Search

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A(PKA)/cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) signal transduction pathway triggered by γ-aminobutyric acid class B (GABAB) receptor activation is involved in neuroprotection against ischemia and behavioral recovery induced by opposing needling (ON). A total of 80 rats were randomly divided into four groups: A sham operation group, an ischemia group, an ON group and an ON group effectively inhibited by the GABAB receptor antagonist, CGP35384 (n=20/group). The behavior of the rats was assessed by their neurological deficit score, whereas the impairment of gait was examined using the CatWalk system. The volume of cerebral infarction was examined upon treatment with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The expression levels of CREB, GABAB1 and GABAB2 were examined by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the activity of adenylyl cyclase (AC), cAMP and PKA in the serum was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the present study, in comparison with other groups, the ON group exhibited a reduced score for the neurological deficit, the stride length and swing speed were improved, and the volume of infarction was reduced. However, these effects were reversed upon administration of CGP35384. Additionally, the expression levels of CREB, GABAB1 and GABAB2 were increased in the ON group. The levels of AC, cAMP and PKA in the serum were also increased in the ON group, whereas the addition of CGP35384 reversed these effects. The results of the present study demonstrated that ON markedly protected the brain against transient cerebral ischemic injury, and this effect was possibly mediated by the activation of the GABAB/cAMP/PKA/CREB signal transduction pathway. These findings implied that ON may be a potential therapeutic method for treating stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to identify abnormal hippocampal functional connectivity (FC) following ischemic stroke using restingstate fMRI. We also explored whether abnormal hippocampal FC could be modulated by integrated cognitive therapy and tested whether these alterations were associated with cognitive performance. Methods. 18 right-handed cognitively impaired ischemic stroke patients and 18 healty control (HC) subjects were included in this study. Stroke subjects were scanned at baseline and after integrated cognitive therapy, while HCs were only scanned at baseline, to identify regions that show significant correlations with the seed region. Behavioral and cognitive assessments were obtained before each scan. Results. During the resting state, we found abnormal hippocampal FC associated with temporal regions, insular cortex, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex in stroke patients compared to HCs. After integrated cognitive therapy, however, the stroke group showed increased hippocampal FC mainly located in the prefrontal gyrus and the default mode network (DMN). Altered hippocampal FC was associated with cognitive improvement. Conclusion. Resting-state fMRI may provide novel insight into the study of functional networks in the brain after stroke. Furthermore, altered hippocampal FC may be a compensatory mechanism for cognitive recovery after ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) immobilized on graphene (GR) has been first developed for the determination of chlorinated phenols (CPs) in water. The detection is based on the ECL signals from the interaction between the analytes and the excited CQDs (C*+) using S2O82- as coreactant. GR facilitates both C*- and SO4*- production, resulting in a high yield of C*+, and the multistage amplification effect leads to a nearly 48-fold ECL amplification. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is often monitored as an important indicator for CPs in real environmental samples, but its ultratrace and real-time analysis is an intractable issue in environmental monitoring. The resulting ECL sensor enables the real-time detection of PCP with unprecedented sensitivity reaching 1.0 x 10-12 M concentration in a wide linear range from 1.0 x 10-12 to 1.0 x 10-8 M. The ECL sensor showed high selectivity to CPs, especially to PCP. The practicability of the sensing platform in real water samples showed ideal recovery rates. It is envisaged that the eco-friendly and recyclable sensor could be employed in the identification of key CPs in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A majority of stroke survivors present with cognitive impairments. Attention disturbance, which leads to impaired concentration and overall reduced cognitive functions, is strongly associated with stroke. The clinical efficacy of acupuncture with Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) as well as computer-assisted cognitive training in stroke and post-stroke cognitive impairment have both been demonstrated in previous studies. To date, no systematic comparison of these exists and the potential beneficial effects of a combined application are yet to be examined. The main objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the effects of computer-assisted cognitive training compared to acupuncture on the outcomes of attention assessments. The second objective is to test the effects of a combined cognitive intervention that incorporates computer-assisted cognitive training and acupuncture (ACoTrain). Methods/design: An international multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled pilot trial will be conducted. In a 1:1:1 ratio, 60 inpatients with post-stroke cognitive dysfunction will be randomly allocated into either the acupuncture group, the computer-assisted cognitive training group, or the ACoTrain group in addition to their individual rehabilitation programme. The intervention period of this pilot trial will last 4 weeks (30 minutes per day, 5 days per week, Monday to Friday). The primary outcome is the test battery for attentional performance. The secondary outcomes include the Trail Making Test, Test des Deux Barrages, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and Modified Barthel Index for assessment of daily life competence, and the EuroQol Questionnaire for health-related quality of life. Discussion: This trial mainly focuses on evaluating the effects of computer-assisted cognitive training compared to acupuncture on the outcomes of attention assessments. The results of this pilot trial are expected to provide new insights on how Eastern and Western medicine can complement one another and improve the treatment of cognitive impairments in early stroke rehabilitation. Including patients with different cultural backgrounds allows a more generalisable interpretation of the results but also poses risks of performance bias. Using standardised and well-described assessments, validated for each region, is pivotal to allow pooling of the data. Trial Registration: Clinical Trails.gov ID: NCT02324959 (8 December 2014). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous study by our group found that electro-acupuncture (EA) at the Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) acupoints ameliorates cognitive impairment in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the precise mechanism of action has remained largely unknown. The present study investigated whether brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) mediates hippocampal synaptic plasticity as the underlying mechanism. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: The sham operation control (Sham) group, the focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group, and the I/R with EA treatment (I/R+EA) group. The I/R+EA group received EA treatment at the Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) acupoints after the operation. EA treatment was found to ameliorate neurological deficits (P<0.05) and reduce the cerebral infarct volume (P<0.01). In addition, EA improved cognitive function in cerebral I/R-injured rats (P<0.05). Furthermore, EA treatment promoted synaptic plasticity. Simultaneously, EA increased the hippocampal expression of BDNF, its high-affinity tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and post-synaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) in the rats with cerebral I/R injury. Collectively, the findings suggested that BDNF-mediated hippocampal synaptic plasticity may be one mechanism via which EA treatment at the Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) acupoints improves cognitive function in cerebral I/R injured rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-stroke memory dysfunction (PMD) is one of the most common forms of cognitive impairment among stroke survivors. However, only a limited number of studies have directly investigated the neural mechanisms associated with memory decline. The aim of the present study was to identify dynamic changes in the functional organization of the default mode network (DMN) and the dorsal attention network of patients with PMD. A total of 27 patients with PMD who experienced a stroke in the right hemisphere were enrolled in the current study, along with 27 healthy control subjects matched by age, sex, and educational level. A behavioral examination and functional magnetic resonance imaging scan were performed. The data were analyzed using an independent component analysis method. The results revealed a significantly increased functional connectivity between the DMN and prefrontal cortex (left middle/inferior frontal and left precentral gyri), temporal regions (left superior temporal gyrus), and bilateral and posterior cingulate gyri/precuneus (P<0.001). There was also a significantly decreased functional connectivity between the DMN and right middle temporal gyrus, left uvula, and right inferior parietal lobule, and between the dorsal attention network and prefrontal cortex (left precentral/inferior and right inferior/middle frontal gyri), right inferior parietal gyrus, and right insula (P<0.001). These results suggest that the stroke affected both the lesioned and contralesional hemispheres. The prefrontal cortex, temporal regions, insula, and posterior cingulate gyrus/precuneus serve a crucial role in memory processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) lessens quality of life, restricts the rehabilitation of stroke, and increases the social and economic burden stroke imposes on patients and their families. Therefore effective treatment is of paramount importance. However, the treatment of PSCI is very limited. The primary aim of this protocol is to propose a lower cost and more effective therapy, and to confirm the long-term effectiveness of a therapeutic regimen of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rehabilitation for PSCI. Methods/design: A prospective, multicenter, large sample, randomized controlled trial will be conducted. A total of 416 eligible patients will be recruited from seven inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation units and randomly allocated into a therapeutic regimen of TCM rehabilitation group or cognitive training (CT) control group. The intervention period of both groups will last 12 weeks (30 minutes per day, five days per week). Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, 12 weeks (at the end of the intervention), and 36 weeks (after the 24-week follow-up period). Discussion: This protocol presents an objective design of a multicenter, large sample, randomized controlled trial that aims to put forward a lower cost and more effective therapy, and confirm the long-term effectiveness of a therapeutic regimen of TCM rehabilitation for PSCI through subjective and objective assessments, as well as highlight its economic advantages. Trial Registration: This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-14004872 ) on 23 June 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine there is an optimum time to administer acupuncture at a particular acupoint. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the timing effects of acupuncture at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint. A total of 10 healthy volunteers and 10 post-stroke patients were recruited. The subjects received acupuncture stimulation at ST36 during two time periods: between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. (the AM condition) and between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (the PM condition), seven days later. Blood oxygenation level-dependent signals were captured while the patient was receiving the acupuncture stimulation. The results showed a stronger activation in the AM condition than in the PM condition in both healthy and stroke subjects. The significant regions in the healthy subjects included the prefrontal cortex, cingulum, thalamus and cerebellum; for the stroke patients, the significant regions were the cuneus, supplementary motor area and inferior parietal gyrus. Timing can therefore modulate brain activation patterns during acupuncture in healthy subjects and stroke patients; however, the modulation effect appears to differ between the two subject groups. Further studies are required to explore the timing effects of acupuncture at different acupoints in different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]