Objective:To seek a correlation between short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and skill in the activities of daily living (ADL) after an ischemic stroke.Methods:Ninety ischemic stroke survivors were assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). Fecal samples were collected and analyzed for the concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid using gas chromatography. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to identify SCFAs that correlated with the total BI score. Linear regressions were evaluated to explore the correlation between the total BI score and SCFAs.Results:The concentrations of propionic and butyric acids in the feces were found to correlate significantly with the total BI scores. Data including propionic acid and butyric acid levels, age, gender, body mass index, disease duration, any history of hypertension or diabetes, and other SCFAs were included in the regression models. Propionic and butyric acid levels were found to be potentially useful predictors of total BI scores.Conclusions:The concentration of propionic and butyric acids in the feces after an ischemic stroke can predict the survivor′s total BI score. Those concentrations could therefore be useful for predicting ADL ability.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of functional RNAs that play critical roles in different diseases. NcRNAs include microRNAs, long ncRNAs, and circular RNAs. They are highly expressed in the brain and are involved in the regulation of physiological and pathophysiological processes of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Mounting evidence indicates that ncRNAs play key roles in CNS diseases. Further elucidating the mechanisms of ncRNA underlying the process of regulating glial function that may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for CNS diseases.
Humans ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; RNA, Circular ; Central Nervous System Diseases/genetics*

Objective:To observe any effects of contralateral repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the swallowing motor cortex on the swallowing and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:A total of 83 stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into an ipsilesional stimulation group ( n=22), a contralesional stimulation group ( n=21), a bilateral stimulation group ( n=20), and a control group ( n=20). In addition to their conventional dysphagia training, those in the three stimulation groups received 3Hz rTMS while the control group was given fake stimulation. The treatment was administered daily for 20 minutes, 6 days a week, for 5 consecutive weeks. Before and after the treatment, swallowing function was assessed videofluoroscopically and using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS). The oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing were evaluated using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS). Brain stem conduction was assessed using BAEPs. Results:After treatment the average DOSS scores of all 4 groups were significantly better than before the treatment. The average DOSS scores of the contralesional and bilateral sti-mulation groups were then significantly better than those of the other two groups. The sub-item and total VDS scores of all 4 groups had decreased significantly, but the average score of the bilateral stimulation group was significantly lower than the control group′s average. Ipsilesional stimulation significantly improved the VDS sub-item scores for the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, laryngeal elevation, and pharyngeal transit time compared with the control group. In the contralesional stimulation group the average total score and the VDS sub-item scores for apraxia, premature bolus loss, oral transit times, the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, vallecular residue, laryngeal elevation, coating on the pharyngeal wall, and pharyngeal transit time were significantly lower than those of the control group, on average. After the treatment the latencies of BAEP waves I, III and V and the I-III, III-V and I-V interpeak intervals had decreased significantly in all four groups, but the average latencies and intervals of the bilateral and contralesional groups were significantly shorter than those of the control group. The latencies and intervals of the bilateral stimulation group were then significantly shorter than those in the ipsilesional stimulation group on average. The average latency of wave V in the bilateral stimulation group (6.53±0.73ms) was significantly shorter than that in the contralesional stimulation group after the treatment.Conclusion:Bilateral rTMS over the swallowing motor cortex combined with conventional dysphagia training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors.

Objective:To observe the effect of applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on swallowing function and auditory evoked potentials in the brain-stems of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given 30 minutes of routine swallowing training 6 times a week for 5 weeks, while the observation group was additionally provided with two-second bursts of rTMS on the left and right brain hemispheres alternately for 20 minutes daily. The frequency was 3.0Hz and the strength was 80% of the resting motor threshold (RMT), with an interval of 10 seconds between bursts. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ swallowing was assessed using the functional communication measure (FCM) and the modified Mann swallowing capacity evaluation scale (MMASA). Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were recorded to detect any changes in the peak latency (PL) and inter-peak latency (IPL). The clinical efficacy was also observed.Results:After the treatment, the average FCM results of both groups had improved significantly, but the observation group had improved significantly more. The average MMASA total scores and the average scores on all the sub-items had improved significantly more in the observation group except for the expressive speech disorder and anarthria scores. After the treatment, improvement was observed in respiration, anarthria, range of motion of the tongue muscles, strength of the tongue muscles, gag reflex and soft palate movement compared with before the intervention. Peak and inter-peak latencies had also improved significantly more in the observation than in the control group, on average.Conclusions:rTMS combined with conventional swallowing training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors, and shorten the PL of the BAEP so as to better regulate deglutition.

Objective To observe the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy combined with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with cognitive dysfunction after cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 81 patients with cognitive dysfunction after cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a control group,an HBO group and a combined treatment group,each of 27.In addition to basic medication and traditional rehabilitation therapy,the HBO group was also treated with hyperbaric oxygen,while the combined treatment group received both HBO and rTMS.The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were administered before and after the four weeks of treatment.Results The average MMSE scores of the HBO and combined treatment groups were both significantly higher than that of the control group,with the former significantly higher than the latter.Moreover,the average MoCA score of the HBO group was also significantly higher than that of the combined treatment group,and both were significantly higher than that of the control group.Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can more effectively improve the cognitive function of patients with cognitive dysfunction after the cerebral infarction when it is combined with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Objective To observe the effects of low-dose ultra-shortwaves radiationon the expression of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax in lens epithelial cells(LECs) of rats.Methods Thirty-six Wistar rats were divided into a normal group(n=8 eyes),a control group(n=32 eyes) and an experiment group(n=32 eyes) randomly.Both eyes of each rat in the experiment group were exposed to a low-dose ultra-shortwave radiation for 7min,once a day until the end of experiment,while the control groups were not.Rats were executed after 1 w,3w,6w and 9w.Both eyes were resected,and lens were separated under a microscope and sectioned in paraffin.After Streptavidin-Biotin Complex (SABC) staining,Bcl-2 and Bax expression in the LECs were detected using an image analysis technique,and the data were analyzed using the software of SPSS 13.0.Results The average integral optical density (AIOD) of Bcl-2 expression in the experiment group was (0.391 ± 0.014) after 1 week,(0.4470.006) after2,(0.417 ±0.011) after3 and (0.275 ±0.007) after4 weeks.The corresponding AIODs for Bax expression were (0.180 ±0.015),(0.155 ± 0.007),(0.167 ± 0.003) and (0.251 ± 0.016) respectively.After l w of daily radiation,no significant difference was found in the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax protein between the experimental and the other 2 groups(P ＞ 0.05).Three weeks after the radiation,however,the expression of Bcl-2 protein in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control groups(P＜0.001),with that of Bax being significantly lower(P＜0.001).However,the expressions of Bcl-2 protein was significantly down-regulated and the expression of Bax protein was significantly up-regulated 6w later compared with those after3 w of exposure in the experiment group(P＜0.001) After9w,in the experimental group,the expressions of Bcl-2 protein was obviously down-regulated and significantly lower than the control group.Moreover,the expression of Bax protein increased significantly compared to the control group (P＜0.01).And there was no significant difference between the control and normal group(P＞0.05) in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.Conclusions Low doses of ultra-shortwave radiation may protect LECs against apoptosis for a few days,but they may cause damage with repeated exposure.

Objective:To find the reasons for the low dissolution of clarithromycin tablets and study the interference from filter film adsorption at various time points to explore the appropriate processing approach for dissolution solution of clarithromycin tablets. Meth-ods:Clarithromycin tablets from two different manufacturers were used. The dissolution solution was prepared according to Japanese Orange Book. The dissolution was determined after different processing and the adsorption rate of the filter film was calculated. Re-sults:Totally 14 kinds of filter films were tested with different adsorption for clarithromycin, and the adsorption rate of some kinds of filter films exceeded the prescribed limit. Conclusion:The absorption rate of filter films for clarithromycin can be decreased by boiling the films and using American membranes. The interference from filter film adsorption can be reduced and inhibited by rejecting the first filtrate above 5ml or centrifuging dissolution solution.

Malignant pheochromocytomas are rare tumors that arise from chromaffin tissue, and the diagnostic criterion of malig-nancy is based on the development of metastases. In the case a patient suffers the tumor with liver, lung and bone metastases. However, the test results of tumor markers, gastroscopy, chest and abdominal CT, and PET-CT examination are hard to make a definite diagnosis. The patient was finally diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma with liver, lung and bone metastases following the needle biopsy of liver and underwent the excision of a right adrenal pheochromocytoma. Therapeutic standard for the malignant pheochromocytomas is not available so far. It is reported that chemotherapeutic CVD regimen (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and daecarbazine) and suni-tinib may be effectual in the alike cases. The patient received two cycles of CVD and one cycle of sunitinib, nevertheless, slow progres-sion of the disease remained after the treatment. The results of multi-disciplinary treatment have suggested that 131I-MIBG may just be a choice for this patient.

AIM:To investigate the pathologic changes in the brain and its underlying mechansims during ischemia-reperfusion of rat hindlimbs.METHODS:SD rats were divided into the normal(N), sham(S), 4 h ischemia without reperfusion(I), and 4 h ischemia-2, 6,12,18 or 24 h reperfusion (I-R) groups at random. Ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion were established with the occlusion or/and re-opening of the terminal of abdominal aorta, respectively. The pathologic changes in the brain tissue were morphologically observed. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA, and iNOS protein and the nitrotyrosine, a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO-)，in the brain tissue were detected with RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique, respectively. The brain superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were spectraphotometrically measured.RESULTS:Hydropic degeneration and severe injury to neurons were only showed in I-R group. Expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein were demonstrated in I-R, I and S groups, which were maximal in I-R 6 h group. iNOS positive neurons and microglias were more spread in I-R 6 h group than those in S and I groups. NT positive neurons were localized in the cerebral cortex and hippcampus of I-R 6 h group. The contents of MDA markedly increased, while the activity of SOD significantly decreased in I-R 6 h group compared to the N, S and I groups. There were no significant changes in MDA and SOD in N, S and I groups.CONCLUSION:Severe ischemia-reperfusion of rat hindlimbs could induce brain injury, and its mechanisms might be related to enhanced expression of iNOS-NO-ONOO- in the brain.

AIM: To investigate the pathologic changes in the brain and its underlying mechansims during ischemia-reperfusion of rat hindlimbs.METHODS: SD rats were divided into the normal(N), sham(S), 4 h ischemia without reperfusion(I), and 4 h ischemia-2, 6,12,18 or 24 h reperfusion (I-R) groups at random. Ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion were established with the occlusion or/and re-opening of the terminal of abdominal aorta, respectively. The pathologic changes in the brain tissue were morphologically observed. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS ) mRNA, and iNOS protein and the nitrotyrosine, a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO -),in the brain tissue were detected with RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique, respectively. The brain superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were spectraphotometrically measured.RESULTS: Hydropic degeneration and severe injury to neurons were only showed in I-R group. Expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein were demonstrated in I-R, I and S groups, which were maximal in I-R 6 h group. iNOS positive neurons and microglias were more spread in I-R 6 h group than those in S and I groups. NT positive neurons were localized in the cerebral cortex and hippcampus of I-R 6 h group. The contents of MDA markedly increased, while the activity of SOD significantly decreased in I-R 6 h group compared to the N, S and I groups. There were no significant changes in MDA and SOD in N, S and I groups.CONCLUSION: Severe ischemia-reperfusion of rat hindlimbs could induce brain injury, and its mechanisms might be related to enhanced expression of iNOS -NO-ONOO - in the brain.