Aquatic, 20% alcoholic & 95% alcoholic extractions of the aeri -al parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum from Guangdong Provin -ce contain several gypenosides as same as some ginsenosides. The effects of the extractions and gypenoside Ⅲ (ginsenoside Rb 1 ) on memory in mice were studied using one trial passive avoidance responses. Results indicated that Gynostemma pentaphyllum improved impairment of acquisition of memory produced by anisodine, and disruption of consolidation of memory caused by cycloheximide and chlo-ramphenicol. Gynostemma was capable of antagonizing alcoh cl-induc- ed deficit of retrieval. Similar effects were observed with Rb1 in the impairments of acquisition of memory caused by alcohol and pen-tobarbitone sodium. It is clear that Gynostemma pentaphyllum may be an effective memory-enhancing agent.

Objectives To explore the effects of hypertension on the oxidative susceptibility of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 79 patients, 39 males and 40 females with mean age of 67?7, with hypertension accompanied by similar size of cerebral infarction in the perfusion domain of middle cerebral artery, were involved in this study. The hypertension was graded as follows: grade Ⅰ (n=27), the systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 140-159mmHg/90-99mmHg; grade Ⅱ (n=29) with SBP/DBP of 160-179mmHg/100-109mmHg; grade Ⅲ (n=23) with SBP/DBP exceeding 180mmHg/110mmHg. Serum concentrations of LDL were determined with enzymatic colorimetry employing an automated multianalyzer. The lag time (ox-LDL lag-time) in conjugated diene production at 234nm was determined by copper-stimulated oxidation. Results No statistical difference was found in LDL-total cholesterol, LDL-triglyceride, LDL-free cholesterol among grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ groups (6.1?0.4, 0.87?0.08, 1.6?0.7mmol/L; 5.7?0.6, 0.86?0.05, 1.8?0.9mmol/L; and 5.6?0.7, 0.87?0.1, 1.7?0.8mmol/L, respectively). Correlation analysis showed the lag time in conjugated diene production in patients with cerebral infarction was negatively related to the grade of hypertension in all the subjects, and the lag time in grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ groups was 84.26?8.491, 69.84?7.748 and 61.95?8.482 min, respectively (r=0.673 3, P

Objective To observe the therapeutic the effect and safety of high dose intravenous gamma globulin (GG) treating Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) and multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods 17 patients with GBS and 12 patients with MS were treated with IVIG in a dose of 0.2 g/kg/d for 4 consecutive days (in a dose of 0.4g/kg for the first day), and 25 patients with GBS and 41 patients with MS were treated with steroid. Their therapeutic effectiveness was compared. Results In GBS and MS group, clinical grading scale and time of appearing effect of IVIG treated groups were superior to that of steroid treated groups ( P

Objective To investigate the impact of smoking on the level of urinary 8-iso prostaglandin (PG) F2? (8-iso-PGF2?) of patients with acute cerebral infarction. 8-iso-PGF2? is a product of arachidonic acid catalyzed by free-radical, and it has been identified as an indicator of oxidative stress in vivo during reperfusion. Methods Plasma and urine samples were obtained from 28 patients with acute cerebral infarction. Among them 14 patients with no smoking habit were chosen as control group according to the selection criterion, and the other 14 patients with smoking habit were chosen as investigation group according to the same criterion. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender ratio, blood pressure, lipids level, blood glucose, focus location, and degree of the cerebral focus of infaration. The concentration of urinary 8-iso PGF2? and levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), total cholesterol, LDL-triglyceride (TG) and LDL-free cholesterol in plasma were measured by enzyme immunoassay. The quantification of urinary 8-iso PGF2? and LDL levels in plasma were performed for each sample respectively. Results The concentration of urinary 8-epi PGF2? of the patients with smoking habit was significantly higher than that in the patients of control group (75.79?10.76 vs 67.36?9.18 ng/mmol creatinine, P0.05, respectively) between the two groups. Conclusions Cigarette smoking may raise the urinary 8-iso-PGF2? level of patients with acute cerebral infarction, suggesting an increase in the level of oxidative stress in vivo in these subjects.

Objective To investigate the effect of vitamin E administration on the urinary level of 8-iso prostaglandin F_(2?)(8-iso- PGF_(2?))in the patients with cerebral infarction.Methods 28 patiems with acute cerebral infarction were involved in this study according to the selection criteria.They were divided into two groups:patients in test group(n=14)were treated with vitamin E,and those in control group(n=14)were not treated with vitamin E.No significant differences existed in age,gender ratio,blood pressure,lipids level and lo- cation and level of the cerebral infarct focus between two groups.The contents of urinary 8-iso-PGF_(2?) were measured in each urinary speci- men,meanwhile the levels of vitamin E and low density lipoprotein(LDL)were determined in each plasma specimen within 24 hours after onset of cerebral infarct and two weeks later.Results The concentration of urinary 8-iso-PGF_(2?) collected at two weeks after onset from pa- tients of test group was significantly lower than that of the control group(85.20?9.17 vs 91.36?4.24ng/mmol creatinine,P0.05).Conclusions The content of urinary 8-iso-PGF_(2?) and the level of oxidative stress in vivo could be decreased in the patients with acute cerebral infarction after being treated with vitamin E.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and adverse-events of Yangxueqingnaokel i (main composition includes Chinese angelica, ligusticum wallichii, Paconia lac tiflora, Asarum sieboldii, etc) in patients with migraine. Methods One hundred and twelve patients with migraine with an average age of 38.1?9.8 years( ranging from 19～75) were investigated in a multicenter, doub le-blind, randomized, controlled and perspective study. Results (1) The total number an d total duration of migraine attacks were markedly decreased in therapeutic group of Yangxueqingnaokeli than those in placebo group, 3.1?2.5 and 4.2?2.7 ( Z=2.1 6, P=0.03); 31.0?48.0 and 51.2?73.8(Z=2.86, P=0.004), respe ctively. (2) The to tal decrease rate of migraine attacks (%) of therapeutic group and placebo group were 4.9?0.3 and 3.0?0.5(Z=5.76,P

BACKGROUND: Temporal cortex is related to human and animal's learning and memory capability, it not only accepts the casting fibers of auditory sense, but also closely connects with many brain areas where are related to spatial cognition.OBJECTIVE: To observe the improving effect of thrombolytic capsule on spatial cognitive capability of rats with lateral temporal cortical infarction DESIGN: Completely randomized controlled study SETTING: Department of Neurology, the 175th Hospital of Chinese PLA;Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA; Institute of Psychology of Chinese Academy of Science MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at Brain Function Laboratory of Institute of Psychology of Chinese Academy of Science from August 1998 to February 1999, 28 SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups,namely brain stroke group with 10 rats, treatment group with 10 rats and sham operation group with 8 rats.METHODS: Brain infarction model was established on SD rats by using three-dimensional directional photochemistry induction. Rats were anaesthetized with hydrochloride and intravenously injected of rose pink solution in dosage of 20 mg/kg from tail vein. Then incision was made on the left temporal scalp to expose temporal bone, cold photosource with the guidance of optical fiber was used for directional illumination for 20 minutes in area of 2 mm2. Twenty minutes later, rats in treatment group were given intraperitoneal injection of thrombolytic capsule physiological saline of 40 g/L in dosage of 200 mg/kg, which replaced by the same volume of physiological saline in brain stroke group. Rats in sham-operation group received the same operative lamination and injected with the same volume of physiological saline from tail vein and intraperitoneal cavity.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Achievement of Morris water labyrinth(edge type scored 1, randomize type of 2, trend type of 3 and straight-line type of 4).age response time: it was shortened in treatment group and sham operation group than brain infarction group [ on 1st day: 58,50,65 s; 2nd day: 24,27,46 s; 3rd day: 14,17,20 s; 4th day: 11,9,15 s, (P ＜ 0.01 )], but it was similar ing strategy grades: on the 1st day, scores were slightly higher in treatment group and sham operation group than infarction group, but were instable (F=1.167, P ＞ 0.05). On the 2nd day, it was higher in sham operation group than brain stroke group[2.9,2.3, (F=5.5 ,P ＜ 0.05)], but it was similar between treatment group and infarction group[2.6,2.3 scores, (F=3.34,P ＞ 0.05)]. on the 3rd and 4th day, it was higher in treatment group than infarction group [ 3.5,2.7 minutes; 3.7,3.3 minutes, (F=8.92, 14, P ＞ 0.05)]and similar between treatment group and sham operation group(P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Rat response time was reduced by thrombolytic capsule during the early time of cerebral infarction, changing searching tactics gradually from randomized and edge type to tendency type and straight line type, suggesting thrombolytic capsule can improve the post-ischemia cognitive function, raise training record of cerebral infarctional rats.

The effect of anisodine on brain monoamine was studied in 30 rats. The brain monoamine levels of caudate nucleus, hippocampus, diencephalon, brain stem and cerebral cortex were estimated by fluoro-metric method in drug-treated rats and saline-treated controls. Only the NE level of the brain stem was significantly increased in anisodine-treated animals 48 hours after injection. There were no significant differences in the dopamine values between anisodine-treated rats and saline-treated controls, while the 5HT and 5HIAA levels were significantly increased in anisodine-treated animals. The relation of brain monoamines to learning and memory is discussed. The increased 5HT and 5HIAA levels caused by anisodine may play a role in the impairment of memory.