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Antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) has been proven to have antioxidant activity and an inhibitory effect on free radicals that induce deterioration of macromolecules. The multi-target regulation of microRNAs (miRs) in the complicated process of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis lead to the use of miRNA therapy in vascular development. In the present study, the role of miRNAs on early embryo vascular development upon AOB stimulation was investigated. For this purpose, mouse embryonic stem cells were spontaneously differentiated as embryoid bodies (EBs) and were examined by phase contrast microscopy. miR-146a mimic and scramble control were transfected into EBs and potential targets of miR-146a were predicted. Cell proliferation and migration were detected by cell viability and wound-healing and migration assays, respectively. Angiogenesis was determined by the Spheroid sprouting assay. It was demonstrated that EBs transfected with miR-146a mimic had an increased growth rate compared with the control cells. miR-146a-transfected cells were very susceptible to AOB treatment. Furthermore, among the predicted miR-146a targets, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) was identified as a bona fide target of miR-146a. In conclusion, PDGFRA was demonstrated to participate in the modulation of cell migration and proliferation of mouse EBs. The present study expanded the current understanding of AOB biology and elucidated the mechanisms underlying early embryo vascular development upon AOB stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal cerebral ischemia results in an ischemic core surrounded by the peri-infarct region (penumbra). Most research attention has been focused on penumbra while the pattern of cell fates inside the ischemic core is poorly defined. In the present investigation, we tested the hypothesis that, inside the ischemic core, some neuronal and vascular cells could survive the initial ischemic insult while regenerative niches might exist many days after stroke in the adult brain. Adult mice were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia induced by permanent occlusion of distal branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) plus transient ligations of bilateral common carotid artery (CCA). The ischemic insult uniformly reduced the local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) by 90%. Massive cell death occurred due to multiple mechanisms and a significant infarction was cultivated in the ischemic cortex 24 h later. Nevertheless, normal or even higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) persistently remained in the core tissue, some NeuN-positive and Glut-1/College IV-positive cells with intact ultrastructural features resided in the core 7-14 days post stroke. BrdU-positive but TUNEL-negative neuronal and endothelial cells were detected in the core where extensive extracellular matrix infrastructure developed. Meanwhile, GFAP-positive astrocytes accumulated in the penumbra and Iba-1-positive microglial/macrophages invaded the core several days after stroke. The long term survival of neuronal and vascular cells inside the ischemic core was also seen after a severe ischemic stroke induced by permanent embolic occlusion of the MCA. We demonstrate that a therapeutic intervention of pharmacological hypothermia could save neurons/endothelial cells inside the core. These data suggest that the ischemic core is an actively regulated brain region with residual and newly formed viable neuronal and vascular cells acutely and chronically after at least some types of ischemic strokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the predictive values of serum biochemical markers and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP)., Material and Methods: Seventy-nine patients were divided into two groups based on the onset of DEACMP 60 days after with acute carbon monoxide poisoning. The baseline data of ACMP patients were collected. Serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTNI), lactic acid (Lac), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were measured within 24 hours of ACMP onset. The ADC of globus pallidum, centrum semiovale, and periventricular white matter were recorded by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) within 48 hours of admission. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for DEACMP., Results: The incidence of coma and duration of poisoning in the DEACMP group were significantly higher than those in the non-DEACMP group. The levels of Lac, CK, CK-MB, LDH, CRP and NSE in the DEACMP group were higher than those in the non- DEACMP group. The ADC value of globus pallidus in the DEACMP group was significantly higher than that in non-DEACMP group. The duration of poisoning, coma degree, CK, LDH, NES, and CRP were closely associated with the occurrence of DEACMP., Conclusion: The duration of poisoning, coma degree, and serum levels of CK, LDH, CRP, and NSE were independent risk factors for DEACMP.

Depression is characterized by mental retardation, interest blank, hypoactivity, anxiety, appetite loss, sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders and other symptoms. The incidence of depressed patients has demonstrated an upward trend in recent years. Antidepressant drugs are commonly used in modern medicine, but they have the side effect of drug resistance. This study aims to explore the effect of acupuncture stimulation on expressions of macrophage-related cytokines in mice with depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and to explore the underlying immunological mechanism. The CUMS model was successfully developed. The secretion of nuclear transcription factor-kB (NF-kB) and interleukin (IL)-8 increased significantly in the modeling group compared with the blank control group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentration was found (P>0.05). After acupuncture treatment, the behavior indicator was improved and meanwhile, the levels of TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-8 decreased significantly compared with the sham group (P<0.05). Depression mice were given treatment of acupuncture, and the effect of behavior change was observed and the content of macrophage cytokine production was measured, respectively. These findings suggested that inflammatory cytokines secreted by peritoneal macrophages increased significantly in mild depression mice, which can be improved by stimulation with acupuncture.