Perspectives on potential neuroprotective role of albumin in acute ischemic stroke

Albumin is the most abundant protein in plasma and is synthesized primarily in the liver.It has a variety of biological roles,such as increasing colloid osmotic pressure, and performing antioxidant, anti-inflam-matory,and substance transportation functions.Several studies have confirmed that albumin has neuroprotective effects and it has been used in the treatment of cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure.In this review we focus on the neuroprotective effects of albumin in ischemic stroke,such as the reduction of cerebral edema, antioxidant effects, protection of neuronal cell membranes, and increased cerebral blood flow. In addition, we summarize preclinical and clinical studies of albumin in ischemic stroke. We believe that the neuroprotective role of albumin should be re-investigated in the era of reperfusion therapy.

Effect of Xingnaojing Injection(醒脑静注射液)on Hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartic Acid Receptors of Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Objective: To observe and elucidate the neuroprotective effect of Xingnaojing (XNJ) injection on hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors of focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods: Cerebral ischemia was established by occluding the middle cerebral artery with an intraluminal suture technique in rats. Neurological deficit score, infarct volume and quantity of NMDA receptors were estimated in all groups and compared. Results: After being treated with XNJ, the score decreased in the initial 6 hours and infarct volume decreased in 24 hours. And within 24 hours, the quantity of NMDA receptors obviously decreased compared with the model group (P<0. 01) It indicated that XNJ could ameliorate neurological behavior of middle cerebral artery occlusion rats and down-regulate the expression of hippocampal NMDA receptors. Conclusion: The neuroprotective effect of XNJ on focal cerebral ischemia is possibly related to down-regulating the expression of NMDA receptors in rats.

Neuroprotective effect of panax notoginseng saponins and its main components

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the first cause of adult disability in industrial countries [1]. It is charicaterized by hemiplegia, hemianopsia, aphasia, mouth askew and sever sequelae. It is considered that an ischemic disease without any specific treatment method and few effective drugs such as tPA (human tissue-type plasminogen activator) and Edarovone with specific therapeutic window will cause a lot of disadvantages if being used inaccurate. Root of Panax notoginseng (PN) which is one of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), was first found in “Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica” around 200 AD. Panax notogineng saponins(PNS) is a multi-components mixture containing ginseng and saponins as the most important bioactive components which are commonly used in clinical treatment. Also, ginseng and saponins form the main components of many herbal medicines in the market, e.g., Xueshuantong injection [2], Xuesaitong injection [3], Xuesaitong soft capsule [4] and so on. The main monomers of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are Ginsenoside-Rb1, Gensenoside-Rg1, Gensenoside-Re, Gensenoside-Rd and Panax notoginseng saponins-R1 [5]. In this review, we found some important points as well as shortcomings that require special consideration. We therefore highlighted the advances in neuro-protection of PNS and its main monomers in the area of experimental research.

Protective Effect of Effective Composite of Chinese Medicine Prescription Naodesheng(脑得生) against Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Objective： To study the effects and possible mechanisms of effective composite of Naodesheng （脑得生, NDS） on permanent cerebral ischemia-induced injury in rats. Methods： Male Sprague-Dawley rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） were established with the modified suture method, and they were randomly divided into the following groups： the sham-operated group, the model group, the Nimodipine group （0.012 g/kg）, the NDS group （1.075 g/kg）, the total extracts group （0.23 g/kg）, the high-dose NEC group （0.07 g/kg）, the middle-dose NEC group （0.02 g/kg）, and the low-dose NEC group （0.007 g/kg）. The aforesaid medicines were administered at the 2nd, 4th, and 24th h after focal cerebral ischemia, and the infarction size and water content in the brain were evaluated at the 26th h after MCAO. Then, after oral administration once daily for 7 successive days, the changes in the degree of neurological deficit, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were measured on the 7th day. Results： NEC could significantly reduce the infarction size after focal cerebral ischemia, and slightly relieve water content in the brain, significantly alleviate neurological function impairment, increase the levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and adenosine triphosphate enzyme （ATPase） activity, and decrease the content of malondialdehyde （MDA）. NEE; could also extenuate Bax and caspase-3 expression in the hippocampus tissue of the ischemic region. As compared with the three NEE; treated groups, the highdose NEC showed better efficacy. Conclusions： NEE; could significantly reduce brain injury induced by ischemia; its mechanism was closely associated with hindering oxidative stress and apoptosis. The effective compositeguided methodology is a feasible tool to improve the neuro-protective properties of the Chinese medicine prescription NDS against focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Acupuncture for Parkinson's Disease: a review of clinical,animal,and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies

Acupuncture has been commonly used as an adjuvant therapy or monotherapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease in China and in other countries.Animal studies have consistently show that this treatment is both neuroprotective, protecting dopaminergic neurons from degeneration and also restorative, restoring tyrosine hydroxylase positive dopaminergic terminals in striatum, resulting in improvements in motor performance in animal models of Parkinsonism. Studies show that this protection is mediated through the same common mechanisms as other neuroprotective agents, including anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways at molecular and cellular levels. Restoration of function seems to involve activation of certain compensatory brain regions as a mechanism at the network level to correct the imbalances to the nervous system resulting from loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. Clinical studies in China and Korea, in particular, have shown a positive benefit of acupuncture in treating Parkinson's disease, especially in reducing the doses of dopaminergic medications and the associated side effects. However, large and well-controlled clinical trials are still needed to further demonstrate the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

An anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective biomimetic nanoplatform for repairing spinal cord injury

Spinal cord regeneration after a spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a difficult challenge due to the complicated inflammatory microenvironment and neuronal damage at the injury sites. In this study, retinoic acid (RA) and curcumin (Cur) were co-loaded with bovine serum albumin (BSA) self-assembly to obtain RA@BSA@Cur nanoparticles (NPs) for SCI treatment. Cur, as an antioxidant drug, facilitated reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and decreased the amount of inflammatory factors secreted by macrophages, while RA could enhance neurite extensions and neural differentiation. The constructed RA@BSA@Cur NPs not only induced polarization of macrophages toward pro-regenerative phenotypes and markedly reduced the inflammatory response of macrophages or microglia, but also increased neurite length in PC12 cells and neuronal differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, improved the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into β3- tubulin+ neurons, and reversed the pro-astrocyte differentiation effect of inflammatory cytokines on NSCs. In vivo experiments revealed that RA@BSA@Cur NPs regulated the phenotypic polarization of macrophages, inhibited the release of inflammatory mediators, promoted functional neuron regeneration and motor function, and further inhibited scar tissue formation. This study highlighted that the BSA-based biomimetic nanomaterials could be used as ROS scavengers and nerve regeneration promoters for treating SCI.

Efficacy of Shouzhangshen(Rhizoma Gymnadeniae Crassinervidis)extract against acute high altitude hypoxia-induced brain injury in mice

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the protective effect of Shouzhangshen(Rhizoma Gymnadeniae Crassinervidis)extract against acute high altitude hypoxia-induced brain injury in mice.METHODS:Sixty C57BL/6J mice were selected and assigned to six groups(n=10):normal control group,low-pressure hypoxia group,positive control group(dexamethasone 500 mg/kg),and three groups treated with Shouzhangshen extract(250,500,and 750 mg/kg,respectively).The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate alterations in spatial learning and memory deficits.Nissl staining was performed to detect Nissl bodies and neuron damage.Hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1α,interleukin(IL)-1β,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and malondialdehyde(MDA)expression in brain tissue and serum,as well as superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione(GSH)activity in brain tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays,quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction and western blots.RESULTS:The Morris water maze test results showed that Shouzhangshen extract can significantly reduce the latency and swimming distance to escape onto a visible platform,increase neuron density and hierarchy and the number of pyramidal neurons,and decrease the expression of HIF-1α,IL-1β,TNF-α,and VEGF mRNAs and proteins in both brain tissue and serum(P<0.05).Furthermore,significantly lower MDA expression and higher GSH activity were detected in the three groups treated with Shouzhangshen compared with the low-pressure hypoxia group(P<0.05).However,no significant alteration was observed for SOD activity(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that Shouzhangshen extract may have a significant effect on acute high altitude hypoxia-induced brain injury in mice.