Esterase-Responsive Polymeric Micelles Containing Tetraphenylethene and Poly(ethylene glycol) Moieties for Efficient Doxorubicin Delivery and Tumor Therapy.

Enzyme-responsive drug delivery systems have drawn much attention in the field of cancer theranostics due to their high sensitivity and substrate specificity under mild conditions. In this study, an amphiphilic polymer T1 is reported, which contains a tetraphenylethene unit and a poly(ethylene glycol) chain linked by an esterase-responsive phenolic ester bond. In aqueous solution, T1 formed stable micelles via self-assembly, which showed an aggregation-induced emission enhancement of 32-fold at 532 nm and a critical micelle concentration of 0.53 µM as well as esterase-responsive activity. The hydrophobic drug doxorubicin (DOX) was efficiently encapsulated into the micelles with a drug loading of 21%. In the presence of the esterase, the selective decomposition of drug-loaded T1 micelles was observed, and DOX was subsequently released with a half-life of 5 h. In vitro antitumor studies showed that T1@DOX micelles exhibited good therapeutic effects on HeLa cells, while normal cells remained mostly intact. In vivo anticancer experiments revealed that T1@DOX micelles indeed suppressed tumor growth and had reduced side effects compared to DOX·HCl. The present work showed the potential clinical application of esterase-responsive drug delivery in cancer therapy.

Identification of Gαi3 as a novel molecular therapeutic target of cervical cancer.

Here we studied expression and potential functions of Gαi3 in cervical cancer. The bioinformatics analysis together with the results from local patients' tissues revealed that Gαi3 expression was remarkably elevated in human cervical cancer tissues and different cervical cancer cells, and was associated with poor overall survival and poor disease-specific survival of patients. Gαi3 depletion resulted in profound anti-cervical cancer activity. In primary or immortalized cervical cancer cells, Gαi3 shRNA or CRISPR/Cas9-caused Gαi3 knockout/KO largely hindered cell proliferation and migration, and provoked apoptosis. On the contrast, ectopic Gαi3 overexpression further enhanced cervical cancer proliferation and migration. Akt-mTOR activation in primary cervical cancer cells was significantly reduced after Gαi3 silencing or KO, but was augmented following Gαi3 overexpression. Further studies revealed that the transcription factor GATA4 binding to Gαi3 promoter region was significantly enhanced in cervical cancer tissues and cells. Gαi3 expression was decreased by GATA4 shRNA, but upregulated following GATA4 overexpression. In vivo, the growth of cervical cancer xenografts was robustly suppressed after Gαi3 silencing or KO. Gαi3 depletion and Akt-mTOR inactivation were detected in Gαi3-silenced/-KO cervical cancer xenograft tissues. Together, upregulated Gαi3 is a valuable oncotarget of cervical cancer.

Red fluorescent AIEgens based multifunctional nonviral gene vectors for the efficient combination of gene therapy and photodynamic therapy in anti-cancer.

Precise molecular engineering of AIEgens-based cationic delivery systems for high transfection efficiency (TE) and effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds a huge potential for cancer treatment. Herein, three amphiphiles (DT-C6/8/12-M) consisting of di(triazole-[12]aneN3) (M) and 1,1-dicyano-2-phenyl-2-(4-diphenylamino)phenyl-ethylene (DT) units have been developed to achieve luminescent tracking, efficient TE, and effective PDT in vitro and in vivo. These compounds exhibited strong aggregated induced emission (AIE) at 630 nm and mega Stokes shifts of up to 160 nm. They were able to bind DNA into nanoparticles with suitable sizes, positive surface potential, and good biocompatibility in the presence of DOPE. Among them, vector DT-C12-M/DOPE with n-dodecyl linker achieved a transfection efficiency as high as 42.3 folds that of Lipo2000 in PC-3 cell lines. DT-C12-M/DOPE exhibited the capability of successful endo/lysosomal escape and rapid nuclear delivery of pDNA, and the gene delivery process was clearly monitored via confocal laser scanning microscopy. Moreover, efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by DT-C12-M upon light irradiation led to effective PDT in vitro . We further show that combination of p53 gene therapy and PDT dramatically enhanced cancer therapeutic outcome in vivo. This "three birds, one stone" strategy offers a novel and promising approach for real-time tracking of gene delivery and better cancer treatment.

The asymmetry of neural symptoms in Wilson's disease patients detecting by diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional MRI, and susceptibility-weighted imaging.

Objective: To investigate the cause of the motor asymmetry in Wilson's disease (WD) patients using functional MRI. Methods: Fifty patients with WD and 20 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Neurological symptoms were scored using the modified Young Scale. All study subjects underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) of the brain. Six regions of interest (ROI) were chosen. Fiber volumes between ROIs on DTI, corrected phase (CP) values on SWI, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), and regional homogeneity (REHO) values on rs-fMRI were determined. Asymmetry index (right or left value/left or right value) was evaluated. Results: Asymmetry of rigidity, tremor, choreic movement, and gait abnormality (asymmetry index = 1.33, 1.39, 1.36, 1.40), fiber tracts between the GP and substantia nigra (SN), GP and PU, SN and thalamus (TH), SN and cerebellum, head of the caudate nucleus (CA) and SN, PU and CA, CA and TH, TH and cerebellum (asymmetry index = 1.233, 1.260, 1.269, 1.437, 1.503, 1.138, 1.145, 1.279), CP values in the TH, SN (asymmetry index = 1.327, 1.166), ALFF values, and REHO values of the TH (asymmetry index = 1.192, 1.233) were found. Positive correlation between asymmetry index of rigidity and fiber volumes between the GP and SN, SN and TH (r = .221, .133, p = .043, .036), and tremor and fiber volumes between the CA and TH (r = .045, p = .040) was found. Conclusions: The neurological symptoms of patients with WD were asymmetry. The asymmetry of fiber projections may be the main cause of motor asymmetry in patients with WD.

Diffusion tensor imaging of the extracorticospinal network in the brains of patients with Wilson disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate damage to the extracorticospinal tract in Wilson disease (WD) patients using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: 70 patients with WD, including 50 with cerebral type and 20 with hepatic type, and 20 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Neurological symptoms were scored using the modified Young Scale. Patients with cerebral type WD were divided into four subgroups: those with (1) hypokinesia, (2) parkinsonism, (3) mouth and throat dystonia, and (4) psychiatric symptoms. All study subjects underwent DTI of the brain. Five regions of interest (ROIs) were chosen. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber volumes between ROIs were determined, and the relationships between DTI metrics and clinical status were evaluated. RESULTS: FA values and fiber volumes between subcortical nuclei were lower in WD patients. Fiber volumes between the putamen (PU) and the globus pallidus (GP), substantia nigra (SN), and thalamus (TH); between the head of the caudate nucleus (CA) and the GP and TH; and between the TH and cerebellum were lower in group 1 than in the other groups of WD patients. Fiber volumes between the GP and the SN and TH were lower in group 2, and fiber volumes between the SN and TH were lower in group 3. DTI metrics differed between patients with the cerebral and hepatic types of WD. CONCLUSIONS: DTI can reconstruct the network of the extracorticospinal tract. Fiber projection between subcortical nuclei was abnormal in WD patients. Damage to fiber connections may correlate with neurological symptoms in WD patients.

Characterizing brain mineral deposition in patients with Wilson disease using susceptibility-weighted imaging.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of characterizing the brain-mineral deposition in patients with Wilson disease (WD) using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 30 WD patients and 20 age-matched healthy controls. Neurological symptoms were scored using the modified Young Scale. The hepatic function indices, serum and urinary copper content, and serum iron content were determined. All study objects received the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and SWI test of the brain. The values of corrected phase (CP) were calculated on SWI. The relationship between CP values and the clinical status were evaluated. RESULTS: The serum iron content of WD patients was higher than the normal. The CP values of substantia nigra, caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus of WD were lower than the normal values, while the CP value of substantia nigra was the lowest. No correlations were determined between the CP values and the iron and copper parameters. There was negative correlation between the scores of dysarthria and the CP values of the globus pallidus. There was negative correlation between the scores of tremor and the CP values of caudate nucleus. Some regions, which had high signals on T2-weighted image, had low signals on SWI. CONCLUSIONS: There might be abnormal iron metabolism in patients with WD. The decreased CP values might reflect a deposition of both copper and iron. SWI may be more sensitive than the ordinary MRI. The mineral deposition may contribute to the neural symptoms.

[The impurity profiling of simvastatin and its tablets by UPLC-MS/MS].

Investigation of simvastatin and its related substances was carried out using a reversed phase ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method. The identification of impurities in simvastatin was performed with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source in the negative/positive ion mode. A total of 12 compounds were characterized in commercial samples, among which 2 impurities had never been reported. All the impurities were deduced based on the MS fragment pathways of simvastatin and the biosynthetic pathway of lovastatin. This work provides very useful information for quality control of simvastatin.

[Polymorphs of clopidogrel bisulfate].

This paper is to report the polymorphism of raw materials of clopidogrel bisulfate at home and abroad. By the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD), samples are roughly classified into two groups, except one patent material. And the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) examination showed more detailed information for these materials. The results of the study could provide comprehensive basis for the quality evaluation of clopidogrel bisulfate.

Stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rat as an animal model for stroke studies: from artery to brain.

High blood pressure is a main risk factor for both initial and recurrent stroke. Compared to the post stroke situation in normotension, the brain lesion is larger in hypertension, and the treatments may not be as effective. Thus, the results from healthy individuals may not be directly applied to the hypertensive. In fact, the high prevalence of hypertension in stroke patients and its devastating effect urge the necessity to integrate arterial hypertension in the study of stroke in order to better mimic the clinical situations. The first step to do so is to have an appropriate hypertensive animal model for stroke studies. Stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rat (RHRSP) introduced in 1998, is an animal model with acquired hypertension independent of genetic deficiency. The blood pressure begins to increase during the first week after constriction of bilateral renal arteries, and becomes sustained since around the 3rd month. Because the morphological and physiological changes of cerebral arteries are similar to those in hypertensive patients, the rats represent a higher than 60% incidence of spontaneous stroke. The animal model has several advantages: one hundred percent development of hypertension without gene modification, high similarity to human hypertension in cerebrovascular pathology and physiology, and easy establishment with low cost. Thus, the model has been extensively used in the investigation of ischemic stroke, and has been shown as a reliable animal model. This paper reviewed the features of RHRSP and its applications in the treatment and prevention of stroke, as well as the investigations of secondary lesions postischemic stroke.

[Prevalence of asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis in middle-aged and elderly population in the community of Foshan city, Guangdong province: a cross-sectional study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis in middle-aged and elderly population in the community of Foshan city, Guangdong province. METHODS: Subjects from residential communities were chosen through Cluster sampling method. Physical data and history were collected. Serum fasting glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were tested with venous blood samples. Intracranial artery stenosis was diagnosed by transcranial Doppler (TCD). Data was analyzed by the software SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: 1405 subjects met the inclusive criteria, among which 163 (11.6%) were found one (7.4%) or more (4.2%) stenotic arteries, and the standardized rate was 10.3%. 9.89% of the SICA, and 3.05%, 2.29%, 1.59%, 1.38%, 0.89% of basilar artery, middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, vertebral artery, posterior cerebral artery were found stenotic respectively. Data from the age-stratified analysis showed that the prevalence in these above 70 (27.8%) was significantly higher than that under age 70 (7.5%) (P = 0.000). Single factor and logistic regression analysis demonstrated the history of diabetes mellitus and elevated systolic pressure present were significantly different between stenotic group and the non-stenotic group (P = 0.000, P = 0.000), which were the independent risk factors of asymptomatic stenosis of intracranial arteries (OR = 2.362, 95%CI: 1.194 - 4.674;OR = 1.024, 95%CI: 1.016 - 1.031). CONCLUSION: Comparatively high prevalence of asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis in middle-aged and aged community population was found in the Southern part of China, especially among the age group above 70. History of diabetes and elevated systolic pressure seemed to be the independent risk factors of asymptomatic stenosis of intracranial arteries.

[Values of serum copper and serum free copper in the diagnosis and monitoring of Wilson's disease and its carriers].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the values of serum copper and serum free copper in the diagnosis of Wilson's disease (WD), its carrier and viral hepatitis and explore the guiding significance of monitoring serum copper in the treatment of WD. METHODS: A total of 80 WD patients (hepatic type, n = 60; encephalic type, n = 20), 30 carriers, 20 patients with viral hepatitis were enrolled and their levels of serum copper were determined. The neural symptoms were scored by modified Young grade. Hemogram, hepatic functions, blood clotting functions, serum copper and urinary copper were tested throughout all 8 courses of treatment with sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS). The patients were treated with zinc after discharging. All data were analyzed. RESULTS: The free serum copper increased in the patients with WD (0.17 mg/L ± 0.04 mg/L), carriers (0.13 mg/L ± 0.03 mg/L) and severe viral hepatitis (0.12 mg/L). A slight increase was also observed in the WD carriers. The level of serum copper was correlated with hepatic functions but not with the severity of neural symptoms. The serum copper increased in the patients with no improvement of neural symptoms. However, the serum copper decreased in the WD patients with the improvement of neural symptoms. The serum copper was stabilized at approximately 0.2 mg/L during the long-term treatment period. CONCLUSION: There is auxiliary diagnosis significance of serum copper in the determination of WD. Hepatic functions in hepatic type WD affect the level of serum copper. The serum copper of encephalic type WD can not indicate the severity of neural symptoms. The elevated level of serum copper indicates a poor prognosis. The serum copper is an effective marker in monitoring the development and therapeutic efficacy of the disease.

[Biosorption of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) in aqueous solutions by fruiting bodies of macrofungi (Auricularia polytricha and Tremella fuciformis)].

Batch experiments were conducted to study the ability of fruiting bodies of Auricularia polytricha and Tremella fuciformis to adsorb Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions, including biosorption ability of the biomass to remove heavy metals from solutions with different concentrations, kinetics of adsorption, influence of co-cations, and biosorption affinity in multi-metalsystem. Results showed that in the solutions with individual metal, the maximum biosorption amounts of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) by A. polytricha were 18.91, 18.69, 20.33, 12.42 mg x g(-1), respectively, and the highest removal rates for all cases were more than 85%. The maximum biosorption amounts of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) by T. fuciformis were 19.98, 20.15, 19.16, 16.41 mg x g(-1), respectively, and highest removal rates for all cases were more than 75%. In the solutions with initial concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 mg x L(-1), the biosorption amounts increased but the removal rates decreased as the initial concentrations increasing. The pseudo-second-order reaction model described adsorption kinetics of heavy metal ions by fruiting bodies of A. polytricha and T. fuciformis better than the pseudo-first-order reaction model. In the solutions with multi metals, the biosorption amounts of heavy metals by two biosorbent were in the order of Ph(II) > Cd(II) > Cu(II) > Zn(II). The ions with more negative charges were preferential to be sorbed. The biosorption ability of A. polytricha was inhibited in multi-metal solutions. In multi-metal solutions, T. fuciformis sorbed a higher amount of Pb(II) but lower amounts of other three ions than that in the individual metal solutions. The results indicated that both fruiting bodies of A. polytricha and T. fuciformis were potential biosorbents.

[Role of abdominal obesity in asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis: a community-based study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between abdominal obesity and intracranial artery stenosis and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: By cluster sampling, 1405 adult Han people were selected from the residential communities. Among them, 1035 people conformed to the inclusion criteria. Medical history was documented and body height, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure were measured. Venous blood samples were collected to detect the serum concentrations of fasting glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Serum nitric oxide (NO) level was determined by cadmium reduction method. Middle cerebral artery stenosis (MCAS) was diagnosed by transcranial Doppler. The SPSS 11.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: MCA stenosis was found in 66 subjects (6.4%). Univariate analysis showed history of hypertension, history of ischemic heart disease, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were the risk factors for MCAS and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was a risk factor only in males. Logistic regression demonstrated history of hypertension was an independent risk factor for MCAS both in males and females (P = 0.011, P = 0.009) and WHR for MCAS only in males (P = 0.030). Among males and females over 55 years old, the NO levels were higher in people with a higher WHR and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.042, P = 0.016); however the NO levels for people with a varying WHR showed statistically insignificant difference among females under 55 years old (P = 0.228). CONCLUSION: Hypertension and abdominal obesity are important risk factors for MCAS. Endothelial cell dysfunction and an elevated level of oxidative stress may be involved in the atherogenetic mechanism of abdominal obesity while estrogen may play a protective role in it.

Patient with pontine warning syndrome and bilateral posterior internuclear ophthalmoplegia: case report.

BACKGROUND: Capsular warning syndrome was first described in 1993, featured with repetitive episodes of motor and/or sensory dysfunction without cortical signs. Recently, it has been demonstrated that clinically typical capsular warning syndrome can be associated with pontine infarct and the term oepontine warning syndrome was coined. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman with a history of hypertension was seen with profound left-sided hemiplegia. She had had 3 episodes of left-sided weakness before complete hemiplegia. Her speech was slurred. Left central facial palsy and hemiglossoplegia were presented. Her left plantar response was extensor and bilateral posterior internuclear ophthalmoplegia was seen on neurologic examination. Biochemical tests revealed hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia on the next day. MRI demonstrated an acute right paramedian pontine infarct. The patient was commenced on oral clopidogrel, atorvastatin and acarbose. After 23 days of hospitalization, she was discharged with severe left hemiplegia. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Pontine warning syndrome may be underestimated and understudied. 2) Posterior internuclear ophthalmoplegia is a rare clinical sign in cerebrovascular diseases, while it can help to locate a brainstem lesion rather than an internal capsular one. 3) Blood pressure lowering administration may be improper for patients with pontine warning syndrome.

[Study on the correlation between hypertension and the indexes of vascular endothelial function among people living in the community].

OBJECTIVE: To study the features of hypertension and vessel endothelium functional parameter in people living at the community level as well as the risk factors of hypertension. Differences of angiotensin II (Ang II ), prostacyclin (PGI2) and nitric oxide (NO) among normal group and three hypertension groups were also studied. METHODS: By cluster sampling, 1134 adult Han people were selected from the residential communities. Medical history was documented and measurements of body height, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure were performed. Serum NO levels were determined by cadmium reduction method while plasma Ang II and PGI2 concentration were determined by radioimmunoassay. SPSS 13.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The total ratio of hypertension from people living at the community was 44.5%, with the standardized prevalence of hypertension as 15.3%. With the increase of age, the prevalence of hypertension also increased. Overweight and obesity seemed to be independent risk factors for hypertension. History of smoking and drinking and gender did not enter the logistic equation for hypertension. The amount of plasma Ang II concentration of the three hypertension groups was significantly lower than that in the normal group while the lowest group appeared to from the one that hypertension was under control. The NO and PGI2 levels of the two groups whose hypertension had been known were significantly higher than in the normal group while the difference between the group whose hypertension had not been measured and the normal group was not found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension had been increasing. Control of body weight seemed to be a useful way for prevention of hypertension. We assumed that the negative feedback regulation of renin-angiotonin-aldosterone system in hypertension patient still existed which called for the research on the mechanism of hypertension.

Prevalence and risk factors of middle cerebral artery stenosis in asymptomatic residents in Rongqi County, Guangdong.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial atherosclerosis is the commonest vascular lesion for ischemic stroke in Asians. Most research on risk factors for middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis has been conducted in symptomatic patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. The present study aimed to investigate risk factors for MCA stenosis in an asymptomatic population in Rongqi County in Southern China. METHODS: We assessed 1,068 asymptomatic subjects over 50 years of age by transcranial Doppler. Medical history documentation and investigation of biochemical markers were performed for each subject. Multivariant, unconditioned, logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the risk factors associated with MCA stenosis. RESULTS: MCA stenosis was found in 63 subjects (5.9%). Male gender, advancing age, hypertension, diabetes and systolic blood pressure were significant risk factors for MCA stenosis (p < 0.001). Based on logistic regression analyses, 4 factors emerged as independent risk factors (p < 0.001) of MCA stenosis: male gender [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.49-4.66, OR = 2.63], age (95% CI = 1.01-1.06, OR = 1.04), hypertension (95% CI = 4.57-18.35, OR = 9.16) and diabetes mellitus (95% CI = 3.09-11.29, OR = 5.9). CONCLUSION: MCA stenosis is relatively common among asymptomatic Chinese subjects. Male gender, advanced age, hypertension and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for MCA stenosis.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor of middle cerebral artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is considered to be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. We aimed to determine the relation between Hcy and cerebral artery stenosis in a large Chinese population. METHODS: We present data concerning 2,500 residents. Plasma was saved from 1,020 residents who were asymptomatic. Hcy concentration was measured by fluorescence ration biochemical assay kit, and middle cerebral artery (MCA) was assessed by Transcranial Doppler in these subjects. RESULTS: Fifty-six residents with MCA stenosis were included in this study. The remained 964 residents without stenosis were control. Analysis of the data revealed that the plasma concentration of Hcy (18.33+/-5.34 micromol/L), age (63.9+/-12.9) and systolic pressure (142.6+/-22.6 mmHg) in the stenotic group were increased (p<0.0001) compared with the control group (Hcy12.95+/-4.57 micromol/L, age 55.8+/-10.9, systolic pressure 126.3+/-20.3 mmHg). Based on logistic regression, 5 factors emerged as independent predictors of MCA stenosis: Hcy (OR=1.16, 95%confidence interval 1.14-1.26), male (OR=2.63, 95%CI 1.49-4.66), age (OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.01-1.07), hypertension (OR=9.16, 95%CI 4.57-18.35), diabetes mellitus (OR=5.90, 95%CI 3.09-11.29). CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocysteinemia might be one of the risk factors for cerebral artery stenosis. It may play a role in atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

[Risk factors of middle cerebral artery stenosis in Foshan community, Guangdong province: a longitudinal study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors of middle cerebral artery stenosis (MCAS) in a dynamic manner so as to supply evidence to help prevent cerebral stroke based on the results of epidemiological study. METHODS: 2500 residents were sampled randomly from the residents of Rongqi town and underwent questionnaire survey, physical examination, transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD), and detection of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) in 2002, and 1068 of them that conformed with the criteria: (1) without symptoms of brain ischemia, (2) with temporal window to conduct TCD, and (3) having undergone the questionnaire survey and blood biochemical examination, were enrolled for lone-term study. In 2006 844 of the 1068 residents remained, 277 males and 567 females, aged 60 +/- 10 (12.5 - 88) who still conformed to the criteria. Based on the results of TCD examination of MCA the residents were divided into two groups, MCAS group and non-MCAS group. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The morbidity of MCAS of the asymptomatic residents was 2.73% in 2002 and 4.62% in 2006. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that history of diabetes mellitus (GM) and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) were the risk factors of MCAS based on the data of 2002. But, 4 years later, history of hypertensive disease, coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes mellitus and HHcy were the risk factors and marriage status was also a factor. The changes of coronary heart disease, DM and BMI were the risk factors of MCAS. CONCLUSION: MCAS exists in the asymptomatic residents. History of hypertensive disease, DM, CHD and HHcy are the risk factors of MCAS Heart attack and changes of body weight contributed to MCAS.

[Analysis on data gathered from transcranial Doppler among 1500 normal adults community].

OBJECTIVE: To study the rates of receiving doppler signal, flow velocity of cerebral artery and the relationship between flow velocity,age and gender in normal adults in China. METHODS: A total of 1500 normal residents at the community level in Guangdong province were examined, using transcranial doppler. Data was gathered and analyzed. RESULTS: With the increase of age, the rate of receiving signal in cerebral artery gradually decreased. Difference between males and females was noticed. Mean velocity of cerebral artery decreased in both genders but the velocity was faster in females than in males and the pulsate index increased without difference. CONCLUSION: The rates of receiving signal and the flow velocity of cerebral artery were related to age and gender and the findings from this study offered criterion for clinical transcranial doppler.

[Study on effect of electrical stimulus on repairing of astrocytes and neurons in rehabilitation after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of rehabilitation after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). METHODS: MCAO model was reproduced with two-kidney, two clip renovascular hypertensive rats stroke-prone (RHRSP), which were divided into two groups, the treated group (treated with electric stimulus) and the control group (untreated model) randomly. The rehabilitation of rats was evaluated by balance beam walking test. The ultrastructural changes of neurons and astrocytes, expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells, neurofilament (NF) protein, and cerebral capillary dilatation M-associated protein-2 (MAP2), as well as the neurons apoptosis and the number of dilatation of cerebral capillary in the margin of infarcted area were observed by the end of 1st, 3rd, 6th and 9th week after modeling. RESULTS: The motor function of paralysed limbs recovered better in the treated group than that in the control group by the end of 3-9th week after MCAO, the expression of GFAP-positive cells in astrocytes and NF, MAP2 in neurons as well as the number of cerebral capillary dilatation at the margin of infarcted area were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electric stimulation treatment could improve the recovery of motor function of paralyzed limbs. It might be due to the effect of electric stimulus in increasing astrocytes proliferation, reinforcing activity of neurons and evoking the dilatation of cerebral capillary.