The changes of immune system following stroke mainly includes the local inflammatory responses of brain tissue and the systemic immunological changes, The former may exacerbate brain damage following stroke, the latter may increase the susceptibility to infection, and thus impact on brain function recovery and prognosis. Stroke interferes with the normal balance between the nervous system and the immune system, and its mechanism remains unclear. This article reviews the stroke-indnced immunological alterations and their mechanisms,as well as the corresponding treatment strategies in clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the short-term effects of ischemic preconditioning (IP) on left ventricular diastolic function in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Methods: Totally 188 patients with first AMI were studied. Eighty-one patients without diabetes were divided into group A (with IP) and group B (without IP). The other 107 patients with diabetes were divided into group C (with IP) and group D (without IP).The effect of IP on peak creatine kinase value and left ventricular diastolic function were analyzed separately. Results: The peak creatine kinase value, the peak creatine kinase MB fractions and the incidence of E/A

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a ribozyme that widely exists in the cukaryotic cells.It plays important roles in the maintenance of genomic stability and the regulation of gene transcription and other physiological processes.PARP-1 is overactivated after ischemic brain injury,and PARP-1 gene knockout mice or PARP-1 inhibitor can reduce brain injury in a variety of models of cerebral ischemia.Therefore,PARP-1 plays important roles in the pathophysiologic processes of ischemic brain injury.The investigation of the effect of PARP-1 in cerebral ischemia contributes to further understanding the pathophysiologic mechanism of stroke and finding a new therapeutic target.

Objective To investigate effects of early administration of high-dose rosuvastatin(40 mg) on coronary microvascular function and short-term outcome in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Methods Ninety-four consequent AMI patients treated with primary PCI were divided into rosuvastatin group (50 patients) and control group (44 group). The infarct-related artery flow of epicardium was classified in compliance with the TIMI criteria. Myocardial and microvascular perfusion was assessed using the TMPG. The incidence of the MACE and the cytotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of rosuvastatin was respectively recorded in 30 d follow-up period. Results Either patients in the rosuvastatin group or in the control group showed better TMPG immediately after PCI (P<0.05), compared with that before treatment. However, the post-PCI TMPG of the rosuvastatin group was obviously much better than that of control group (P<0.05). Compared with that in control group, the 30-day composite MACE rate was lower in rosuvastatin group and in the TMPG 3 patients of rosuvastatin group:12.0%(6/50) vs. 34.1%(15/44), P<0.05;11.1%(3/27) vs. 42.9%(6/14). There was no cytotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in two groups. Conclusions Early administration of high-dose rosuvastatin (40 mg) can improve coronary microvascular function and short-term outcome in patients treated with primary PCI for AMI, and it is efficient and safety.

AIM:To investigate the influential factors of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and to observe the effects of zileuton,a selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (5-LO),on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI).METHODS:The right middle cerebral artery of the rat was occluded by inserting a thread through internal carotid artery for 2 h,and then reperfused for 24 h. Zileuton (10,50 mg?kg-1,po) was orally administered 2 h before ischemia and at 0,5,10 h after reperfusion. The permeability of blood brain barrier (BBB) was detected by using Evans blue (EB) as a labelling compound. The degree of cerebral edema was estimated by AutoCAD image analysis software. The mRNA of cysteiny leukotrienes receptor1 (CysLTR1) was detected by RT-PCR. The content of LTB4 in serum was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of AQP4 and MMP-9 proteins were measured by immunohistochemical staining method. RESULTS:After middle cerebral artery occlussion 2 h/reperfusion 24 h,the permeability of BBB in the brain tissue of injured side and the brain edema degree were increased. The content of LTB4 in serum was elevated. The expression of CysLTR1 mRNA from the brain tissue of occluded side was enhanced. The expressions of MMP-9 and AQP4 proteins of the ischemia realm and ischemia penumbra (IP) of the infarct focus perimeter were increased. Both 10 and 50 mg?kg-1 doses of zileuton dramatically relieved the BBB permeability destruction and the degree of the brain edema,inhibited the expression of CysLTR1 mRNA in the brain tissue and also reduced the content of LTB4 in serum. The expressions of AQP4 and MMP-9 proteins in the brain tissue were also decreased.CONCLUSION:The permeability of BBB is destroyed after the focal CIRI. The mechanisms of protective effect of zileuton might be attributed to its effects by inhibiting the activation of 5-LO pathways on the brain tissue and circulatory blood,reducing the expressions of AQP4 and MMP-9 proteins of the ischemia and IP realm in the brain tissue.

Objective To investigate the roles of Xenon-CT cerebral blood flow perfusion imaging in cerebral revascularization before surgery and efficacy evaluation.Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with symptomatic cerebral artery stenosis/occlusion of anterior circulation were analyzed retrospectively.Eight patients were treated with endovascular stenting,1 was treated with internal carotid endarterectomy,and 6 were treated with superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass grafting.The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) detected by Xenon CT within 2 weeks before and after procedure and the modified Ranking scale (mRS) scores at 6 months after procedure were compared.Results (1) The mean rCBF value of 12 patients with abnormal blood perfusion of target vessels before procedure was 30±10 ml/(100 g·min) and that was 32±14 ml/(100 g·min) after procedure.Compared with before procedure,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).The mean rCBF value of 3 patients with normal blood perfusion of target vessels before procedure was 48±6 ml/(100 g·min) and that was 50±7 ml/(100 g·min) after procedure.Compared with before procedure,the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).(2) The postoperative mRS score was decreased in 8 cases and stable in 7 cases.Compared with before procedure,there were significant differences in mRS scores after procedure in 15 cases (P<0.05).During the follow-up period,none of the patients had new neurological impairment.Conclusion Revascularization can improve the presence of hemodynamic disorders in patients with symptomatic anterior circulation cerebral artery stenosis or occlusion of the target blood vessels in the distal local cerebral perfusion and neurological deficit symptoms.The patients with abnormal perfusion of preoperative Xenon-CT cerebral blood flow perfusion imaging may be more beneficial than those with normal perfusion.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical feasibility and image quality of three-dimensional breath-hold gradient and spin-echo (3D BH-GRASE) sequence in magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).Methods:In this prospective study, 59 patients with clinically suspected pancreaticobiliary duct disease performed MRCP with both 3D BH-GRASE and 3D respiration-triggered turbo spin-echo (3D RT-TSE) sequences on 3.0 T scanner in the Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University from November 2017 to December 2018. The overall image quality was scored independently by 3 experienced radiologists based on the visibility of different anatomical features of the pancreaticobiliary duct. For comparing the 2 sequences, the statistical difference in scan time was assessed with a paired t test; while subjective scores, signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), contrast ratios (CR) and contrast noise ratios (CNR) were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results:The scan time of 3D BH-GRASE sequence was 16.4 s while that of 3D RT-TSE was (258.6±42.2) s. Their difference was statistically significant ( t=44.073, P<0.001), with the scan time for 3D BH-GRASE shortened by 94%. The overall quality scores of 3D BH-GRASE images were better than those of 3D RT-TSE ( Z=-6.595, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference ( P>0.05) in the scores regarding the visibility of the upper, middle and lower parts of common bile duct and the first and second branches of left and right hepatic ducts. For visualizing the bottom, body, neck and duct of gallbladder, the 3D BH-GRASE sequence received a higher score than the 3D RT-TSE sequence ( P<0.001). For displaying the proximal, middle and distal segments of main pancreatic duct, the 3D RT-TSE sequence was scored higher than the 3D BH-GRASE sequence ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference of SNR between the two sequences ( Z=0.403, P=0.687), whereas CR and CNR of 3D RT-TSE MRCP were better than those of 3D BH-GRASE MRCP ( Z=6.215, P<0.001 and Z=3.046, P=0.002, respectively). Conclusion:Under the prerequisite of ensuring image quality, a proper use of 3D BH-GRASE sequence can significantly shorten the scan time and thus greatly improve the working efficiency of MRCP examination.

Objective To study the nutritional risks in elderly patients with prostate cancer and explore its related factors.Methods 346 elderly patients with prostate cancer in Wuhan area from May 2013 to May 2014 were chosen as the objects in this study.Nutritional risk screening 2002 was used to evaluate nutritional risk.The sleep quality,anxiety,lower urinary tract symptoms,differentiation and other data of patients were collected.The influencing factors for nutritional risk in the patients were analyzed.Results The ratio of nutritional risk in elderly advanced prostate cancer patients was 35.3％ (122/346).The nutritional risk was increased with age (P＜0.05).The prostate cancer patients with nutritional risk had a higher international prostate symptom score (IPSS) (P＜ 0.05).Monovariate factor analysis showed that sleep quality,operation,pathology staging,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were the impact factors for nutritional status in elderly patients with prostate cancer (P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=0.29),sleep quality (OR=0.25) were the protective factors for the nutritional status,while surgery (OR=12.67),pathological staging (OR=1.65),radiotherapy (OR=2.65),SPSS (OR=1.55),chemotherapy (OR=1.85) were the risk factors for nutritional status (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions The incidence of nutritional risk is high in elderly prostate cancer patients.Age,sleep quality are the protective factors,and operation,pathology staging,SPSS,chemotherapy,and radiotherapy are the risk factors for nutritional status.

AIM: To determine whether the eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E) inhibition facilitates the degradation of heparanase mRNA and alters heparanase protein expression in human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, LS-174T. METHODS: A 20-mer antisense s-oligodeoxynucleotide (asODN) targeted against the translation start site of eIF-4E mRNA were introduced into LS-174T cells by lipid-mediated DNA-transfection. eIF-4E protein and mRNA levels were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. The mRNA levels of heparanase were determined by Northern blot. The alterations of heparanase expression were confirmed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The 20-mer asODN against eIF-4E specifically and significantly inhibited eIF-4E protein expression. Following eIF-4E inhibition, a significant reduction of heparanase mRNA was observed on Northern blot, and at the same time, heparanase protein expression significantly decreased as well. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the inhibition of eIF-4E strongly reduces the stability of heparanase mRNA in colon adenocarcinoma cell line, LS-174T and resultes in an apparent reduction in the expression of heparanase protein. [

AIM: Valproic acid (VPA) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor and is believed to have anti-tumor activity. The present study aims to investigate the effect of VPA on the, apoptosis and cytokine synthesis of human peripheral lymphocytes. METHODS: The activation and cytokine synthesis in lymphocytes in whole blood stimulated with phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) and ionomycin were evaluated with flow cytometry after fluorescent staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential was examined using 3, 3-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide [DiOC6(3)]staining. RESULTS: VPA at low doses (1 and 5 mmol/L) promoted CD69 expression in activated lymphocytes, whereas it turned to inhibit the expression of CD69 at a high dose (25 mmol/L). Meanwhile, VPA at low doses increased the mitochondrial membrane potential, while a high dose of VPA decreased it in activated lymphocytes. Furthermore, interleukin-2 (IL-2) synthesis was enhanced by low doses of VPA but inhibited by a high dose. However, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis were dose-dependently enhanced by VPA as compared with those of PDB plus ionomycin-treated cells. CONCLUSION: VPA exerts biphasic effect on the further activation and apoptosis of human peripheral lymphocytes stimulated with mitogens and exhibits differential activity on the synthesis of several important cytokines in human lymphocytes.