The Effect of Different Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Time Windows on Neurological Function and Prognosis in Acute Cerebral Infarction

Objective:To observe the effects of different hyperbaric oxygen treatment time windows on the prognosis and neurological function of acute cerebral infarction.Method:160 patients with acute cerebral infarction admitted to Xiangyang Central Hospital in Hubei Province were randomly divided into four groups,each with 40 cases,using a random number table method.According to the 2017 guidelines for the treatment of cerebral infarction,the control group received routine treatment for acute cerebral infarction;On the basis of the control group,patients in Group A received hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 48 hours of onset;Group B patients receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 3-6 days of onset;Group C patients receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 7-12 days of onset.Observe the efficacy,recurrence,and neurological function recovery of four groups of patients after treatment.Result:There was no statistically significant difference in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)and Barthel Index(BI)scores among the four groups before treatment(P>0.05).There were statistically significant differences in NIHSS and BI scores between 14 and 30 days after treatment and before treatment(F=16.352,27.261,11.899,28.326,P<0.05).At 14 and 30 days after treatment,the NIHSS score in Group A decreased compared to the control group,Group B,and Group C,while the BI score increased compared to the control group,Group B,and Group C,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in NIHSS and BI scores between Group C and the control group after treatment(P>0.05).After 30 days of treatment,the total effective rate of Group A was higher than that of the control group and Group C,and the difference was statistically significant(X2=6.135,P<0.05).The one-year recurrence rate of Group A and Group B is lower than that of Group C and the control group,and the difference is statistically significant(X2=8.331,P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions among the four groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Patients with acute cerebral infarction who receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 48 hours can improve neurological function and reduce the recurrence rate.The efficacy of receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 7-12 days of onset is equivalent to that of not receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Erythropoietin inhibits ferroptosis and ameliorates neurological function after spinal cord injury

Ferroptosis is one of the critical pathological events in spinal cord injury.Erythropoietin has been reported to improve the recovery of spinal cord injury.However,whether ferroptosis is involved in the neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin on spinal cord injury has not been examined.In this study,we established rat models of spinal cord injury by modified Allen’s method and intraperitoneally administered 1000 and 5000 IU/kg erythropoietin once a week for 2 successive weeks.Both low and high doses of erythropoietin promoted recovery of hindlimb function,and the high dose of erythropoietin led to better outcome.High dose of erythropoietin exhibited a stronger suppressive effect on ferroptosis relative to the low dose of erythropoietin.The effects of erythropoietin on inhibiting ferroptosis-related protein expression and restoring mitochondrial morphology were similar to those of Fer-1(a ferroptosis suppressor),and the effects of erythropoietin were largely diminished by RSL3(ferroptosis activator).In vitro experiments showed that erythropoietin inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis in PC12 cells and increased the expression of xCT and Gpx4.This suggests that xCT and Gpx4 are involved in the neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin on spinal cord injury.Our findings reveal the underlying anti-ferroptosis role of erythropoietin and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for treating spinal cord injury.

miR-181b promotes angiogenesis and neurological function recovery after ischemic stroke

Promotion of new blood vessel formation is a new strategy for treating ischemic stroke.Non-coding miRNAs have been recently considered potential therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke.miR-181b has been shown to promote angiogenesis in hypoxia and traumatic brain injury model,while its effect on ischemic stroke remains elusive.In this study,we found that overexpression of miR-181b in brain microvascular endothelial cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro restored cell prolife ration and enhanced angiogenesis.In rat models of focal cerebral ischemia,ove rexpression of miR-181b reduced infarction volume,promoted angiogenesis in ischemic penumbra,and improved neurological function.We further investigated the molecular mechanism by which miR-181b participates in angiogenesis after ischemic stroke and found that miR-181b directly bound to the 3’-UTR of phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN) mRNA to induce PTEN downregulation,leading to activation of the protein kinase B(Akt) pathway,upregulated expression of vascular endothelial growth facto rs,down-regulated expression of endostatin,and promoted angiogenesis.Taken togethe r,these results indicate that exogenous miR-181b exhibits neuroprotective effects on ischemic stro ke through activating the PTEN/Akt signal pathway and promoting angiogenesis.

Influence of ganglioside combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate on efficacy and neurological function in patients with acute myelitis

BACKGROUND Acute myelitis(AM)can lead to sudden sensory,motor and autonomic nervous dysfunction,which negatively affects their daily activities and quality of life,so it is necessary to explore optimization from a therapeutic perspective to curb the progression of the disease.AIM To investigate the effect of ganglioside(GM)combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate(MPSS)on the curative effect and neurological function of patients with AM.METHODS First,we selected 108 AM patients visited between September 2019 and September 2022 and grouped them based on treatment modality,with 52 patients receiving gamma globulin(GG)+MPSS and 56 patients receiving GM+MPSS,assigned to the control group(Con)and observation group(Obs),respectively.The therapeutic effect,neurological function(sensory and motor function scores),adverse events(AEs),recovery(time to sphincter function recovery,time to limb muscle strength recovery above grade 2,and time to ambulation),inflammatory factors(IFs)[interleukin(IL)-6,C-reactive protein(CRP),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α]and other data of the two groups were collected for evaluation and comparison.RESULTS The Obs had:(1)A significantly higher response rate of treatment than the Con;(2)Higher scores of sensory and motor functions after treatment that were higher than the baseline(before treatment)and higher than the Con levels;(3)Lower incidence rates of skin rash,gastrointestinal discomfort,dyslipidemia,osteoporosis and other AEs;(4)Faster posttreatment recovery of sphincter function,limb muscle strength and ambulation;and(5)Markedly lower posttreatment IL-6,CRP and TNF-αlevels than the baseline and the Con levels.CONCLUSION From the above,it can be seen that GM+MPSS is highly effective in treating AM,with a favorable safety profile comparable to that of GG+MPSS.It can significantly improve patients’neurological function,speed up their recovery and inhibit serum IFs.

Repetitive traumatic brain injury–induced complement C1–related inflammation impairs long-term hippocampal neurogenesis

Repetitive traumatic brain injury impacts adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus,leading to long-term cognitive impairment.However,the mechanism underlying this neurogenesis impairment remains unknown.In this study,we established a male mouse model of repetitive traumatic brain injury and performed long-term evaluation of neurogenesis of the hippocampal dentate gyrus after repetitive traumatic brain injury.Our results showed that repetitive traumatic brain injury inhibited neural stem cell proliferation and development,delayed neuronal maturation,and reduced the complexity of neuronal dendrites and spines.Mice with repetitive traumatic brain injuryalso showed deficits in spatial memory retrieval.Moreover,following repetitive traumatic brain injury,neuroinflammation was enhanced in the neurogenesis microenvironment where C1q levels were increased,C1q binding protein levels were decreased,and canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling was downregulated.An inhibitor of C1 reversed the long-term impairment of neurogenesis induced by repetitive traumatic brain injury and improved neurological function.These findings suggest that repetitive traumatic brain injury–induced C1-related inflammation impairs long-term neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and contributes to spatial memory retrieval dysfunction.

Endorepellin downregulation promotes angiogenesis after experimental traumatic brain injury

Endorepellin plays a key role in the regulation of angiogenesis,but its effects on angiogenesis after traumatic brain injury are unclear.This study explored the effects of endorepellin on angiogenesis and neurobehavioral outcomes after traumatic brain injury in mice.Mice were randomly divided into four groups:sham,controlled cortical impact only,adeno-associated virus(AAV)-green fluorescent protein,and AAV-shEndorepellin-green fluorescent protein groups.In the controlled cortical impact model,the transduction of AAV-shEndorepellin-green fluorescent protein downregulated endorepellin while increasing the number of CD31+/Ki-67+proliferating endothelial cells and the functional microvessel density in mouse brain.These changes resulted in improved neurological function compared with controlled cortical impact mice.Western blotting revealed increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-1 in mice treated with AAV-shEndorepellin-green fluorescent protein.Synchrotron radiation angiography showed that endorepellin downregulation promoted angiogenesis and increased cortical neovascularization,which may further improve neurobehavioral outcomes.Furthermore,an in vitro study showed that downregulation of endorepellin increased tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells compared with a control.Mechanistic analysis found that endorepellin downregulation may mediate angiogenesis by activating vascular endothelial growth factor-and angiopoietin-1-related signaling pathways.

Neurotrophins and neural stem cells in posttraumatic brain injury repair

Traumatic brain injury(TBI)is the main cause of disability,mental health disorder,and even death,with its incidence and social costs rising steadily.Although different treatment strategies have been developed and tested to mitigate neurological decline,a definitive cure for these conditions remains elusive.Studies have revealed that vari-ous neurotrophins represented by the brain-derived neurotrophic factor are the key regulators of neuroinflammation,apoptosis,blood-brain barrier permeability,neurite regeneration,and memory function.These factors are instrumental in alleviating neu-roinflammation and promoting neuroregeneration.In addition,neural stem cells(NSC)contribute to nerve repair through inherent neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties,the release of neurotrophins,the activation of endogenous NSCs,and in-tercellular signaling.Notably,innovative research proposals are emerging to combine BDNF and NSCs,enabling them to synergistically complement and promote each other in facilitating injury repair and improving neuron differentiation after TBI.In this review,we summarize the mechanism of neurotrophins in promoting neurogen-esis and restoring neural function after TBI,comprehensively explore the potential therapeutic effects of various neurotrophins in basic research on TBI,and investigate their interaction with NSCs.This endeavor aims to provide a valuable insight into the clinical treatment and transformation of neurotrophins in TBI,thereby promoting the progress of TBI therapeutics.

Electroacupuncture improves learning and memory functions in a rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activation

Electroacupuncture has been widely used to treat cognitive impairment after cerebral ischemia,but the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated.Studies have shown that autophagy plays an important role in the formation and development of cognitive impairment,and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway plays an important role in autophagy regulation.To investigate the role played by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the electroacupuncture treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rat models,we first established a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion through the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery using the suture method.Starting at 2 hours after modeling,electroacupuncture was delivered at the Shenting(GV24)and Baihui(GV20)acupoints,with a dilatational wave(1-20 Hz frequency,2 mA intensity,6 V peak voltage),for 30 minutes/day over 8 consecutive days.Our results showed that electroacupuncture reduced the infarct volume in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury,increased the mRNA expression levels of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathwayrelated factors Beclin-1,mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),and PI3K,increased the protein expression levels of phosphorylated Akt,Beclin-1,PI3K,and mTOR in the ischemic cerebral cortex,and simultaneously reduced p53 mRNA and protein expression levels.In the Morris water maze test,the latency to find the hidden platform was significantly shortened among rats subjected to electroacupuncture stimulation compared with rats without electroacupuncture stimulation.In the spatial probe test,the number of times that a rat crossed the target quadrant was increased in rats subjected to electroacupuncture stimulation compared with rats without electroacupuncture stimulation.Electroacupuncture stimulation applied to the Shenting(GV24)and Baihui(GV20)acupoints activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and improved rat learning and memory impairment.This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,China(approval No.8150150901)on March 10,2016.

Effects of professional rehabilitation training on the recovery of neurological function in young stroke patients

Young stroke patients have a strong desire to return to the society, but few studies have been conducted on their rehabilitation training items, intensity, and prognosis. We analyzed clinical data of young and middle-aged/older stroke patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Capital Medical University, China from February 2014 to May 2015. Results demonstrated that hemorrhagic stroke （59.6%） was the primary stroke type found in the young group, while ischemic stroke （60.0%） was the main type detected in the middle-aged/older group. Compared with older stroke patients, education level and incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia were higher in younger stroke patients, whereas, incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease were lower. The average length of hospital stay was longer in the young group than in the middle-aged/older group. The main risk factors observed in the young stroke patients were hypertension, drinking, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes, previous history of stroke, and heart disease. The most accepted rehabilitation program consisted of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion. Average rehabilitation training time was 2.5 hours/day. Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale scores were increased at discharge. Six months after discharge, the degree of occupational and economic satisfaction declined, and there were no changes in family life satisfaction. The degrees of other life satisfaction （such as friendship） improved. The degree of disability and functional status improved significantly in young stroke patients after professional rehabilitation, but the number of patients who returned to society within 6 months after stroke was still small.

Neuroregeneration and functional recovery after stroke: advancing neural stem cell therapy toward clinical application

Stroke is a main cause of death and disability worldwide.The ability of the brain to selfrepair in the acute and chronic phases after stroke is minimal;however,promising stem cell-based interventions are emerging that may give substantial and possibly complete recovery of brain function after stroke.Many animal models and clinical trials have demonstrated that neural stem cells(NSCs)in the central nervous system can orchestrate neurological repair through nerve regeneration,neuron polarization,axon pruning,neurite outgrowth,repair of myelin,and remodeling of the microenvironment and brain networks.Compared with other types of stem cells,NSCs have unique advantages in cell replacement,paracrine action,inflammatory regulation and neuroprotection.Our review summarizes NSC origins,characteristics,therapeutic mechanisms and repair processes,then highlights current research findings and clinical evidence for NSC therapy.These results may be helpful to inform the direction of future stroke research and to guide clinical decision-making.

How does the motor relearning program improve neurological function of brain ischemia monkeys?

The motor relearning program can significantly improve various functional disturbance induced by ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. However, its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. In injured brain tissues, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament protein changes can reflect the condition of injured neurons and astrocytes, while vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor changes can indicate angiogenesis. In the present study, we induced ischemic brain injury in the rhesus macaque by electrocoagulation of the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery. The motor relearning program was conducted for 60 days from the third day after model establishment. Immunohistochemistry and single-photon emission CT showed that the numbers of glial fibrillary acidic protein-, neurofilament protein-, vascular endothelial growth factor- and basic fibroblast growth factor-positive cells were significantly increased in the infarcted side compared with the contralateral hemisphere following the motor relearning program. Moreover, cerebral blood flow in the infarcted side was significantly improved. The clinical rating scale for stroke was used to assess neurological function changes in the rhesus macaque following the motor relearning program. Results showed that motor function was improved, and problems with consciousness, self-care ability and balance function were significantly ameliorated. These findings indicate that the motor relearning program significantly promoted neuronal regeneration, repair and angiogenesis in the surroundings of the infarcted hemisphere, and improve neurological function in the rhesus macaque following brain ischemia.

Epidural electrical stimulation effectively restores locomotion function in rats with complete spinal cord injury

Epidural electrical stimulation can restore limb motor function after spinal cord injury by reactivating the surviving neural circuits.In previous epidural electrical stimulation studies,single electrode sites and continuous tetanic stimulation have often been used.With this stimulation,the body is prone to declines in tolerance and locomotion coordination.In the present study,rat models of complete spinal cord injury were established by vertically cutting the spinal cord at the T8 level to eliminate disturbance from residual nerve fibers,and were then subjected to epidural electrical stimulation.The flexible extradural electrode had good anatomical topology and matched the shape of the spinal canal of the implanted segment.Simultaneously,the electrode stimulation site was able to be accurately applied to the L2–3 and S1 segments of the spinal cord.To evaluate the biocompatibility of the implanted epidural electrical stimulation electrodes,GFAP/Iba-1 doublelabeled immunofluorescence staining was performed on the spinal cord below the electrodes at 7 days after the electrode implantation.Immunofluorescence results revealed no significant differences in the numbers or morphologies of microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord after electrode implantation,and there was no activated Iba-1~+cell aggregation,indicating that the implant did not cause an inflammatory response in the spinal cord.Rat gait analysis showed that,at 3 days after surgery,gait became coordinated in rats with spinal cord injury under burst stimulation.The regained locomotion could clearly distinguish the support phase and the swing phase and dynamically adjust with the frequency of stimulus distribution.To evaluate the matching degree between the flexible epidural electrode(including three stimulation contacts),vertebral morphology,and the level of the epidural site of the stimulation electrode,micro-CT was used to scan the thoracolumbar vertebrae of rats before and after electrode implantation.Based on the experimental results of gait recovery using three-site stimulation electrodes at L2–3 and S1 combined with burst stimulation in a rat model of spinal cord injury,epidural electrical stimulation is a promising protocol that needs to be further explored.This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital(approval No.2019-X15-39)on April 19,2019.

Neural differentiation of human Wharton＇s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells improves the recovery of neurological function after transplantation in ischemic stroke rats

Human Wharton＇s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells（h WJ-MSCs）have excellent proliferative ability,differentiation ability,low immunogenicity,and can be easily obtained.However,there are few studies on their application in the treatment of ischemic stroke,therefore their therapeutic effect requires further verification.In this study,h WJ-MSCs were transplanted into an ischemic stroke rat model via the tail vein 48 hours after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.After 4 weeks,neurological functions of the rats implanted with h WJ-MSCs were significantly recovered.Furthermore,many h WJ-MSCs homed to the ischemic frontal cortex whereby they differentiated into neuron-like cells at this region.These results confirm that h WJ-MSCs transplanted into the ischemic stroke rat can differentiate into neuron-like cells to improve rat neurological function and behavior.

Evaluation of sensory function and recovery after replantation of fingertips at ZoneⅠin children

Sensory function is the most significant criterion when evaluating the prognosis of replanted fingers. Current clinical research has focused on surgical techniques and indications for finger replantation; however, few studies have focused on recovery of finger sensory function af- ter replantation. This study retrospectively assessed data of eight patients who had undergone nine Zone I replantations of the fingertips in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University of China from July 2014 to January 2016. Variations in the extent of damage, with the residual vessels or nerves in some fingers being too short or even missing, prevented tension-free suture repair in some patients. Thus, re- pair of four of the nine fingertips included arteriovenous anastomosis, the remaining five undergoing arterial anastomosis during replanta- tion of the amputated fingers. Three patients underwent nerve repair, whereas the remaining six cases did not. Fingertip replantations were successful in all eight patients. Compared with the patients without vascular anastomosis, no obvious atrophy was visible in the fingertips of patients who did undergo vascular anastomosis during replantation and their sensory function did recover. Fingertip replantation pro- vides good sensory function and cosmetic outcomes when good artery and vein anastomoses have been created, even when digital nerves have not been repaired.

JNK3 involvement in nerve cell apoptosis and neurofunctional recovery after traumatic brain injury

Increasing evidence has revealed that the activation of the JNK pathway participates In apoptosis o1 nerve cells and neurological function recovery after traumatic brain injury. However, which genes inI the JNK family are activated and their role in traumatic brain injury remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, in situ end labeling, reverse transcription-PCR and neurological function assessment were adopted to investigate the alteration of JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3 gene expression in cerebral injured rats, and their role in celt apoptosis and neurological function restoration. Results showed that JNK3 expression significantly decreased at 1 and 6 hours and 1 and 7 days post injury, but that JNK1 and JNK2 expression remained unchanged. In addition, the number of apoptotic nerve cells surrounding the injured cerebral cortex gradually reduced over time post injury. The Neurological Severity Scores gradually decreased over 1,3, 5, 14 and 28 days post injury. These findings suggested that JNK3 expression was downregulated at early stages of brain injury, which may be associated with apoptosis of nerve cells. Downregulation of JNK3 expression may promote the recovery of neurological function following traumatic brain injury.

Stellate ganglion block reduces inflammation and improves neurological function in diabetic rats during ischemic stroke

Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke.Both diabetes mellitus and stroke are linked to systemic inflammation that aggravates patient outcomes.Stellate ganglion block can effectively regulate the inflammatory response.Therefore,it is hypothesized that stellate ganglion block could be a potential therapy for ischemic stroke in diabetic subjects.In this study,we induced diabetes mellitus in rats by feeding them a high-fat diet for 4 successive weeks.The left middle cerebral artery was occluded to establish models of ischemic stroke in diabetic rats.Subsequently,we performed left stellate ganglion block with 1%lidocaine using the percutaneous posterior approach 15 minutes before reperfusion and again 20 and 44 hours after reperfusion.Our results showed that stellate ganglion block did not decrease the blood glucose level in diabetic rats with diabetes mellitus but did reduce the cerebral infarct volume and the cerebral water content.It also improved the recovery of neurological function,increased 28-day survival rate,inhibited Toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway and reduced inflammatory response in the plasma of rats.However,injection of Toll like receptor 4 agonist lipopolysaccharide 5 minutes before stellate ganglion block inhibited the effect of stellate ganglion block,whereas injection of Toll like receptor 4 inhibitor TAK242 had no such effect.We also found that stellate ganglion block performed at night had no positive effect on diabetic ischemic stroke.These findings suggest that stellate ganglion block is a potential therapy for diabetic ischemic stroke and that it may be mediated through the Toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway.We also found that the therapeutic effect of stellate ganglion block is affected by circadian rhythm.

Neurological function following intra-neural injection of fluorescent neuronal tracers in rats

Fluorescent neuronal tracers should not be toxic to the nervous system when used in long-term labeling. Previous studies have addressed tracer toxicity, but whether tracers injected into an intact nerve result in functional impairment remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined the functions of motor, sensory and autonomic nerves following the application of 5% Fluoro-Gold, 4% True Blue and 10% Fluoro-Ruby （5 pL） to rat tibial nerves via pressure injection. A set of evaluation methods including walking track analysis, plantar test and laser Doppler perfusion imaging was used to determine the action of the fluorescent neuronal tracers. Additionally, nerve pathology and ratio of muscle wet weight were also observed. Results showed that injection of Fluoro-Gold significantly resulted in loss of motor nerve function, lower plantar sensibility, increasing blood flow volume and higher neurogenic vasodilatation. Myelinated nerve fiber degeneration, unclear boundaries in nerve fibers and high retrograde labeling efficacy were observed in the Fluoro-Gold group. The True Blue group also showed obvious neurogenic vasodilatation, but less severe loss of motor function and degeneration, and fewer labeled motor neurons were found compared with the Fluoro-Gold group. No anomalies of motor and sensory nerve function and no myelinated nerve fiber degeneration were observed in the Fluoro-Ruby group. Experimental findings indicate that Fluoro-Gold tracing could lead to significant functional impairment of motor, sensory and autonomic nerves, while functional impairment was less severe following True Blue tracing. Fluoro-Ruby injection appears to have no effect on neurological function.

Influence of spinal cord injury on core regions of motor function

Functional electrical stimulation is an effective way to rebuild hindlimb motor function after spinal cord injury.However,no site map exists to serve as a reference for implanting stimulator electrodes.In this study,rat models of thoracic spinal nerve 9 contusion were established by a heavy-impact method and rat models of T6/8/9 spinal cord injury were established by a transection method.Intraspinal microstimulation was performed to record motion types,site coordinates,and threshold currents induced by stimulation.After transection(complete injury),the core region of hip flexion migrated from the T13 to T12 vertebral segment,and the core region of hip extension migrated from the L1 to T13 vertebral segment.Migration was affected by post-transection time,but not transection segment.Moreover,the longer the post-transection time,the longer the distance of migration.This study provides a reference for spinal electrode implantation after spinal cord injury.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Nantong University,China(approval No.20190225-008)on February 26,2019.

Inhibition of inflammatory cytokines after early decompression may mediate recovery of neurological function in rats with spinal cord injury

A variety of inlfammatory cytokines are involved in spinal cord injury and inlfuence the recov-ery of neuronal function. In the present study, we established a rat model of acute spinal cord injury by cerclage. The cerclage suture was released 8 or 72 hours later, to simulate decompres-sion surgery. Neurological function was evaluated behaviorally for 3 weeks after surgery, and tumor necrosis factorα immunoreactivity and apoptosis were quantiifed in the region of injury. Rats that underwent decompression surgery had significantly weaker immunoreactivity of tumor necrosis factorα and signiifcantly fewer apoptotic cells, and showed faster improvement of locomotor function than animals in which decompression surgery was not performed. De-compression at 8 hours resulted in signiifcantly faster recovery than that at 72 hours. These data indicate that early decompression may improve neurological function after spinal cord injury by inhibiting the expression of tumor necrosis factorα.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell therapy regulates gut microbiota to improve post-stroke neurological function recovery in rats

BACKGROUND As a cellular mode of therapy,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)are used to treat stroke.However,their mechanisms in stroke treatment have not been established.Recent evidence suggests that regulation of dysregulated gut flora after stroke affects stroke outcomes.AIM To investigate the effects of BMSCs on gut microbiota after ischemic stroke.METHODS A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups,including sham operation control group,transient middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)group,and MCAO with BMSC treatment group.The modified Neurological Severity Score(mNSS),beam walking test,and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate neurological function recovery after BMSC transplantation.Nissl staining was performed to elucidate on the pathology of nerve cells in the hippocampus.Feces from each group of rats were collected and analyzed by 16s rDNA sequencing.RESULTS BMSC transplantation significantly reduced mNSS(P<0.01).Rats performed better in the beam walking test in the BMSC group than in the MCAO group(P<0.01).The Morris water maze test revealed that the BMSC treatment group exhibited a significant improvement in learning and memory.Nissl staining for neuronal damage assessment after stroke showed that in the BMSC group,cells were orderly arranged with significantly reduced necrosis.Moreover,BMSCs regulated microbial structure composition.In rats treated with BMSCs,the abundance of potential short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria and Lactobacillus was increased.CONCLUSION BMSC transplantation is a potential therapeutic option for ischemic stroke,and it promotes neurological functions by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis.