Beclin 1 knockdown retards re-endothelialization and exacerbates neointimal formation via a crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis.

Objective: Endothelial regeneration is an essential process for the prevention of excessive neointimal formation following endothelial denudation. Beclin 1, a mammalian autophagy gene, is a link between autophagy and apoptosis. We hypothesized that the interference of Beclin 1 can influence re-endothelialization and ultimately affect neointimal formation by regulating autophagy and apoptosis.

Stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rat as an animal model for stroke studies: from artery to brain.

High blood pressure is a main risk factor for both initial and recurrent stroke. Compared to the post stroke situation in normotension, the brain lesion is larger in hypertension, and the treatments may not be as effective. Thus, the results from healthy individuals may not be directly applied to the hypertensive.

[Response to thymectomy and analysis of influencing factors in the treatment of children with myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of thymectomy and relevant influencing factors in the treatment of children with myasthenia gravis through a long-term follow-up.

Methods: The clinical records of 59 patients undergoing expanded thymectomy for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) between January 2003 and August 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Their postoperative outcomes were categorized into complete stable remission (CSR), pharmacological remission (PR), improvement, no change and deterioration (including mortality).

A method of evaluating the lower limit of cerebral autoregulation and its correlation with blood pressure by transcranial Doppler in rats.

The aim of present study was to validate the assessment of lower limit of cerebral autoregulation (LLCA) as derived from mean artery blood pressure (MABP) and cerebral zero flow pressure (ZFP) by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD) and to determine the accurate relationship between LLCA and MABP in stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP). We studied two groups of rats: RHRSP and normal controls. Blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery was monitored by TCD and arterial blood pressure was recorded in right femoral artery to compute the ZFP.

[Roles of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin with immunological memory in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To explore the roles of immunological memory in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).

Methods: For this randomized comparative clinical trial, 58 newly diagnosed MG patients and 32 age-and-gender-matched healthy controls were analyzed by purified protein derivative (PPD) test. The results were observed after 72 hours.

[Therapeutic efficacy and safety of tacrolimus for intractable myasthenia gravis: a report of 36 patients].

Objective: To examine the efficacies and adverse events of low-dose tacrolimus in intractable myasthenia gravis (MG) patients during a long-term follow-up.

Methods: Tacrolimus was administered at 0.1 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) to 36 generalized or ocular MG patients at our department from November 2008 to December 2010.

dl-3n-Butylphthalide promotes angiogenesis via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling pathways.

We have previously demonstrated that dl-3n-butylphthalide (NBP) has a potential angiogenic activity. In this study, we investigated the angiogenic effect of NBP and the molecular mechanisms underlying NBP-mediated angiogenesis. Zebrafish embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with various doses of NBP and several signaling pathway inhibitors.

A retrospective review of 15 patients with familial myasthenia gravis over a period of 25 years.

We observed, during a 25-year period, 15 patients from 6 families with autoimmune myasthenia gravis (all Chinese Han from Guangdong Province) referred to our department. Their mean onset age was 13.4 years (range 2-25 years) with 10 patients with juvenile onset.

[Correlation study between Chinese myasthenia gravis patients from Guangdong province and the polymorphism of HLA immunogene].

Objective: To explore the correlation between Chinese myasthenia gravis (MG) patients from Guangdong province and the polymorphism of HLA immunogene.

Methods: The genotypes of HLA-A, B and DRB1 alleles in 104 MG patients and 121 healthy blood donors were detected by PCR-SBT (polymerase chain reaction-sequencing-based typing).

Results: (1) There were 15 alleles at A locus, 32 at B locus and 23 at DRB1 locus in MG group.

[Analysis of prognostic factors and efficacy of plasmapheresis in the treatment of myasthenia crisis].

Objective: To examine the prognostic factors and efficacy of myasthenia gravis (MG) in crisis on plasmapheresis and detect the reasons for ineffective plasmapheresis.

Methods: The investigators analyzed a total of 69 MG patients in crisis on plasmapheresis by case control study. Gender, age at onset of myasthenic symptoms, duration between the onset of crisis and plasmapheresis, pre-therapeutic use of glucocorticoids, pulmonary infections, other complications, nutritional status, history of thymectomy in 48 hours before crisis, thymic pathology, combined intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and total sessions of plasmapheresis were measured retrospectively.

[Mediation of cellular immune response by TP5 in pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of TP5 upon the production of IFN-gamma and different T cell subsets by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and to provide experimental rationales for TP5 in clinical therapy of MG.

Methods: PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood of MG individuals and cultured with anti-CD3. The level of IFN-gamma in culture supernatants was examined by ELISA.

[Expression of regulatory T cells in thymus of myasthenia gravis patients].

Objective: To investigate the in situ expression of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in thymus and its significance for myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: Thirty nine MG patients who had not accepted immunosuppressive therapy before thymectomy were recruited as study group and 19 patients undergoing cardiosurgery as control. There was no significant statistical difference in age and gender between the two groups (P > 0.

Relationship between cerebral hypoxic tissue volume and prognosis after stroke.

Background/aims: Between 50 and 70% of stroke survivors suffer from severe disabilities such as paralysis and aphasia. Poor stroke outcome is a reflection of our incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms, and hence the capacity to implement appropriate treatment(s). We evaluated hypoxic tissue after stroke and patient condition severity and prognosis.

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.

[Thymopentin 5 in treatment of relapse after extended thymectomy: a randomized comparative clinical trial of 135 patients with myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To investigate the effect of thymopentin 5 (TP5) combined with immunosuppressive agents in treatment of relapse after extended thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: One hundred thirty-five MG patients who were to undergo extended thymectomy, 62 adults and 73 children, were randomly assigned to 2 groups: non-TP5 group (n = 60) treated with intramuscular injection of prednisone + pyridostigmine daily for 3 months as a basic treatment, and TP5 group (n = 73), treated with prednisone + pyridostigmine + TP5 for 3 months. Follow-up was conducted for more than 1 year.

[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.

Endothelium-targeted transgenic GTP-cyclohydrolase I overexpression inhibits neointima formation in mouse carotid artery.

1. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) is an essential cofactor that maintains the normal function of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Restenosis is a key complication after transluminal angioplasty.

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.

Dysphonia as a primary manifestation in myasthenia gravis (MG): a retrospective review of 7 cases among 1520 MG patients.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular transmission, usually recognized with ocular complaints or generalized muscle weakness. However, among the 1520 MG cases that had been diagnosed and treated in our hospital in the last 15 years (1990-2005), we have identified 7 MG patients whose initial and prominent complaint was dysphonia and all had been misdiagnosed elsewhere. The diagnoses were confirmed with fibrolaryngoscope and voice analysis employed before and after a positive neostigmine (anticholinesterase) test.

[Clinical value of the immune parameters in patients with myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of the indices, including IgG, IgA, IgM, CD3, CD4 and CD8.

Methods: Detect CD3, CD4, CD8 by flow cytometry and detect IgG, IgA, IgM by turbidimetric method. We analyzed clinical features according to different classification of immune index, and changes of the level of these immune indices before and after treatment.

[Long-term efficacy of enlarged thymectomy in treatment of myasthenia gravis and relevant influencing factors: study of 410 cases].

Objective: To investigate the long-term efficacy of enlarged thymectomy in treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) and relevant influencing factors.

Methods: 546 patients with MG underwent enlarged thymectomy and were followed up for 28 months (6 to 85 months). Effective follow-up data were obtained from 410 out of the 546 patients.

[Prognostic factors of myasthenic crisis after extended thymectomy in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To investigate the prognostic factors of myasthenic crisis after extended thymectomy in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: Extended thymectomy was performed on 176 patients with generalized MG, 74 males and 102 females, aged 4 - 67, of which 36 experienced postoperative myasthenic crisis and required prolonged mechanical ventilation. The relations among the age, sex, preoperative course of disease, pathologic type of thymus, Osserman classification, history of infection during 1 month preoperatively, history of myasthenic crisis 1 month preoperatively, thymoma, preoperative daily dose of pyridostigmine, preoperative steroid use, operation time, intra-operative blood loss, and intra-operative pleura injury and postoperative myasthenia crisis were analyzed.

[EphB2-Fc promotes activation of endogenous neural stem cells after cerebral cortex infarction: experimental with hypertensive rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of intraventricular injection of EphB2-Fc on activation of inherent neural stem cells after cerebral cortex infarction.

Methods: Stroke-prone renovascular hypertension model was established in 96 SD rats by two-kidney, two-clip method. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established in 72 of these 96 stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats and the other 24 rats were used as sham operation group.