Mechanisms and status of research on the protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine against ischemic brain injury

Ischemic brain injury occurs when the metabolic needs of brain tissue cannot be met due to insufficient blood supply to the brain.It is one of the main causes of death and adult disability worldwide.The recurrence rate of ischemic brain injury is high.It places a heavy economic burden on families and society,and seriously affects human health and quality of life.In traditional Chinese medicine,ischemic stroke belongs to the category of“stroke”.The use of traditional Chinese medicine to treat stroke has a long history.After years of experimental research,a large amount of theoretical knowledge and practical experience have been accumulated.Promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis is the basis of traditional Chinese medicine theory on the treatment of ischemic stroke.Commonly used single Chinese medicines include Chuangxiong(Ligusticum chuanxiong hort),Danggui(Angelica sinensis),Danshen(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge),Honghua(Carthamus tinctorius L.),Mudanpi(Moutan Cortex),and Huangqi(Astragali Radix).Buyang Huanwu decoction,Xinglou Chengqi decoction,Taohong Siwu decoction,and other traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions are believed to have a protective effect against brain damage caused by ischemic stroke.With the development of modern medical technology,the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treatments for ischemic brain injury has gradually been explored.This article reviews the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine’s protection against ischemic brain injury and its current clinical application.

Dexmedetomidine:chaperone of anesthesia

Aim:In this review,it will mainly focus on clarifying the pharmacology of dexmedetomidine and discussing the past,present and future clinical applications of dexmedetomidine as an adjunct in anesthesia.Method:We have searched and reviewed the articles about the use of dexmedetomidine in clinical anesthesia,intensive care unit(ICU),painless gastroenteroscopy and painless labor over the past two decades.Recent findings:Dexmedetomidine,a highly selective agonist of alpha2-adrenergic receptors(alpha2-AR),was primarily approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA)for sedation in ICU due to its pharmacological characteristics with sedative,analgesic and sympatholytic effects.These properties make up the limitations of anesthetics,and it produces a“dexmedetomidine assisted”anesthesia mode as an adjuvant combining with other anesthesia methods,which are all termed as“DEX+”.These new methods can reduce the anesthetics requirement but prolong the action period and alleviate the adverse reactions of anesthetics,thus improving the anesthesia more effectively and safely.Summary:Dexmedetomidine possesses the unique properties exerting synergistic effects and alleviating the side effects as an adjuvant in anesthesia through different administration routes.It is beneficial for the patients’long-term outcome and will be bound to be the leading innovator of anesthesia in future.

Prevention of nausea,vomiting and reflux aspiration in two cases of painless hysteroscopy

Objective:To investigate the prevention and management of perioperative nausea and vomiting and reflux aspiration in painless hysteroscopy patients.Methods:The clinical datum of one patient with reflux and postoperative vomiting and another one with a history of multiple postoperative nausea and vomiting during painless hysteroscopy were retrospectively analyzed.Results:In case 1,despite the occurrence of reflux,no significant aspiration or other serious consequences occurred through positive attraction,ondansetron,dexamethasone,droperidol and other drugs and candy treatment,then nausea and vomiting gradually eased.In case 2,due to the reduction of preoperative dosage of sufentanil,prophylactic application of ondansetron,psychological intervention and postoperative candy,no nausea and vomiting occurred during the painless hysteroscopy.The patient recovered quickly with high satisfaction.Conclusion:Patients with a high risk of nausea and vomiting may be ameliorated by positive psychological and drug intervention.Even if patients have intraoperative reflux and postoperative nausea and vomiting,it can be relieved by psychological and drug treatment,and the occurrence of serious complications such as aspiration can be prevented.