Cerebral ischemia is a serious neurological disorder that can lead to high morbidity and mortality. Baicalin is a naturally bioactive flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which has neuroprotective activity. Baicalin exerts a neuroprotective effect against hypoxic ischemic injury. In this study, we investigated whether baicalin regulates specific proteins in the cerebral cortex of ischemic stroke animals. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery was performed to induce ischemic brain injury, and baicalin (30 mg/kg) or vehicle was injected into the abdominal cavity before MCAO surgery. Neurological behavior tests were performed 24 h after MCAO surgery and proteomics approach was performed using proteins extracted from cortical tissue. Two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis and MALDI-TOF were performed to identify the regulated protein by baicalin. MCAO damage caused severe behavioral disorders, but baicalin treatment improved these behavioral deficits. Baicalin also induced changes in the expression of various proteins in the cerebral cortex of MCAO animals. Proteins changed by baicalin administration are as follow: adenosylhomocysteinase, isocitrate dehydrogenase [NAD] subunit alpha, apolipoprotein A-I, Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor beta, eukaryotic initiation factor 4A, and mu-crystallin. These proteins were involved in metabolism and protein synthesis. The results of this study demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of baicalin by improving behavioral disorders caused by MCAO damage. The results also showed that baicalin regulates the expression of a variety of proteins involved in neuroprotective functions. Therefore, our findings provide evidence that baicalin plays a neuroprotective role in stroke animal models by regulating specific proteins.

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a canine model of stroke. Ischemic stroke was induced by using prepared autologous thrombus. The dogs were placed in lateral recumbency on the operation table and the cervical area of each dog was sterilized by using alcohol. After making a cervical incision, the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery (a branch of the common carotid artery that supplies an anterior part of the brain) were exposed. A 200 μL injection of the autologous thrombus prepared 24 hr prior to surgery was delivered with a 20 gauge venous catheter through an internal carotid artery. After successful delivery of the autologous thrombus, the venous catheter was removed, and the cervical incision was sutured. Neurologic signs including generalized seizures, tetraparesis, and altered mental status, were observed in all 3 dogs after induction of ischemic stroke and the signs manifested immediately after awakening from anesthesia. T1- and T2-weighted images and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images of the brain were acquired 1 day before and 1 day after surgery. On the day following ischemic stroke induction, MRI revealed multifocal lesions in the cerebral cortex and subcortex such as T1 hypointensity, T2 hyperintensity, FLAIR hyperintensity, and diffusion-weighted hyperintensity in all 3 dogs. Upon postmortem examination, ischemic lesions were found to be consistent with the MRI findings and they were unstained with 2% triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Histologic features of the earliest neuronal changes such as cytoplasmic eosinophilia with pyknotic nuclei were identified. Neuropil spongiosis and perivascular cuffing were also prominently observed at the infarcted area. The present study demonstrated the features of MRI and histopathologic findings in canine ischemic stroke models.

Background and Purpose: The Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) is the ratio of blood pressure in the lower legs to that in the arms. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of extracranial carotid arteries determined by B-mode ultrasound is a measurable index of the presence of atherosclerosis. A low ABI and a high carotid IMT are independently related to increased risk of cardiovascular events. This study examined the association between carotid IMT and ABI in patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: Retrospectively, 116 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke were recruited. Using a pulse wave velocity ABI device along with carotid duplex sonography, we measured carotid IMT and ABI and investigated the correlation between average values. Results: There was a significant difference in carotid IMT between the normal and abnormal ABI groups (P=0.0262). The group with an abnormal ABI was more than five times as likely to have increased carotid IMT as the group with a normal ABI (age, sex-adjusted OR 5.67 (95% CI 1.85~17.38)). The ABI and carotid IMT showed a weak inverse linear correlation in patients with ischemic stroke (correlation coefficient −0.378 after adjusting for age and sex). Conclusion: Our study suggests that an abnormal ABI is associated with a high carotid IMT in patients with ischemic stroke.

This study was designed to examine the effects of electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise on the improvement of muscle atrophy and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. This study selected 120 Sprangue-Dawley rats, divided them into six groups, and assigned 5 rats to each group. Experiments were conducted for 1, 3 days and 1, 8 weeks, respectively. In each group, changes in weight of muscle and relative muscle of tibialis anterior muscle, histologic observations, and BDNF expression were observed and analyzed. For the changes in muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibialis anterior, muscle atrophy was expressed in an affected side 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced. There was a statistically significant difference in Group VI 1 and 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For the changes in relative muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibial anterior muscle, there was significant decrease in each group 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group I, while there was a statistically significant increase in Group VI 1 week after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For neurologic exercise behavior test, Group VI generally had the highest score, compared to other groups. The results of the behavior test suggests that 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, Group VI improved in degeneration and inflammation of muscle fiber and decreased in destruction of nerve cells and cerebral infarction, thus indicating a similar state of muscle fiber and brain tissue in Group I. In immunohistochemical observations, Group 1 week showed increase in BDNF. Based on these results, electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise may improve muscle atrophy and change in BDNF expression of ischemic stroke rats and contribute to the improvement of exercise function.

Ischemic stroke results from a transient or permanent reduction in cerebral blood flow that is restricted to the territory of a major brain artery. Thus, this study was performed to examine (1) the effects of swimming exercise on the improvement of muscle atrophy, and (2) exercise and HSP 70 expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The results of this study were as follows: One week after ischemic stroke was induced, changes appeared in the muscle weight of the gastrocnemius muscle due to muscle atrophy in the affected side. Group II showed statistically significant difference from group III eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced. (p<.05). One week and eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced there was significant decrease in the relative muscle weight of the gastrocnemius muscle in each group except Group IV, while there was statistically significant increase in group II eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to group III (p<.05). For neurologic exercise behavior tests, Group II generally had the highest score, compared to other groups. In immunohistochemical observations, Group II showed a decrease in HSP 70. The above results suggest that swimming exercise improved muscle atrophy, changed the HSP 70 expression of ischemic stroke in rats, and contributed to the improvement of exercise function.

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of swimming training on brain function after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Therefore, this study was examined on neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of hippocampus using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label proliferating cells and assessed the neurological response following focal cerebral ischemia in rats using neurological motor behavioral test. In an observer-blinded fashion, twenty male Sprague-Dawley (280~310 g, 7 weeks old) rats were divided into four groups: MCAO plus swimming group (ME, =5), MCAO plus control group (MC, =5), SHAM plus swimming group (SE, =5), SHAM plus control group (SC, =5). The results of this study were as follows: 1) The limb placing time before and after swimming in the ME group were significantly longer than the MC group (p<.05), the SE group were significantly longer than the SC group (p<.01). 2) The balance beam scores before and after swimming in the ME group was higher than the SE group, the MC group was higher than the SC group but was not significantly different (p>.001). 3) The foot fault index before and after swimming training in ME group was significantly lower (i.e., improved) than the MC group (p<.001) and the SE group (p<.001), the SE group was significantly lower (i.e., improved) than the SC group (p<.001). 4) The mean number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus in the ME group was significantly higher than the MC group (p<.001) and the SE group (p<.01). The MC group and the SE group was significantly higher than the SC group (p<.001). 5) There was significantly correlation between limb placing time and number of BrdU-positive cells on swimming training, there was positive correlation (r=.807, p<.0001) and between foot fault index and BrdU-positive cells number, there was negative correlation (r=-.503, p<.05). However, between balance beam scores and BrdU-positive cells number, there was no correlation. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the role of swimming training improves behavioral motor function probably by enhancing cell proliferation in that hippocampus. This study provides a model for investigating the stroke rehabilitation that underlies neurogenesis and functional ability.

The incidence of ischemic stroke increases with age due to improvements in health care and living conditions. With increasing proportion of old age, the proportion of old age is rapid expansion in acute ischemic stroke patients. Young and old age groups in acute ischemic stroke patients have different risk factors and clinical features. But, many patients of old age are excluded from active treatment like thrombolysis due to hemorrhagic transformation, poorer clinical outcome etc. So we studied clinical features, risk factor, outcome in ≧80 years old patients compared with <80 years. We enrolled 1,445 patients, who diagnosed acute ischemic stroke in Chosun university hospital, from January 2013 to December 2015. Patients were divided into two groups: ≧80 years versus <80 years. We compared with two groups about risk factors, stroke subtypes, thrombolysis, complications in hospital, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, prognosis. Of the total 172 patients, 54(31.4%) patients were 80 years or older. Symptomatic hemorrhage and asymptomatic hemorrhage was not different between both groups [over 79 years patients: 4/54 (7.4%) vs. under 80 years patients: 10/118 (8.5%), p>0.302], [16.7% vs. 17.7%, p>0.701]. There were no difference in mortality and favorable prognosis at 3 months later between both groups [over 79 years patients: 5/54 (9.3%) vs. under 80 years patients: 5/118 (4.2%), p=0.290], [over 79 years patients: 13/ 21 (24.1%) vs. under 80 years patients: 56/86 (47.5%), p=0.803]. There was difference in early neurological improvement rate(improvement > NIHSS 3) and degree of improvement (NIHSS at discharge - NIHSS at admission) were significant[over 79 years patients: 24/54 (44.4%) vs. under 80 years patients: 77/118 (65.8%), p=0.012], [2.69 vs 5.55, p=0.017]. Intracranial hemorrhage(symptomatic and asymptomatic) and favorable prognosis are not different significantly between two groups. Elderly patients is not a absolute contraindication for intravenous thrombolysis. For intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ischemic stroke patients, we need more study to exclude the poor prognostic factors and to consider of gain of patients.

For patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke from cerebral artery occlusion, reperfusion is necessary to save the ischemic penumbra. Therefore, early and complete recanalization of an occluded artery is the main therapeutic goal of acute ischemic stroke. Among the many advances in management of acute ischemic stroke, thrombolysis with intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 4.5 hours after symptom onset has been the only approved pharmacological therapy. However, IV t-PA has many limitations in clinical practice, low eligible patients and low recanalization rates, particularly in cases of larger proximal artery occlusions. In addition, there are many complications, including symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (approximately 6%). In contrast, higher recanalization rates and an extended therapeutic time window have been reported for intra-arterial (IA) thrombolysis. According to studies until 2013, no studies proving the advantages of IA thrombolysis have been reported. However it was reported that studies in 2015 showed its possibility. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to cast a light on failures of previous studies, and try to assess the differences with studies in 2015. In addition, crucial points for successful IA thrombolysis will be discussed.

Proportion of elderly patients is gradually increasing in the republic of Korea. However, intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) therapy is recently not recommended in elderly acute ischemic stroke patients, although old age is not a proven contraindication to intravenous rt-PA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis in elderly patients.