Unique MicroRNAs Signature of Lymphocyte of Yang and Yin Syndromes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) profiles of yang and yin syndromes in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and to provide the molecular basis of the classification of these two syndrome types in acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: A microarray assay was performed to assess the expression pattern of miRNAs in the lymphocyte of acute ischemic stroke patients. Target genes for the deregulated miRNAs were predicated using the online bioinformatic algorithms and functional annotation via Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis for miRNAs predicted targets was carried out. Based on the predicted target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs, the miRNA-gene-network and miRNA-pathway-network were constructed. RESULTS: Yang score based on tongue texture, urine, dejecta, and appearance, etc. showed that clinical symptoms were distinct between yang and yin syndromes. There were significantly higher total leukocyte number and lower total protein level in patients with yang syndrome compared with those in patients with yin syndrome (P<0.05). Comprehensive miRNA analysis identified 36 unique down-regulated miRNAs in yang syndrome group, and 20 unique down-regulated and 2 unique up-regulated miRNAs in yin syndrome group. The key regulatory miRNAs, gene, and pathways in the yang syndrome were hsa-miR-93-5p and -320b, enabled homolog, the metabolic pathways and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, respectively, while those in the yin syndrome were hsa-miR-424-5p and -106b-5p, CNOT4, hepatitis B and pathways in cancer, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results offered insight into the molecular basis underlying the different pathogenesis of yang or yin syndrome, providing clues for the individualized therapeutic strategies of acute ischemic stroke.

High-speed true random number generation based on paired memristors for security electronics.

True random number generator (TRNG) is a critical component in hardware security that is increasingly important in the era of mobile computing and internet of things. Here we demonstrate a TRNG using intrinsic variation of memristors as a natural source of entropy that is otherwise undesirable in most applications. The random bits were produced by cyclically switching a pair of tantalum oxide based memristors and comparing their resistance values in the off state, taking advantage of the more pronounced resistance variation compared with that in the on state. Using an alternating read scheme in the designed TRNG circuit, the unbiasedness of the random numbers was significantly improved, and the bitstream passed standard randomness tests. The Pt/TaO x /Ta memristors fabricated in this work have fast programming/erasing speeds of ∼30 ns, suggesting a high random number throughput. The approach proposed here thus holds great promise for physically-implemented random number generation.

A pilot study on the correlation of tongue manifestation with the site of cerebral infarction in patients with stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the correlation of tongue manifestation with the site of cerebral infarction in patients with acute cerebral infarction. METHODS: From March 2008 to February 2009, 200 cases of hospitalized patients with first unilateral cerebral infarction were chosen in the Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital. The correlation of different tongue color, fur texture, fur color with the site of cerebral infarction was analyzed. RESULTS: The site of cerebral infarction in patients were compared between different tongue color by Chisquare test (P=0.314), and further correspondence analysis demonstrated that there was correlation between red tongue and cortical-subcortical infarction group. The site of cerebral infarction in patients were compared between thick fur group and thin fur group, cortical-subcortical infarction occurred more frequently in the former (P=0.0008). The site of cerebral infarction in patients were compared between dry fur group, moist fur group and smooth fur group, correspondence analysis demonstrated there was correlation between dry fur and cortical-subcortical group. The site of cerebral infarction in the patients were compared between white fur group, white-yellow fur group and yellow fur group (P=0.010), and correspondence analysis demonstrated there was correlation between white fur and brainstem infarction; white-yellow fur has relationship with cortical infarction; subcortical infarction was weakly related with white-yellow fur; there was closer relationship between yellow fur and cortical-subcortical infarction. CONCLUSION: The change of tongue manifestation was associated with the site of cerebral infarction in patients, providing a new combining site for diagnosing cerebrovascular diseases by integrative medicine.

MiRNA-424 protects against permanent focal cerebral ischemia injury in mice involving suppressing microglia activation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We observed that microRNA-424 (miR-424) significantly decreased in an miRNA profile of circulating lymphocytes of patients with ischemic stroke. The present study focused on the potential and mechanism of miR-424 in protecting ischemic brain injury in mice. METHODS: Cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in C57/BL6 mice. Cerebral infarction volume, neuronal apoptosis, and microglia activation were determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. BV2 microglial cell activity, cell cycle, mRNA, and protein levels of miR-424 targets were accessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: MiR-424 levels were decreased in the plasma of patients with acute ischemic stroke, as well as in mouse plasma and ipsilateral brain tissue at 4, 8, and 24 hours after ischemia, likewise, in the cortex, hippocampus, and basal ganglia, respectively, after 8-hour ischemia. Interestingly, pre- and post-treatment with overexpression of miR-424 both decreased cerebral infarction size and brain edema after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Meanwhile, lentiviral overexpression of miR-424 inhibited neuronal apoptosis and microglia activation, including suppressing ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 immunoreactivity and protein level, and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α production. In vitro study demonstrated that miR-424 mimics caused G1 phase cell-cycle arrest, inhibited BV2 microglia activity, and reduced the mRNA and protein levels of CDC25A, cyclin D1, and CDK6 in BV2 microglial cells, which were upregulated in brain of middle cerebral artery occlusion mice. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-424 overexpression lessened the ischemic brain injury through suppressing microglia activation by translational depression of key activators of G1/S transition, suggesting a novel miR-based intervention strategy for stroke.

Study on the correlation of tongue manifestation with fibrinogen and neutrophil in acute cerebral infarction patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of tongue manifestation with the fibrinogen level and the neutrophil count in blood of acute cerebral infarction patients. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with first unilateral cerebral infarction in Neurology Department of Xuanwu Hospital from March, 2008 to February, 2009 were recruited in this study. The correlation of the tongue fur color and texture with the blood fibrinogen level and the neutrophil count was analyzed in these patients. RESULTS: The level of fibrinogen and neutrophil count in thick fur group were significantly higher than that in thin fur group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the level of fibrinogen and neutrophil count found between moist fur and dry fur. Statistical significance existed in the level of fibrinogen between the greasy tongue fur group and non-greasy tongue fur group (P<0.05). The level of fibrinogen and the neutrophil count were compared among different fur color groups, revealing that the level of fibrinogen in yellowish fur group was higher than that of white fur group and normal value with statistical significance (P<0.05) with neutrophil count in yellowish fur group being significantly higher than that in white fur group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the change of tongue manifestation was associated with the level of fibrinogen and the neutrophil count in the blood of cerebral infarction patients.

Improvement of hematoma absorption and neurological function in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage treated with Xueshuantong.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) leads to high mortality and morbidity. Currently, there is no effective therapy for ICH. Herein we conducted a clinical study in patients with acute ICH to investigate the efficacy of Xueshuantong Injection, a Chinese herbal prescription known for treatment of ischemic diseases in China. Patients (n=63) were randomly assigned to control (n=29) and Xueshuantong Injection treatment (175 mg/d, n=34) groups. Both groups were evaluated using their history and vital signs. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, hematoma volume by CT scanning, and inflammatory factors were assessed before and after two weeks treatment. There were no significant differences in all parameters between two groups before treatment. The treatment group showed significant decreases in both NIHSS score and hematoma volume, compared to control group after treatment (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, the inflammatory factors, as measured by leukocytes, neutrophil percentage and C-reactive protein values, were significantly reduced in treatment group compared to control group after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01 respectively). Our results showed that treatment with Xueshuantong Injection reduced inflammatory response and increased hematoma absorption, which significantly improved recovery of neurological function. This suggests Xueshuantong Injection as a potential treatment of patients with acute ICH.