BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is able to regulate blood spinal cord barrier function as well as influence neovascularization and cause edema. OBJECTIVE: Through establishment of a rabbit mo...BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is able to regulate blood spinal cord barrier function as well as influence neovascularization and cause edema. OBJECTIVE: Through establishment of a rabbit model of syringomyelia, to explore the correlation between VEGF protein and mRNA expressions and function of blood spinal cord barrier and edema degree of spinal cord in presyrinx state. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized controlled animal study was performed in the Tumor Institute of the Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University from January to June 2007. MATERIALS: Atotal of 0.6 mL Kaolin solution (250 g/L, 37℃) was injected into the cisterna magna of 40 rabbits in the kaolin group to establish syringomyelia models. Goat anti-rabbit VEGF monoclonal antibody was provided by DIACLONE Company, USA; RT-PCR related reagents were provided by Huamei Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Beijing. METHODS: Sixty Chinese white rabbits were divided randomly into two groups: Kaolin group (n = 40) and control group (n = 20). Physiological saline (0.6 mL at 37℃) was injected in rabbits of control group. On days 1,3, 7, 14 and 21 after kaolin injection, cervical cords samples were harvested after sacrifice of animal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: VEGF protein and mRNA expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after kaolin injection. A quantitative analysis of blood spinal cord barrier function was performed by Evans blue technique. Water content of the spinal cord was measured by dry-wet weight technique. The correlation between the expression of VEGF protein and mRNA and the function of blood spinal cord barrier in the upper cervical cord of the presyrinx state was analyzed by linear correlation analysis. RESULTS: The water content and Evans blue content increased in the kaolin group on days 1 and 3 postoperatively compared with the control group (F = 7.387, 61.35, P 〈 0.05, 0.01), and reached a peak on day 7 (F = 135.94, 528.35, P 〈 0.01). They declined slowly to day 21 postoperatively, but both contents were still higher than the control group (F = 11.51, 58.63, P 〈 0.01). VEGF protein expression increased on day 1, and stronger positive expression was seen on days 3, 7 and 14. It decreased on day 21. VEGF protein expression was higher than the control group at each time point (F = 137.4-468.5, P 〈 0.01 ). VEGF mRNA expression showed the same pattern in the cervical cord at different time points. By statistical analysis, the expression of VEGF protein and mRNA had a significantly positive correlation with the structural and functional changes of the blood spinal cord barrier in the presyrinx state (r = 0.604-0.979, P 〈 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the presyrinx state of syringomyelia, the expressions of VEGF protein and mRNA can influence the structure and function of the blood spinal cord barrier and play an important role in the formation and development of spinal cord edema and syringomyelia.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of patients with vascular dementia. DATA RETRIEVAL: We retrieved publications from Cochrane Library (2004 to July 2011...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of patients with vascular dementia. DATA RETRIEVAL: We retrieved publications from Cochrane Library (2004 to July 2011), PubMed (1966 to July 2011), the Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database (1977 to July 2011), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (1979 to July 2011), Google Scholar (July 2011), and the Chinese Biomedical Database (1977 to July 2011) using the key words "Chinese medicine OR Chinese herbal medicine" and "vascular dementia OR mild cognition impair OR multi-infarct dementia OR small-vessel dementia OR strategic infarct dementia OR hypoperfusion dementia OR hemorrhagic dementia OR hereditary vascular dementia". SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials comparing Chinese herbal medicines with placebo/western medicine in the treatment of patients with vascular dementia were included. Diagnostic standards included Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV, and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Association Internationale pour la Recherche et I'Enseignement en Neurosciences. Two participants independently conducted literature screening, quality evaluation and data extraction. The quality of each trial was assessed according to the Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook 5.0. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effective rate, Mini-Mental State Examination scores, Hasegawa Dementia Scale scores, and incidence of adverse reactions. RESULTS: We identified 1 143 articles discussing the effects of Chinese medicine on vascular dementia. Thirty-one of these were included in the analysis. These studies involved a total of 2 868 participants (1 605 patients took Chinese medicine decoctions (treatment group); 1 263 patients took western medicine or placebo). The results of our meta-analysis revealed that Chinese herbal remedies in the treatment group were more efficacious than the control intervention (relative risk (RR) = 1.27; 95% confidence interval (C/): 1.18-1.38, P 〈 0.01). Mini-Mental State Examination scores were higher in patients taking Chinese herbal medicines than in those in the control group (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 2.83; 95%CI: 2.55-3.12, P 〈 0.01). Patients in the treatment group showed better disease amelioration than those in the control group (Hasegawa Dementia Scale scores; WMD = 2.41, 95%CI: 1.48-3.34, P 〈 0.01). There were also considerably fewer adverse reactions among those in the treatment group compared with those in the control group (RR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.08-0.47, P 〈 0.01). CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicine appears to be safer and more effective than control measures in the treatment of vascular dementia. However, the included trials were generally low in quality. More well-designed, high-quality trials are needed to provide better evidence for the assessment of the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicines for vascular dementia.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is able to regulate blood spinal cord barrier function as well as influence neovascularization and cause edema. OBJECTIVE: Through establishment of a rabbit model of syringomyelia, to explore the correlation between VEGF protein and mRNA expressions and function of blood spinal cord barrier and edema degree of spinal cord in presyrinx state. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized controlled animal study was performed in the Tumor Institute of the Fourth Hospital, Hebei Medical University from January to June 2007. MATERIALS: Atotal of 0.6 mL Kaolin solution (250 g/L, 37℃) was injected into the cisterna magna of 40 rabbits in the kaolin group to establish syringomyelia models. Goat anti-rabbit VEGF monoclonal antibody was provided by DIACLONE Company, USA; RT-PCR related reagents were provided by Huamei Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Beijing. METHODS: Sixty Chinese white rabbits were divided randomly into two groups: Kaolin group (n = 40) and control group (n = 20). Physiological saline (0.6 mL at 37℃) was injected in rabbits of control group. On days 1,3, 7, 14 and 21 after kaolin injection, cervical cords samples were harvested after sacrifice of animal. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: VEGF protein and mRNA expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after kaolin injection. A quantitative analysis of blood spinal cord barrier function was performed by Evans blue technique. Water content of the spinal cord was measured by dry-wet weight technique. The correlation between the expression of VEGF protein and mRNA and the function of blood spinal cord barrier in the upper cervical cord of the presyrinx state was analyzed by linear correlation analysis. RESULTS: The water content and Evans blue content increased in the kaolin group on days 1 and 3 postoperatively compared with the control group (F = 7.387, 61.35, P 〈 0.05, 0.01), and reached a peak on day 7 (F = 135.94, 528.35, P 〈 0.01). They declined slowly to day 21 postoperatively, but both contents were still higher than the control group (F = 11.51, 58.63, P 〈 0.01). VEGF protein expression increased on day 1, and stronger positive expression was seen on days 3, 7 and 14. It decreased on day 21. VEGF protein expression was higher than the control group at each time point (F = 137.4-468.5, P 〈 0.01 ). VEGF mRNA expression showed the same pattern in the cervical cord at different time points. By statistical analysis, the expression of VEGF protein and mRNA had a significantly positive correlation with the structural and functional changes of the blood spinal cord barrier in the presyrinx state (r = 0.604-0.979, P 〈 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the presyrinx state of syringomyelia, the expressions of VEGF protein and mRNA can influence the structure and function of the blood spinal cord barrier and play an important role in the formation and development of spinal cord edema and syringomyelia.
基金supported by a Special Funding Project for the Chinese National Outstanding Ph.D.Thesis Author,No.201082the First Grade of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.20110490080the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81202653
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of patients with vascular dementia. DATA RETRIEVAL: We retrieved publications from Cochrane Library (2004 to July 2011), PubMed (1966 to July 2011), the Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database (1977 to July 2011), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (1979 to July 2011), Google Scholar (July 2011), and the Chinese Biomedical Database (1977 to July 2011) using the key words "Chinese medicine OR Chinese herbal medicine" and "vascular dementia OR mild cognition impair OR multi-infarct dementia OR small-vessel dementia OR strategic infarct dementia OR hypoperfusion dementia OR hemorrhagic dementia OR hereditary vascular dementia". SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials comparing Chinese herbal medicines with placebo/western medicine in the treatment of patients with vascular dementia were included. Diagnostic standards included Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV, and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Association Internationale pour la Recherche et I'Enseignement en Neurosciences. Two participants independently conducted literature screening, quality evaluation and data extraction. The quality of each trial was assessed according to the Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook 5.0. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effective rate, Mini-Mental State Examination scores, Hasegawa Dementia Scale scores, and incidence of adverse reactions. RESULTS: We identified 1 143 articles discussing the effects of Chinese medicine on vascular dementia. Thirty-one of these were included in the analysis. These studies involved a total of 2 868 participants (1 605 patients took Chinese medicine decoctions (treatment group); 1 263 patients took western medicine or placebo). The results of our meta-analysis revealed that Chinese herbal remedies in the treatment group were more efficacious than the control intervention (relative risk (RR) = 1.27; 95% confidence interval (C/): 1.18-1.38, P 〈 0.01). Mini-Mental State Examination scores were higher in patients taking Chinese herbal medicines than in those in the control group (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 2.83; 95%CI: 2.55-3.12, P 〈 0.01). Patients in the treatment group showed better disease amelioration than those in the control group (Hasegawa Dementia Scale scores; WMD = 2.41, 95%CI: 1.48-3.34, P 〈 0.01). There were also considerably fewer adverse reactions among those in the treatment group compared with those in the control group (RR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.08-0.47, P 〈 0.01). CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicine appears to be safer and more effective than control measures in the treatment of vascular dementia. However, the included trials were generally low in quality. More well-designed, high-quality trials are needed to provide better evidence for the assessment of the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicines for vascular dementia.