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Cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS) is a common and frequently occurring disease with high morbidity, disability and mortality. In the present paper, we reviewed the progress of studies on the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of CIS in recent years. It is found that acupuncture induced amelioration of symptoms of CIS is closely related to its functions in 1) inhibiting neuroinflammation, 2) reducing oxidative stress, 3) lowering excitatory amino acid toxicity, 4) resisting neuronal apoptosis, 5) regulating cellular autophagy, 6) promoting neuronal regeneration and repair, 7) facilitating vascular remodeling, 8) regulating cerebrovascular reserve, 9) adjusting brain metabolism, and 10) maintaining the integrity of blood-brain barrier. These mechanisms provide scientific basis for clinical application of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of CIS.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of the CYP1B1 (Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily B, polypeptide 1) gene mutations in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) in Hunan Province., Methods: Case-control study. Thirteen cases of PCG from different districts of Hunan province were collected in this study. Direct sequencing was used to evaluate the coding and the promoter regions of the CYP1B1 gene in PCG patients., Results: A novel pathogenic mutation (c.C319G, L107V) was identified in a PCG patient in our study and it was a missense mutation in exon 2. Additionally, four single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) were found in PCG patients, including R48G, A119S, V432L and D449D., Conclusion: A novel CYP1B1 gene mutation (L107V) may be the cause for primary congenital glaucoma in Hunan Province.

Objective: To explore the effect of precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) on cultured hippocampal neuron and its intracellular mechanism., Methods: The hippocampal neurons were dissociated from E18 rats and cultured in neurobasal medium, and then the cells were treated with proBDNF, preBDNF(propeptide of proBDNF) and proBDNF antiserum,respectively. Thirty minutes, 1 hour or 48 hours later, the cells were stained with Nissl solution, and the immunocytochemistry methods of ELK-p (Ets domain protein), ErK2(extracellular signal regulated kinase) and c-fos were performed., Results: The expressions of ELK-p, ErK and c-fos were significantly upregulated in the cultured hippocampal neurons after they were treated with proBDNF protein,and the immuno-positive staining was also obvious in some nuclei. While the endogenous proBDNF was neutralized by proBDNF antiserum treatment, the expressions of ELK-p, ErK and c-fos were downregulated and many cells showed swelling and vasoculation. The immunoreactivity in preBDNF treated cells was similar to that in normal cultured cells., Conclusion: proBDNF plays an important role in sustaining the hippocampal neuron survival through upregulating the ELK and ErK pathways.

Objective: To study the effects of selective head mild hypothermia on endogenous neuroprotection in brain following global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion., Methods: Fifteen dogs were randomly divided into three groups: nonischemic control group (Group A, n = 4), undergoing thoracotomy without cerebral ischemia and general care for 8 hours thereafter; cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group (Group B, n = 5) undergoing thoracotomy, clipping of the ascending aorta for 18 min, cardiac resuscitation, maintenance of respiration and circulation for 8 h; and mild hypothermia group (Group C, n = 6), received selective head mild hypothermia, i.e. lowering the tympanic temperature to (34 +/- 0.5) degrees C for 8 hours after cerebral ischemia. The neurological function was assessed by Glasgow coma scale and Pittsburgh brain stem score. At the end of experiment, the dog brains were taken out to obtain the right parietal cerebral cortex. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the parvalbumin (PV) and HSP(70). Xanthine oxidase method was used to detect the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities: total SOD (T-SOD), manganese SOD (Mn-SOD), and copper-zinc SOD (Cu-ZnSOD). Spectrophotometry was used to detect the activities of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)., Results: The comprehensive neurological score of Group C was 23.4 +/- 1.5, significantly higher than that of Group B (18.6 +/- 1.0, P < 0.05). The cerebral cortex of Group A showed a lot of PV positive neurons, the density of PV-positive neurons decreased significantly in Group B (P < 0.05), and the density of PV-positive neurons win Group C was significantly higher then that of Group B, however, still significantly lower than that of Group A (both P < 0.05). The density of HSP70-LI neurons of Group A was very low (5.5 +/- 2.1), those of Groups B and C were significantly higher than that of Group A (15.6 +/- 3.7 and 27.1 +/- 4.9 respectively, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), that of Group C being significantly higher than that of Group B (P < 0.05). The contents of GSH, T-SOD, MnSOD, Cu-ZnSOD, and GSH-Px of Group B were all significantly lower than those of Group A (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The contents of GSH, T-SOD, and Cu-ZnSOD of Group C were significantly higher than those of Group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01),, Conclusion: Mild hypothermia may up-regulate the endogenous neuroprotection in brain tissue following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and may be beneficial to cerebral ischemia.