miR‑128 is upregulated in epilepsy and promotes apoptosis through the SIRT1 cascade.

The present study aimed to examine the functional and molecular effects of miR‑128 in epilepsy, in order to investigate its potential protective mechanisms. Firstly, miR‑128 expression in rats with lithium chloride‑induced epilepsy was demonstrated to be increased compared with the control rats. Subsequently, results from an in vitro epilepsy model demonstrated that overexpression of miR‑128 promoted nerve cell apoptosis, increased the protein expression of tumor protein p53, BCL2 associated X (Bax) and Cytochrome c, and enhanced caspase‑3/9 activity, whereas it suppressed the protein expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1).

Risk of post-traumatic epilepsy after severe head injury in patients with at least one seizure.

Background: To explore the incidence and risk factors, including type of seizures for post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Subjects And Methods: This was a retrospective follow-up study of patients discharged from Liaocheng People's Hospital between March 2011 and June 2015 with a diagnosis of post-traumatic seizures. Risk factors for PTE were evaluated in 68 inpatients by using Kaplan-Meier curves and the Cox model.

Prior transient ischemic attacks may have a neuroprotective effect in patients with ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Although functional recovery and survival after ischemic infarction seem to improve in patients with prior transient ischemic attack (TIA), little is known about the role of characteristics of prior TIA in subsequent cerebral infarction. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore how the characteristics of prior TIA have a neuroprotective effect on patients with ischemic stroke.

Material And Methods: A total of 221 patients admitted consecutively to a primary care center for first-ever ischemic stroke were divided into two groups on the basis of the presence or absence of prior TIAs.

Studies on the active constituents in radix salviae miltiorrhizae and their protective effects on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury and its mechanism.

Background: To extract, purify and identify the active constituents in ethanol extract of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, and to analyze the protective effects of tanshinone IIA on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Materials And Methods: Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae was extracted by ultrasonic extraction, effective parts were extracted by extraction method, compounds were isolated by preparative TLC and preparative HPLC, and structures of compounds were identified by (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR; the effects of tanshinone IIA on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats were determined by establishing rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Results: The experimental data show four compounds were isolated, namely tanshinone IIB, hydroxymethylene tanshinone, salvianolic acid B and 9"'-methyl lithospermate B.

Massage therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Although some studies evaluated the effectiveness of massage therapy for fibromyalgia (FM), the role of massage therapy in the management of FM remained controversial.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the evidence of massage therapy for patients with FM.

Methods: Electronic databases (up to June 2013) were searched to identify relevant studies.

Relationship between serum bilirubin and carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum bilirubin and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with hypertension.

Patients And Methods: Carotid artery ultrasonography was performed in 198 patients (104 males, average age of 65.6+/-7.