Background: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) remains a serious health problem. Centella asiatica formulations are used to treat central nervous system disorders. In the present study, asiaticoside, an extract of the plant Centella asiatica, was investigated in CIRI in vivo and vitro. Material/Methods: We made a CIRI model in vivo in SD rats treated by middle cerebral artery occlusion, and a cell model of ischemiareperfusion injury was made in PC12 cells treated by deprivation of oxygen and glucose/restoration. CIRI in vivo was assessed by scores of neurological functions, encephaledema, and cerebral infarction area. Inflammation level and oxidative stress level were detected by the appropriate kits. TUNEL assay was performed for assessment of cell apoptosis and Western blot analysis was performed to assess protein expression levels. CCK8 assay was performed for evaluation of cell survival and flow cytometer was used to detect cell apoptosis in vitro. Results: Nervous function injury, brain edema, cell apoptosis, infarct size, apoptosis-related protein expressions, and protein expressions of the NOD2/MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathway in the CIRI model were all reversed by asiaticoside in rats. The cell apoptosis, inflammation level, and oxidative stress level in the model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury were reduced by asiaticoside. The effects of asiaticoside on CIRI were reversed by NOD 2 agonists. Conclusions: Asiaticoside showed a protective effect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the NOD2/MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathway. These findings are vital for future research on use of asiaticoside in CIRI, providing a new avenue for alleviating CIRI.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different concentrations of normobaric oxygen (NBO) on neurological function and the expression of caspase-3 and -9 in a rat model of acute cerebral ischaemia. Sprague-Dawley rats (n=120) were randomly divided into four groups (n=30 per group), including 3 groups given NBO at concentrations of 33%, 45% or 61% and one control group given air (21% oxygen). After 2h of ischaemic occlusion, each group was further subdivided into six subgroups (n=5) during reperfusion according to the duration (3, 6, 12, 24, 48 or 72h) and concentration of NBO (33%, 45% or 61%) or air treatment. The Fluorescence Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect caspase-3 and -9 mRNA and protein relative expression respectively. The Neurologic Impairment Score (NIS) was significantly lower in rats given 61% NBO ≥3h after reperfusion when compared to the control group (P<0.05, Mann-Whitney U). NBO significantly reduced caspase-3 and -9 mRNA and protein expression when compared to the control group at all NBO concentrations and time points (P<0.05, ANOVA). The expression of caspase-3 and -9 was lower in the group given 61% NBO compared any other group, and this difference was statistically significant when compared to the group given 33% NBO for ≥48h and the control group (both P<0.05, ANOVA). These findings indicate that NBO may inhibit the apoptotic pathway by reducing caspase-3 and -9 expression, thereby promoting neurological functional recovery after stroke.

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to explore the moderated mediation mechanism of the relationships among family function, self‐efficacy, care hours per day, closeness and benefit finding in family caregivers of patients with stroke in China. Background Benefit finding can provide a new means of resolving depression among family members caring for an ill loved one. However, current research has paid little attention to the benefit finding of family caregivers of stroke patients in China. Design A cross‐sectional study. Methods Three hundred fifty family caregivers of patients with stroke were recruited from community service centres and hospitals in Zhengzhou, China. The participants completed the family APGAR index, caregiver benefit finding scale and Chinese general self‐efficacy scale during a study conducted in 2017. Descriptive analyses and a moderated mediation model were computed. Reporting adhered to the STROBE checklist. Results A total of 311 family caregivers completed this study. Closeness between family caregivers and patients with stroke moderated the relationship between family function and caregiver benefit finding. Self‐efficacy partially mediated the relationship between family function and caregiver benefit finding; moreover, care hours per day moderated the mediation. Conclusion This study shows important factors associated with benefit finding in family caregivers of patients with stroke. This indicates elements that could help improve benefit finding intervention programmes for family caregivers of patients with stroke. Relevance to clinical practice The findings in our study provide valuable information on benefit finding and indicate some interventions to improve the mental health of family caregivers of stroke patients.

Hypoxia causes injury to the central nervous system during stroke and has significant effects on pH homeostasis. Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) is important in the mechanisms of hypoxia and intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis. As a well-established hypoxia-mimetic agent, CoCl2 stabilizes and increases the expression of hypoxia inducible factor‑1α (HIF-1α), which regulates several genes involved in pH balance, including NHE1. However, it is not fully understood whether NHE1 is activated in astrocytes under CoCl2 treatment. In the current study, pHi and NHE activity were analyzed using the pHi‑sensitive dye BCECF‑AM. Using cariporide (an NHE1‑specific inhibitor) and EIPA (an NHE nonspecific inhibitor), the current study demonstrated that it was NHE1, not the other NHE isoforms, that was important in regulating pHi homeostasis in astrocytes during CoCl2 treatment. Additionally, the present study observed that, during the early period of CoCl2 treatment (the first 2 h), NHE1 activity and pHi dropped immediately, and NHE1 mRNA expression was reduced compared with control levels, whereas expression levels of the NHE1 protein had not yet changed. In the later period of CoCl2 treatment, NHE1 activity and pHi significantly increased compared with the control levels, as did the mRNA and protein expression levels of NHE1. Furthermore, the cell viability and injury of astrocytes was not changed during the initial 8 h of CoCl2 treatment; their deterioration was associated with the higher levels of pHi and NHE1 activity. The current study concluded that NHE1 activity and pHi homeostasis are regulated by CoCl2 treatment in a time-dependent manner in astrocytes, and may be responsible for the changes in cell viability and injury observed under hypoxia-mimetic conditions induced by CoCl2 treatment.

The shortage of new antimicrobial drugs and increasing resistance of microbe to antimicrobial agents have been of some concern. The formulation studies of new antibacterial and antifungal agents have been an active research field. Ionic liquids are known as designed liquids with controllable physical/chemical/biological properties and specific functions, which have been attracting considerable interest over recent years. However, no attention has been made towards the preparation of ionic liquids with antimicrobial activities. In this paper, a new class of ionic liquids (ILs) with fumarate anion was synthesized by neutralization of aqueous 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide with equimolar monoester fumarate and characterized using NMR and thermal gravimetric analysis. The ILs are soluble in water and polar organic solvents and also soluble in the common ILs. The antimicrobial activities of the ILs are more active than commercially available potassium sorbate and are greatly affected by the alkyl chain length. The significant antimicrobial properties observed in this research suggest that the ILs may have potential applications in the modern biotechnology.