Mechanistic insight into glioma through spatially multidimensional proteomics.

Characterizing the tumor microenvironment at the molecular level is essential for understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and evolution. However, the specificity of the blood proteome in localized region of the tumor and its linkages with other systems is difficult to investigate. Here, we propose a spatially multidimensional comparative proteomics strategy using glioma as an example. The blood proteome signature of tumor microenvironment was specifically identified by in situ collection of arterial and venous blood from the glioma region of the brain for comparison with peripheral blood. Also, by integrating with different dimensions of tissue and peripheral blood proteomics, the information on the genesis, migration, and exchange of glioma-associated proteins was revealed, which provided a powerful method for tumor mechanism research and biomarker discovery. The study recruited multidimensional clinical cohorts, allowing the proteomic results to corroborate each other, reliably revealing biological processes specific to gliomas, and identifying highly accurate biomarkers.

CircLPAR1 Promotes Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress in APP/PS1 Mice by Inhibiting SIRT1/Nrf-2/HO-1 Axis Through Destabilizing GDF-15 mRNA.

Circular RNA LPAR1 (circLPAR1) was revealed to be elevated in Alzheimer's disease (AD); nevertheless, its role and mechanisms in AD remain unknown. Memory performance of APP/PS1 mice was assessed by Morris water maze test. Expression of circLPAR1 and indicated messenger RNA (mRNA) in mouse brain tissues or/and SH-SY5Y cells were tested by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Protein expression of indicated gene was examined by western blot. Production of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; interleukin-6, IL-6; interleukin-1ß, IL-1ß; and interleukin-8, IL-8) and oxidative stress-related factors (reactive oxygen species, ROS; malondialdehyde, MDA; superoxide dismutase, SOD; and glutathione, GSH) were assessed by commercial kits. RNA pull down and RNA immunoprecipitation were performed to verify the interplay between up-frameshift protein 1 (UPF1) and circLPAR1 or growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15). CircLPAR1 was elevated, while GDF-15 was decreased in both APP/PS1 mice and Aß-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Knockdown of circLPAR1 and overexpression of GDF-15 protected cells against Aß-caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal apoptosis. CircLPAR1 knockdown was also proved to improve AD-related pathological traits and ameliorate cognitive dysfunctions in vivo. In mechanism, we found that circLPAR1 repressed GDF-15 expression by decreasing GDF-15 mRNA stability through UPF1 recruitment. Rescue assays suggested that sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) knockdown reversed GDF-15 overexpression-induced inhibition on Aß-induced neuronal damage and nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf-2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway inhibition. Moreover, the protective effect of circLPAR1 knockdown against Aß-induced apoptosis was abolished by GDF-15 knockdown, and SIRT1 overexpression could counteract this effect of GDF-15 knockdown. CircLPAR1 knockdown improved AD-related pathological traits in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting SIRT1/Nrf-2/HO-1 axis through GDF-15.

Analysis of Perioperative Nursing Intervention Effect of Cerebrovascular Intervention Patients Based on Intelligent Internet of Things.

The postoperative results of cerebrovascular surgery patients have been successfully used in medical practice using the Internet. The results obtained through data analysis were used in the study. So far, 120 patients who underwent cerebrovascular surgery from February 2018 to December 2018 have been enrolled. The selected class was divided into two groups: 60 psychiatric patients, a control group and an observation group. The former is medical treatment and the latter is postoperative treatment. Results: The results showed that the blood pressure of control group was lower than that of control group, and the incidence of adverse events was lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the average hospitalization rate of cerebrovascular disease patients in control group was lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: For patients with cerebrovascular disease, postoperative nursing can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, reduce the risk of surgery, and improve the effect of surgery. Acute ischemic stroke refers to a kind of clinical syndrome caused by abnormal blood supply in the brain, resulting in ischemia, hypoxic brain tissue necrosis, and focal or comprehensive neurological deficiency. Among them, progressive cerebral infarction accounted for about 20~35%, and most occurred in the early stage of the disease (48~72)h.

Characteristics and prognosis analysis of bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of simultaneous and sequential bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (Si-BSSNHL and Se-BSSNHL, respectively). DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: A single tertiary referral centre. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (USSNHL), Si-BSSNHL, or Se-BSSNHL between September 2018 and November 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and clinical characteristics, audiological features, laboratory results and hearing recovery were analysed for intergroup comparisons. Prognostic factors for BSSNHL were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic analyses between the overall and no-recovery groups. RESULTS: Compared to the USSNHL group, a larger final pure-tone average (PTA) (H = 38.0 and 53.8, respectively, both adjusted p-value (p adj) <.05), lower hearing gain (H = -70.8 and - 74.6, respectively, both p adj <.001) and higher homocysteine levels (H = 46.8, 58.8, respectively, both p adj <.05) were observed in the Si-BSSNHL and Se-BSSNHL groups, while the rate of positive vestibular tests and proportion of tinnitus were lower in the Se-BSSNHL group (χ2  = 8.5 and 38.1, respectively, both p adj <0.05). The USSNHL group showed a significant difference in the degree of deafness and therapeutic outcome in the Se-BSSNHL and Si-BSSNHL groups, respectively (χ2  = 12.4, p adj <.05; χ2  = 13.6; p adj <.05). Hypertension (95% confidence interval, 1.014-28.623, p < .05) and onset days (95% confidence interval, 0.007-0.626, p < .05) were associated with the therapeutic effects of BSSNHL. CONCLUSIONS: Higher homocysteine levels in BSSNHL may implicate microvascular disorders as a causative factor of BSSNHL. Hypertension and onset days were associated with the prognosis of BSSNHL.

Analysis of Clinical Effects of Comprehensive Nursing Based on Enhanced Recovery after Surgery in Patients with Embolization for Intracranial Aneurysms.

Objective: This research sets out to elucidate the clinical effect of comprehensive nursing based on the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in patients with embolization for intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Methods: This study enrolled 119 patients with embolization for IAs in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2020 to January 2021 and divided them into two groups according to the perioperative care they received: a control group (n = 39) treated with routine perioperative nursing and an observation group (n = 80) treated with ERAS-based comprehensive nursing. Surgical indicators, neurological function (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score; Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) score), anxiety and depression (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score; Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score), incidence of adverse events, and patient satisfaction were compared. Results: The observation group had better surgical indicators and lower scores of NIHSS, SSS, SAS, and SDS than the control group, accompanied by a lower incidence of adverse events and higher patient satisfaction. Conclusions: ERAS-based comprehensive nursing can better promote patients' neurological recovery after embolization for IAs, relieve unhealthy emotions (depression, anxiety, etc.), and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions, facilitating patient discharge.

Thromboelastography predicting the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between thromboelastography and the clinical features as well as the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). DESIGN: Single-centre, retrospective study. SETTING: A hospital in China. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 133 patients presented with SSNHL within 2 weeks before the study, who did not receive treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The patients' medical history was collected. Audiological, imaging and haematological examinations were performed before treatment. Patients with abnormal thromboelastography were re-examined 1 week after treatment, and efficacy was evaluated 1 month after treatment. The chi-squared test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the association between factors, such as vertigo, degree and type of hearing loss, vestibular function, inner ear MRI results, thromboelastography and efficacy of treatment. RESULTS: Thromboelastography was correlated with prognosis (p = 0.049) and degree (p = 0.030) and type of hearing loss (p = 0.013) in patients with SSNHL. The R (p =  0.002) and angle values (p =  0.010) correlated with prognosis. The MA (p =  0.022) and G values (p =  0.020) correlated with the degree of hearing loss. The R (p =  0.033) value correlated with inner ear MRI results, and the ΔG (p =  0.010) value correlated with fibrinogen levels. ΔThromboelastography (p =  0.032) was correlated with the prognosis of patients with abnormal thromboelastography results. Logistic regression analysis showed that thromboelastography correlated with prognosis (p =  0.013), and Δthromboelastography correlated with the prognosis of patients with abnormal thromboelastography results (p =  0.013) and vertigo (p =  0.016). CONCLUSION: Thromboelastography is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of SSNHL with the R and angle values playing a major role.

BMSCs-exosomes containing GDF-15 alleviated SH-SY5Y cell injury model of Alzheimer's disease via AKT/GSK-3ß/ß-catenin.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy has great potential for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment. Here, we investigated the roles of BMSCs-exosomes containing growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in regulating SH-SY5Y cell injury in AD. METHODS: The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was constructed by treating SH-SY5Y cells with 10 µM Aß42. GDF-15 expression was assessed using qRT-PCR and western blot. CCK8 assay and flow cytometry assay were employed to elevate cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The expression levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNFα and IL-8) and Aß42 were detected using ELISA. Besides, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins and AKT pathway-related proteins were determined using western blot. RESULTS: Our results displayed that BMSCs-EVs treatment elevated cell viability, while suppressed cell apoptosis and inflammation in Aß42-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Exosomes secreted by BMSCs after GDF-15 silence lost the ability to restore Aß42-induced SH-SY5Y cell damage. GDF-15 treatment restored Aß42-induced SH-SY5Y cell damage, while it was eliminated by AKT pathway inhibition. BMSCs-exosomes containing GDF-15 upregulated NEP and IDE via activation of AKT/GSK-3ß/ß-catenin pathway, thereby degrading Aß42 protein to relieve SH-SY5Y cell damage. CONCLUSION: BMSCs-exosomes containing GDF-15 alleviated SH-SY5Y cell damage via AKT/GSK-3ß/ß-catenin. Our work confers a promising therapeutic strategy for AD.

Impact of hyperlipidemia as a coexisting factor on the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A propensity score matching analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To define the impact of hyperlipidemia as a coexisting factor on the prognosis of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSHL), we prospectively analysed the Lipid-lowering therapy Group (LLTG) data compared with Control Group (CG) data to determine the effects of Lipid intervention on the prognosis of sudden hearing loss. DESIGN: A prospective, non-randomized study. SETTING: Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong, China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 653 in-patient SSHL patients were enrolled between January 2014 to August 2018. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: From January 2014 to August 2018, 653 patients with ISSHL who also had hyperlipidemia as coexisting factor were identified. Patients enrolled in LLTG (n = 200) or CG (n = 453) were compared by a propensity score matching analysis (PSM, caliper = 0.01, n = 2) to balance pre-existing clinical characteristics. After matching, the effective rate of different hyperlipidemia types and different types of audiogram in both groups were performed by Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test (CMH). RESULTS: After PSM, 440 patients were studied (146 in LLTG, 294 in CG), and the influence of interference factors was balanced, meanwhile, the final hearing level was better in LLTG than CG (P = .043), and hearing gain was higher in LLTG than CG (P = .006). Cure rate (32.9%), significant improvement rate (22.6%) and the total effective rate (76.0%) in LLTG were better than that in CG group (26.5%, 15.6% and 63.6%) after the Pearson chi-square test (P < .05). Analysis with the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test showed that the total effective rate was better in LLTG than CG respectively (P = .009) in each different hyperlipidemia types, and there were statistically significant differences in TG higher group (TG Group; P = .018). Moreover, the total effective rate was better in LLTG than CG (P = .006) for all patterns of audiogram, and there were statistically significant differences in flat audiogram (P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: Lipid-lowering therapy can improve the curative effect of sudden hearing loss patients combined with hyperlipidemia. There was a significant difference in the total effective rate of TG Group after lipid intervention, suggesting that there might be causal relationship between TG and sudden hearing loss. There was a significant difference in the total effective rate between flat audiogram, which may suggest flat hearing loss was more likely caused by vascular dysfunction.

Intracerebral hemorrhage cadaver model for training in hematoma evacuation under endoscopy.

Neuroendoscopic surgery has been performed as an effective method for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study describes the know-how of constructing the ICH cadaver model and the training on the main neuroendoscopic procedures for ICH. During the training, operation time of twenty trainees in main stages of craniotomy and corticotomy (stage 2), and hematoma evacuation under endoscopy (stage 3) was recorded. To distinguish factors influencing trainees' surgical proficiency, operation time was calculated according to seniority, experience in neuroendoscopic surgery and training sequence. Questionnaire about validity of model was conducted eventually. Ten ICH cadaver models with bilateral hematoma were constructed. Seven trainees worked with seniority >5 years and eleven had experience in neuroendoscopic surgery. Operation time ranged from 20.6 to 33.4 min in stage 2 and 18.5 to 24.9 min in stage 3. In stage 2, less operation time was needed for trainees with seniority >5 years comparing to trainees with seniority ≦5 years (22.56 ±â€¯1.29 vs 29.25 ±â€¯3.02 min, p < 0.01). In stage 3, significant difference of operation time was found between trainees with experience in neuroendoscopic surgery and trainees without the experience (20.08 ±â€¯1.22 vs 22.02 ±â€¯1.82 min, p = 0.014), and the same between trainees in latter group and in former group (19.75 ±â€¯0.80 vs 22.54 ±â€¯1.45 min, p < 0.01). Questionnaire feedback proved high degree of satisfaction about the training model. Therefore, the ICH cadaver model can assist neurosurgeons with neuroendoscopic treatment learning sessions. Simulation and improvement in neuroendoscopic surgical techniques for ICH treatment were possible with the help of ICH cadaver model.

Clinical Auditory Phenotypes Associated with GATA3 Gene Mutations in Familial Hypoparathyroidism-deafness-renal Dysplasia Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Hypoparathyroidism-deafness-renal dysplasia (HDR) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder primarily caused by haploinsufficiency of GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) gene mutations, and hearing loss is the most frequent phenotypic feature. This study aimed at identifying the causative gene mutation for a three-generation Chinese family with HDR syndrome and analyzing auditory phenotypes in all familial HDR syndrome cases. METHODS: Three affected family members underwent otologic examinations, biochemistry tests, and other clinical evaluations. Targeted genes capture combining next-generation sequencing was performed within the family. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the causative mutation. The auditory phenotypes of all reported familial HDR syndrome cases analyzed were provided. RESULTS: In Chinese family 7121, a heterozygous nonsense mutation c.826C>T (p.R276*) was identified in GATA3. All the three affected members suffered from sensorineural deafness and hypocalcemia; however, renal dysplasia only appeared in the youngest patient. Furthermore, an overview of thirty HDR syndrome families with corresponding GATA3 mutations revealed that hearing impairment occurred earlier in the younger generation in at least nine familial cases (30%) and two thirds of them were found to carry premature stop mutations. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the phenotypic heterogeneity of HDR and points to a possible genetic anticipation in patients with HDR, which needs to be further investigated.

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells repair cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury through antiapoptotic pathways.

Cisplatin has been hypothesized to induce nephrotoxicity through triggering the apoptosis of tubular cells; however, the drug remains widely administered for the treatment of tumors. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to protect the kidney from the adverse effects induced by cisplatin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of human adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) on kidney function and tubular cells. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, which included the healthy controls, those subjected to cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) for 24 h without subsequent treatment and those subjected to cisplatin-induced AKI for 24 h, followed by AD-MSC engraftment. The rats were sacrificed at day 5 and the effects were analyzed using various methods, including biochemical analysis, structural examination and cell tracking experiments. In addition, an in vitro experiment with NRK-52E cells was performed. The cells were divided into three groups, including the healthy control, cisplatin induction and cisplatin induction with co-culture of AD-MSCs, and were subsequently assessed with a Transwell assay. After culture for four days, the cells were lysed and the total protein extract was subjected to western blot analysis. Cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction and tissue damage was shown to recover following AD-MSC infusion, although there were few AD-MSCs observed around the injured kidney tubules in the kidney. When the cisplatin-treated NRK-52E cells were co-cultured with AD-MSCs, the activation of p38 and BAX were inhibited, while the expression of Bcl-2 was upregulated, as compared with the cisplatin-treated NRK-52E cells that were not co-cultured. Therefore, AD-MSCs were shown to markedly improve cisplatin-induced renal failure and tubular cells necrosis through the secretion of certain factors, which subsequently inhibited the apoptosis pathway in vitro. It was hypothesized that AD-MSC secretion was triggered by the injured tubular cells. Thus, AD-MSCs may be important for the therapy of patients with renal injury due to their antiapoptotic capacity.

Reproductive management through integration of PGD and MPS-based noninvasive prenatal screening/diagnosis for a family with GJB2-associated hearing impairment.

A couple with a proband child of GJB2 (encoding the gap junction protein connexin 26)-associated hearing impairment and a previous pregnancy miscarriage sought for a reproductive solution to bear a healthy child. Our study aimed to develop a customized preconception-to-neonate care trajectory to fulfill this clinical demand by integrating preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), and noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) into the strategy. Auditory and genetic diagnosis of the proband child was carried out to identify the disease causative mutations. The couple then received in-vitro-fertilization treatment, and eight embryos were obtained for day 5 biopsy. PGD was performed by short-tandem-repeat linkage analysis and Sanger sequencing of GJB2 gene. Transfer of a GJB2c.235delC heterozygous embryo resulted in a singleton pregnancy. At the 13th week of gestation, genomic DNA (gDNA) from the trio family and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from maternal plasma were obtained for assessment of fetal chromosomal aneuploidy and GJB2 mutations. NIPT and NIPD showed the absence of chromosomal aneuploidy and GJB2-associated disease in the fetus, which was later confirmed by invasive procedures and postnatal genetic/auditory diagnosis. This strategy successfully prevented the transmission of hearing impairment in the newborn, thus providing a valuable experience in reproductive management of similar cases and potentially other monogenic disorders.

[Prognostic factors of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the recovery rate of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children, and explore the prognostic factors in order to guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHOD: A retrospective review was conducted for the prognosis of children with sudden sensorineural hearing loss during the past 5 years (from November 2010 to May 2015) in Chinese PLA General Hospital. This paper have a complete clinical data of 101 patients (113 ears)with sudden hearing loss, ranging from 0 to 18 years old Patients were divided into four groups according to hearing recovery and eight putative prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULT: Among 101 patients (113 ears), the ratio of male and female was 60:53. Treatment was initiated from 1 to 183 days after disease onset, with an average of (18.5 ± 22.1) d. Bilateral and unilateral hearing loss were 24 ears and 89 ears, respectively. The proportion of mild hearing loss, moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss and profound hearing loss were 7.1%, 6.2%, 23.9% and 62.8%, respectively. Vertigo and tinnitus occurred in 54.9% and 77.9% of the patients, respectively. After the treatment, the complete recovery rate was 9.7% and the overall recovery rate was 36.3%. The degree of hearing loss, earlier treatment onset, sex and bilateral involvement were significantly associated with hearing recovery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children was generally identified as severe and profound hearing loss, but after positive and timely treatment, it can be improved or even cured. The mild hearing loss, earlier treatment onset, unilateral hearing loss and female were positive prognostic factors. The concurrence of tinnitus or vertigo, the results of ABR and DPOAE had no significant influence on prognosis.

A clinical trial report of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disease. An effective strategy for the treatment of SCI is urgently required. Stem cell transplantation has emerged as a viable therapeutic option with great potential for restoring neurological function lost following SCI. From 2009 to 2010, a total of 20 SCI patients were enrolled in a clinical trial by Wuhan Hongqiao Brain Hospital; all patients completed and signed informed consent prior to autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. Analysis of subsequent treatment results indicated significant improvements in sensory, motor and autonomic nerve function as assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association's impairment scale. Thirty days after transplantation, a total of 15 patients (75%) demonstrated improvement, including four of the eight patients (50%) with grade A SCI, three of the four patients (75%) with grade B injury and all eight patients (100%) with grade C injury. The most common adverse events, fever and headache, disappeared within 24-48 h without treatment.

[Heat coagulation of middle meningeal artery affects plasma CGRP and substance P levels in migraine rat triggered by nitroglycerin].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the influence of heat coagulation of middle meningeal artery (MMA) on plasma CGRP and SP levels in migraine rat triggered by nitroglycerin (NTG). METHOD: Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, with six rats in each group. In group A, rats were treated with isotonic saline; in group B, rats were injected subcutaneously with 10 mg/kg nitroglycerin to set up the animal model of migraine; in group C, rats were subjected to sham surgery by merely exposing MMA and then injected with nitroglycerin (10 mg/kg); and in group D, rats were firstly subjected to heat coagulation of MMA and, subsequently, injected with nitroglycerin (10 mg/kg). Following the injection, the animal's behavior was continuously recorded by an observer. Radioimmunoassay was employed to measure the amounts of CGRP and SP in venous plasma. RESULT: Injection of 10 mg/kg nitroglycerin was able to trigger the animal model of migraine as evidenced by the appearances of a series of symptoms, such as, scratching head frequently, climbing cage and red ear. Rats in group A occasionally showed off scratching head, whereas, rats from group B and group C presented with much severe symptoms. Of note, rats in group D appeared slightly scratching head and climbing cage, without red ear compared with group B and C. At the same time, the amounts of plasma CGRP and SP in group B, group C, or group D were increased significantly compared with that of group A (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the plasma CGRP and SP levels in group D were much lower than that in group B and group C (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference between group B and group C (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Heat coagulation of MMA may relieve symptoms of rats following nitroglycerin infusion, possibly by inhibiting the release of CGRP and SP.

Effects of heating coagulation of middle meningeal artery on plasma CGRP level and c-fos expression in migraine rat triggered by nitroglycerin.

Current theory or hypothesis relevant to migraine indicates that trigeminovascular system plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of migraine. Particularly, release of neuropeptide and induction of c-fos like immunoreactivity (c-fos LI) within trigeminal nucleus caudalis neurons are regarded as activation markers of trigeminovascular system. In the present study, we set up a rat model for migraine triggered by nitroglycerin (NTG) and coagulated the middle meningeal artery by heating. Using this model, we determined the plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) level as well as the expression of c-fos in trigeminal nucleus caudalis of rats. We found that NTG led to markedly increase in plasma CGRP level and c-fos expression in trigeminal nucleus caudalis compared with the isotonic saline-treated group (P < 0.05). More importantly, heat coagulation of middle meningeal artery could decrease plasma CGRP level and c-fos expression in trigeminal nucleus caudalis (P < 0.05). Heat coagulation of middle meningeal artery may ameliorate sufferings of rat induced by NTG and play an important role in restraining the release of CGRP as well as the activation of neurons in trigeminal nucleus caudalis in rats following NTG infusion.