The post-stroke depression refers to a affective disorders within 2 to 3 years after stroke in patients with stroke.Its main features are depressed mood,decreased interest,irritability,pessimism,and slow thinking,etc.Usually the symptoms will last for more than 2 weeks.It is one of the most common complications of stroke and may seriously affect the rehabilitation and quality of life of patients.Some patients even have suicidal tendency.Early intervention is very important for late neurological recovery in patients with stroke.It can not only improve cognitive function,but also reduce the morbidity and mortality.This article reviews the treatment of post-stroke depression.

Brain edema is a common pathophysiological response in clinical practice.Now it is considered that aquaporin-4 (AQP4) participates in the formation and regression of brain edema,the latest research results of its structure, distribution, expression and regulation have indicated that AQP4 plays all important role in brain edema.

Objective: To investigate the influence of astragalosides (AST) and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) combination on oxidative stress of brain tissues in C57BL/6 mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods: Eighty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group, untreated group, high-dose combination group (AST at a dose of 220 mg/kg plus PNS at a dose of 230 mg/kg), medium-dose combination group (AST at a dose of 110 mg/kg plus PNS at a dose of 115 mg/kg), low-dose combination group (AST at a dose of 55 mg/kg plus PNS at a dose of 57.5 mg/kg), AST (110 mg/kg) group, PNS (115 mg/kg) group and edaravone (4 mg/kg) group. AST and PNS were administered by gavage once daily for 4 days and edaravone was administered by intraperitoneal injection twice daily for 4 days. On the fourth day, bilateral common carotid arteries were ligated for 20 minutes to induce cerebral ischemia, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Ischemic brain tissue was used to prepare tissue homogenate, then contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the homogenate were detected. Twoxtwo analysis of variance of factorial design was used to analyze whether there was an interaction between AST at 110 mg/kg and PNS at 115 mg/kg. Results: Compared with sham-operated group, contents of MDA and NO, and activity of NOS in the untreated group were remarkably increased (P<0.01), activity of SOD and content of GSH were decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, content of MDA in the AST group was decreased (P<0.01) and activity of SOD was increased (P<0.01), however, contents of GSH and NO and activity of NOS had no obvious changes (P>0.05). Contents of MDA and NO in the PNS group was decreased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.01), but activities of SOD and NOS and content of GSH had no changes (P>0.05). Contents of MDA and NO and activity of NOS in brain tissues in the edaravone group were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and activity of SOD was increased (P<0.05), while content of GSH had no changes (P>0.05). Contents of MDA and NO and activity of NOS in brain tissue in the AST and PNS combination groups were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the activity of SOD increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the content of GSH increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and activity of SOD and content of GSH were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). The results of analysis of variance of factorial design showed that there were interactions between AST (110 mg/kg) and PNS (115 mg/kg) (P<0.01). Conclusion: Combination of AST (110 mg/kg) and PNS (115 mg/kg) has a restraint effect on the early oxidative stress injury in the brain after ischemia-reperfusion, and the combination has a synergistic or additive effect.

To explore the effects and mechanisms of combining astragaloside IV (the effective component of Astragalus membranaceus) with notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 (the effective components of Panax notoginseng) against oxidative injury in PC12 cells induced by cobalt chloride (CoCl₂).

Objective To study the effects of supra-physiologic glucose on the expression of PDX-1 and insulin secretion. Methods Islet cells isolated from SD rats were incubated in medium containing 5.6 mmol/L or 33 mmol/L glucose respectively for 3 days. Basic and glucose-induced insulin levels in supernate and in islet cells were detected. The PDX-1 mRNA and protein were detected. Results (1) Islet cells exposed to 33 mmol/L vs 5.6 mmol/L glucose for 3 days showed significant decrease in the basic and glucose-induced insulin release, and in cell insulin content and PDX-1 protein. (2) Prolonging incubation of islet cells in 33 mmol/L glucose aggravated the inhibitive effect on PDX-1 expression and insulin secretion. (3)Recovery to normal concentration of glucose in 3 days could partly improve PDX-1 expression and insulin secretion. Conclusions Inhibition of PDX-1 is one of the mechanism of glucotoxicity, and recovery to normal concentration of glucose in 3 days can partly improve PDX-1 expression and insulin secretion.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the content of cinnamaldehyde in Guizhi fuling drop pills by RP - HPLC. METHODS:The determination was performed on Symmetry C_(18)(150 mm?4.6 mm,4?m) with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile 0.1%phosphoric acid solution(21:79) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL?min~(-1).The detection wavelength was set at 284 nm.RESULTS:The linear range of cinnamaldehyde was 4～40?g?mL~(-1)(r =0.999 8) with an average recovery of 99.39% (RSD = 1.22,n = 9).CONCLUSION:The established method is simple,accurate,precise and applicable for the quality control of Guizhi fuling drop pills.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of Cistanche salsa tablets in treating endemic fluorosis. METHODS: A total of 137 cases were enrolled from endemic fluorosis disease-stricken area: 37 were assigned to receive Cistanche salsa tablets(1.2 g) po bid (trial group), and another 100 to receive Fenbid (300 mg) po bid as control for a treatment course of 4 weeks. The outcome measures included the total efficacy, time to take effect, adverse drug reaction and patients’ drug tolerance. RESULTS: In the trial group, the total effective rate was 86.49%, the time to take effect ranged from 7 to 15 days, and the ADR incidence rate was 35.14%, which was of significant difference as compared with control group.The patients in both groups had good drug tolerance. CONCLUSION: Cistanche salsa tablets are effective for endemic fluorosis and superior to Fenbid in efficacy.

AIM To explore the effect of hypoxia on apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) and the role of ecdysterone(EDS)in inhibition of apoptosis. METHODS ① Culture and identification of HUVECs;② Hypoxic model(0,12,24,48 h) in HUVECs was established. While HUVECs was incubated 24 h with EDS(100 mg?L -1 ) under hypoxic condition. Apoptosis in HUVECs was detected by TUNEL;③ HUVECs received EDS 100 mg?L -1 in normal and hypoxic condition. After 24 h, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected with immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS The apoptosis percentages are different under different hypoxic condition. The longer hypotic the time was, the higher the apoptosis percentage was. EDS reduced apoptosis of HUVECs. EDS could enhance expression of VEGF protein in cardiac myocytes of rat in normal and hypoxic condition. CONCLUSION The role of hypoxia in HUVECs apoptosis is more significant along with prolonging of hypoxic time. VEGF play an important role in protective effect of EDS on endothelial cell apoptosis.

Objectives To evaluate the performances of transcranial Doppler (TCD) and vessel-encoded arterial spin labeling MRI perfusion imaging (VE-ASL) in the evaluation of collateral circulation of cerebral arteries. Methods Thirty patients with unilateral ICA or MCA stenosis diagnosed by TCD and carotid duplex ultrasound and confirmed by MRA underwent VE-ASL. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) of bilateral MCA in the same depth, distal to the stenosis site, was recorded. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in bilateral MCA territories was measured by VE-ASL. The detection rates of collater-al flow using TCD and VE-ASL were compared. Results TCD revealed that PSV in the ipsilateral and contralateral MCA were (31.6 ± 10.5) cm/s and (83.1 ± 9.2) cm/s, respectively. VE_ASL revealed that CBF in the ipsilateral and contralateral MCA territory were (22.5±9.8) mL·min-1·100g-1 and (31.7±8.3) mL·min-1·100g-1, respectively. The PSV ratio of the ipsi-lateral/contralateral MCA was significantly lower than the CBF ratio of the ipsilateral/contralateral MCA(0.37 ± 0.173 vs. 0.66±0.141, P=0.001). The detection rates of collateral flow using TCD were lower than those using VE-ASL. The detec-tion rate was 26.7% vs. 70% on TCD vs. VE-ASL in anterior collateral circulation (P=0.001), was 16.7% vs. 60% (P<0.001) on TCD vs. VE-ASL in posterior collateral circulation. The total display rate of collateral flow was 36.7%vs. 86.7%on TCD vs. VE-ASL (P<0.001). Conclusions TCD is inferior to VE-ASL in evaluating the collateral circulation because of the limitations including the anatomical variations of the circle of Willis and formation of leptomenigeal anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: The commonly used culture methods for primary intervertebral disc cells are type Ⅱcol agenase alone digestion method, and type Ⅱ col agenase combined trypin digestion method. However, the acquired cells are few. OBJECTIVE: To acquire nucleus pulposus cells from human degenerative intervertebral disc using a systemic and simplified method. METHODS: Nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured. The morphology of nucleus pulposus cells was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope every day. Primary and subcultured cellsuspension was applied for the determination of cel viability using trypan blue staining. The cel growth was detected with MTT assay. The cel morphology was observed under laser confocal microscopy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nucleus pulposus cells were successful y isolated from from human degenerative intervertebral disc using the improved method, and cells were subcultured to passage 3. Primary cells were fusiform shaped, while cells at passage 1 and 2 were triangle or polygonal, which were similar to fibroblasts. When cells almost reached the confluence, the cells showed slabstone-like appearance. Trypan blue staining showed that, the primary cel viability was 99%, and passage 3 cells had 93%-95% viability. The proliferation of nucleus pulposus cells gradual y decreased as the generation increased. Compared with passage 1 cells, passage 2 and 3 cells at logarithmic phase trended to be smoother. The cel morphology observed under laser confocal microscopy was similar to the results under phase contrast microscope. The improved simple method can successful y acquire a variety of cells from human degenerative intervertebral disc, and these cells show fine biological properties.