Objective To explore the effects of post-stroke depression on working memory,aiming to find a new method for alleviating the dysfunction in post-stroke depression patients.Methods Eighteen patients with poststroke depression and 20 stroke survivors with no depression were recruited as the experimental and control groups respectively.Both groups' working memory was tested early every morning.The two groups' performance was compared in terms of each working memory test item and their results were correlated with their scores on the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD).Results The average HAMD score was 21.78 ± 3.21 for the experimental group and 5.06 ±2.35 for the control group.Compared with the control group,the experimental group was significantly different in its performance counting backward,in its word memory span and its calculation task span,as well as in successive subtraction.At the same time,compared with the control,the experimental group was significantly better in total reaction number and the percentage of number of right reaction of the number of total reaction of Digit Subtraction Test.The HAMD scores of the experimental group were negatively correlated with their performance in counting backward,their word memory span,their successive subtraction performance and their calculation task span.Conclusion Poststroke depression has an obvious negative effect on working memory.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with post-stroke depression. Methods 21 patients with post-stroke depression were randomly divided into electroacupuncture group (n=11) and drug group (n=10). The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture on double Hegu (LI4) and Taichong (LR3) once a day for 8 weeks, while the drug group took fluoxetine hydrochloride dispersible tablets 20 mg a day for 8 weeks. They were evaluated with Hamilton Self-rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) before, and 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment respectively. The rCBF were measured with single positron emission computerized tomography (SPECT) before and 8 weeks after treatment. Results The score of HAMD decreased more in the electroacupuncture group than in the drug group 2 weeks after treatment (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (P>0.05). The rCBF was significantly greater in the electroacupuncture group than in the drug group. Conclusion That electroacupuncture is effective on post-stroke depression, which may be related with the increase of the rCBF levels.

Objective To investigate the feature of event-related potential N400 for Chinese aphasia patients. Methods 23 Chinese aphasia patients and 20 controls were evaluated with Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), and N400 was also measured. Results N400 latency was longer and N400 amplitude was higher in the aphasia group than in the control group. In aphasia group, the latency (r=-0.553, P=0.000) and amplitude of N400 (r=-0.628, P=0.000) correlated to the score of Aphasia Quotient (AQ), and the amplitude of N400 correlated to the score of anomia in WAB (r=-0.372, P=0.001). Conclusion Event-related potential N400 could reflect the level of language function impairment and it is a valuable index for evaluating language function, especially anomia level in Chinese aphasia patients

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of bladder curer in the treatment of patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.Methods60 spinal cord injury patients with neurogenic bladder were randomly divided into intervention group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Comprehensive rehabilitation therapy was used in the two groups, but bladder curer was used only in intervention group. Residual urine in the bladder, incidence of urinary tract infection and course of achieving bladder balance were observed in the two groups.ResultsAfter 8 weeks, residual urine in the bladder decreased significantly in intervention group compared with control group, and the course of achieving bladder balance shortened significantly in intervention group compared with control group, but incidence of urinary tract infection had no difference between intervention group and control group. ConclusionBladder curer could decrease residual urine in the bladder early, and shorten the course of achieving bladder balance in the treatment of patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of early rehabilitation therapy in the treatment of patients with trihemiparalysis sign following acute stroke.Methods86 patients following acute stroke were divided into two groups, trihemiparalysis sign group(n=37) and non-trihemiparalysis sign group(with hemiplegia only, n=49). Standard rehabilitation therapy was used in both groups early. At admission and 3 months after treatment，both groups were assessed by using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NHISS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment of motor (FMA) and Balance (FMB), Modified Barthel Index(MBI), and World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF).ResultsAfter 3 months, patients in both groups scored significantly better in NHISS, FMA, FMB, MBI and PHYS, PSYCH, ENVIR of WHOQOL-BREF compared with that at admission. But the trihemiparalysis sign group improved less significantly in NHISS, FMA, FMB, MBI and PHYS, PSYCH of WHOQOL-BREF compared with non-trihemiparalysis sign group after treatment.ConclusionEarly rehabilitation therapy improved functional status and quality of life of acute stroke patients with trihemiparalysis sign, but showed not better than the patients with non-trihemiparalysis sign.

Objective To investigate the feature of event-related potential N400 before and after speech therapy in Chinese aphasia patients.Methods 20 Chinese aphasia patients received speech therapy for 12 weeks. Language function was evaluated with Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), and the latency and amplitude of N400 were monitored before and after treatment. Results Spontaneous speech, retelling,and nomination in WAB and aphasia quotient (AQ) of WAB significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05). N400 latency was shorter and N400 amplitude was lower after treatment (P<0.05). The latency and amplitude of N400 were negatively correlated to the score of AQ in the difference before and after treatment (P<0.001). Conclusion Event-related potential N400 could reflect the improvement of speech function before and after treatment, and it is a valuable index for evaluating the recovery of language function in Chinese aphasia patients.

Objective To observe the effect of cognition training on the motor and executive functioning of patients after a basal ganglia stroke.Methods Thirty patients with basal ganglia stroke were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group.The control group received standard stroke rehabilitation training,while the treatment group received in addition 2 months of cognitive function training.The executive and motor functions of all of the subjects and their facility in the activities of daily living (ADL) were tested using the Tower of Hanoi,the Wisconsin card sorting test,a Stroop-3 test and the Fugl-Meyer assessment,the Berg balance scale and the modified Barthel index before and at the end of treatment.Results After two months of training,both within-group and between group comparisons showed that the treatment group had improved significantly more in executive function,cognition and motor function.Conclusion Cognition training can improve executive function,motor function and ADL performance after a basal ganglia stroke.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on pelvic floor muscles and urinary function in patients with spinal cord injury. Methods From March, 2012 to March, 2015, 23 patients with spinal cord injury were divided into control group (n=8), early intervention group (n=8) and later intervention group (n=7). The control group received routine rehabilitation, the intervention groups received acupuncture at Baliao (BL-31, BL-32, BL-33 BL-34), Yanglingquan (GB-34), Sanyinjiao (SP-6) and Taichong (LR-3) acupoints in addition. The early intervention group was acupunctured one week before removal of catheter, and the later intervention group adopted inter-mittent catheterization after removal of catheter, and then received acupuncture. The pelvic floor muscles strength, the urine function and quality of life were recorded before and six weeks after intervention. Results There was no significant difference in all the indices before in-tervention (P>0.05). After intervention, the pelvic floor muscles strength improved in the intervention groups compared with the control group (P<0.05). There was significant difference in the mean frequency of urinary voiding, bladder capacity, time of establishing reflect uri-nation and residual volume of urine after intervention among all the groups (P<0.05), except the mean frequency of urinary voiding and blad-der capacity between the control group and the later intervention group (P>0.05). The quality of life improved in all the groups after inter-vention (F>0.864, P<0.05), however, no significant difference was found among three groups (F=1.558, P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture, especially early acupuncture, could improve the pelvic floor muscle strength and bladder function in spinal cord injury patients.

Objective To observe the influence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in hypothalamus AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression,and explore the mechanism of SCI-induced type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.Methods Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into model group,High Fat/High Sucrose/High Cholesterol Diet group and SCI group (n=6).The animals in the model group and High Fat/High Sucrose/High Cholesterol Diet group underwent a T10 laminectomy without weight-drop injury,and SCI models were induced by MASCIS Impactor method.Blood glucose and glucose tolerance tests were performed before experiment and 8 weeks after the experiment.At 8 weeks,the levels of serum inflammatory factors,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,interleukin (IL)-1β,and IL-6,were observed by ELISA;Western blotting was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated (p) -AMPK in the hypothalamus.Results Blood glucose levels in the rats of High Fat/High Sucrose/High Cholesterol Diet group and SCI group were significantly higher than that in the model group (P＜0.05).Blood glucose levels 15 and 60 min after SCI in rats of SCI group were significantly higher than those in the model group (P＜0.05);Blood glucose levels 15,30,60 and 120 min after SCI in rats of High Fat/High Sucrose/High Cholesterol Diet group were significantly higher than those in the model group (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the model group,the expression of p-AMPK in the hypothalamus were significantly decreased,and the TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 levels were statistically increased in rats of High Fat/High Sucrose/High Cholesterol Diet group and SCI group (P＜0.05).Conclusion SCI could inhibit AMPK expression in the hypothalamus,activate inflammatory signaling pathway and enhance chronic systemic inflammation,and therefore,insulin resistance is induced.

Objective To elucidate the mechanism underlying eletroacupuncture's (EA's) amply-documented analgesic effect.To observe its effect on the pain threshold and on the expression of P2X4 receptor and microglia activation in the spinal cords of rats with neuropathic pain.To demonstrate whether or not interfering with A1 receptors and P2X4 receptors at the same time could enhance the analgesic effect.Methods A total of 40 SpragueDawley rats weighing 150 to 180 g were randomly divided into a sham group,a CCI group,an EA group,a 2-chloroN(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA) group and a CCPA+EA group,each of 8.Chronic constriction injury (CCI)was induced successfully in the rats of all groups except the sham group.Five days later,EA and 20 μL injections of 0.1 mm/L CCPA were applied to the rat analogues of the Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) acupoints once a day for 15 days for the rats in the appropriate groups.The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and the thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured before the CCI operation and 20 days afterward.L4-L6 spinal cord tissue was then resected and the fluorescence intensity of P2X4 and OX42 receptors was detected using double label immunohistochemical staining.The correlation between the mean fluorescence intensity and the pain threshold gap was analyzed.Results The average MWT and TWL of the CCI group were significantly lower than in the other four groups.The expression of P2X4 receptor and OX42 in the spinal cord increased significantly in the CCI group compared to the other four groups.There was significant correlation between the mean fluorescence intensity of P2X4 and OX42 receptors and the gap in pain threshold,with correlation coefficients of 0.907 and 0.717 respectively.Conclusion P2X4 receptor and microglia activation might be involved in the development of neuropathic pain.CCPA and EA can inhibit the activation of microglia and reduce the activity of P2X4 receptors.The interaction between A1 receptors and P2X4 receptors can strengthen the analgesic effect of EA.