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The expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) including miR-21, have been reported to change in response to traumatic brain injury (TBI), suggesting that they may influence the pathophysiological process in brain injury. To analyze the potential effect of miR-21 on neurological function after TBI, we employed the fluid percussion injury rat model and manipulated the expression level of miR-21 in brain using intracerebroventricular infusion of miR-21 agomir or antagomir. We found that upregulation of miR-21 level in brain conferred a better neurological outcome after TBI by improving long-term neurological function, alleviating brain edema and decreasing lesion volume. To further investigate the mechanism underlying this protective effect, we evaluated the impact of miR-21 on apoptosis and angiogenesis in brain after TBI. We found that miR-21 inhibited apoptosis and promoted angiogenesis through regulating the expression of apoptosis- and angiogenesis-related molecules. In addition, the expression of PTEN, a miR-21 target gene, was inhibited and Akt signaling was activated in the procedure. Taken together, these data indicate that miR-21 could be a potential therapeutic target for interventions after TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Hie evaluation of discretely sampled Asian options was considered by numerically solving the associated partial differential equations with the Legendre spectral method. Double average options were discussed as examples. The problem is a parabolic one on a finite domain whose equation degenerates into ordinary differential equations on the boundaries. A fully discrete scheme was established by using the Legendre spectral method in space and the Crank-Nicolson finite difference scheme in time. The stability and convergence of the scheme were analyzed. Numerical results show that the method can keep the spectral accuracy in space for such degenerate problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]