Electroacupuncture treatment improves motor function and neurological outcomes after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Electroacupuncture(EA)has been widely used for functional restoration after stroke.However,its role in post-stroke rehabilitation and the associated regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood.In this study,we applied EA to the Zusanli(ST36)and Quchi(LI11)acupoints in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion.We found that EA effectively increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor tyrosine kinase B,synapsin-1,postsynaptic dense protein 95,and microtubule-associated protein 2 in the ischemic penumbra of rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion.Moreover,EA greatly reduced the expression of myelin-related inhibitors Nogo-A and NgR in the ischemic penumbra.Tyrosine kinase B inhibitor ANA-12 weakened the therapeutic effects of EA.These findings suggest that EA can improve neurological function after middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion,possibly through regulating the activity of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase B signal pathway.All procedures and experiments were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,China(approval No.PZSHUTCM200110002)on January 10,2020.

Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Newborns Aged More than 34 Weeks Gestational Age Managed for Birth Asphyxia in Douala (Cameroon): A Single Hospital-Based Study

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is a common cause of mortality and of morbidity including motor and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-hospital outcome of neonates treated for perinatal asphyxia at the Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) in Cameroon. Patients and Methods: We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study with both a retrospective and prospective data collection, conducted over a period of 3 months and involving neonates above 34 weeks of gestational age who were managed for perinatal asphyxia at DGOPH from August 2015 to February 2020. Socio-demographic, perinatal, motor, nutritional and neuro-developmental out-of-hospital data were recorded. The assessment of the child’s psychomotor development was evaluated through gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language and social contact. We calculated the development quotient (DQ) by dividing the developmental age (DA) by the actual age (RA) of the patient. The data were entered and analyzed using excel and Stata version 15 software. Results: Among the 58 newborns included in our study, males were the most represented (59%). The mean age was 36.5 ± 14.16 months (Extremes: 12 months and 66 months). The majority of patients were born at term (79%), had a birth weight between 2500 and 4000 grams (69%), were resuscitated (95%), and had an Apgar score < 7 at the 5th minute of life (67%). SARNAT stages II and III counted for 48%. Neurodevelopmental abnormalities were found in 25.5% of patients with gross motor delay (mainly tetraparesis) representing 23.5%, fine motor delay 27.5%, impairment in social contact 31% language speech delay. The majority of the children had a normal development quotient (78.4%). Conclusion: The short-term and long-term outcome of newborns who experienced perinatal asphyxia in our setting is marked by numerous impairments in developmental milestones leading to disability.

Outcome of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Beijing

Aim:We aimed to investigate the association between bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR)and survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests(OHCA)in Beiing.Methods:This observational study analyzed adult patients with OHCA treated by the Beiing emergency medical service(EMS)from January 2013 to December 2017.Data were collected in a Utstein style with a 1-year follow-up and a primary outcome 01 survival to hospital discharge.Secondary outcomes were return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC),survival to admission,favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge,and survival and favorable neurological outcomes of up to 1 year.Results:A total of 5016 patients with OHCA from Beiing's urban area were recorded by EMS,wherein 765 patients(15.25%)underwent bystander CPR.The data were propensity score-matched forage,sex,location,witness,aetiology,initial rhythm,and call to EMS arrival to compare the difference between the occurrence and nonoccurrence of bystander CPR.The survival upon the discharge of patients who experienced bystander CPR was superior to that of patients who did not receive bystander CPR(3.7%vs 1.2%,respectively;P<0.001).Moreover,patients with OHCA resuscitated with bystander CPR achieved better outcomes of ROSC,survival to admission,favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge,survival and favorable neurological outcome after 1 year compared with those who were not resuscitated with bystander CPR.Conclusion:Survival and neu rological outcome of patients who underwent bystander CPR was better than those who underwent nonbystander CPR in Beiing.However,the rate of bystander CPR was low.