Skullcapflavone II protects neuronal damage in cerebral ischemic rats via inhibiting NF-ĸB and promoting angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral ischemia (CI) is considered as a main cause of cerebral stroke (CS) and poses significant risk to the mankind across the world. In the present study, we intended to investigate the protective effect of Skullcapflavone II (SCP) a flavonoid isolated from S. baicalensis on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion was used to create ischemic stroke rat model. The rats were treated with (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) SCP and after the end of the experiment the rats were sacrificed and various biochemical parameters were assed to determine the pharmacological action of SCP. RESULTS: SCP dramatically decreases cerebral edema, infarct volume, and improves neurological manifestation as confirmed by reduced neurological deficit. SCP also improves the survivability of neurons as evidenced by H and E and Nissl staining. The level of oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex of the rats was found reduced after treatment with SCP, as confirmed by increase in GSH and SOD activity with reduction in MDA content. In addition, SCP attenuated inflammation via reducing the level of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 in brain tissues of rats. SCP increases the expression of Bcl2, cleaved caspase-3 and -9, while decreasing Bax, and NF-ĸB/TLR4. It causes induction of angiogenesis as suggested by increased expression of VEGF, Ang-1 and Tie-2 in cerebral cortex of rat. CONCLUSIONS: Our data determined that SCP may provide protective effect on the I/R-induced cerebral ischemia.

Gold nanourchin enhances detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarker "miRNA-137" on dual electrode sensing surface.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex task, and at present, neuroimaging such as magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography is commonly used for the diagnosis of AD. This research work developed a new biosensing method with gold nanomaterial to identify AD biomarker of miRNA-137. Gold nanourchin (GNU) was attached on the interdigitated electrode through the silane linker and COOH-ended capture oligonucleotide was immobilized on the GNU surface. This surface helps to quantify the target sequence of miRNA-137 and the detection limit reached to 0.01 pM on the linear range of 0.01-100 pM. With 3δ calculation on the linearity, the determination coefficient was noticed as y = 1.2867x - 2.2697; R2  = 0.9059. The control performances did not show a significant response, indicating the specific identification of target.

Butyphthalide in the treatment of massive Cerebral Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of butyphthalide in the treatment of massive cerebral infarction. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with massive cerebral infarction who were admitted to the hospital between January 2017 and December 2017 were selected and divided into a treatment group (n = 60) and a control group (n = 60) using random number table, 80 each group. Patients in the control group were given conventional cerebral infarction therapy, while patients in the treatment group were given butyphthalide injection besides the conventional treatment. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, score of activity of daily living (ADL), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LP-PLA2) and prognosis were recorded and compared between the two groups. The response rates of the two groups were recorded. RESULTS: The total response rates of the control group and treatment group were 73.85% and 93.85% respectively at the postoperative 21st day, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05). The NIHSS score of the two groups obviously decreased, and the ADL score significantly increased after treatment; the differences of NIHSS score and ADL score before and after treatment in the same group had statistical significance (P<0.05). The improvement of the indexes of the treatment group was obviously superior to that of the control group, and the differences between the two groups had statistical significance (P<0.05). The level of LP-PLA2 of both groups significantly decreased at the postoperative 21st day, and the difference before and after treatment in the same group was statistically significant (P<0.05); the treatment group had a significantly lower level of LP-PLA2 than the control group, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05). The treatment group had significantly higher positive outcome rate and lower mortality rate than the control group at the postoperative 90th day, and the differences had statistical significance (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse events of the treatment group and control group was 8.3% (5/60) and 5.0% (3/60) respectively, suggesting no significant difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Butyphthalide has a favourable effect in treating massive cerebral infarction. It can repair neurologic impairment, improve activity of daily living, and adjust the level of LP-PLA2, suggesting favourable application values.

Effects of gastrodin on 5-HT and neurotrophic factor in the treatment of patients with post-stroke depression.

Effects of gastrodin on 5-HT and neurotrophic factor in the treatment of patients with post-stroke depression (PSD) were investigated. A total of 78 PSD patients were selected in Binzhou City Center Hospital from September 2013 to December 2016. Patients were randomly divided into the control group and experimental group, 39 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with conventional drug fluoxertine hydrochloride for 2 months, and patients in the experimental group were treated with gastrodin. The levels of 5-HT and neurotrophic factors in blood were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit before, and at 1 and 2 months after treatment. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, NIH Stroke Scale/Score (NIHSS) and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) were used to evaluate the efficacy of treatment. Treatment efficacy was compared between the two groups. The levels of 5-HT and neurotrophic factors were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the control group at 1 and 2 months after treatment (P<0.05), and HAMD, ADL, NIHSS and SIS scores were all better in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). In addition, significantly less side effects were found in the experimental group than that in the control group, and treatment efficacy in the experimental group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). Gastrodin is effective in the treatment of PSD and should be popularized.

Effects of donepezil on cognitive functions and the expression level of ß-amyloid in peripheral blood of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system for which donepezil is usually prescribed. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of donepezil on the cognitive functions and expression levels of ß-amyloid (Aß) in the peripheral blood of patients with Alzheimer's disease. In total, 76 patients with cognitive impairment, who visited the Department of Neurology of Binzhou City Center Hospital from June 2015 to September 2016, had memory decline for more than three consecutive months and underwent mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score screening, were selected for the study. All 76 patients were divided into the experimental (n=38) and control (n=38) groups by random number table. Patients in the control group were treated using conventional drugs combined with Nimotop, and patients in the experimental group received conventional drug therapy combined with donepezil, and the treatment outcomes in the two groups were compared. The MMSE scores and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores after treatment in the two groups were significantly increased compared with those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The activities of daily living scale (ADL) was decreased significantly (P<0.05). By comparing with the control group, the MMSE and MoCA scores in the experimental group were higher (P<0.05) while the ADL score was lower (P<0.05), and the adverse reaction rate during the treatment was lower (P<0.05). The Aß levels in serum after medical treatment were obviously decreased in the two groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The serum Aß level in the experimental group after treatment was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Drug therapy combined with donepezil has a certain degree of influence on the MMSE, ADL and MoCA scores of patients with Alzheimer's disease, which can decrease the Aß level in peripheral blood and improve the cognitive functions of patients, thus having important clinical significance.

Expression of Multidrug Resistance Genes in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Refractory Epilepsy and the Reverse Effect of Oxcarbazepine on Its Expression.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the expression levels of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in peripheral blood of patients with refractory epilepsy. METHODS: Patients with epilepsy (n=24) and those with refractory epilepsy (n=24) were selected, and 30 normal volunteers were enrolled as control. The expression level of MDR1 genes was detected using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression levels of P-gp and MRP1 were detected via Western blotting. The above-mentioned patients with refractory epilepsy were randomly divided into the oxcarbazepine group (OB group) and placebo group (OZ group). After consecutive 8-week oral administration of drugs, the curative effect and adverse reactions of patients with refractory epilepsy were observed, and the life quality of patients was evaluated. RESULTS: The expression levels of MDR1 genes, P-gp and MRP1 in peripheral blood of patients with refractory epilepsy were significantly increased compared with those of patients with epilepsy, (P<0.05). At 8 weeks after the drug therapy, the effective rate and life quality of patients in OB group were significantly higher than those of patients in OZ group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions during the treatment between the two groups. After treatment, the expression levels of MDR1, P-gp and MRP1 in peripheral blood of patients in OB group were significantly lower than those of patients in OZ group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Oxacillipine could effectively improve the effective treatment rate of patients with refractory epilepsy. The mechanism may be related to MDR1, MRP1 and Pgp expression.