To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China and the 70th anniversary of the death of Norman Bethune, the renowned anti-fascist warrior, “Beijing International Forum on Neurology 2009”, co-sponsored by Beijing Medical Association and PLA. The Military General Hospital of Beijing, has been lately held in Beijing Poly Mansion. The forum is part of the “Beijing Medical Convention” series.

Twenty experts from Neurology Center of Canadian McGill University (alma mater of Norman Bethune) and other countries and 300 domestic experts and scholars conducted extensive and in-depth exchages on the application of neurology in the treatment of acute cerebrovascular disease (brain stroke), classification and treatment of neurological degenerative diseases (senile dementia, Parkinson's disease, etc.), as well as new development of basic & clinical medicine of infectious diseases, demyelinating diseases, and other neurology-related diseases. The forum was chaired by professor Zhang Weiwei, chairman of neuropathy institution of Beijing Medical Association and director of neurology department of PLA. The Military General Hospital of Beijing.

Lisa Koski, associate professor at Neurology Center of Canadian McGill University, Professor Shi Jin, chief physician at neurology department of PLA. The Military General Hospital of Beijing , and others introduced their treatment and recovery methods regarding acute cerebrovascular diseases. Brain stroke refers to a series of acute diseases with blood circulation disturbance in the brain. It may form thrombus, then cerebral embolism, and finally lead to ischemic cerebral infarction; it may also cause rupture of brain blood vessels, leading to cerebral apoplexy, constantly featuring neurology-related symptoms, hemiplegia, aphasia, mental symptoms, dizziness, ataxia, bucking, and even coma or death. According to statistics, brain stroke is now responsible for the majority of death among those suffering from cerebrovascular diseases in China and Japan.

According to statistics, the number of people suffering from high blood pressure will reach 300 million in China. Currently, 74% of those suffering from stroke in Beijing have high blood pressure. It has been proven in clinical treatment that the higher the control rate of blood pressure, the better the recovery of stroke. Statistics from evidence-based medicine show that hypotensive treatment based on CCB is able to effectively control blood pressure in the long run and with fine compliance. As a result, CCB can be used together with stroke medicines to cure patients suffering from high blood pressure with strokes. In addition, it has confirmed that CCB has obvious effects in stroke prevention in Japan.

Associate professor Lisa Koski introduced the effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in promoting the recovery of high-end of the back upper limbs. She said that wire coil of TMS resting on scalp can produce magnetic pulse, which will generate low current in the brain, and stimulate the nerve cells related to the depression area. The operation will do no harm to the surrounding cinerea (where neuronal apoptosis in brain and spinal cord concentrate). Its effectiveness may be evaluated from the three apsects of motor skill training (neuro plasticity), visual feedback and cortex stimulation.

The higher the neuro excitation, the higer the motor excitation of the damaged brain, thus the better the improvement of functions. According to Professor Shi, there are two ways to cure acute and serious cerebral infarction, namely intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy and intravenous thrombolysis therapy. The latter is relatively simple in operation with less complications, and is suitable for less serious patients. The former may incur complications such as bleeding, another closing up of arteries, and reperfusion injury, nonetheless, it may be the only effective therapy for the main artery. In addition, special attention should be paid when applying intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy in conscious disturbances (a status when people find it difficult to apperceive themseleves or surroundings, or their mental activities for apperceiving surroundings are hindered).

Professor Chou Sherry from America introduced the past, present and future of nursing on serious and dangrous neuro diseases, which she believed, is facing five major challengs: firstly, restoration of neuro functions to prolong life; secondly, lack of “golden standard” regrading post-prevention treatment; thirdly, lack of persistent “brain monitor” reflecting real-time pathology and physiological changes; fourthly, lack of therapy for minimizing damage or preventing further damage of neuro functions; fifthly, the complicated and changeable post-prevention treatment.

Professor Zhang Weiwei introduced the latest concepts on perception of stroke and depression summed up at the European Stroke Conference, for which the three highlights are: firstly, experts believe comprehensive dementia (combination of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease) accounts for 50% of senile dementia, and those who suffer from senile dementia are hit by strokes ten years earlier than those who don’t, also with a higher tendency to get strokes); secondly, stroke patients show symptoms of large volumes of infarction and strokes in the left hemisphere of the brain; thirdly, cardiovascular patients are often troubled by depression, which can hardly be cured by only using antidepressant drugs, while a combination of nimodipine and fluoxetine can achieve effective results.

Beijing International Forum on Neurology 2009 has provided a platform for enhancing international academic exchanges, carrying forward and spreading internationalism spirits, and also offered an opportunity for those working in the neurology field to broaden their minds. In conclusion, the forum is a complete success.