Objective: Establishment of a HPLC method for six chemical components in Saposhnikovia divaricata (prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, cimifugin, 5-O-methylvisamminoside, sec-O-glucosylhamaudol, psoralen, and imperatorin), comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the dual-standard linear calibration method and the relative retention time method, and investigation of the feasibility of the linear calibration using two reference substances for qualitative analysis of multiple components in Saposhnikovia divaricata.
Methods: A HPLC method was employed, using 21 different brands and models of C18 columns. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A) and 0.02% phosphoric acid aqueous solution (B), with gradient elution (0-20 min, 18%A; 20-45 min, 18%A-50%A; 45-60 min, 50%A). The column temperature was set at 30 ℃, the flow rate was 1 mL·min^-1, and the detection wavelength was 254 nm.
Results: The results predicted by the linear calibration using two reference substances were accurate and superior to those of the relative retention time method, and the six components exhibited good linear relationships within their respective ranges.
Conclusion: The established linear calibration using two reference substances accurately predicts the retention times of the target components. This method is stable and reliable, providing a reference for the establishment of digital standards in traditional Chinese medicine.

Background: Readmission after stroke is common, but limited data is available in West China. This study aimed to assess the frequencies and influencing factors of unplanned readmissions within 3 months after hospital discharge. Methods: This was a retrospective study in a single center. In our study, 596 ischemic stroke patients who were admitted to the Department of Neurology of West China Hospital from November 2011 to August 2012 were enrolled. Demographic data, disease data and follow–up data were collected at first admission and after 3 months of discharge. The readmission rate and risk factors were calculated. Results: Of 596 ischemic stroke patients, the readmission rate was 19.30% (115/596) within three-months, the top three reasons for readmission were needs of rehabilitation (74/115, 64.35%), recurrence of stroke (14/115, 12.17%), complications (11/115, 9.57%). The readmission was associated with older age, whether patients have indwelling catheter and endotracheal tube and pressure sores. (P < 0.05) Conclusions: The rate of readmission within 3 months in ischemic stroke patients was 19.30%. Greater attention should be paid to the elderly patients and patients with endotracheal tube on discharge to reduce readmission. Extended nursing care is also needed to reduce the readmission rate of patients with ischemic stroke.

In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate longitudinal changes in brain activation during a verbal working memory (VWM) task performed by patients who had experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Twenty-five first-ever TIA patients without visible lesions in conventional MRI and 25 healthy volunteers were enrolled. VWM task-related fMRI was conducted 1 week and 3 months post-TIA. The brain activity evoked by the task and changes over time were assessed. We found that, compared with controls, patients exhibited an increased activation in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), insula, inferior parietal lobe (IPL), and cerebellum during the task performed 1 week post-TIA. But only the right IFG still exhibited an increased activation at 3 months post-TIA. A direct comparison of fMRI data between 1 week and 3 months post-TIA showed greater activation in the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, right DLPFC, IPL, cerebellum, and left IFG in patients at 1 week post-TIA. We conclude that brain activity patterns induced by a VWM task remain dynamic for a period of time after a TIA, despite the cessation of clinical symptoms. Normalization of the VWM activation pattern may be progressively achieved after transient episodes of ischemia in TIA patients.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Longitudinal Studies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Memory, Short-Term ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Oxygen ; blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are pluripotent and mostly reside in the bone marrow. Recent experimental studies on the stem cells grafting in the treatment of ischemic cerebral vascular disease have shown that BMSCs can improve neurologic impairment. As the sources of neural stem cells, they have broad prospects to be used in the treatment of ischemic cerebral vascular disease. In this review, we focus on the biological feature of BMSCs, the feasibility of transplantation, the use of BMSCs in ischemic cerebral vascular disease, and the mechanism of their action.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods

Vascular endothelial growth factor is a potent inducer of angiogenesis identified in recent years, and its relationship with ischemic cerebral vascular diseases is a hotspot for many investigators at present. In this review, we focus on the recent evidence for VEGF expression, biological effect and its role in the treatment and prognostication of ischemic cerebral vascular disease.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; therapeutic use ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the effects of Tianshu capsule(TSC) on the plasma levels of ?-endorphin(?-EP) and 5-Hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and c-fos expression of brain tissue in the rat with migraine.Methods The rat migraine model was established by subcutaneously administration of nitroglycerin.The intragastric administration dose of TSC was divided into three groups as follows:high dose(7.5 g/kg),middle dose(3.75 g/kg) and low dose(1.88 g/kg).TSC was administrated respectively in therapeutic and prophylactic model.The control group and model group were administrated corresponding dose of normal saline.The plasma levels of ?-EP and 5-HT in rat were measured by radioimmunoassay and HPLC respectively;the distribution of ?-EP,5-HT and c-fos in rats periaqueductal grey were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared to model group,the plasma levels of ?-EP were increased remarkably in high dose TSC therapeutic and prophylactic groups,middle dose prophylactic group(all P

Nutritional risk screening is the priority for nutrition support after stroke.The advance in nutritional risk screening after stroke was reviewed in order to provide assistant information for post-stroke nutrition support and nursing care.

Objective To investigate the effects of Tianshu capsule on vasoactive substances in blood plasma or brain and hemodynamics in migraine animal models. Methods After subcutaneously administration of nitroglycerin (NTG) and tube feeding Tianshu capsule, the radioimmunoassay or spectrophotometry was used to measure the plasma contents of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rats.The distribution of NOS1, CGRP in rat nucleus tratus spinalis nervi trigemini was detected by immunohistostaining, and the changes of internal carotid artery flow velocity in rabbit were measured by transcranial Doppler.Results The levels of NO, NOS and CGRP were elevated in the plasma of migraine rats. Tianshu capsule could inhibit these increases, and the moderate-and high-dose had much significant effects (P