Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors(VEGFR) mRNA at different time points after focal cerebral ischemic-reperfusion(CIR) in rats. Methods Following the establishment of the of transient ischemia modelof middle cerebral artery in rats by Zea-Longa′s method, the expression of VEGF and its receptors mRNA was measured with semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at different time points. Results The expression of VEGF mRNA increased 3 h after CIR,and peaked at 6 h, and then declined, returned to the baseline at 7 d. The expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 mRNA was enhanced at 3 h, and reached its peak at 3 d, then declined gradually. Conclusion The expression of VEGF、Flt-1 and Flk-1 mRNA can be induced by focal CIR in rats.

Objective To assess the utility of infrared thermography in evaluating the effects of treating cervicicardiac syndrome. Methods Sixty-six patients with cervicicardiac syndrome were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (observation group and control group). Stellate ganglion blocking was carried out in the observation group, in addition to traditional treatments including local injection and physiotherapy. Only traditional treatment was given to the patients of the control group. Before and after treatment, the two groups were measured using infrared thermography to observe the variety of the thermometric points. Results After 2 courses of treatment, 30 patients showed better effects in the observed group, and 17 patients in the control group. Regarding the thermometric points, there were significant differences between the observation group and the control group except at the neck point. Conclusion Infrared thermography can be a supplementary method of evaluating curative effects in cervicicardiac syndrome. This method should be of value in clinical practice.

ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of nimodipine combined with electroacupuncture therapeutics protecting rats from cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.Methods60 rats were divided randomly into 3 groups, 24 rats in treatment group that accepted nimodipine combined with electroacupuncture therapy after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for one hour, and 24 in control group,which acceptd normal saline after ischemia and reperfusion injury, and 12 rats in normal group. One or three days later, all rats were decapitated and their brains were extracted for superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and malonaldehyde(MDA) concentration assay. And immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of growth associated protein 43(GAP-43),microtubule associated protein 2(MAP-2) and cyclin D1 protein.ResultsAfter ischemia and reperfusion injury,SOD activity markedly decreased in both treatment and control group while MDA concentration increased, compared with normal group(P<0.01).Level of MAP-2 expression in treatment and control group was markedly lower than normal group(P<0.01), while levels of GAP-43 and cyclin D1 expression were higher (P<0.01). Contrasted to control group, SOD activity was higher and MDA concentration was lower in treatment group. Level of GAP-43 and MAP-2 expression in treatment group were higher than those in control group, while level of cyclin D1 lower. Differences between treatment group and control group were significent(P<0.01).ConclusionsNimodipine combined with electroacupuncture therapeutics can prevent brains from ischemia and reperfusion injury. It's actions of wiping free radicals out, inhibiting apoptosis and protein hydrolysis and promoting nerve regeneration are involved in the mechanism.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Angelica sinensis on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Flt-1, Flk-1 mRNA after the brain ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.MethodsWistar rats were randomly divided into the group A, group B and normal control group. The group A underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2h by suture, group B underwent MCAO for 2h meanwhile received treatment with Angelica sinensis (5 g/kg). Immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique were used to examine the gene expression of VEGF.ResultsThe result of immunohistry revealed that VEGF in the group A and group B reached its peak at 24 h after reperfusion then declined gradually. The result of RT-PCR manifested that the gene expression of VEGF in the group A increased from 3 h after reperfusion and reached its peak at 6 h; in the group B reached its peak on the 3rd day. The expression of VEGF in the group B was significantly increased than group A at the same time point.ConclusionAngelica sinensis can enhance the expression of Flt-1, Flk-1 after transient interruption of cerebral blood flow in rats.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and the infarction area after transient focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.MethodsModels of transient focal ischemia of MCA in rats were built by placing an intraluminal suture and the neurologic deficit score, lesion area and MMP-9 expression were analyzed.ResultsThe expression of MMP-9 and the infarction area were positive correlation, but there is no correlation between the neurologic deficit score and the MMP-9 expression.ConclusionAfter cerebral ischemia-reperfusion the MMP-9 expression is upregulated. The study suggests that MMP-9 may be involved in infarction lesion.

Objective To study the effects of enriched rehabilitative training on the expression of microtu-bule associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and synaptophysin (SYN), and to explore its relationship with brain plasticity. Methods Seventy-seven male Wistar rats weighing 160 to 200 g were randomly divided into an ischemia + enriched rehabilitation group (IE, n=36), an ischemia + standard rehabilitation group(IS, n=8), a sham ischemia + en-riched rehabilitation group (SE, n=21) and a sham ischemia + standard rehabilitation group (SS, n=12). Rats in the ischemia groups had their middle cerebral artery sutured for two hours before reperfusion, while those in the sham groups had a similar operation without occlusion. The enriched groups were given enriched rehabilitative train-ing, while the standard groups were left without any training. Behavioral tests, including the acrobatic performance, were administered once daily 2 days after operation, and SP staining of MAP2 and SYN were used to observe the func-tional recovery and brain plasticity changes among the groups at 1,7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the operations. Re-sults Acrobatic performance times reduced gradually. Bederson scores were significantly better in the IE than in the IS group by the 28th day after the operation). There was no significant difference between IE and IS groups in a foot fault test). The expression of MAP-2 and SYN around the infarct and in the hippocampus decreased significantly at first), then recovered gradually. The expression of MAP-2 and SYN in the IE group was significantly higher than that in the IS group at various time points of observation). Conclusion Enriched rehabilitative training can improve functional recovery and the expression of MAP-2 and SYN after brain ischemia, and the functional enhancement may attribute to the brain plasticity.