0.05),but all were lower than those of the control group(P

OBJECTIVEThe study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of astragaloside IV (ASI) on the activation of microglial cells.

METHODAfter pre-incubated with ASI for 2 h, microglial cells BV-2 were stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) for 1. 5 h and 24 h, respectively. Secretion of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium was measured by Griess method. Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was detected by ELISA approach. Cellular gene expressions of CD11b, TNF-α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were examined by quantitative-PCR analysis. Total and phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB was analyzed by Western blot method.

RESULTASI could significantly inhibit the increased secretion of TNF-α and NO from BV-2 cells upon IFN-γ stimulation (P < 0.001). Further study showed that ASI significantly down-regulated gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and exhibited a trend to reduce that of iNOS. IFN-γ and ASI have no obvious effect on gene expression of CD11b. Moreover, ASI inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB elicited by IFN-γ stimulation.

CONCLUSIONASI could restrain microglial activation through interfering STAT1/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing gene expres- sion of IL-1β and TNF-α, and thus inhibiting the production of proinflammatory mediators such as NO and TNF-α.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate DSA- estimated hepatic arterial hemodynamics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) determined shortly after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib treatment. Methods The clinical data of thirty HCC patients treated with TACE were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into study group (n = 13) and control group (n = 17). Patients in the study group received additional oral administration of 400mg sorafenib twice a day one week before or two weeks after TACE procedure, while patients in the control group received TACE only. The initial DSA images as well as the images obtained at three months after TACE were analyzed. With the help of Photoshop software, the grey gradient of the tumor staining was measured on the series dynamic DSA images, based on which the time- density curve of the tumor was drawn. The peak density value (PV), the time to reach the peak (TP) and the slope of the upslope (SU) were determined, and the results were compared between the two groups. Results Photoshop software was used to measure the grey density values of the tumor staining on DSA images. In the study group, the post- treatment PV was smaller than the pre- treatment one, which were (38.0 ± 14.6) and (46.7 ± 18.4) respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.040). The post- treatment PV of the study group was also smaller than that of the post -treatment PV of the control group (54.4 ± 19.8), and the difference between the two was also statistically significant (P = 0.011). No significant differences in TP values and SU values existed between the two groups as well as between the pre - treatment and post - treatment ones in each group. Conclusion After TACE.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of standardized three-stage rehabilitation program on spasticity and motor function in the upper extremities after cerebral hemorrhage.Methods A total of 364 patients were included and randomly assigned to a control group (n =181) and a rehabilitation group (n =183).The standardized three-stage rehabilitation program,which included early-stage bedside rehabilitation,specialized treatment in rehabilitation ward during recovery and rehabilitation follow-up at regular intervals was applied in the rehabilitation group,but only rehabilitation guidance and follow-up after discharge were provided for the control group.The modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) were performed at the time of recruitment,1 month (M1),3 months(M3) and 6 months(M6) later.Results There was no statistical difference between the groups at recruitment.The occurrence rate of spasticity was 22.7％ in the control and 23.5％ in the rehabilitation group.At M6 the occurrence rate of spasticity was about 59.7％ and 43.2％ in control group and rehabilitation group respectively,and the number of patients grade 1 + and grade 2 on the MAS was 50/181 in the control group,significantly more than in the rehabilitation group (25/183).At all time points,MAS grade 0 accounted for a large proportion of both groups.At M6,both MAS distributions and scores of the two groups were different statistically (P ＜ 0.01).FMA scores in both groups increased significantly (P ＜ 0.01) with time,with the score being (17.13 ± 16.46),(24.87±18.36),(30.68±19.41) at M1,M3 and M6 in the control group and (24.71 ±19.80),(39.83 ± 19.50),(48.87 ± 18.25) in the rehabilitation group,but the average scores of the latter were consistently significantly higher than the former (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Standardized three-stage rehabilitation can alleviate spasticity and improve motor function of the upper extremities in cerebral hemorrhage patients.

Objective To analyze the effects of rehabilitation training,acupuncture and the combination of these two therapies on the motor function of stroke survivors,and to evaluate their health economics.Methods Two hundred and five stroke survivors were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group (64 cases),an acupuncture group (69 cases) and a combined group (72 cases).The rehabilitation group received conventional rehabilitation training for 28 days,while the acupuncture group received scalp needling combined with body acupuncture.The combined group received both the training and the acupuncture.The clinical neural functional deficiency scale (NDS) and functional comprehensive assessments (FCA) were evaluated at baseline and on the 28th day after treatment and 28th day after the treatment had ended.The total cost including the direct medical costs,direct non-medical costs and indirect costs were calculated and analyzed.Results The NDS and FCA scores showed no significant difference between the three groups at baseline.At the 28th day after treatment and and 28th day after the treatment had ended,both the NDS and FCA scores had improved significantly in all groups compared with the baseline.However,there was no significant difference between the groups.At the 28th day there was a significant difference in the NDS results of the combined group compared to the other two groups.Significant differences in NDS results among all three groups had appeared by the 56th day,but there was still no significant difference in average FCA scores.At the 28th day no significant difference in cost was observed among the three groups,but the combined group spent significantly less in total cost,direct medical costs,direct non-medical costs and indirect costs for a one point NDS decrement.However,there was no significant difference in the cost of producing a one point increment in FCA among the three groups.Conclusion Combining rehabilitation training with acupuncture is more economical and effective than either treatment alone.

Objective To explore the factors influencing the recovery of ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) after intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods A total of 108 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage admitted for rehabilitation to the rehabilitation medicine department of Huashan Hospital between January 2007 and June 2011 were studied.Twelve items of clinical data were collected with regard to the patients' medical history,physical status,modified Barthel index (MBI) score and Brunnstrom stage at admission.Functional status was classified according to the MBI scores and Brunnstrom stages assessed at admission and before discharge.Linear regression analysis was used to relate the variables. Results After rehabilitation,the MBI scores and Brunnstrom stages had improved relative to the scores at admission.Factors influencing the MBI improvements included the intervention timing of rehabilitation and the course of therapy employed. Conclusions It is very important to comprehend the factors influencing the recovery of ADL ability after cerebral hemorrhage in order to design effective rehabilitation strategies,better predict functional outcomes and improve patients' ADL ability effectively.

Objective To explore the effects of intervention of rehabilitation at different opportunities on recovery of hand function andactivities of daily living (ADL) in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods A retrospective study was conducted. 108 patientswith ICH admitted to rehabilitation ward between June 2005 and June 2011 were divided into 4 groups according to the time of rehabilitationintervention. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The hand function and ADL were evaluated with Brunnstrom assessmentand modified Barthel Index (MBI) at admission and before discharge. Results The hand function of patients in early and intermediate stagessignificantly improved (P<0.01) while the patients in later and sequelae stages did not improve (P>0.05). The MBI of all groups increasedafter rehabilitation intervention (P<0.05). The earlier rehabilitation intervention was applied, the greater the improvement of Brunnstrom assessmentand MBI were. Conclusion Rehabilitation intervention can facilitate the recovery of hand function and ADL of patients with ICHin different stages. Early intervention is more effective.

AIMTo explore the effect of cerebellar fastigial nuclei (FN)on lymphocyte function and the pathway mediating the effect.

METHODSKainic acid (KA) was microinjected into bilateral FN of rats to destroy neuronal bodies in the FN. On the eighth day after the surgery, lymphocyte percentage in the peripheral blood and level of sheep red blood cell(SRBC)-specific IgM antibody in the serum were measured by using blood corpuscle counter and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.A technology of electrolytic lesion was used to destroy the projections of cerebellar FN neurons to hypothalamus in decussation of superior cerebellar peduncle(xscp).

RESULTSOn the eighth day after the microinjection of KA into the bilateral FN of rats, the Nissl-stained neuronal bodies in the FN disappeared and glia could proliferated within the damaged FN. In the nuclei close to FN, the interposed nuclei and the dentate nuclei, Nissl-stained neurons still could be seen. On the control cerebellar sections, in which FN was infused with saline, we could see the normal Nissl-stained neurons in the FN and the other two nuclei.On day 8 following the effective FN lesions, both the lymphocyte percentage in the peripheral blood and the level of anti-SRBC IgM antibody in the serum were significantly increased in comparison with those of control rats infused with saline in the FN. On the eighth day after electrolytic lesion of the fibres in xscp, the FN-hypothalamic projections were damaged and there were no visible BDA-positive endings in hypothalamus. Meanwhile, both the lymphocyte percentage in the peripheral blood and the level of anti-SRBC IgM antibody in the serum were remarkably enhanced relative to those of control rats with sham lesion of xscp.

CONCLUSIONThe electrolytic lesion of the FN-hypothalamic projections in xscp causes an enhancement of lymphocyte function similar to that of KA lesions of neuronal soma in the FN. These findings suggest that the cerebellohypothalamic projections participate in mediating the modulation of lymphocyte function by the cerebellum.

Animals ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; immunology ; injuries ; Female ; Hypothalamus ; immunology ; physiology ; Kainic Acid ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Neural Pathways ; immunology ; physiology ; Neuroimmunomodulation ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and the possible mechanism of IL-6 on NMDA-excited neuronal discharges of rats in vitro.

METHODSThe cerebellar slices were prepared and spontaneous discharges of single cerebellar interposed nuclear (IN) neurons were recorded by extracellular recordings. The cerebellar slices were perfused with artificial cerebral spinal fluid (ACSF) containing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), IL-6, JAK inhibitor AG490. The changes in firing activities of the neurons treated with the drugs were recorded. The levels of phosphorylation at serine 897 site of NMDA receptor subunit 1 (NR1) in the neurons treated with various drugs mentioned above were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe discharge rates of the neurons that were treated with IL-6 together with NMDA were significantly lower than those of the neurons treated with NMDA alone. AG490 partially blocked the inhibitory effect of IL-6 on the NMDA-stimulated neuronal firing activity. The treatment of the neurons with IL6 and NMDA led to a concentration-dependent suppression of the phospho-NR1 expression relative to those neurons treated with NMDA alone. AG490 blocked the effect of the IL-6-induced depression of phospho-NR1 expression.

CONCLUSIONIL-6 inhibits NMDA-stimulated neuronal firing activity, and simultaneously down-regulates the phosphorylation of NR1 at serine 897 site.

Animals ; Cerebellum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; N-Methylaspartate ; pharmacology ; Nerve Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism