Effects of the transcription factor Olig1 on the differentiation and remyelination of oligodendrocyte precursor cells after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

The differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is important for remyelination in the central nervous system. Nevertheless, this process is often limited and incomplete in ischemic injury. Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1) is important for the maturation of OPCs and the repair of demyelinated lesions.

Trigeminal nerve and facial nerve palsy after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for cesarean section.

A case of emergency cesarean section due to a prolonged second stage of labor in a 29 year-old woman is presented. She had trigeminal nerve and facial nerve palsy after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for cesarean section.

Enhanced angiogenesis with dl-3n-butylphthalide treatment after focal cerebral ischemia in RHRSP.

Appropriate restoration of blood flow via angiogenesis is critical for the recovery from ischemic stroke. Previously, we reported that treatment with dl-3n-butylphthalide (NBP) increases the number of local potent cerebral microvessels. However, the underlying mechanism remained unclear.

Modulatory role of estradiol in nicotinic antinociception in adult female rats.

Aims: Differences in the response to nicotinic analgesia in males and females have been suggested by recent studies, and such differences are presumed to be due to the regulatory effects of gonadal hormones. The aim of this study was to investigate nicotinic antinociception and the effect of estradiol (E2) on this response in female rats.

Main Methods: Ovariectomized female rats were implanted with subcutaneous silastic tubes containing E2.

[Changes in endothelial cellular adhesion molecule mRNA expressions in the cerebral blood vessels of rats with prestroke condition caused by simulated cold wave].

Objective: To study the changes in the mRNA expression of endothelial cellular adhesion molecules in the cerebral blood vessels in rats with prestroke condition caused by simulated cold wave.

Methods: Two-kidney two-clip renovascular hypertension was induced in 48 male SD rats, which were subsequently randomly assigned into cold wave exposure and non-exposed group (n=24). Each group was further divided into 4 sub-groups according to their systolic blood pressure, namely the sham-operated group with blood pressure (BP)<140 mmHg, mild hypertensive group with BP of 160-199 mmHg, moderate hypertensive group with BP of 200-219 mmHg, and severe hypertensive group with BP no less than 220 mmHg.

Middle cerebral artery stenosis increased the risk of vascular disease mortality among type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: In Chinese populations, middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis is the most commonly identified intracranial vascular lesion, and has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of secondary stroke mortality, but has yet to be reported for primary events. We assess whether asymptomatic MCA stenosis is associated with mortality in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: The presence of MCA stenosis was determined by transcranial Doppler and mortality data were collated in the Hong Kong Death Registry.

dl-3n-butylphthalide prevents stroke via improvement of cerebral microvessels in RHRSP.

The purpose of the study is to establish a model of cold-induced stroke in hypertensive rats, and to study the preventive effect of dl-3n-butylphthalide ( NBP ) on stroke. Stroke-prone renovascular hypertension(RHRSP) was created in Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were assigned randomly to NBP, aspirin treated and vehicle control group, with administration of the medications for 7 days, and then subjected to cold treatment in an environmentally controlled chamber for 3 days to induce the occurrence of stroke.

Increasing severity of cardiovascular risk factors with increasing middle cerebral artery stenotic involvement in type 2 diabetic Chinese patients with asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease.

Objective: To identify determinants associated with increasing severity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis in asymptomatic Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with and without MCA stenosis determined using transcranial Doppler. Conventional risk factors contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, and differences in the pattern of these may explain the heterogeneity of disease presentation in different populations. In Chinese patients, MCA stenosis is the most commonly identified intracranial vascular lesion.

Middle cerebral artery stenosis in type II diabetic Chinese patients is associated with conventional risk factors but not with polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system genes.

Background: Conventional and genetic risk factors have been reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke, and differences may explain the heterogeneity of disease presentation in different populations. In Chinese, middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis is the most commonly identified intracranial vascular lesion. The involvement of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) gene polymorphisms in this condition has not been determined.