DL-3-n-Butylphthalide, an anti-oxidant agent, prevents neurological deficits and cerebral injury following stroke per functional analysis, magnetic resonance imaging and histological assessment.

DL-3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) is a synthetic compound based on L-3-n-Butylphthalide which was isolated from seeds of Apium graveolens. The present study aims at evaluating the outcome of NBP given prior to and after the onset of ischemic stroke in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Stroke was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in SHR and WKY. For pre-treatment, NBP was administered to SHR and WKY daily for two months prior to MCAO. For post-treatment, NBP was given daily for seven consecutive days after MCAO. Seven days post-surgery, rats were tested for the presence of neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were employed to calculate the infarct volume. The cerebral cortex and corpus striatum in the ischemic penumbra area were examined microscopically for pathological changes. In SHR, NBP pre- and post-treatment significantly lowered neurological deficit scores, reduced infarct volume, and minimized pathological changes in the penumbra area when compared to oil-vehicle treated controls. In WKY, these beneficial effects were observed only in the post-treatment group. The beneficial effects of NBP post-treatment were greater in WKY than in SHR. Results indicated that NBP could exert both preventive and therapeutic effects on ischemic stroke in SHR, but only exerted therapeutic effect in WKY.

Effects of DL-3-n-butylphthalide on vascular dementia and angiogenesis.

3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) is a compound extracted from Chinese celery and is used as an anti-hypertensive herbal medicine for treating stroke patients. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effects and mechanisms of this compound through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Culture experiments were performed by adding hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) to SH-SY5Y cells. From the MTT assay result, enhanced cell survival was observed with DL-NBP treatment, regardless of whether they are added before, simultaneously with or after the addition of H(2)O(2). For the in vivo experiment, Spontaneously Hypertensive rats and Wistar Kyoto control rats with chronic cerebral ischemia, which were induced by bilateral transection of the common carotid arteries, were given DL-NBP. Their performances in the place navigation test and spatial probe test in the Morris Water Maze have significantly improved compared with the DL-NBP untreated animals, indicating an improvement in spatial learning and memory in the ischemic-animals. In addition, in the chick embryonic chorioallantoic membrane assay, angiogenesis was more vigorous under the effects of DL-NBP, together with increased expression of growth factors, VEGF, VEGF-receptor and bFGF. All these suggested that one of the mechanisms of DL-NBP might be ameliorating vascular dementia and promoting angiogenesis.

Interim follow-up of a randomized controlled trial comparing Chinese style mind body (Tai Chi) and stretching exercises on cognitive function in subjects at risk of progressive cognitive decline.

OBJECTIVES: We reported the interim findings of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effects of a mind body physical exercise (Tai Chi) on cognitive function in Chinese subjects at risk of cognitive decline. SUBJECTS: 389 Chinese older persons with either a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR 0.5) or amnestic-MCI participated in an exercise program. The exercise intervention lasted for 1 year; 171 subjects were trained with 24 forms simplified Tai Chi (Intervention, I) and 218 were trained with stretching and toning exercise (Control, C). The exercise comprised of advised exercise sessions of at least three times per week. RESULTS: At 5th months (2 months after completion of training), both I and C subjects showed an improvement in global cognitive function, delayed recall and subjective cognitive complaints (paired t-tests, p < 0.05). Improvements in visual spans and CDR sum of boxes scores were observed in I group (paired t-tests, p < 0.001). Three (2.2%) and 21(10.8%) subjects from the I and C groups progressed to dementia (Pearson chi square = 8.71, OR = 5.34, 95% CI 1.56-18.29). Logistic regression analysis controlled for baseline group differences in education and cognitive function suggested I group was associated with stable CDR (OR = 0.14, 95%CI = 0.03-0.71, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our interim findings showed that Chinese style mind body (Tai Chi) exercise may offer specific benefits to cognition, potential clinical interests should be further explored with longer observation period.

Examining the association between participation in late-life leisure activities and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly Chinese in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that participation in late-life leisure activity may have beneficial effects on cognitive function. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between leisure activity participation and cognitive function in an elderly population of community-dwelling Hong Kong Chinese. METHODS: 512 participants were assessed in the follow-up study of a population-based community survey of the prevalence of cognitive impairment among Hong Kong Chinese aged 60 years and over. Leisure activities were classified into four categories (physical, intellectual, social and recreational). Information regarding leisure activity participation, cognitive function and other variables was collected. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between leisure activity participation and cognitive function. RESULTS: A higher level of late-life leisure activity participation, particularly in intellectual activities, was significantly associated with better cognitive function in the elderly, as reflected by the results of the Cantonese Mini-mental State Examination (p = 0.007, 0.029 and 0.005), the Category Verbal Fluency Test (p = 0.027, 0.003 and 0.005) and digit backward span (p = 0.031, 0.002 and 0.009), as measured by the total frequency, total hours per week and total number of subtypes, respectively; the Chinese Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (p = 0.045) and word list learning (p = 0.003), as measured by the total number of subtypes; and digit forward span (p = 0.007 and 0.015), as measured by the total hours per week and total number of subtypes, respectively. CONCLUSION: Late-life intellectual activity participation was associated with better cognitive function among community-dwelling Hong Kong elderly Chinese.

Modality of physical exercise and cognitive function in Hong Kong older Chinese community.

OBJECTIVE: We reported the association between modality of Physical Exercise and cognitive function in 782 older Chinese adults assessed in the second phase of a population survey for dementia in Hong Kong. METHODS: Profiles of physical exercise was measured by a questionnaire (no exercise, stretching, aerobic and mind-body exercise). Cognitive Assessments included the CMMSE, ADAS-Cog, and Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT). RESULTS: The aerobic and mind body exercise groups with longer exercise habits (>5 years) had higher scores in most cognitive tests (Kruskal Wallis tests, p < 0.01). Beneficial effects were more significant in the young old group from 65- 75 years. CONCLUSIONS: Possible age related specific effects of aerobic and mind body exercise on cognitive reserve are worthy of further exploration.

Combined cataract extraction and submacular blood clot evacuation for globe perforation caused by retrobulbar injection.

A 45-year-old woman, originally scheduled for cataract surgery in the left eye, was referred for management of a globe perforation noticed after the retrobulbar injection of an anesthetic solution. There was a moderate degree of vitreous hemorrhage, and initial visual acuity was hand movement. A submacular blood clot of about 4-disc diameter was detected when the vitreous hemorrhage gradually cleared. One week after the incident, combined phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, pars plana vitrectomy, and submacular clot removal using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) as an adjunct were performed. Recovery was uneventful. At the last follow-up 6 months after surgery, best corrected visual acuity was 20/30.