Objective To investigate the expression of Rac 1 in the guinea pig cochlea of gentamicin-induced ototoxic damage and prevention with antioxidant sodium salicylate , and to explore the roles of Rac 1 in the ototoxic mechanism of aminoglycoside antibi-otics.Methods Thirty healthy male guinea pigs were involved in this study .All the guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups and received intraperitoneal injections according to their arranged group .Group I (control) was treated with normal saline for 7 days. Group II [Gentamicin (GM)] was treated with gentamicin alone for 7 days.Group III [GM+sodium salicylate(SA)] was treated with gentamicin in combination with sodium salicylate for 7 days.Paraffin-embedded cochlear section with immunohistochemical stai-ning was used for evaluation of Rac 1 expression in the cochlea .The protein was extracted from the cochlea tissues , and Rac1 protein levels in the cochlea were detected by Western blot assay .Results Immunohistochemistry showed a slightly positive reaction for Rac 1 staining found in the cochlea of the control group was mainly shown in the cytoplasm and cytomembrane of ganglion and organ of Corti ;a highly positive expression was shown in GM group;and the extent of Rac 1 expression of GM+SA group was between the control and GM groups.Image analysis showed that the differences in Rac1 expression between each two groups were statistically significant ( P <0.05).Western blot assay showed that expression of Rac 1 protein was highest in GM group and decreased in GM +SA group, while the intensity of Rac1 protein expression in GM +SA group was between the control and GM group .Statistics analysis showed that the expression between each two groups had significant difference ( P <0.05 ) .Conclusions A slightly positive reaction for Rac 1 stai-ning was found in the cochlea of guinea pigs , and mainly observed in the cytoplasm and cytomembrane of spiral ganglion and organ of Corti.With the administration of gentamicin , Rac1 protein expression was upregulated in the cochlea .Simultaneous administration of antioxidant sodium salicylate could significantly decrease the expression of Rac 1 protein.These results indicated that Rac1 might play an important role in the processes of gentamicin-induced oxidative damage of cochlea .

Objective:To study the effect of the three kinds of EE on the cognitive function and the expression of SYN and MAP-2,and the dentritic growth of pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex in rats.Method:Forty-eight male SD rats were divided into preserving the physique EE group (EE1),preserving the spirit EE group (EE2),preservation for both physique and spirit EE group(EE3) and standard group (SE),12 rats in each group.Rats were put into the three kinds of EE or standard cages after pre-training.The environmental enrollment lasted for 14 days and followed by a 6-days Morris water maze test.After the Morris water maze test,all the rats were sacrificed for histological study,including using the immunohistochemistry method to detect the expression of SYN and MAP-2,and using the Golgi-Cox staining to study the dentritic growth of pyramidal cells in cerebral cortex.Result:In the Morris water maze,the EE3 group exhibited shorter escape latency than the MCAO+SE group (P＜0.05) on day 5,while no significant differences were seen for the time spent in the target quadrant among the 4 groups (P＞ 0.05).The results of immunohistochemical staining of SYN showed that the expression of SYN was the lowest in the SE group,and there was no significant difference between EE1 and EE3 groups but significantly higher than the EE2 group.The expression of MAP-2 was the lowest in the SE group,and there was no significant difference of expression between EE1 and EE2 groups but significantly lower than the EE3 group.The results of Golgi-Cox staining showed that there was no difference of the dentritic branch among groups in mPFC (P＞ 0.05) while the spine density of the EE1 group was significantly greater than that of the SE and EE2 groups (P ＜ 0.05),but significantly lower than that of the EE3 group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion:Two weeks of preservation from both physique and spirit EE can improve the cognitive function,and promote the expression of MAP-2 and SYN and the dentritic growth of pyramidal cells in normal rats.

Objective To explore the effect of mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training on the upper extremity function of post-stroke patients and the possible mechanisms. Methods Twenty-one post-stroke patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group (10 patients) or a control group (ll patients).The patients in the treatment group were given conventional rehabilitation therapy and mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training for 4 weeks.The control group was given only the same conventional rehabilitation treatment as the treatment group and upper extremity task-oriented training for 4 weeks.Both groups trained 1 h/d,5 d/week.Upper-extremity motor ability was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and the Hong Kong version of the functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity (FTHUE-HK).Ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) pre-treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Results At the 2nd week and 4th week evaluations,the FMA,FTHUE-HK and BI scores in both groups had all significantly increased compared with pretreatment.The average FMA score in the treatment group increased significantly more than in the control group at week 2,but by the 4th week both FMA and FTHUE-HK scores in the treatment group significantly exceeded those in the control group.There was no significant difference between the two groups in the improvement of their average BI scores. Conclusions Implementing mirror therapy in conjunction with task-oriented training is efficacious.It may promote upper-extremity motor ability in patients with hemiparesis soon after stroke,but there is no definite improvement in ADL ability.

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.

Objective To systematically review the clinical efficacy of botulinum toxin A for the treatment of upper limb spasticity after stroke. Methods PubMed,EMbase,Cochrane Library,CBM, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI),and Wanfang Data were retrieved by a computer. The randomized controlled trials and Case-control study of comparing botulinum toxin A combined with rehabilitation training and routine rehabilitation treatment for upper limb spasticity after stroke were collected. The retrieval time was from the foundation of the database to September 1,2016. At least two reviewers conducted literature screening,data extraction,and quality evaluation according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Rev-Man 5. 3 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration was used to conduct the Meta-analysis. Results A total of 356 articles were retrieved. Finally,11 articles met the inclusion criteria. The modified Jadad score showed that the scores of 9 articles were more than 4,which belonged to high-quality literature. Eleven articles included 614 patients,in which 316 were treated with botulinum toxin A. There were 298 patients in the control group. The results of Meta-analysis indicated that the Fugl-Meyer score (SMD =0. 94,95% CI 0. 75 to 1. 12),modified Ashworth score (SMD = - 1. 59,95% CI - 1. 78 to - 1. 40),and modified Barthel index (SMD = 0. 86,95% CI 0. 65 to 1. 08)in the botulinum toxin treatment group were superior to the control group. There were significant differences (all P < 0. 05). The incidence of adverse events (RR = 1. 06,95% CI 0. 78 to 1. 45)was similar in both groups. There was no significant difference (P > 0. 05). Conclusion The efficacy of treatment of upper limb spasticity after stroke with botulinum toxin A is exact,and the security is high. The appropriate rehabilitation training can effectively improve the limb motor function,muscle tension,and quality of life of patients.

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.

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.

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.