We found that patients with moderate /severe stroke had significantly higher cholinergic activity than mild stroke (Fig.3a, 0.18 ± 0.01 ng/106 cells versus 0.29 ± 0.03 ng/106 cells; P < 0.01), accompanied by decreased AChE activity (Fig.3b, 0.013 ± 0.005 OD and 0.011 ± 0.003 OD; P = 0.026) and AChE expression (Additional file 2a). This evidence concerns the gene ACHE and Stroke.