The neurotransmitter plays an important role in the neurologic functional recovery of animals and patients with spinal cord injury. This article reviews the neurotransmitters in spinal cord injured of rats and the effect of some therapy on them.

Objective To explore neural plasticity around an injured region of the spinal cord and the effects of step training on functional recovery after incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 24) were induced with spinal cord contusion at T10 and divided into a step training group and a control group ( 12 rats in each). Training started from the 7th day post-injury and lasted for (20 ± 10)min per day, 5 days per week, for 9 weeks. Treadmill speeds were 3 m/min at the beginning, and adjusted daily according to each rat's tolerance up to 11 m/min or more. The functional recovery was measured weekly with the open-field locomotor rating scale of Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB score). The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament protein (NF) and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in the spinal cord around the injured region were detected. Results After 70 days of step training, the average BBB score of the step training group reached ( 12.86 ± 0.94 ), significantly higher than that of the control group ( 10.71 ± 0.95 ). The expression of NF and GAP-43 around the injured region increased significantly more in the step training group than among the controls. Conclusions Step training can promote functional recovery and neural plasticity in rats after incomplete SCI.

Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (677C→T) of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and Alzheimer′s disease(AD) in south China Han people. Methods By applying polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), MTHFR 677C→T mutation was detected in 45 AD patients and 48 healthy controls. Results The frequency of MTHFR 677C→T mutation of patients showed no significant difference to that of healthy controls (P > 0.05). There is no statistic significance between AD group and controls in C, T gene frequency(P>0.05). But T gene frequency is higher in AD group than in control group. Conclusion MTHFR C 677T is not the pathogenic factor for AD, but could have some effects on AD.

Objective To investigate the role of Th17 cells and related cytokines in Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection.Methods To establish a mouse model of H.pyloriinfectious gastritis.Meanwhile,a treatment group and control group were set up.The histological changes in the gastric mucosa were observed and scored under light microscopy;The expression of IL-17 and IL-23 mRNAs as well as protein in gastric tissue was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA,respectively;Th17 cells in mice splenocyte were evaluated using the flow cytometry (FCM) method.Results We found significantly higher levels of IL-17 and IL-23 protein and mRNA levels in supernatant of gastric tissue homogenates of infection group as compared to controls and Th17 cells in spleen from mice of H.pylori infection group were all obviously higher than that of control group;IL-17 mRNA,IL-23 mRNA and the ratio of Th17 cells in mice splenocyte of H.pylori infection group mice increased gradually with the time prolonged;The levels of both mRNA and protein levels of IL-17and IL-23 decreased significantly in the treatment group compared with pre-treatment;There was a positive correlation between IL-17 and IL-23 expression levels of mice gastric mucosa and gastric inflammation degree.Conclusion H.pylori infection induced the immune response of Th17 cells;The levels of IL-17 and IL-23 increased in gastric mucosa of mice after H.pyloriinfection;The degree of H.pylori-infected mice gastric inflammation was positive correlation with the levels of IL-17 and IL-23 of gastric mucosa.

Objective To explore the effect of olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) transplantation combined with walking training on neurofunction recovery in rats after spinal cord contusion. Methods Forty adult female rats aged (75 ± 1 ) days were subjected to experimental spinal cord contusion at the T10 level using a New York University impactor at a height of 25 mm. They were then divided into 4 groups: ( 1 ) an OEC transplantation combined with walking training (OEC-walking training) group, (2) an OEC transplantation (OEC) group, (3) a walking training combined with Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium injection (DMEM) (walking training-DMEM) group, and (4) aDMEM injection (SCI-DMEM) group. The OEC transplants and DMEM injections were performed 2 weeks post-injury. Walking training began at the 7th day post-injury and consisted of daily sessions (once daily, 5 days a week for 10 weeks) of quadrupedal treadmill training, starting from 15 min and gradually increasing to 30 min daily, at speeds starting from 3 m/min and gradually increasing in accordance to the condition of the rats. Locomotor function recovery of the rats' hindlimbs was evaluated weekly using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale.The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase ( TH ) was detected in the injured region of the lumbar spinal cord. Results The BBB scores of rats in the OEC-walking training group and the walking training-DMEM group improved significantly from the 4th week post-injury compared to the SCI-DMEM injection group. Rats in the OEC transplantation group had a significant improvement in BBB scores at the 5th to 8th weeks post-injury. At the end of the 11th week post-injury, the average BBB scores were 13.14 ± 0.24 in the OEC-walking training group, 11. 64 ± 0.56 in the OEC transplantation group, 12.29 ±0.64 in the walking training-DMEM group and 11.07 ± 0.84 in the SCI-DMEM group.The OEC-walking training group scored significantly higher than the other 3 groups. Although the number of TH-positive neurons in the lumbar spinal cord was not significantly different among the groups, the morphology of TH-positiveneurons in the OEC-walking training group and the walking training-DMEM group was different from those in the OEC transplantation group and the SCI-DMEM group. Conclusions OEC transplantation combined with walking training can effectively promote the functional recovery of the hindlimb. The plasticity of the descending TH system and of motoneurons of the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord might mediate the changes.

Objective To investigate the changes between type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) with peripheral vessel disease and osteoporosis. Methods A total of 100 cases T2DM patients were divided into non-peripheral vessel disease (A group) and peripheral vessel disease (B group). B-mode ultrasonography to measure the intima-media thickness(IMT) of carotid artery,dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to measured bone mineral density(BMD) and VS-1000 arteriosclerosis diagnometer to measure brachi-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were used in 100 T2DM patients. The clinical data and BMD were compared between two groups. Results Compared with normal group,the BMD in T2DM patients significantly decreased.Compared with T2DM patients without peripheral vessel disease,the BMD decreased in T2DM patients with peripheral vessel disease. Conclusions Atherosclerosis in T2DM with peripheral vessel disease is probably related to osteoporosis, and the relationship between them is worth further investigation.

Objective To investigate the effect of early rehabilitation on neurological function and cerebral blood flow of patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods100 cases of acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into the rehabilitation group(53 cases) and control group(47 cases).Both groups received the routine treatment;besides,patients in the rehabilitation group were treated with early rehabilitation training.The treatment efficacy was assessed by neurological function deficit evaluation,and the cerebral blood flow was measured by transcranial Doppler(TCD) before and 30 days after treatment.ResultsThe scores of neurological function deficit evaluation of all patients in each group decreased after treatment,but the scores of the rehabilitation group were obviously lower than that of the control group(P<0.01);and the results of TCD of the rehabilitation group were also superior to that of the control group(P<0.01).ConclusionEarly rehabilitation training may obviously improve neurological function and cerebral blood flow of patients with acute cerebral infarction.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of early rehabilitation on motor function, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1（IL-1） and interleukin-6（IL-6） in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods160 patients with ACI were randomly divided into rehabilitation group (n=80) and control group (n=80), who accepted early rehabilitation and routine medicine or medicine only, respectively. They were assessed with modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian Stroke Scale (MESSS) and their peripheral level of hs-CRP, IL-1 and IL-6 were detected before and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment. Results4 and 8 weeks after treatment, the level of hs-CRP, IL-1 and IL-6 were lower in rehabilitation group than in control group（P＜0.05）, as well as the scores of the MESSS （P＜0.01）. The incidence of improvement is more in rehabilitation group than in control group（P＜0.05）. ConclusionEarly rehabilitation can reduce the expression of hs-CRP, IL-1 and IL-6, and improve the neurological function in patients with ACI.

Objective　 To study the effects of sodium butyrate on proliferatio n, differentiation and apoptosis of immortalized esophagus epithelial cells. Methods　 SHEE, an immortalized human fetal esophageal epithelial cell line induced by HPV18 E6E7, was cultivated in culture flasks and 24-well plates. Two experi m ent groups of cultured cells were treated with 1 and 5 mmol/L of sodium butyrate respectively for 4 days, and one group of untreated cells set aside as control. The numbers of cloned cells were calculated. The ultra-structure of SHEE cells was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cell cycle and numbe r of apoptotic cells were measured by flow cytometry, Ki-67 and cytokeratin of ce lls were detected by immunohistochemistry method and F-actin of cells labeled w ith phalloidin was examined by laser confocal scanning microscopy. Results　 Colo ny formations showed a significant decrease in the 2 experiment groups after 4 d ays of culture (P<0.01). In the 1 mmol/L group, the cells at S phase were di minish ed and arrested at G0/G1 phase. Compared with control group, Ki-67 positive cells were found decreased, while F-actin and cyto keratin were increased. Apoptotic cells in 5 mmol/L group were increased markedl y. Conclusions　 Sodium butyrate may induce SHEE cells growth arrest,differentiation and apoptosis. The effects depend on sodium butyrate concentrat ion and time of exposure. Whether it can be used in combination with other antic ancer drugs should be further studied.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of body acupuncture combined with FANG's scalp acupuncture in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke and explore the mechanism. Methods:Sixty patients in the remission stage of stroke with limb dysfunction were divided into a control group and a treatment group using the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,and the treatment group was additionally offered FANG's scalp acupuncture.The interventions were conducted once daily with 10 sessions as 1 course.The Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA)and Barthel index(BI)scores and serum malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels were compared after 2 treatment courses,and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:After treatment,the FMA and BI scores increased in both groups(P<0.05)and were higher in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.05).Both groups showed a decreased MDA level and an increased SOD level after the intervention,all showing statistical significance(P<0.05);there were significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion:Based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,ordinary acupuncture used alone or in combination with FANG's scalp acupuncture can lower the oxidative stress level and improve limb function in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke;body acupuncture plus FANG's scalp acupuncture can produce better results.