Objective To investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) of the resting brain function network in patients in a minimal conscious state (MCS) so as to explore the mechanism.Methods Eleven MCS patients were selected.Among them,there were 9 males and 2 females,10 with cerebral trauma and 1 with cerebral hemorrhage,with an average age of (37.3±8.4) and an average course of disease of (3.4±0.1) months.All subjects were given a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) assessment prior to the single tDCS treatment,followed by a 20-minute single sham tDCS treatment at a time.After single-sham stimulation,a second time rs-fMRI assessment test will be conducted,followed by a real tDCS treatment for 20 minutes.Eventually,a third time rs-fMRI assessment test will be implemented.Results No significant statistical difference was shown in terms of all the parameters after single shamtDCS as compared to those before the treatment (P＞0.05).After single real-tDCS,no significant change was observed with CRS-R score,ALFF of default network (left anterior wedge),the frontal-parietal network (left fróntal lobe,right superior gyms),sensory motor network (left auxiliary motor area),subcortical network (right thalamus,bilateral caudate nuclei) was significantly higher than that before treatment,while the ALFF of the frontal network (frontal lobe) and auditory network (bilateral temporal lobes) was significantly decreased (P＜0.05).After single real-tDCS,the ALFF of default network (right frontal lobe) was significantly enhanced compared to that after single sham-tDCS (P＜0.05),while that of the salient network (left insula) and sensorimotor network (right central frontal) was significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Conclusion The enhancement of ALFF activity in the resting state brain function network is a possible neural mechanism for tDCS to promote the recovery of consciousness level in pa tients with minimal conscious state.

Objective To observe and compare the effect of training using an electric standing bed or a dy-namic electric standing bed on the auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in the brainstems of healthy people. Methods Twenty healthy people were divided into a common group ( n=10) and a dynamic group ( n=10) . The common group accepted training using an electric standing bed, while the dynamic group accepted training using a dynamic electric standing bed. Before and after the training, BAEPs were measured and compared using variance analysis. Results The latencies of the I, III and V waves among the common group were not significantly different from those of the dy-namic group before the training. After the training, however, the average wave V latency was significantly shorter than that in the common group. After the training there were, however, no significant differences in the I-III, I-V or III-V interpeak latencies in the common group, nor in the I-III interpeak latency in the dynamic group compared with before the training. In the dynamic group the average I-V and III-V interpeak latencies after the training were significantly shorter than those beforehand. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the I-III, I-V or II-V interpeak latency after the training. Conclusion Compared with training using an electric standing bed, a dynamic electric standing bed gives significantly greater improvement in the latency and interpeak latency of BAEP waves.

Objective To investigate the impact flat deformity of the cerebral cortex induced by congenital hydrocephalus on motor functioning and cognition.Methods Tomography was used to confirm the presence of flat cortex deformity in three congenital hydrocephalus patients ranging in age from 20 to 33.Their motor control,balance,cognition and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),the Berg balance scale (BBS),the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).Speech dysfunction was judged on the basis of clinical communication.The patients were scanned using a 64-slice spiral CT and size-of-ventricle indices were calculated.Results All 3 patients underwent ventrideperitoneal shunt.Their FMA scores were 75.5,83 and 100,with BBS scores of 4,24 and 56,MMSE scores of 14,23 and 26,and the MBIs of 40,90 and 100.CT images showed obvious ventricle enlargement and a thinner cortex layer in all three,with the thinnest part 0.18 cm,0.22 cm and 0.57 cm.Their ventricle indexes were 303％,288％ and 192％,respectively.Conclusion Although there is no systematic rehabilitation therapy for such patients,their motor,cognition and speech functioning were good,indicating the great potential for plasticity of the human brain.

Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) of the upper extremity in healthy subjects. Methods From October, 2015 to April, 2016, ten healthy young volunteers were selected. Each of the subjects was randomly treated with electroacupuncture and TEAS. Before and after treatment, the latency and amplitude of N20 and N9 of SEP were detected. Results After electroacupuncture, the latency of N20 prolonged in the stimulated side (Z=-2.620, P<0.01); the latency of N9 prolonged (Z=-2.454, P<0.05), and the amplitude of N9 decreased (Z=-2.330, P<0.05) in the non-stimulated side. After TEAS, the latencies of N9 both in the stimulated side and the non-stimulated side prolonged (Z>2.695, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the D-value of latency and amplitude of N20 and N9 in both two sides between two treatments (Z<1.817, P>0.05). Conclusion Both electroacupuncture and TEAS could affect the latency and amplitude of N20 and N9, and no difference was found between two treatments.

Objective To investigate the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on motor function and on the expression, proliferation, migration and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) after cerebral ischemia.Methods Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used to induce a model of cerebral ischemia in 108 rats using the modified Zea-Longa method of intraluminal filament occlusion.They were then randomly divided into an FES group, a placebo stimulation group and a control group with 36 cases in each.Superficial FES electrodes were pasted on the paralyzed forelimbs of the rats in the first two groups, though FES treatment was administered only to the FES group beginning on the 3rd day after the MCAO operation.The stimulation was designed to produce extension of the wrist and digits of the paralyzed forelimb.Before, and after 1,3, 7 and 14 days of the treatment, the neurological deficit was evaluated using modified neurological severity scoring (mNSS).BrdU +/GFAP+, BrdU+/DCX+ and BrdU+/NeuN + cells in the SVZ were detected using immunofluorescence technique.Results After 7 and 14 days of treatment, the average motor function of the rats in the FES group had improved significantly when compared with the averages of the other two groups.Compared with the other two groups, the average number of BrdU +/GFAP+ positive cells in the ischemic SVZ was also significantly greater in the FES group after 7 and 14 days of treatment.After 14 days, BrdU +/Dcx + positive cells in the FES group had also increased significantly more,but only a few BrdU +/NeuN + cells had appeared in any of the three groups.Conclusion FES can improve motor function after cerebral ischemia, and promote proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the SVZ.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of cryopreservation on clonogenic ability and apoptosis rate of mono-nuclear cells and CD34+cells in umbilical blood (UB), and to choose the index to present the freezing injury and optimize the cryopreservation of UB. Methods:hTe mono-nuclear cells (MNC) and CD34+cells were separated from UB and frozen.Atfer 30 days, they were thawed in warm water. Clonogenic capacity and clonogenic recovery before and atfer the cryopreservation was compared. We also used Annexin V-FITC-PI to investigate the apoptosis rate of the cells before and atfer the cryopreservation of these 2 types of cells. Results:hTe number of colony forming unit-granulocyte/monocyte (CFU-GMs) was not changed atfer freezing and thawing in both MNCs and CD34+cells, while the number of colony forming unit-granulocyte, erythrocyte, monocyte and megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM) was obviously reduced after freezing in CD34+cells. The 2 types of cryopreserved cells had certain degree of apoptosis before the cryopreservation. MNC-type cryopreservation increased the cells apoptosis a little, while CD34+-type cryopreservation increased more. Conclusion:hTe cells have certain degree of apoptosis before the cryopreservation. hTe freezing and thawing procedure does affect the early stage progenitor cells-CFU-GEMM in the CD34+-type cryopreserved cells in UB. hTe damage may be induced by the cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of repeated high frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on spatial learning and memory function,and on long-term potentiation (LTP) after global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion,and to explore the mechanisms involved.Methods Eighty-three male Wistar rats were studied.Five were tested to determine their average motor threshold (Tm).The others were divided into a normal control group,a cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model group and an rTMS group.Cerebral ischemia was induced with the four vessel occlusion method for 10 minutes.The rTMS treatment protocol (10 Hz stimulation for 5 s at the resting threshold,twice a day) was applied over a 2-week period from day 3 post-operation.The Morris water maze test was performed to observe spatial learning and memory at post-operation day 2 and day 4.The field excitatory postsynaptic potentials,population spike and the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by theta burst electric stimulation were recorded from the perforant path to the dentate gyrus (PP-DG).Results At post-operation day 3,rats in the untreated cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model group exhibited a significant decrease in the magnitude of the PP-DG LTP as compared to the normal group.No significant difference in LTP was found between the model group and the rTMS group.After the 2 weeks of treatment the LTP levels in the rTMS treated group were significantly higher than in the two untreated groups.In the Morris water maze testing,the average escape latency in the rTMS group was significantly shorter than that of the cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model group (which was not treated).In the probe trials,the time in the original quadrant of the platform and the time of crossing the platform were both significantly less for the rTMS-treated rats than for those not treated.Conclusions High frequency rTMS can improve spatial learning and memory after global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion by enhancing the LTP induced in the hippocampus.High frequency rTMS might exert this beneficial effect by modulating the function of intermediate neurons in the hippocampal neuronal network and by promoting neurotransmitter release.

Objective To investigate the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on motor function and the expression of bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) + and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) + in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of rats with acute cerebral infarction,and to explore it's mechanism. Methods A rat model of cerebral infarction was established using Longa's technique for middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with an intraluminal filament.The rats were randomly divided into a FES group,a placebo stimulation group and a control group.In each group,rats were randomly allocated into 1 d,3 d,7 d and 14 d subgroups (6 rats/subgroup).Superficial electrodes were pasted on the paralyzed forelimbs of rats in the FES group for connecting with the FES instrument,and FES treatment was carried out with a current of 4-5 mA for 15 min on the third day after the MCAO operation to produce extension of the wrist and the digits of the paralyzed forelimb.The rats in the placebo stimulation group were pasted with electrodes,but no FES was administered and they received no other treatment.Neurological deficits were evaluated using the modified neurological severity score (mNSS) before treatment and on the 1 st,3rd,7th,and 14th day after treatment. BrdU and GFAP positive cells in the SVZ were detected by immunofluorescence techniques.Results After 7 or 14 days the motor function of rats in the FES group had improved significantly compared with the placebo stimulation and control groups.Compared with the other two groups,the expression levels of BrdU+ and GFAP+ cells in the ischemic SVZ in the FES group were significantly higher at the 3rd,7th and 14th day.Conclusion FES can improve motor function after acute cerebral infarction and also promote the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the SVZ.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) protein on the apoptosis of multiple myeloma KM3 cells induced by dexamethasone and to understand its mechanism. METHODS: The human recombinant PDCD5 (rhPDCD5) protein was added (alone of different concentrations or associated with dexamethasone) into KM3 cells. Cultured together for certain time, the cells were collected for the following experiments: (1)The effect of rhPDCD5 protein and dexamethasone on the apoptotic rate of KM3 cells was determined by flowcytometry (FCM) analysis after the cells were stained by Annexin V-FITC & PI (propidium iodide). (2)Caspase-3 activity of KM3 cells was evaluated by Western blot. (3)The expression of survivin protein in KM3 cells was detected by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The apoptotic rate of KM3 cells and the activity of caspase-3 increased significantly, and that treated with rhPDCD5 protein and dexamethasone was higher than that treated with rhPDCD5 protein only. The expression of survivin protein in the rhPDCD5 with dexemethas group was down-regulated, and with the concentration of rhPDCD5 and dexamethasone increasing, the changes was more obviously. CONCLUSION PDCD5 protein can induce the apoptosis of KM3 cells, and accelerate the apoptosis of KM3 cells induced by dexamethasone. PDCD5 protein may reduce the expression of survivin protein and increase activation of caspase-3 to play its role in promoting apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Survivin

Objective To study the effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation(LFES)on motor function and the expression of glia fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)around cerebral infarction sites in rats.Methods Fifty-four male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a LFES group,a placebo group and a sham operation group(18/group).All groups were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups.A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)was established using intraluminal filament occlusion.Treatment was carried out 3 d after the operation.Rats in the LFES treatment groups were stimulated with LFES for 3,7 or 14 days (10 min/d);the placebo groups were treated in the same way without electric stimulation;the sham operation subgroups didn't receive any therapy.Scores on a beam-walking test,a rotating pole test and a screen test were assessed at each time point mentioned above.Expression of GFAP was also assessed using immunohistochemcal techniques.Results The paralysed limbs recovered motor function better in the LFES groups than in the control groups.GFAP-positive cells were more numerous at the margins of the infarction area in the treated groups than in the control groups.Conclusions LFES might increase the expression of GFAP,which might be an important mechanism in improving brain plasticity after cerebral ischemia,aiding the recovery of the central nervous system and rebuilding its functioning.