The ultrasonic-assisted extraction process and antioxidant activity of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens were investigated in this study. In order to optimize the extraction of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens, the influence of extraction time, methanol concentration, ultrasonic temperature, and solvent-to-material ratio was analyzed. Results showed that the extraction yields reached a maximum with the extraction time of 30 min, methanol concentration of 80%, temperature of 80 °C, and solvent-to-material ratio of 26 mL/g. The flavonoids were determined by HPLC, and the mean yields of trifolirhizin, formononetin, isoxanthohumol, maackiain, and kurarinone under the optimal conditions were 2.570, 0.213, 0.534, 0.797, and 3.091 mg/g, respectively. The evaluation of vitro antioxidant activity exhibited Sophora flavescens flavonoids had a strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability with IC50 of 0.984 and 1.084 mg/g, respectively. These results indicate that ultrasonic-assisted extraction is an efficient approach for the selective extraction of flavonoids, and response surface methodology further optimized the extraction.

Stroke is the leading cause of death in the elderly. Traditional Chinese medicine provides an exciting strategy for treating stroke. Previous reports indicated that Longshengzhi capsules (LSZ), a modified Chinese formula, reduced formed thrombi and oxidative stress and were promising in the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke. However, the specific therapeutic effect and mechanism of LSZ are still ambiguous. This study aimed to define the effects of LSZ on proinflammatory mediators and neuroprotective effects on middle cerebral artery occlusion and refusion (MCAO/R) rats. Rats were treated with different doses of LSZ (0.54, 1.62, and 4.32 g/(kg·d)) in a week after model building. LSZ could improve the survival rate, ischemic stroke outcome, and infarct volume. In addition, significant decrease was observed in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and inflammatory factor levels in LSZ-treated groups, concomitant with increase in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), neurosynaptic remodeling, and decrease in brain edema. It is proposed that LSZ has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects resulting in downregulating matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP-2/9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and upregulating microtubule-associated protein-2 (Map-2) and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) via p38 MAPK and HIF-1α signaling pathways in MCAO/R rats. This study provides potential evidences that p38 MAPK and HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathways play significant roles in the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of LSZ.

ObjectiveTo assess the association of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) with the risk of incident ischaemic stroke and outcome after ischaemic stroke.DesignA systematic review of primary studies.SettingHospitals in Western Sweden, Italy, China and Denmark.MethodsA search was carried out in eligible studies in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science) updated to 29 December 2020. The relevant data were extracted in order to conduct the meta-analysis. Review Manager V.5.2 was used to pool data and calculate the mean difference (MD) and its 95% CI. Heterogeneity, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also performed in this meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 2277 patients were included in 17 studies. This meta-analysis indicated that higher serum IGF-1 levels were significantly correlated with less risk of ischaemic stroke (MD=−45.32 95% CI –63.70 to –26.94], p < 0.00001, I2=99%) and better improvement of outcome after ischaemic stroke (MD=27.52, 95% CI 3.89 to 51.14, p=0.02, I2=96%). According to subgroup analysis, heterogeneity comes from country, sample size, male and the time from symptom onset to blood collection. Sensitivity analysis showed that there was no significant influence of any individual study on the pooled MD. The effect of high heterogeneity on result credibility was eliminated when four included studies were merged (MD=−30.32, 95% CI −36.52 to –24.11, p< 0.00001, I2=0%). Moreover, no potential publication bias was discovered in this meta-analysis.ConclusionHigher serum IGF-1 was significantly correlated with a lower risk of ischaemic stroke. In view of the high degree of heterogeneity, it may need more studies to confirm the prognostic value of serum IGF-1 levels in ischaemic stroke and explore the sources of heterogeneity.

Neuroimaging plays a pivotal role in Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). Generally, clinicians focus on the specific changes in morphology and function, but the diagnosis of TIA often depends on imaging evidence. Whereas Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is concerned with the performance of clinical symptoms, they began to use imaging methods to diagnose TIA. CT and MRI are the recommended modality to diagnose TIA and image ischemic lesions. In addition, Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) are two acceptable alternatives for diagnosing TIA patients. This article elaborates the update of imaging modalities in clinic and the development of imaging modalities in TCM. Besides, multiple joint imaging technologies also will be evaluated whether enhanced diagnostic yields availably.