stroke onset for 1 d to 14 d in meridian-collateral group, and showed an ascending trend after stroke onset for 1 d to 7 d and a decling trend after stroke onset for 8 d to 14 d in zang-fu organ group.The cases of pattern of qi deficiency with blood stasis or pattern of collaterals blocked by wind -phlegm and static blood were significantly higher in meridian-collateral group at 4-14 d than those at 1-3 d,and cases of pattern of wind stirring due to yin deficiency,pattern of phlegm heat and blood stasis or pattern of wind phlegm and blood stasis were significantly higher in zang-fu organ group at 8 -14 d than those at time point 1.Conclusion The duration of pattern of phlegm heat and bowel excess is posi-tively correlated to the severity of stroke,that is,neurological impairment is more serious and duration is longer in patients with pattern of phlegm heat and bowel excess of stroke involving zang -fu organs.