Objective The present study was to differentiate the hyperdensities on CT immediately after intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with acute isehemic stroke.Methods Twenty two patients with acute ischemic stroke were treated with intra-arterial combining with intravenous thrombolysis within 6 hours after onset.All patients underwent nonenhaneed CT scans before,immediately and 24 hours after thrombolytic therapy.The hyperdensities on CT after intra-arterial thrombolysis were analyzed retrospectively.Results Five hyperdense areas were seen in 22 patients immediately after thrombolytie therapy.According to their locations, CT values and follow-up CT scans,the hyperdensities on CT imaging were classified into two groups:contrast enhancement and hemorrhagic transformation.The former was characterized by rapid clearance of the hyperdensity lesion with maximum Hounsifild Unit＜90,on the contrary,the latter was noted by persistence of hyperdensity lesion after 24 hours CT scan with maximum Hounsifild Unit＞90.Two of the five hyperdense lesion patients were confirmed to be contrast enhancement with location in cerebral cortex,the other were hemorrhagic transformation,mostly located in basal ganglia.Hyperdensity in patients with contrast enhancement showed neurological improvement although no further medical cares were offered.Conclusions Different kind of hyperdensity on CT immediately after intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke can be differentiated according to its location,CT value and follow-up CT scan.When contrast enhancement occurred,no further medical care is needed.

AIMTo investigate glutamate-induced [Ca2+]i changes in cultured rat neonatal cortical astrocytes after hypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 or high concentration of L-glutamate injury. In the meantime, the effects of Gingko biloba extract (GbE) were examined.

METHODS[Ca2+]i changes in astrocytes were monitored by laser scanning confocal microscopy with the Ca2+ sensitive fluorescent probe fluo-3.

RESULTSAfter astrocytes were impaired by hypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 (50 micromol x L(-1)) or L-glutamate (0.25 mmol x L(-)), the exogenous glutamate (27 micromol x L(-1)) could not induce increase of [Ca2+]i, but decrease by (3.3 +/- 1.6)%, (81 +/- 11)% and (81 +/- 7)%, respectively. Pretreatment with GbE (10 mg x L(-1)) could not improve injured astrocytic glutamate response. But after pretreatment with GbE (100 mg x L(-1)), glutamate-induced [Ca2+]i elevation of astrocytes after hypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 or high concentration of L-glutamate injury were (135 +/- 98)%, (117 +/- 93)% and (89 +/- 36)%, respectively. Nimodipine (1.6 mg x L(-1)) could also reverse the abnormal response of astrocytes after different injury.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 and high concentration of L-glutamate impaired astrocytes' response to exogenous L-glutamate, and then bidirectional communication between astrocytes and neurons could not take place. GbE could improve the abnormal responses and maintain the normal function of astroglical network. These effects support that GbE has potential beneficial actions against brain injury.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Glutamic Acid ; toxicity ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury

AIMTo study the effects of sodium salicylate on the expression of GABAalpha NR1 and hearing response properties of inferior colliculus neurons in mice.

METHODSThirty-six kunming mice were divided into three groups (A, B, C,). The expression of GABAalpha NR1 were measured by using RT-PCR. The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions and frequency-turning curves were recorded by extracellular electrophysiological recording techniques.

RESULTS(1) The expression of GABAalpha mRNA of B group was decreased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.05), there weren't noticeable differences between A group and C group (P > 0.05). The expression of NR1 mRNA of B group was increased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.01), there were noticeable differences between A group and C group P < 0.05). (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were more broad when sodium salicylate was given. (3) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were non-monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were sharpened after lidocaine was given.

CONCLUSIONS(1) The results suggested that administration of sodium salicylate decreased the expression of GABAalpha while increased the expression of NR1mRNA. (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic, the frequency-turning curves were more broad when salicylate was given and the changes above could be reversed by given lidocaine.

Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Inferior Colliculi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Sodium Salicylate ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study possible impairment mechanisms of learning and memory abilities from unsaturated fatty acids in hippocampus of mice exposed to lead.

METHODSForty-eight healthy mice were divided into 4 groups: low dose (0.625 g/L), middle dose (1.250 g/L) and high dose (2.500 g/L) of lead solution in diet and control group (distilled water). The mice in treatment groups were fed with lead solution every day while the mice in control group were fed with distilled water for 50 days. After learning and memory abilities were measured, the mice were killed and contents of oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), linolenic acid (C18:3), arachidonic acid (AA,C20:4), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA,C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 ) in hippocampus of mice were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTS(1) In the four training days, the mice treated with lead in the middle dose group and high dose group significantly increased the escape latencies compared with the mice treated with distilled water (P<0.05), and on the 4th day, the low dosage mice's escape latencies were delayed (P<0.05). The escape latencies of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th day had significantly positive linear relation with lead dose. Their relative coefficient in turn is r=0.973, 0.985, 0.929 and 0.936, indicating that lead harmed spatial memory of mice in Morris water maze (MWM). (2) The contents of C18:2 and AA were obviously enhanced in hippocampus of middle and high dosage (P<0.05); while there was evident decrease in the contents of C18:3, EPA and DHA (P<0.05); the content of C18:1 was decreased significantly in high dosage group (P<0.01). The mice's escape latencies had significantly negative linear relation with contents of C18:1, C18:3, EPA and DHA, while there was positive linear relation significantly with contents of C18:2 and AA. Their relative coefficient in turn was r=-0.901, -0.914, -0.893, -0.855, 0.936, 0.727.

CONCLUSIONLead interferes with the metabolism of hippocampus fatty acids and affects membrane function in hippocampus of mice, which might contribute to change of the synthesis, metabolism and release of central neurotransmitter and decrease of the learning and memory abilities.

Animals ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; metabolism ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect and side-effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-a) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy for Chinese patients with co-infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and to compare them with only HIV infection patients.

METHODS10 patients with HCV-HIV and 17 patients with only HCV infection received 5 million units of IFNalpha-2b every other day intramuscularly, and 300 mg RBV orally three times a day. Dynamic observations were done for HCV RNA and HIV RNA loads, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts, liver function and blood cell measures, and the side-effects of the medicines.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks and 24 weeks of IFNalpha and RBV combination therapy, mean HCV RNA levels reduced 1.14 log (t = 3.843, P < 0.01) and 2.08 log (t =6.564, P < 0.01) from the baseline at week 0 in the HCV-HIV co-infection group, and reduced 1.48 log (t = 6.438, P less than 0.01) and 2.33 log (t = 7.343, P < 0.01) in the HCV infection group. Meanwhile, the HIV RNA levels decreased 1.22 log (t = 3.662, P < 0.01) and 1.73 log (t = 6.119, P < 0.01) from the base line. However, there were no obvious different changes among T lymphocyte counts of HCV-HIV and HCV patients at week 0, week 12 and week 24. All 27 patients showed satisfactory biochemical response to therapy. There were some mild or moderate influenza-like symptoms, intestinal discomfort and decreased blood cell counts in the early stages of the treatments. No neuropsychic and auto-immune disorders were found.

CONCLUSIONSIFNalpha-2b and RBV combination therapy showed similar anti-HCV effects during the 24 week treatment for HCV-HIV and HCV infected patients, and some anti-HIV effect was also observed. No obvious different biochemical responses and side-effects were found between the above two groups.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; HIV Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Ribavirin ; administration & dosage

Amino Acid Sequence ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of exogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), batimastat, in the lung injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in dogs.

METHODSThirty healthy mongrel puppies were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, low-dose group [batimastat 10 mg/(kg.d) for 3 days before operation] and high-dose group [batimastat 30 mg/(kg.d) for 3 days before operation]. The off-pump puppies' model of acute lung injury was established, and hemodynamic and respiratory parameters were monitored. The preoperative and postoperative alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (A-aDO(2)) and respiratory index (RI) were calculated. From the beginning of surgery, blood samples were taken at the time 0, 60, 120, and 270 min. Plasma concentrations of MMP-9 were measured by ELISA, and blood MMP-9 mRNA expressions were determined by RT-PCR. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of centrifugal bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured by Colorimetry. And MMP-9 activity was determined by Gelatin zymography. Light and electronic microscope were used to observe the morphological changes of lung tissue. A small piece of left lung tissue was taken, weighed and baked to calculate the wet weight (W/D) index.

RESULTSAfter cardiopulmonary bypass, the concentrations of MMP-9 and mRNA expressions of the control group were increased significantly, and lung injury was apparent. At 270 min, the MMP-9 plasma concentration of high-dose group (17.36 +/- 1.18) microg/L was significant reducing than control group (30.47 +/- 2.22) microg/L (P < 0.05). After operation, A-aDO(2) and RI of high-dose group were significantly improved than control group (P < 0.05). The W/D index of the high-dose group (2.8 +/- 0.48) was significantly lower than that of control group (4.7 +/- 0.6) (P < 0.05). And the pathological changes of lung tissue were significantly improved in the high-dose group. However, there was no significant difference in the MMP-9 mRNA expression in three groups.

CONCLUSIONSBatimastat plays a role in the protection of the lung injury of CBP by reducing the concentration and activity of MMP-9, the degradation of the cell membrane and pulmonary neutrophil infiltration and reduction of pulmonary edema.

Acute Lung Injury ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Lung ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; Phenylalanine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Thiophenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy, safety and primary follow-up results of a guidewire looping technique for the treatment of infrapopliteal arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2006 to May 2008, an intraluminal angioplasty of the infrapopliteal arteries was attempted in 200 consecutive patients. Altogether, 417 infrapopliteal lesions, with lengths varying from 2 cm to 32 cm, were treated as part of this study, including 305 lesions in the anterior tibial arteries, 89 in the posterior tibial arteries, and 23 in the peroneal arteries. The 'U'-shaped guidewire technique was attempted in 393 lesions from 361 limbs. The tip of a hydrophilic 0.035-inch guidewire was formed into a 'U' shape with the aid of a 4-Fr catheter and collateral branch vessel to recanalize the completely occluded long segment lesions. RESULTS: A successful angioplasty with at least one artery recanalized directly to the malleolar or dorsal foot was achieved in 322 limbs (89%). The looping technique had a success rate of 90% (352 of 393 lesions). After the procedure, the rest pain was relieved in 58 of 69 patients, while 207 of 245 limbs (85%) showed improvement for intermittent claudication. Complete wound healing was noted in 21 of 54 patients, while 20 of 54 patients showed an improvement in the wound size or depth. A total of 38 major immediate procedure-related complications were noted, including retroperitoneal hematoma, distal emboli, and vessel rupture. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggests that the guidewire looping technique is a safe and effective method for the recanalization of the occluded lesions in infrapopliteal vessels.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty/*methods ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases/*surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot/blood supply/surgery ; Humans ; *Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Popliteal Artery ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore a operative approach and its effect to the central protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc.

METHODSFrom February 1999 to December 2005,34 patients with central protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc were treated with an improved operative procedure. The study involved 25 males and 9 females with an average of 46.4 years (range, 35 to 63 years). The involved level of herniation were at L4,5 in 20 cases and L5S1 in 14 cases. Pains happened on one leg fixedly and seriously with another lightly in 21 cases, on one leg initially and lightly with another seriously later in 8 cases, on bilateral legs alike in 5 cases. Preoperative CT film showed central type in 8 cases and laterocentral type in 26 cases. The corresponding spinous process was resected on the basis of unilateral fenestration. The supraspinous ligament was retained and pulled to the opposite side for revealing spinal canal, and then diskectomy was done. The above procedure was named "fenestration with the spinous process resection".

RESULTSAll the 34 patients were followed up for 1 to 5 years. The outcome was evaluated according to the standard of HOU Shu-xun, 20 cases were excellent, 11 good and 3 fair. The total rate of excellent and good was 91.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe "fenestration with the spinous process resection" not only completed decompression of spinal canal and diskectomy, but also retained opposite lamina and supraspinous ligament and maintained the stability of posterior vertebral column, which are a new improved approach for the central protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have discovered that nuclear translocation of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor fragments function differently from the traditional model. This study aimed to uncover the nuclear expression of NGF in astrocytoma and its biological significance.

METHODSNinety-four paraffin-embedded astrocytoma specimens were subjected to immunohistochemical (IHC) and hemotoxylin & eosin (HE) staining. Preoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens and intraoperative snap-frozen astrocytoma tissues were assayed for NGF expression by ELISA and Western blotting. The outcome of patients who contributed samples was tracked. Each ten tissue samples from patients with traumatic brain injury who had received decompression surgery and CSF samples from patients undergoing spinal anesthesia but with no history of nervous system disease were taken as control.

RESULTSNGF-positive immunoreactive products were distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of astrocytoma, but were only located in the cytoplasm of traumatic brain injury (TBI) tissue. NGF nuclear-positive rate (NPR) of grades III - IV astrocytomas (70.0%) was higher than that of grades I - II astrocytoma (28.6%, P < 0.05). NGF-NP expression positively correlated with the NGF concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (r = 0.755, P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the median survival time was 25 months for NGF-NP astrocytoma grade I - II patients and 42 months in NGF nuclear negative (NGF-NN) astrocytoma grade I - II patients (P < 0.05). In astrocytoma III - IV patients, the median survival was 7 months for NGF-NP patients and 24 months for NGF-NN patients (P < 0.01). Two types of NGF with molecular weights of 13 and 36 kDa were present in astrocytoma, but only the 36 kDa NGF was found in the CSF. NGF expression elevated as the malignancy increased.

CONCLUSIONSNGF-NP expression and NGF level in CSF were significant prognostic factors in astrocytoma patients. Because of the easy access of CSF, it may be developed as an index for early diagnosis and surveillance of astrocytoma.

Astrocytoma ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Prognosis