Objective To investigate the value of methylprednisolone pulse therapy on the acute treatment of multiple sclerosis.Methods 46 cases of the acute phase of patients with multiple sclerosis treatment in the hospital's department of neurology were chosen,who were divided in accordance with the principle of randomized controlled study group and the control group,each group of 23 patients.The study group was given methylprednisolone in the treatment and control group were given dexamethasone treatment.The clinical efficacy and complications of the treatment of patients were compared.Results The study group markedly in 14 cases,effective 54 cases,the total effective rate was 82.6％ ;the control group,10 casesmarkedly effective in 4 cases,9 cases ineffective,the total effective rate was 60.9％ ; compared the two sets of data decline before treatment,there was a statistically significant difference (x2 =5.236,P ＜ 0.05).After the treatment,the two groups of patients with EDSS scores compared with EDSS scores of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group,the difference was statistically significant(t =3.135,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion In acute phase of patients with multiple sclerosis,methytprednisolone pulse therapy can reduce the incidence of complications,and reduce the patient's nervous system damage,which can improve the quality of life in patients.

Objective To study the expressions and prognostic significance of high mobility group protein A1 (HMGA1) and high mobility group protein A.2 (HMGA2) in pancreatic carcinoma.Methods The expressions of HMGA1 and HMGA2 were examined by immunohistochemical SP method in 60 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and 30 cases of normal pancreatic tissues.The relationship between the expression and prognosis was also analyzed.Results The expressions of HMGA1 and HMGA2 in pancreatic carcinoma were significantly higher than those in normal tissues,and the positive expression rates were 70.0％ vs.6.7％ (x2 =32.105,P =0.000) and 73.3％ vs.3.3％ (x2 =39.200,P =0.000).The expression of HMGA1 in pancreatic carcinoma was correlated with histological grade (x2 =6.774,P =0.034),TNM stage (x2 =4.776,P =0.029) and lymphatic metastasis (x2 =12.614,P =0.000).The expression of HMGA2 in pancreatic carcinoma was correlated with histological grade (x2 =8.200,P =0.017) and TNM stage (x2 =7.253,P =0.007).The expression of HMGA1 was positively associated with HMGA2 expression (r =0.393,P =0.001).Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the median survival time of HMGA1 and HMGA2 positive patients were shorter than those patients with HMGA1 negative and HMGA2 negative (14.0 months vs.24.0 months,x2 =14.568,P =0.000;15.0 months vs.21.0 months,x2 =7.270,P =0.007).Conclusion HMGA1 and HMGA2 are highly expressed in pancreatic carcinoma,and play synergistic roles in the generation and progress of pancreatic carcinoma.There is certain value of combined detection of HMGA1 and HMGA2 to predict the prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characteristic of neurons reducing, senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and so on, and the most common cause of dementia among the elderly. Many efforts have been made to understand the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the development of AD, such as gene methylation and histone acetylation, although the exact mechanisms are not yet entirely clear. Here, we provide a review of the epigenetic mechanisms and related research in AD, which may provide a new direction for the research as well as the development of the epigenetic drugs.

Objective To explore the neuroprotective effect and mechanism of picroside II on ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway after cerebral ischemia injury in rats.Methods The focal cerebral is-chemic models were established by inserting a monofilament threads into middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in 100 Wistar rats and treated by injecting picroside II (20 mg/kg) intraperitoneally.The neu-robehavioral function was evaluated by modified neurological severity score points ( mNSS) test.The cerebral infarct volume was measured by tetrazolium chloride ( TTC) staining.The apoptotic cells were counted by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling ( TUNEL) assay.The expression of pERK1/2 in cortex was determined by the immunohistochemistry ( IHC) and Western Blot ( WB) .Results mNSS test showed that severe neurological dysfunction was found in model and LPS groups,and the scores of mNSS were significantly increased;meanwhile the scores of mNSS in treatment group and U0126 group were signifi-cantly lower than that in model and LPS groups (P<0.05).TUNEL assay showed that the apoptotic cell inde-xes (ACI) in different groups were (0.06±0.02),(0.27±0.03),(0.07±0.02),(0.26±0.03)and(0.09± 0.05) ,and the ACI in treatment and U0126 groups was obviously lower than that in model and LPS groups (P<0.05) .With IHC and WB,pERK1/2 level in model group was the highest,which was slightly higher than that of LPS group,and pERK1/2 expression in treatment and U0126 groups was significantly decreased com-pared with that in model and LPS groups (P<0.05) .Conclusion The activation of ERK1/2 by cerebral is-chemia could induce the cell apoptosis.Picroside II might reduce cell apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of ERK1/2 in ischemic brain injury.

Objective To study the neuroprotective effects of neuregulin-1?(NRG-1?) on the nervous behavioral function,cerebral infarction volume,brain water content(BWC),neuronal apoptosis and aquaporin-4(AQP-4) expression in astrocytes after cerebral ischemic reperfusion and the related mechanism in mice.Methods Intraluminal thread methods were applied to establish the middle cerebral artery occlusion reperfusion models in the mice.Neuregulin-1?(2?g / kg) was injected into the internal carotid artery for treatment.The nervous behavioral function was evaluated with Bederson's test.The cerebral infarction volume was observed with tetrazolium chloride staining.The BWC was measured by dry-wet weight comparing.The apoptosis positive cells were counted by immunofluorescence assay.The expression of AQP-4 was determined by immunohistochemical assay.Results Nervous behavioral malfunction appeared in all the mice with left middle cerebral artery occlusion and/or reperfusion.The infarction focus showed in the ischemic hemisphere after the injury.The BWC,the number of neuronal apoptosis cells and AQP-4 expression in astrocytes were higher than those in the sham group. In the NRG-1? treatment group,the nervous behavioral function was improved 24 hours after ischemia,the number of apoptosis positive cells reduced and the infarction volume decreased significantly compared with the control group(P0.05).In the groups of reperfusion for 22,46 and 70 hours,the five indexes mentioned above were significantly different from those in the corresponding control groups(P

With the progress and development of the DNA test and imaging technique, and the evolu-tion of evidence rule which bring the discussions about whether the individual identification using imag-ing data is outdated, and other disputes such as whether radiologic evidence could be suitable for con-temporary evidence and be used to solve the posture difference of imaging test. This article summaries the domestic and foreign researches of individual identification using imaging data in the past 20 years and reviews the problems above.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a kind of neurotrophic factor and protects from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, the expression of IGF-1 is associated with the attack of ischemic stroke. The effects of IGF-1 and its receptor (IGF-1R) on neurobehavioral function are to be further studied.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of IGF-1 and IGF-1R on neurobehavioral function in rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiments were carried out in Shandong Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Brain diseases. Twenty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats of clean degree, weighing 220-260 g, were provided by the experimental animal center of Shandong University.METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into experimental group (n =24) and sham-operated group (n =4). The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) models were established by inserting a thread through left external-internal carotid arteries. The sham-operated rats were given the same treatments except inserting thread. ①Neurologic deficit test: The rats in the experimental group were assessed according to Bederson standard after 1-hour ischemia and 6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion respectively. The sham-operated rats were assessed at corresponding time points; Without neurologic deficit was marked as 0 point; flexion of anterior claws as 1 point; unable to act against the pushing from the contralateral side as 2 points; circling while walking as 3 points; shaking as 4 points;unconscious mind as 5 points. ② Sample collection and treatment: The samples in the experimental group were collected after 1-hour ischemia and 6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion, and those in the sham-operated group ere collected at 24 hours postoperatively. The rats were anesthetized, brain samples were got at about 5 mm posterior to optic chiasma after brains were removed completely, then serial coronal sections (5 μm) were prepared, and 1 from 10 sections was stuck to the cover glasses treated with poly-L-lysine. ③ Morphological observation of neurons: The neurons in brain were observed by toluidine blue staining. ④ Detection of IGF-1 and IGF-1R: The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum were detected with immunohistochemical technique, 4 fields were randomly selected to count the positive cells under high-power microscope (×400).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The neurologic deficit; ② Morphological changes of neurons in brain; ③ Expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum.RESULTS: All the 28 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① The neurologic deficit: The scores of neurologic deficit were (1.50±058) and (1.50±0.78) in rats after 7 and 14-day reperfusion, which were lower than that in rats after 6-hour reperfusion [(3.00±0.00), P ＜ 0.05]. ② Morphological changes of neurons in brain: The neurons in ischemic area appeared as paryopyknosis and became irregular in shape, there were obvious gaps around the cells, also deeply stained as purplish blue, nucleolus disappeared, and there were many scattered cellular fragments. ③ Expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in cortex and striatum: The numbers of IGF-1 positive cells in cortex were (8.75±2.06), (11.13±1.14),(19.75±3.18), (17.38±3.11 ) and (11.23±2.28) respectively in rats after 6, 12-hours and 1, 3, 7-day reperfusion, which all were higher than that in sham-operated rats [(3.88±1.46), P ＜ 0.05], the numbers of IGF-1 positive cells in striatum were(8.25±2.21), (11.34±2.21), (18.23±2.64), (18.56±2.34) and (11.31±2.14) respectively in rats after 6, 12 hours and 1, 3, 7days reperfusion , which were also higher than that in sham-operated rats [(4.12±2.24), P ＜ 0.05]. The numbers of IGF-1R positive cells in cortex were (7.63±1.50), (10.50±2.34), (15.55±3.12), (15.37±3.01), (8.86±2.75) respectively in rats after 6, 12-hours and 1,3,7-day reperfusion, which all were higher than that in sham-operated rats [(4.13±1.81), P ＜0.05]. Those in striatum were (8.33±2.31), (10.24±2.09), (14.72±2.17), (14.24±2.77), (8.38±2.05), which were also higher than that in sham-operated rats [(3.76±2.35), P ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: The neurological function is damaged after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, but it has a trend of self-recovery. The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R are mainly distributed in cortex and striatum. Higher expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1R maintain during 12 hours to 7 days after reperfusion and have a peak value at 1-3 days, which suggests that early expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R are certain related to the recovery of neurological function.

BACKGROUND: Brain injury can induce the increased expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in brain,whereas FGFR is a very important player in the cell proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis, skeletogeny, etc.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of bFGF and its receptor on neuronal apoptosis following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.DESIGN: A randomized grouping design and animal experiment.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.MATERIALS: Twenty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats of clean degree, weighing 220-260 g, were provided by the experimental animal center of Shandong University. Rabbit-anti-rat bFGF and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1(FGFR-1) monoclonal antibodies were provided by Wuhan Boster Biological Technology, Co.,Ltd.METHODS: The experiment was carried out in Shandong Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Brain diseases.① The rats were randomly divided into experimental group (n =24) and sham-operated group (n =4). Models of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) were established by thread occlusion via left external-internal carotid arteries, and 4 rats in the experimental group were sampled at 1-hour ischemia/6, 12-hour, 1, 3, 7 and 14-day reperfusion respectively. The rats in the sham-operated group were given the same treatment without inserting thread.After anesthesia, the brain was removed completely by cutting head, then the brain tissue at about 5 mm posterior to optic chiasma was cut down, then serial coronal sections (5 μm) were prepared. ② The brain tissues were stained with ematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the forms of neurons were observed under microscope. ③ TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method: there were buffy granules in nucleus which was positively stained (apoptosis). Four fields were randomly selected from cortex and striatum to count positive cells under high-power microscope (×400). ④ The sections were stained with rabbit-anti-rat bFGF and FGFR-1 monoclonal antibodies, 4 fields were randomly selected from cortex and striatum to count positive cells under high-power microscope (×400).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Apoptosis and the expressions of bFGF and FGFR-1.RESULTS: All the 28 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① In the experimental group, the neurons in the ischemic sites were obviously decreased, some neurons appeared as paryopyknosis and became irregular, also deeply stained as purplish blue, nucleolus disappeared, and there were many scattered cellular fragments. ② In the sham-operated group, there were a few apoptotic neurons in the brain tissue, and the apoptotic neurons were obviously increased after ischemia, which mainly observed in cortexes and striatums of frontal and paritetal lobes. In the experimental group, apoptotic cells in cortexes began to increase gradually at 6 hours, and there were more cells at 12hours and 3 days, which reached the peak value at 1 day, and began to decrease at 3 day, but there were still more apoptotic cells at 14 days than in the sham-operated group. The number of apoptotic neurons and the changing trend in striatums were generally the same as those in cortexes (P ＞ 0.05). ③ In the sham-operated group, there were weak bFGF expression in the neurons of brain tissue, but there were fewer lightly stained positive cells. After cerebral ischemia, the bFGF expressions were increased, mainly observed in cortexes and striatums. The bFGF expression appeared at 6 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, and the number was increased gradually and deeply stained as the time of reperfusion prolonged (Figure 3), it reached the peak value at 1-3 days, and then weakened gradually, but it was still higher than in the sham-operated group at 14 days [(5.01 ±1.71), (5.21 ± 1.62) cells/visual field; (2.03± 1.73),(2.46± 1.38) cells/visual field, P ＜ 0.05]. ④ In the sham-operated group, lightly stained FGFR-1 positive cells could be observed in brain tissue. At 6 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the FGFR positive cells began to increased in cortexes and striatums, which were the most at 1-3 days, and gradually decreased after 3 days, and the number was still a little more than that in the sham-operated group at 14 days [(5.01± 1.41), (5.20± 1.33) cells/visual field; (2.25±1.67),(2.32± 1.61 ) cells/visual field].CONCLUSION: After cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the expressions of endogenous bFGF and FGFR-1 may be activated in cortex and striatum, then inhibit the neuronal apoptosis, and play its neuroprotective role.

BACKGROUND: Most animal experiments of transgene are derived from mice; therefore, it is necessary to establish a focal cerebral ischemiareperfusion model and significant to prevent and cure ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.OBJECTIVE: To establish a convenient and reliable model with middle cerebral artery occlusion reperfusion (MCAO/R) in mice.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular disease, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University.MATERIALS: Twenty healthy BALB/c mice, of both genders, weighing 25-30 g, of SPF grade, were divided into sham operation group (n=5), ischemia group (n=10) and 22-hour reperfusion group (n=5) on the basis of digital table. In addition, according to digital table, 130 healthy male Kunming mice were divided into sham operation group (n=10), 24-hour ischemia group (n=30), 2-hour ischemia/22-hour, 46-hour and 70-hour reperfusion groups with 30 in each group; meanwhile, 30 female mice were divided into sham operation group, 24-hour ischemia group and 2-hour ischemia/22-hour reperfusion group with 10 in each group. All Kunming mice were weighing 25-30 g and of SPF grade.METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University from July 2005 to March 2006. The 6-0 suture with silica gel covered at an end was sent from the left external carotid artery (ECA) into internal carotid artery (ICA) till arriving at the initiation of middle cerebral artery (MCA) to block the blood stream in it, then drawing the suture from ICA 2 hours after occlusion to accomplish reperfusion. Mice were cut off their heads in sham operation group at 24 hours after operation, in ischemia group at 24 hours after blocking blood stream and in reperfusion group at 24, 48 and 72 hours after operation. Reliability of models was evaluated with neurology score and tetrazolium chloride stain. Longa standard scores: neurology score ≥ 1 point was regarded as successful models;coronal sections of brain tissue were stained with tetrazolium chloride, and the white region was regarded as infarcted volume.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurology score and infarcted volume after staining of triphenyltetrazolium chloride in brain tissue.RESULTS: All mice were involved in the final analysis. ① Successful rate was 20% of BALB/c mice, 66.7%-73.3% of male Kunming mice and 40%-50% of female Kunming mice. ② Brain sections of BALB/c mice in sham operation group were orange at both sides of cortex and infarction focus was not observed. A big infarcted volume was observed on brain sections of mice in ischemia group, and infarcted volume counted for 50%-70% as homonymy hemisphere on optochiasmatic coronal sections. The condition of Kunming mice was similar to that of BALB/c mice, but infarcted volume counted for 40%-65%. In addition, condition in ischemiareperfusion group was similar to that in ischemia group. A big infarcted volume was observed on brain sections, and infarcted volume counted for 50%-75% as homonymy hemisphere on optochiasmatic coronal sections.The condition of Kunming mice was similar to that of BALB/c mice, but infarcted volume counted for 40%-65%.CONCLUSION: The model with MCAO/R in mice characterizes by relatively smaller trauma, and the ischemic region is stable; therefore, it can be used to accurate timing control of ischemia/reperfusion. This model is an ideal one for researching pathophysiological changes, prognosis and therapy in cerebrovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: A middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion(MCAO/R) model in rats with suture has been widely used in the researches of acute focal ischemic cerebral infarction, while the model in rabbits by the same method is relatively rare. Magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (MR DWI) has been paid close attention recently for its sharp sensitivity of cerebral ischemia.OBJECTIVE: To establish rabbit models of MCAO/R by intraluminal thread, and study the characteristics of MR DWI after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.DESIGN: Random controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiment was accomplished at the Key Laboratory of Brain Diseases Prevention and Cure of Shandong Province from March to June in 2005. A total of 103 adult healthy New Zealand rabbits of either sex, 10-12 weeks old and 1.8-3.3 kg weight were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Shandong Agricultural Academy (SCX20040013).They were bred at quiet, sanitary and dry conditions.METHODS: Animal groups: 103 rabbits were divided randomly into group A (n=53) and group B (n=50). The rabbits in group A were treated with suture of 0.51-0.55 mm as the diameter of thread, while group B was reassigned into B1 (0.46-0.50 mm), B2 (0.51-0.55 mm) and B3 (0.56-0.60 mm).The successful MCAO/R models in 57 cases were randomly divided into permanent ischemia group (n=30, ischemia 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 andl 48 hours, 5ones at each time point) and ischemic reperfusion group (n=27, reperfusion 0, 2 and 5 hours, 5 ones at each time point; reperfusion 11, 23 and 47hours, 4 ones at each time point). Another 10 rabbits receiving sham operations were regarded as contrasts for permanent ischemia group and ischemia reperfusion group, with 5 ones in each.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The changes of hyperintensity area on DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured in permanent ischemia group and ischemic reperfusion group.RESULTS: The data of 57 successful model rabbits were involved in the result analysis.①The successful rate in group A (26 cases, 49.1%) was significantly lower than that in group B (31 cases, 62.0%).②In ischemia group:The hyperintensity area on DWI with declined ADC appeared at ischemia 1 hour. The hyperintensity areas on DWI at different times increased gradually from ischemia 1 hour and unchanged within 24 hours. The mean ADC at different times declined at first and then gradually increased.③In reperfusion group: Comparing with ischemia 1 hour, the hyperintensity area on DWI reduced while ADC increased at reperfusion 2 hours and 5 hours, and enlarged with ADC high at reperfusion 11 hours, then continued to enlarge with ADC reduced significantly at 23 hours and 47 hours.CONCLUSION: The diameter of thread tip and the inserting distance of thread are main factors for establishing successful MCAO/R models. The hyperintensity area on DWI and the decreasing ADC after acute cerebral ischemia can be improved by early reperfusion, but the secondary decreasing ADC may be induced by continuously reperfusion.