Protective Effects of Shikonin on Brain Injury Induced by Carbon Ion Beam Irradiation in Mice

Radiation encephalopathy is the main complication of cranial radiotherapy. It can cause necrosis of brain tissue and cognitive dysfunction. Our previous work had proved that a natural antioxidant shikonin possessed protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury. Here we investigated the effects of shikonin on carbon ion beam induced radiation brain injury in mice. Pretreatment with shikonin significantly increased the SOD and CAT activities and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in mouse brain tissues compared with irradiated group （P〈0.01）, while obviously reduced the MDA and PCO contents and the RO$ levels derived from of the brain mitochondria.

The pleiotropic effects of tissue plasminogen activator in the brain:implications for stroke recovery

Tissue plasminogen activator （tPA） use in the treatment of isch- emic stroke： tPA is a serine protease that catalyzes the breakdown of blood dots. Because of its thrombolytic properties, tPA is used to treat specific types of stroke, including ischemia, but is contra- indicated for treatment of hemorrhagic stroke or head trauma. Although a life saving and powerful ＇dot buster＇, tPA has a short therapeutic window. When administered outside of this prescribed timeframe, research suggests that tPA can produce neurotoxic ef- fects in the brain, due in part to activation of several signalling pro- cesses associated with cell apoptosis, degradation of the extracel- lular matrix, and increase in the permeability of the neurovascular unit （Yepes et al., 2009）. Concerted research has been dedicated to- ward understanding the mechanisms mediating the impact of tPA on the brain, using both in vivo and in vitro animal models.

Age-at-injury effects of microglial activation following traumatic brain injury： implications for treatment strategies

Traumatic brain injury（TBI）remains one of the leading causes of disability and death in infants and children.Studies have demonstrated that the youngest age group（especially≤4 years old）exhibit worse functional outcome following moderate to severe TBI compared to older children or adults（Anderson et al.,2005;Emami et al.,2017）.These data suggest that age-at-injury may be an important determinant of outcome,

Xylene-induced Effects on Brain Neurotransmitters, Behavior and Fos Protein in Rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats administered xylene intrapetitoneally on alternate days at a dose of 125 or 250mg/kg for 30 days exhibited no marked changes in locomotor activity, learning and memory capacity. However in rats given xylene on alternate day at a dose of 500 mg/kg for 30 days, a significant decrease in locomotor activity, deficits in leaming ability and memory loss were detected. These xylene-induced behavioral ehanges were assoryiated with a decrease in fyendorphin and leuenkaphlin concentrations in the pons-medulla. On the contrary, xylene at a dose of 500mg/kg increased the β-endorphin level in caudate and c-fos expression in hippocampus. These data suggest that the xylene-induced behavioral alterations might be associated with the expression of Fos protein in the hippocampus.

Effects of Diisopropylfluorophosphate on Brain Acetylcholinesterase, Butyryicholinesterase, and Neurotoxic Esterase in Rats

The inhibition and the recovery of brain AChE, BuChE, and NTE activities after acute and subacute administration of DFP were studied in the rat. DFP displayed different specificities in inhibiting these enzymes; inhibition was greatest for BuChE followed by AChE and NTE. Recovery was most rapid for BuChE followed by NTE and AChE. The recovery rates of AChE and BuChE following acute and subacute treatment were similar. However, the recovery rate of NTE in subacutely treated rats was significantly faster than that in acutely treated rats. The results suggest that DFP inhibits these three enzymes and the rates of regeneration of these enzymes are significantly different. (c)1989 Academic Press, Inc.

Neuroimmune actions in the brain and interactions with the effects of alcohol

The neuroimmune system of the brain:Early studies(1990’s)on the neurological consequences of human immunodeficiency virus-1(HIV-1)infection in the brain were instrumental in establishing that specific brain cell types can function as an innate immune system within the brain and in that role influence cognitive function(Kaul et al.,2005).

Effects of Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride on increasing the fluidity of brain cell membrane and scavenging free radicals in model rats with ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: The fluidity of cell membrane can be affected by various factors. Many experiments have confirmed that the ischemia/reperfusion of organic tissue can increase the contents of free radicals, which lead to high rigidity and low fluidity of cell membrane, and the conditions can be changed by Chuanxiongqin. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and mechanism of Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride on the fluidity of brain cell membrane in rat models of ischemia/reperfusion. DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled animal trial. SETTINGS: Institute of Brain Sciences; Department of Physiology, Medical College, Datong University. MATERIALS: Twenty male grade Ⅰ Wistar rats of 170-220 g were randomly divided into model group (n =10) and control group (n =10). Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride (molecular mass was 172.2) was purchased from the National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products (batch number: 0817-9803); Spin labelers: 5-doxyl-stearlic acid methylester (5DS), 16-doxyl-stearlic acid methylester (16DS), xanthine, xanthine oxidase (XOD) and 5,5-dimeth-1-pyrroline- N-oxide (DMPO) from Sigma Company; Bruker ESP 300 electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer by Bruker Company (Germany). METHODS: The experiments were carried out in the State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University from June 2001 to July 2002. In the model group, rats were made into models of cerebral ischemia by 30-minute ligation and 2-hour reperfusion of common carotid arteries; The rats in the control group were not made into models. The order parameter (S) and rotational correlation time (τc) were detected with the ESR spectrometer by means of spin labeling. The greater the S and τc, the smaller the fluidity. Meanwhile, the clearance rate of free radicals was detected with ESR spin trapping. The measurement data were compared using the t test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The S, τc and clearance rates of O2 · and OH· free radicals were compared between the model group and control group. RESULTS: The S and τc in the model group [0.738 4±0.003 5; (8.472±0.027)×10-10 s/circle] were obviously different from those in the control group [0.683 9±0.008 3; (7.945±0.082)×10-10 s/circle, t =5.731, 5.918, P < 0.05], which suggested that ischemia/reperfusion injury decreased the fluidity of brain cell membrane. After adding Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride, there were no obvious differences between the model group [0.688 5±0.030 5; (7.886±0.341)×10-10 s/circle] and control group (P > 0.05), indicating that Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride could recover the fluidity of brain cell membrane after ischemia/reperfusion injury close to the level in the normal control group. Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride could directly scavenge the O2 · and OH· free radicals, and the maximal clearance rates were 83.92% and 44.99% respectively. CONCLUSION: Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride increases the fluidity of membrane of ischemia-injured brain cell by scavenging both O2 ·and OH· free radicals.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on GCS after traumatic brain injury in patients

Objective To evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCC) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in patients. Methods One hundred and thirty-eight patients with traumatic brain injury were treated by routine therapy combined with HBOT and 29 patients by routine therapy.

Breviscapine reduces neuronal injury caused by traumatic brain injury insult:partly associated with suppression of interleukin-6 expression

Breviscapine,extracted from the herb Erigeron breviscapus,is widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases,cerebral infarct,and stroke,but its mechanism of action remains unclear.This study established a rat model of traumatic brain injury induced by controlled cortical impact,and injected 75 μg breviscapine via the right lateral ventricle.We found that breviscapine significantly improved neurobehavioral dysfunction at 6 and 9 days after injection.Meanwhile,interleukin-6 expression was markedly down-regulated following breviscapine treatment.Our results suggest that breviscapine is effective in promoting neurological behavior after traumatic brain injury and the underlying molecular mechanism may be associated with the suppression of interleukin-6.

Phycocyanin for protecting brain ischemia-reperfusion injury and its effect on the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA

BACKGROUND ; Phycecyanin can anti-oxidize and clear free radial. Whether its protective effect on brain is related to Caspase-3, the promoter and operator of apoptosis, is highly concerned. OBJECTIVE： To observe phycocyanin for protecting nerve function and reducing the size of cerebral infarction of rats with brain ischemia-reperfusion and its effect on the expression of Cespese-3 mRNA. DESIGN ： A randomized controlled experiment. SETTING ： Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University MATERIALS： Totally 84 adult healthy female Wistar rats, weighing 210 to 250 g, of clean grade, were provided by the Animal Experimental Center of Shandong University. Phycocyanin （Institute of Oceanography of Chinese Academy of Sciences） was used. METHODS： This experiment was carried out in the Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Brain Diseases during May to December 2005. ① The rats were randomized into sham-operation group （n=4）, control group （n=-40） and phycocyanin-treated group （n=-40）. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MACO/R） models were created on the rats of control and phycocyanin-treated groups with suture-occluded method by inserting a thread into left side extemal-internal carotid artery. In the sham-operatien group, inserting suture was omitted. After ischemia for 1 hour and reperfusion for 2 hours, suspension of phycocyanin was intragastdcaUy administrated into the rats of the phycocyanin-treated group at 100 mg/kg , and the same volume of normal saline was isochrenously administrated into the rats of control group as the same. ② Six rats were chosen respectively from the control group and phycocyanin-treated group, then neurologic impairment degrees of rats were evaluated according to Bederson＇s grading. ③ Six rats were chosen respectively from the control and phycocyanin-treated groups. The isolated brain tissue was stained with tdphenyltetrazolium chloride, and then the size of cerebral infarction was calculated with HPIAS-1000 image analytical system by calculating the ratio of cerebral infarction size at each layer and contralateral hemisphere size of the same layer. ④ Twenty--eight rats were chosen respectively from the control and phycocyanin-treated groups, Brain tissue was harvested at reperfusion for 6,12,24 hours and for 2,3,7 and 14 days after ischemia for 1 hour, respectively, 4 rats at each time point. Brain tissue of 4 rats of sham-opera- tion group was harvested at the 24^th hour after operation. Brain tissue sections were performed in situ hybridization detection of Cespase-3 mRNA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Comparison of neurologic impairment degree, cerebral infarction size and the expression of brain tissue Caspase-3 mRNA of rats between two groups RESULTS： Totally 84 rats entered the stage of result analysis. ① Bederson＇s scores at ischemia and reperfusion for 24 and 48 hours were significantly lower in the phycocyanin-treated group than in the control group（P 〈 0.05）. ② After brain ischemia and reperfusion, the infarction area was the largest in the 3^rc layer in both control and phycocyanin-treated group, which was（25.23±0,47）% and（23.09±120） %, respectively, and the size of infarction area in the 2^nd layer to the 5^th layer was significantly smaller in the phycocyanin-treated group than in the control group （P 〈 0.05）. ③Positive cell counts of brain tissue Caspase-3 mRNA： The number of positive cells of Caspase-3 mRNA of control group was increased from cerebral ischemia and reperfusion 6 hours, reached the peak at ischemia and reperfusion 24 hours, began to decrease 2 days later and positive cells of Caspese-3 mRNA were still expressed on the 14^th day after reperfusion. At ischemia and reperfusion 6,12 and 24 hours as well as 2,3,7 and 14 days, positive cell counts of Caspase-3 at peripheral ischemic area were significantly lower in the phycocyanin-treated greup[（70.67 ±3.65）, （85.06±4.79）, （119.54±5.37）,（74.26±2.19）, （62.06±3.34）, （23.11±1.89）, （10.75±2.63）/visual field] than in the control group [（94.38±8 28）, （108.81 ±16.11）, （140.88±14.47）, （98.13±11.31）, （81.03±9.31）, （31.22±8.86）, （16.06±5.96）Nisual field] （ P 〈 0.05）; and those at central ischemic area were also significantly lower in the phycocyanin-treated group [（33.86±4.01）, （39.51±3.46）, （50.96 ±2.53）, （43.07±4.09）, （36.25 ±3.72）, （9.03±3.87）, （4.91±5.59）/visual field ]than in the control group [（51.35±2.13）, （54.87±3.42）, （61.77±4.94）, （55.69±6.06）, （49.01 ±5.73） ,（12.84±3.37）, （7.32±2.39）/visual field]（P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION ： Phycocyanin can obviously improve the neurologic function, reduce the size of brain infarction and down-regulate the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA of rats with ischemia and reperfusion injury, thus protect brain.

The neural butterfly effect The injury to peripheral nerves changes the brain

Regeneration of damaged innervations in the peripheral nervous system （PNS） has been well documented in both animals and human. After injury, the damaged neurite swells and undergoes retrograde degeneration. Once the debris is cleared, it begins to sprout and restore damaged connections. Damaged axons are able to regrow as long as the perikarya are intact and have made contact with the Schwann cells in the endoneurial channel[2]. Under appropriate conditions,

Protective effect of ultrashortwave versus radix salviae miltiorrhizae on brains of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND： HOW to control the effect of oxygen-derived free radicals on development of cerebral injury and cerebral edema is a key factor for treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVE： To observe and compare the protective effects, synergistic action and mechanisms of ultrashortwave （USW） and radix salviae miltiorrhizae （RSM） on the focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injuries in rats. DESIGN： Randomized controlled animal study SEI-FING： Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, First Hospital affiliated to China Medical University MATERIALS： A total of 160 healthy Wistar rats of both genders and aged 18-20 weeks weighing 250-300 g of clean grade were selected in this study. 5 mL/ampoule RSM injection fluid was produced by the First Pharmaceutical Corporation of Shanghai （batch number： 011019, 0.01 mug）. The USW therapeutic device was produced by Shanghai Electronic Device Factory with the frequency of 40.68 MHz and the maximal export power of 40 W. The first channel of power after modulation was 11 W. METHODS： The experiment was carried out in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of the First Hospital affiliated to China Medical University from May 2002 to January 2003. Focal ischemia-reperfusion model was established in rats by reversible right middle cerebral artery occlusion with filament. Right cerebral ischemia was for 2 hours and then with 24 hours reperfusion. The scores of neurological deficits were evaluated by 0 to 4 scales. After surgery, 64 successful rats models were divided into four groups according to digital table： control group, USW group, RSM group and RSM ＋ USW group with 16 cases in each group. Rats in control group were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of saline （0.1 mL/g）; rats in USW group were given small dosage of USW on head for 10 minutes at 6 hours after reperfusion; rats in RSM group were intraperitoneally injected with 0.01 mL/g RSM solution at 30 minutes before reperfusion; rats in RSM ＋ USW group were intraperitoneally injected with 0.01 mL/g RSM parenteral solution at 30 minutes before reperfusion and given small dosage of USW on head for 10 minutes once at 6 hours after reperfusion; sixteen rats in sham operation group did not receive any treatment. All 80 rats were taken brains at 24 hours after reperfusion to measure wet and dry weights to calculate water content： Cerebral water content （%） = （1-dry/wet weight） × 100%. Superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity was measured by hydroxylamine method and malondialdehyde （MDA） content was measured by TBA photometric method. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： Cerebral water content, SOD activity and MDA content RESULTS： All 160 rats except 80 failing in modeling were involved in the final analysis. （① The cerebral water content of left hemisphere made no significant difference （P 〉 0.05）. The cerebral water content of right hemisphere in the control group and the three treatment groups was obviously higher than that of the sham operation group [（81.26±0.77）%, （79.74±0.68）%, （79.76±0.81）%, （79.61±0.79）%, （77.43±0.61）%, P 〈 0.05]. The cerebral water content of right hemisphere in the three treatment groups was obviously lower than that of the control group （P〈 0.05）. There was no significant difference among the three treatment groups （P 〉 0.05）. ② Compared with the control group, SOD activity （right） of the control group decreased obviously （P 〈 0.05）, while MDA content increased obviously （P 〈 0.05）. SOD activity in the three therapeutic groups increased obviously, while MDA content decreased obviously （P 〈 0.05）; there was no significant difference among the three treatment groups （P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION： ① USW and RSM therapy have neuroprotective effects against focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injuries by means of decreasing cerebral water content and MDA and increasing the activity of SOD. ② Synergistic action was not observed between these two therapeutic methods.

A study on effective parameters of electric cortical stimulation for motor-sensory brain mapping

Objective The purpose of the study was to investigate the effective parameters of electric cortex stimulation (ECS) for functional brain mapping. Methods We collected 21 subjects who underwent epilepsy surgeries consecutively in Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery with the epileptogenic zone located in perirolandic areas from

Age-related connectivity differences between attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder patients and typically developing subjects：a resting-state functional MRI study

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder（ADHD） is a disorder characterized by behavioral symptoms including hyperactivity/impulsivity among children,adolescents,and adults.These ADHD related symptoms are influenced by the complex interaction of brain networks which were under explored.We explored age-related brain network differences between ADHD patients and typically developing（TD） subjects using resting state f MRI（rs-f MRI） for three age groups of children,adolescents,and adults.We collected rs-f MRI data from 184 individuals（27 ADHD children and 31 TD children;32 ADHD adolescents and 32 TD adolescents;and 31 ADHD adults and 31 TD adults）.The Brainnetome Atlas was used to define nodes in the network analysis.We compared three age groups of ADHD and TD subjects to identify the distinct regions that could explain age-related brain network differences based on degree centrality,a well-known measure of nodal centrality.The left middle temporal gyrus showed significant interaction effects between disease status（i.e.,ADHD or TD） and age（i.e.,child,adolescent,or adult）（P 0.001）.Additional regions were identified at a relaxed threshold（P 0.05）.Many of the identified regions（the left inferior frontal gyrus,the left middle temporal gyrus,and the left insular gyrus） were related to cognitive function.The results of our study suggest that aberrant development in cognitive brain regions might be associated with age-related brain network changes in ADHD patients.These findings contribute to better understand how brain function influences the symptoms of ADHD.

Traumatic brain injury： Changing concepts and approaches

Traumatic brain injury （TBI） represents a huge global medical and public health problem across all ages and in all populations. In this review, we discussed the changing concepts and approaches. Globally, the incidence is increasing and in high income countries epidemiologic patterns are changing with conse- quences for prevention campaigns. TBI should not be viewed as an event, but as a progressive and chronic disease with lifetime consequences. In the clinical field, precision approaches to treatment are being developed, which require more accurate disease phenotyping. Recent advances in genomics, neuroimaging and biomarker development offer great opportunities to develop improved phenotyping and better disease characterization. In clinical research, randomized controlled clinical trials are being complemented by large data collections in broad TBI populations in comparative effectiveness designs. Global collaborations are being developed among funding agencies, research organizations and re- searchers. Only by combining efforts and collaboration will we be able to advance the field by providing long-needed evidence to SUnoort practice recommendatians and to improve treatment