Effect of corilagin on cerebral ischaemia/reperfusioninduced cerebral injury in a rat model

Purpose: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of corilagin in cerebral ischaemia-induced cerebral injury in a rat model. Methods: Cerebral ischaemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The animals were separated into five groups, including a control group that underwent surgery without inserting a monofilament; MCAO group that received saline; corilagin-treated group (20 mg/kg corilagin, intraperitoneally for 7 days after reperfusion); Tat-Beclin-1-treated group (intraperitoneal injection of 1.5mg/kg of Tat-Beclin-1 on the 3rd and 6th days after MCAO); and corilagin + Tat-Beclin-1-treated group (corilagin for 7 days and Tat-Beclin-1 on the 3rd and 6th days after MCAO). At the end of the treatments, neurological deficit, brain oedema, and volume of infarct were determined in all the animals. Moreover, the level of autophagy in infarcted tissues was evaluated by immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, and western blotting. Results: There was a significant decrease in neurological deficit, brain oedema, and volume of infarcted tissue in corilagin-treated group when compared with MCAO- and Tat-Beclin-1-treated groups. Treatment with corilagin attenuated the autophagy of astrocytes and neurons in cerebral infarcted tissue, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence, quantitative PCR, and western blotting data. Conclusion: Corlagin has a protective effect against neuronal damage in cerebral ischaemic rats by decreasing neurological deficit score, infarct volume, and water content of cerebral tissue. Corlagin attenuates autophagy in cerebral tissue, thus protecting cerebral ischaemic rats from neuronal damage. Keywords: Corilagin, Cerebral ischaemia, Autophagy, Tat-Beclin-1, Neronal damage, Astrocytes, Neurological deficit score, Infarct volum

Analysis of only 0-1 min clip or 1-4 min Clip for focal liver lesions during contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of analysis of only 0-1min clips and 1-4min clips versus the entire clips in performing contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of focal liver lesions (FLLs).Methods: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) examinations of 43 single FLLs were performed. All clips were analyzed in three ways, the entire clips, 0-1 min clips and 1-4 min clips, benign or malignant diagnosis and pathological diagnosis of each FLL were concluded by the three ways subsequently.Results: The results of correct diagnosis were assessed using Chi-square test. There was no difference with regard to benign or malignant diagnosis, between 0-1min clips and the entire clips, or between 1-4 min clips and the entire clips (p = 0.243 and p = 0.747, respectively). Moreover, no significant differences in pathological diagnosis existed between 0-1min clips and the entire clips, and 1- 4min clips versus entire clips (p=0.808 and p = 0.808, respectively). No significant differences existed among CEUS entire clip, 0-1min clip and 1-4min clip in identifying FLLs, and based on which the diagnosis of two different FLLs during CEUS with only one injection of contrast agent can be available.Conclusion: Only 0-1min clips or 1-4 min clips can be used to instead of the entre clip in performing CEUS of FLLs.Keywords: Focal liver lesions, Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, Ultrasonic diagnosis, Clip

Buyang Huanwu Decoction for Healthcare: Evidence-Based Theoretical Interpretations of Treating Different Diseases with the Same Method and Target of Vascularity

Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) is a famous herbal prescription that has been used to treat stroke for centuries. Recent studies reported that the use of BHD had been extended to treat various kinds of disorders according to the TCM syndrome theory of Treating Different Diseases with the Same Method (TDDSM). Here, an overview of systematic reviews (SRs) of BHD for healthcare was conducted to interpret the TCM theory of TDDSM and its target of vascularity in an evidence-based manner. Literature searches were carried out in 5 databases to search SRs of BHD for any indication up to August 2013. Thirteen eligible SRs were identified which reported a wide range of vascular conditions. Based on the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire scores, the quality of included SRs was varied, with an average score of 4 points. We found that there is premature evidence for the use of BHD for healthcare, whereas BHD was well tolerable in all patients. BHD can be used to treat many disorders with the same therapeutic principle of invigorating Qi to activate blood circulation, which is essentially a manifestation of the TDDSM and is likely to account for targeting the specific pathogenesis of vascular diseases

Relationship between neonatal dacryocystitis and cesarean section and the treatment of neonatal dacryocystitis

AIM: To explore the treatment of neonatal dacryocystitis of different ages and the relationship between caesarean section and neonatal dacryocystitis.<p>METHODS: A total of 260 cases(260 eyes)of children with neonatal dacryocystitis were divided into 1-3 months group, 4-6 months group, 7-12 months group and 13-24 months group, Each group was respectively given the lacrimal sac massage, lacrimal passage irrigation and probing of lacrimal passage method. Curative effect of each method was observed in different groups. Analysis was made to determine whether caesarean section was the cause of neonatal dacryocystitis.<p>RESULTS: The comparison between 1-3 months group and 4-6 months group showed significant difference(<i>χ</i>²=19.89, <i>P</i><0.05). Lacrimal sac massage was effective for babies under 6 months, particularly in 1-3 months babies. The curative effect of lacrimal passage irrigation in four groups was compared, and there was statistical significance in the difference between the curative effect of each group(<i>χ</i>²=54.95, <i>P</i><0.05). The difference between the 1-3 months group and 4-6 months group was <i>χ</i>²=0.00003, <i>P</i>>0.05, lacrimal passage irrigation of these two groups showed no significant difference in efficacy. The comparison result between the other two groups showed no significant difference(<i>P</i><0.05), lacrimal passage irrigation effects are different from each group. The comparison result between 7-12 months group and 13-24 months group was <i>χ</i>²=10.29, <i>P</i><0.05. Infants born by cesarean section accounted for 85% of all cases. <p>CONCLUSION:Lacrimal sac massage can exert very good therapeutic effects in infants less than 3 months. The curative effects of irrigation of lacrimal passage are quite good in babies under 12 months. Probing of lacrimal passage has a good curative effect in 7-12 months infants, but a poor curative effect in babies over 12 months. Caesarean section is an important cause for neonatal dacryocystitis