Objective:To assess the effect of localization of cerebral stroke on cardiac damages and cardiac autonomic nervous activity.Methods:ECG,plasma CK-MB level and heart rate variability(HRV) recordings were measured and analysed among 389 patients with hemispheric cerebral stroke in the acute phase and among 206 control subjects.Results:Supraventricular arrhythmias and prolonged QTc were significantly increased in groups of right insular infarction,fight putamental and frontoparietotemporal hemorrhage as compared with groups of stroke in other regions.A significantly increased rates of ST segment abnormalities were found in groups of left insular infarction,left putamental and frontoparietotemporal hemorrhage as compared with groups of stroke in other regions.Plasma CK-MB level increase was only found in insular infarction,and similarity was seen between the right and left.The measured components of HRV,ie,HF,RMSSD,and PNN50 were significantly lower,and LF/HF were significantly higher in groups of right insular infarction,right putamental and frontoparietotemporal hemorrhage in acute phase compared with groups of stroke in other regions and control group.Conclusion:The effects of hemispheric stroke on heart function and cardiac autonomic nervous activity are mainly correlated with destruction of insular or regions adjacent to the insular.

Owing to the advanced age,limb hemiplegia,dehydration,and vessel wall injury,stroke may be easy to cause venous thromboembolism (VTE).VTE mainly include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).DVT refers to abnormal blood clotting in the veins and impedes venous return.The dislodgement of emboli from the vessel wall can form a thrombotic embolism,and cause PE,myocardial infarction,and stroke; it can not only prolong hospitalization,but also increase the mortality.This article reviews the incidence,risk factors,treatment,and prevention of DVT after a stroke.

Acute ischemic stroke is characterized by high morbidity,high mortality and high disability.It seriously affects the health of middle-aged and elderly persons.Searching for the relevant factors that influence the neurological outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke and interfering with them are one of the research hotspots in this field.Studies in recent years have shown that matrix metalloproteinase-9,neuronspecific enolase,S-100B protein,brain natriuretic peptide,copeptin,blood lipids,blood glucose and other hematological parameters may be associated with the neurological outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To investigate the manifestations of MRI for congenital coarctation of aorta. Methods Twenty-five patients with coarctation of aorta were studied, including 11 cases of simple type and 14 cases of complex type. All of them were examined by transthoracic echocardiography and MRI including SE sequence, Cine MRA,3 dimension dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography scanning. Results Among 25 cases of coarctation of aorta, MRI could directly show the whole picture of abnormality, including the scop, degree and kinds,obviously better than diagnosis by trimsthe rack echocardiography,according to operation. The accuracy of diagnosis for congenital coarctation of aorta and complicated malformation of congenital coarctation aorta was respectively 100% and 78% .Conclusion MRI examination for coarctation of aorta is important not only for diagnosis but also for the treatment and follow up,MRI can clearly show the kinds,scope and degree of congenital basically replacey X-ray angiography.

Objective To explore the immunogenicity of a novel bionic scaffold of nucleus pulposus tissue engineering. Methods The biocompatibility of a subcutaneously implanted scaffold of nucleus pulposus tissue engineering was studied in SD rats by analyzing tissue reactions up to 3 months using histological and ultrastructural methods. The expression of IFN-?, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA was measured by RT-PCR, and the levels of serum antibodies to porcine type Ⅱ collagen were measured by ELISA. Results There was less inflammatory reaction in rats induced by subcutaneously implanted scaffold. By degrees, a granulation tissue had developed within the implant, which had disappeared by 3 months. The expression of IFN-?, IL-2 mRNA by RT-PCR was of no changes. But the expression of IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA increased, which meant the implant induced Th cell into Th2 cell and the induction inhibited the inflammatory reaction. No antibodies to porcine type Ⅱ collagen were found in the sera of implanted rats. Conclusion There was less immunogenicity in rats induced by implanted scaffold of nucleus pulposus tissue engineering.

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.

Pneumonia is one of the common complications after stroke.Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) may significantly prolong hospital stay,increase medical costs and mortality.It is a risk factor for affecting stroke outcome.Currently,both European and American guidelines for stroke care are lack of the recommendations of standardized treatment measures for SAP.This article reviews the advances in research on the pathophysiological mechanisms and prevention and treatment of SAP.

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 study the effects of NEP1-40 on axon regeneration, motor function recovery of affected limbs and RhoA signal pathway in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats for exploring the possible mechanisms. Methods A total of 60 adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were equally divided into sham operation group (sham group), cerebral ischemia-reperfusion control group (control group), intra-lateral ventricle injection of PBS group (PBS group), and intra-lateral ventricle injection of NEP1-40 group (NEP1-40 group). The middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion model (MCAI/R) was established by nylon monofilament occlusion method in rats. The changes in growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and RhoA expressions were determined by Western blotting technique. The motor function of affected limbs was tested by the "staircase test" of Montoya’s design. Results ① The expression of GAP-43 in NEP1-40 group was higher than that in the control and the PBS groups at 7 d and 14 d after MCAI/R, peaking at 7 d; ② The expression of RhoA in NEP1-40 group was significantly lower than that in the control and the PBS groups at each time point; ③ The results of "staircase test" in NEP1-40 group were much higher than those in the control group and the PBS groups at each time point after MCAI/R. Conclusion NEP1-40 can improve axon regeneration in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats and promote the recovery of motor function. The mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of RhoA signal pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to study the mechanism of substance P (SP)-mediated the neural control of mast cell (MC) degranulation. METHOD: Bone marrow mast cells from mice were cultured with stem cell factor (SCF), IL-3 and IL-4 (group A) and SCF, IL-3 (group B) for four weeks. Then the cells were harvested and reserved for studies. Western Blot hybridization technique was used to detect the expression of FcεR I α and NK-1R on MCs from the two groups. Then such cells were activated with SP (0, 0. 01, 0. 10, 1. 00, 10. 00 µg/ml, respectively) for 30 min. The histamine released into the supernatant and stored in the protoplasm was quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And the percentage of histamine release was calculated as a percent of total histamine content. RESULT: The expressions of FcεR I α and NK-1R on these mast cells in group A were statistically higher than in group B (P<0. 05). The MCs from two groups can be actived when stimulated by SP, but the level of MC degranulation in group A was higher than group B (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION Neuropeptide may stimulate MC degranulation through immunological and non-immunological pathways. In summary, the current study provides us with better understanding of the mechanism of neuropeptide-controlled MC deranulation, and this should be helpful for the further research involved in the mechanism and treatmemt of airway hyper-reactivity.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Degranulation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Histamine ; metabolism ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; Substance P ; pharmacology