Use of l-3-n-Butylphthalide within 24 h after intravenous thrombolysis for acute cerebral infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Observe the clinical efficacy of l-3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients within 24 h after intravenous thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (hereafter termed "IT"). METHODS: One-hundred and seventy-eight patients with AIS were divided randomly into two groups: NBP and control. The former was given a NBP injection within 24 h after IT. After intravenous injection of NBP for 8-10 days, patients switched to soft capsules of NBP before or during meals. NBP treatment was continued for ≥30 days after hospital discharge. In the control group, NBP was not injected within 24 h after IT, and NBP capsules were not given after 8-10 days. Both groups were reviewed for CT or MRI 24 h after IT. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was calculated. The number of patients with a modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0-2 before, 24 h, and 90 days after IT was documented. Prevalence of cerebral hemorrhage and reocclusion of blood vessels after IT was calculated. RESULTS: There were no differences in sex, age, blood pressure, blood glucose, or cerebral-infarction types between the two groups before treatment. The NIHSS score 24 h after IT and the percentage of mRS scores 0-2 were not significantly different between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the NIHSS score in the NBP group was significantly improved at 90 days, and the number of patients with a mRS score 0-2 increased significantly. There was no significant difference in hemorrhage prevalence after IT between the two groups. Prevalence of blood-vessel occlusion after IT was significantly lower in the NBP group than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: Use of NBP within 24 h after IT can reduce the prevalence of reocclusion of blood vessels without increasing the risk of cerebral hemorrhage.

Effect of Yin-Xing-Tong-Zhi Tablets on Improving Vascular Cognitive Impairment No Dementia.

OBJECTIVE: Observe the effect of the Chinese herbal extracts, Yin-Xing-Tong-Zhi, in tablet form, on improving vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND). METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with VCIND were divided randomly into treatment and placebo groups with oral administration of Yin-Xing-Tong-Zhi tablets (YXTZTs) or placebo, respectively, for 24 weeks. Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) subscale score, MMSE score, Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus Caregiver Input (CIBIC-Plus) score, expression of interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α in serum, and variation of blood-lipid levels were evaluated at different time points. RESULTS: At weeks 12 and 24, the scores for the ADAS-Cog, CIBIC-Plus, and MMSE of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). All clinical scales at week 24 of the control group were significantly different from those before treatment (P < 0.05). Expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in the two groups was reduced significantly with variation of the clinical scales of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: YXTZTs may delay the development of cognitive impairment in VCIND patients by modulating expression of VCIND-associated proinflammatory factors.

Quantitative Evaluation of Chinese Herb Medicine in the Treatment of Sialorrhea and Frequent Nighttime Urination in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Aims. To evaluate the efficacy of Lian-Se formula (LSF), one Chinese herb formulation for treating sialorrhea and frequent overnight urination in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods. 96 PD patients suffering from sialorrhea and/or frequent nighttime urination were divided into two groups: an LSF group (n = 48) treated with LSF for 6 weeks and a placebo group (n = 48) treated with a placebo formula whose appearance and taste were the same as LSF for 6 weeks. All patients were treated by standard antiparkinsonism medicine according to the PD guideline of China. The changes of the quantity of saliva (QS) (mL), frequency of nighttime urination (FNU) and early sleep activity (ESA), and nocturnal activity (NA) by analyzing actigraphic records as the primary results and the total score of unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) as the secondary results were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy in both groups. Results. There were no significant differences in the baseline values of QS, FNU, NA, ESA, UPDRS total score, and ESS between the two groups. At the end of week 6, the QS, FNU, NA, and ESA in the LSF group showed superior results to those of the placebo group with no differences in the total UPDRS score between the two groups during the investigation. The ESS was significantly improved at the end of week 6 compared with the baseline and the placebo group. Laboratory test results indicated there were no side effects in either group. Conclusion. The findings of LSF treatment have clear clinical effects in patients with sialorrhea and frequent overnight urination. LSF thus appears to be a potential choice as an additional drug that can improve the sialorrhea and frequent overnight urination symptoms of PD patients.