BACKGROUND: High incidence rate in the morning and low incidence rate in the evening is the regularity of stroke; however, there are no clear reports on changes of concentration of plasma endothelins and its relationship with onset of cerebral thrombus.OBJECTIVE: To investigate dynamic regularity of plasma endothelins in patients with acute cerebral thrombus within 24 hours and its correlation with episode.DESIGN: Case-controlled study.SETTING: Center of Radio-immunology and Department of Laboratory of Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 32 patients with cerebral thrombus were selected from Neurological Department of Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University from January 2002 to January 2003. There were 20males and 12 females with mean age of (61.5±4.1) years. Ten patients had history of diabetes mellitus combined with hypertension, 8 had history of hypertension, 1 had history of diabetes mellitus, and 13 did not have history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Another 30 healthy subjects were selected from the same hospital including 13 males and 17 females with the mean age of (58.1±6.25) years. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.METHODS: Radio-immune analysis was used to determine the dynamic changes of plasma-endothelins level in 32 patients with cerebral thrombus and 20 healthy subjects at 2, 8, 14 and 20 o'clock.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Plasma-endothelins level of patients in cerebral thrombus group and control group at the four time points within 24 hours; ② Plasma-endothelins level of patients with or without cerebral thrombus at the four time points within 24 hours.RESULTS: Totally 32 patients with cerebral thrombus and 30 subjects in control group entered the final analysis. ① Plasma-endothelins level in cerebral thrombus group day and night was higher than that in the control group (t=29.1-30.5, P ＜ 0.001). The level was the lowest [(69.96±3.92) ng/L] at 2 o'clock within 24 hours but the highest at 8 o'clock [(78.55±3.80) ng/L,(t=5.67, P ＜ 0.01)]. ② Levels of endothelins in patients with history of hypertension and cerebral thrombus were obviously higher than those in patients without history of hypertension and cerebral thrombus at 2, 8, 14 and 20 o 'clock within 24 hours [(73.28±7.89), (64.52±5.29) ng/L; (82.39±8.62),(75.81±5.14) ng/L; (81.39±8.62), (70.32±5.97) ng/L; (82.47±5.04),(65.27±5.14) ng/L, (t=2.11-5.17, P ＜ 0.05-0.01)].CONCLUSION: Plasma-endothelins level in patients with acute cerebral thrombus has rhythm changes within 24 hours. The changes are high in the morning and low in the evening, and this is accorded with high onset of cerebral thrombus in the morning.

Objective To investigate the effect of Buyanghuanwu decoction(BYHWD) on the expression of growth-associated protein 43(GAP-43) and synaptophysin(SYP) after focal cerebral ischemia in mice.Methods Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 30 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion.BYHWD (20 g/kg) was administered orally 24 h after ischemia and once a day.The neurological score and the corner test were used to evaluate sensorimotor function on 1,3,7,and 14 days after ischemia.The expression of GAP-43 and SYP in the ischemic boundary zone was determined by immunohistochemistry 14 days after ischemia.Results Compared with the model group,BYHWD significantly ameliorated neurological dysfunction at 3,7 and 14 days and reduced the number of right turn at 7 and 14 days after ischemia(P ＜ 0.05).The average optical density of GAP-43 and SYP was 0.217 ±0.012 and 0.278 ±0.019 at the boundary zone in model group 14 days after ischemia,respectively.BYHWD also significantly increased the immunoreactivity of GAP-43 (0.250 ± 0.013)and SYP(0.323 ± 0.017) (P＜ 0.01).Conclusion BYHWD promotes axonal regeneration and synaptic plasticity in the ischemic boundary zone,which may contribute to functional recovery after focal cerebral ischemia.

Objective To investigate psychology state of AIDS-phobia population. Methods 50 AIDS-pho-bia patients and 50 healthy controls were enrolled and tested with SCL-90,EPQ, LES and social support scale. Results Scores of SCL-90 in AIDS-phobia patients are significantly more than those in controls. Scores of anxiety, depres-sion,compulsion,dread and somatization in AIDS-phobia patients are significantly more than those in controls. Scores of negative life event scale in AIDS-phobia patients are significantly more than those in controls. Scores of positive life event scale in AIDS-phobia patients are significandy less than those in controls. Scores of social support scale in AIDS-phobia patients are significantly less than those in controls. Conclusions Anxiety, depression, compulsion, dread and somatization are primary clinical manifestation of AiDS-phobia. Personal character,negative life event and lack of social support might be nosogenesis correlated with AIDS-phobia.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) and its disassembled recipes on rats' neurogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia and to investigate its underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSFocal cerebral ischemia model was induced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 90 min using the intraluminal filament model. Rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the BYHWD group, the qi supplementing group, and the blood activating group. Medication was performed by gastrogavage 24 h after ischemia for 14 successive days. 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) (at 50 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected, once per day for 14 successive days. The neurological function was assessed using modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and the corner test at day 1, 7, and 14 after ischemia. BrdU/Nestin, BrdU/NeuN, and BrdU/GFAP positive cells were examined by double immunofluorescence at day 14 after ischemia. The protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by Western blot at day 14 after ischemia.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the score of mNSS and the frequency of turning right significantly decreased in the BYHWD group and the qi supplementing group (P < 0.01), the number of BrdU/Nestin in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle, and BrdU/ NeuN and BrdU/GFAP positive cells in the peripheral ischemic cortex increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), protein expression of BDNF and VEGF increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the qi supplementing group, there was no statistical difference in BrdU/GFAP. But there was no statistical difference in each index of the blood activating group (P > 0.05). Compared with BYHWD group, the number of BrdU/Nestin, BrdU/ NeuN, and BrdU/GFAP positive cells significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the protein expression of BDNF and VEGF were significantly reduced in the qi supplementing group and the blood activating group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBYHWD could significantly improve neurogenesis and neurological function recovery after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Its mechanisms might be related to up-regulating protein expression of BDNF and VEGF. Drugs for qi supplementing and drugs for blood activating had synergistic effects.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Objective To compare and study species homology of two kinds of Antrodia Cinnamomea; To conduct the study on quality control. Methods HPLC fingerprint of two kinds of Antrodia Cinnamomea was applied. The HPLC fingerprints were determined on an Diamonsil C18 (2) column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) eluted with the mobile phase consisting of 1% formic acid solution and acetonitrile in gradient mode at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min; the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm; the column temperature was 30 ℃. Results There were 9 common peaks in the HPLC fingerprints of Antrodia Cinnamomea. The similarities varied from 0.906 to 0.995 and from 0.956 to 0.998 in 11 batches and 10 batches of two kinds of Antrodia Cinnamomea, respectively. Conclusion The method is simple and with good reproducibility, which shows that the HPLC fingerprint and infrared spectrum share similarity for two kindsof Antrodia Cinnamomea.

Objective To investigate the effects of Gualou Guizhi Granules on excitatory toxic damage of PC12 induced by glutamate; To primarily explore the involved protective mechanism of Gualou Guizhi Granules. Methods Excitatory toxic damage of PC12 induced by glutamate was used to establish models. Cells were divided into normal group, glutamate group, and Gualou Guizhi Granules low- (200 μg/mL), medium- (400 μg/mL) and high-dose (800 μg/mL) groups. MTT and LDH assay methods were used to detect PC12 activity; Caspase-3 activity detection method and Annexine V/PI double staining method were used to detect cell apoptosis; Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect Bcl-2, Bax protein and mRNA expression. Results Compared with glutamate group, MTT showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could improve PC12 activity, and LDH showed that cell activity in all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups decreased; Annexine V/PI double staining method showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could decrease the PC12 apoptosis; Caspase-3 activity detection method showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could decrease the activity of Caspase-3; Western blot and RT-PCR showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could reduce Bax expression and increase Bcl-2 expression. Conclusion Gualou Guizhi Granules have certain protective effects on excitatory toxic damage of PC12 induced by glutamate, which may be related to its anti-apoptotic activity.

Objective To explore the effects of empowerment education model on glycemic control and self-management behavior of community patients with diabetes. Method A total of 120 diabetics from 2 different communities were set as the observation group and control group. The control group was treated by routine medications and health education and the observation group was intervened with empowerment education model. After intervention for 6 months, the patients′blood glucose index and the diabetes self-management behavior were assessed and compared by scale of the diabetes self-care activities (SDSCA) between the two groups. Result By the end of the study, the glycemic index and SDSCA score in the former group were both significantly decreased than those in the control group (P<0.05), indicating the patients in the experiment group had better glycemic control and self-management behaviors compared with those in the control group. Conclusions Empowerment education model can arouse the internal motivation of patients to change their behaviors from passive to active acceptance in the health education. Empowerment education model can enhance diabetes patients′self-management conduct and the glycemic level.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the current cornea donation awareness of tissue donors in the city of Nanjing, China.

METHODSAltogether 2000 registered tissue donors in the Red Cross Eye Bank of Nanjing by the end of 2010 and 2000 control residents of Nanjing in February to June 2011 were randomly selected to participate in our field questionnaire survey. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the understanding of cornea donation, the attitude toward cornea donation, and attitude toward legislation and free donation. The awareness of cornea donation between the registered tissue donors and residents was compared. Related factors of the willing-ness to donate corneas and to become a tissue donor were evaluated with univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSA total of 1867 (response rate: 93.4%) tissue donors and 1796 (response rate: 89.8%; effective questionnaires: 1697) residents participated in this survey. For the questions about the knowledge of cornea donation, 90.3% tissue donors (residents: 78.9%) knew that donated corneas could be used for transplantations; 71.2% tissue donors (residents: 47.6%) knew that the appearance would not be destroyed after cornea donation; 70.7% tissue donors (residents: 20.0%) knew the formalities to become a cornea donor. For attitude toward cornea donation, 82.2% tissue donors (residents: 45.1%) were willing to donate corneas or eyeballs after death; 84.0% tissue donors (residents: 30.2%) had discussed with their families about donation; 85.1% tissue donors (residents: 24.8%) supported their families' or friends' cornea donation. For attitude toward legislation and free donation, 88.3% tissue donors (residents: 61.3%) approved of legislation to regular cornea donation; 72.2% tissue donors (residents: 38.8%) thought that cornea or organ donation should be gratis. The difference between two groups was significant (P<0.001). However, some tissue donors did not know cornea donation well, some even opposed the legislation of cornea donation and free donation protocol. For the factors influencing the willingness to donate corneas, population was the most relevant factor (P<0.001), since tissue donors were more willing to donate corneas than residents. Other significantly related factor were age, gender, occupation, and education level (P<0.001), while political status or religion were not significant. For the factors related to becoming a tissue donor, older age, male, white-collars (including white-collar, civil servant, teacher, soldier, lawyer, salesman, healthcare provider), higher education level, party members (including the Chinese Communist Party members, democratic party members, and the Communist Youth League members) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe registered tissue donors have better understanding and more positive attitude towards cornea donation than control residents do. They approve of the legislation of cornea donation and free donation protocol. It may be more effective to target the population of over 58 years old, male, white-collars, well-educated people, and party members in the promotion of cornea donation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; China ; Corneal Transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Registries ; Tissue Donors ; legislation & jurisprudence

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) inducing angiogenesis on the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone and its mechanisms after focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODThe middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to mice for 30 minutes to establish the model. The rats were divided into sham group, model group, BYHWD group and endostatin group. BYHWD (20 g x kg(-1), ig) and endostatin (10 μg, sc) were administered 24 h after ischemia once a day for consecutively 14 days. At 14 d after ischemia, the density of micro-vessel and the number of neuroblasts in the ischemia border zone were determined by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression of cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTCompared with the model group, BYHWD significantly increased the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), and significantly increased the SDF-1 and BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01). Compared with BYHWD group, endostatin significantly reduced the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), as well as the SDF-1, BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBYHWD could promote the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone via inducing angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia, the mechanism may be correlated with up-regulating the expression of SDF-1 and BDNF.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cerebral Ventricles ; pathology ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; analysis ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology

Background There is multi-dimensional order of spatial stereopsis perception in human,however,current stereopsis examination is zero-order of position disparity.A multi-dimensional space perception model is very important for the detection of stereoacuity.Objective This study was to screen the deficit of zero-order,first-order,second-order multi-dimensional spatial stereopsis perception in amblyopia and strabismus children and to explore the association of zero-order,first-order,second-order spatial perception deficit.Methods Multidimensional spacial perception was examined in 79 children aged 4-14 years in Beijing Children' s Hospital.Nineteen normal children,19 children with ametropia amblyopia,12 children with anisometropic amblyopia,18 children with strabismus and 11 children with strabismus combined amblyopia were included this study.The random-dot and line spatial stereopsis perception in zero-order,first-order and second-order were examined with a new system of multidimensional space perception screening.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject or custodian before any ocular examination associated with this study.Results Absence of zero-order,first-order,second-order random-dot channel was found in 24 children (24/79,30.4％),18 children (18/79,22.8％) and 24 children (24/79,30.4％) respectively,with an average percentage of 27.9％.Absence of zero-order,first-order,second-order line channel was examined in 37 children (37/79,46.8％),37 children (37/79,46.8％),32 children (32/79,40.5％),with an average percentage of 44.7％.In the children with a deficiency of the zero-order spatial perception,the children who still remained the first-order or/and second-order spatial perception of random-dot accounted for 41.6％ and that of lines accounted for 43.2％.In children without deficiency of zero-order random-dot or lines spatial space perception,deficiency of first-order and/or second-order spatial perception was in 37.5％ children.Various order spatial perception deficiency was seen in children suffering from amblyopia or strabismus compared with normal group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions There exists spatial perception deficiency in children with amblyopia or strabismus.The patients with zero-order spatial perception absence partially remain a first-order or/and second-order spatial perception;while the patients with normal zero-order spatial perception might have first-order or second-order spatial perception deficiency.The multi-dimensional space perception model has a directive role for the training of visual information process and the treatment of spatial perceptual learning in children with amblyopia or strabismus.