Plasma Metabolites as Mediators Between Gut Microbiota and Parkinson's Disease: Insights from Mendelian Randomization.

Recent evidence supports the causal role of both plasma metabolites and gut microbiota (GM) in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, it remains unclear whether GM are responsible for causing PD through plasma metabolites. Here, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the intrinsic causal relationships among GM, plasma metabolites, and PD.

Multimodal neuroimaging-based prediction of Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment using machine learning technique.

This study aimed to identify potential markers that can predict Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PDMCI). We retrospectively collected general demographic data, clinically relevant scales, plasma samples, and neuroimaging data (T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data as well as resting-state functional MRI [Rs-fMRI] data) from 173 individuals. Subsequently, based on the aforementioned multimodal indices, a support vector machine was employed to investigate the machine learning (ML) classification of PD patients with normal cognition (PDNC) and PDMCI.

Association of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine with cortical thickness and functional connectivity in Parkinson's disease involving mild cognitive impairment.

This study explored potential associations of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, as detected based on levels of hydrogen and methane in breath after lactulose consumption, with cortical thickness and resting-state functional connectivity in different brain regions. Prospective comparison of 35 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) involving mild cognitive impairment, 35 patients with PD with normal cognitive function and 17 healthy controls showed the largest level of hydrogen alone and the largest combined level of hydrogen and methane in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The comparison also revealed a significant negative correlation between those levels and thickness of the right insular cortex.

Electroacupuncture regulates glucose metabolism by inhibiting SGLT1 levels, inhibiting microglial polarization, and alleviating Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common central neurodegenerative disease in middle-aged and elderly people. The progressive degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons leads to insufficient dopamine (DA) neurotransmitters. Acupuncture and moxibustion can alleviate the aging of neurons.

Central nervous system nocardiosis in a 54-year-old man with lateral ventricular choroid plexitis and diffused meningitis: A case report.

Introduction: Nocardiosis is an unusual infection caused by aerobic gram-positive bacteria in the genus Nocardia. Infections resulting from Nocardia species are frequent in immunosuppressive patients. Weakened immune systems caused by human immunodeficiency virus infection, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions such as chronic lung disease, renal failure, etc, are the main risk factors for nocardiosis.

M1-type microglia-derived exosomes contribute to blood-brain barrier damage.

Background: As a key substance for intercellular communication, exosomes could be a potential strategy for stroke treatment. Activated microglia disrupt the integrity of blood-brain barrier (BBB) to facilitate the stroke process. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the effect of microglia-derived exosomes on BBB cell model injury and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Electroacupuncture Improves Neuronal Damage and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Through the TRPC1 and SIRT1/AMPK Signaling Pathways to Alleviate Parkinson's Disease in Mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly manifests as cognitive decline and motor dysfunction, the treatment of which is still a major challenge in the clinical field. Acupuncture therapy has been shown in many studies to enhance the body's own immunity and disease resistance. This study mainly discusses the specific mechanism underlying electroacupuncture intervention in improving PD.

A Case of Cerebral Large-Vessel Vasculitis Concomitant Fahr Syndrome in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogenous, devastating autoimmune inflammatory disease with multiorgan involvement. A variety of neurological and psychiatric symptoms may be caused by nervous system involvement, termed neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Case Report: We describe a young man newly diagnosed with SLE who had a stroke as an initial symptom and was found to have cerebral large-vessel vasculitis and Fahr syndrome.

A short peptide exerts neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation via the miR-6328/IKKβ/NF-κB axis.

Background: Despite considerable efforts, ischemic stroke (IS) remains a challenging clinical problem. Therefore, the discovery of effective therapeutic and targeted drugs based on the underlying molecular mechanism is crucial for effective IS treatment.

Methods: A cDNA-encoding peptide was cloned from RNA extracted from Rana limnocharis skin, and the mature amino acid sequence was predicted and synthesized.

Scorpion venom peptide HsTx2 suppressed PTZ-induced seizures in mice via the circ_0001293/miR-8114/TGF-β2 axis.

Background: Due to the complexity of the mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis, the available antiseizure drugs (ASDs) do not meet clinical needs; hence, both the discovery of new ASDs and the elucidation of novel molecular mechanisms are very important.

Methods: BALB/c mice were utilized to establish an epilepsy model induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) administration. The peptide HsTx2 was administered for treatment.

Cortical atrophy is associated with cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a combined analysis of cortical thickness and functional connectivity.

We aimed to perform a combined analysis of cortical thickness and functional connectivity to explore their association with cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). A total of 53 PD and 15 healthy control subjects were enrolled. PD patients were divided into PD with normal cognition (PD-NC, n = 25), PD with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI, n = 11), and PD with dementia (PDD, n = 17).

Peptide OM-LV20 protects astrocytes against oxidative stress via the 'PAC1R/JNK/TPH1' axis.

Stroke can lead to severe nerve injury and debilitation, resulting in considerable social and economic burdens. Due to the high complexity of post-injury repair mechanisms, drugs approved for use in stroke are extremely scarce, and thus, the discovery of new antistroke drugs and targets is critical. Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) is involved in a variety of mental and neurobehavioral processes, but its effects on stroke have not yet been reported.

Association between plasma neurofilament light chain levels and cognitive function in patients with Parkinson's disease.

This study investigated the potential association between levels of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) and cognitive function in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) in P.R. China.

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism at rs2275294 in the ZNF512B Gene with Prognosis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

The aim of this study is to explore whether the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2275294 in the ZNF512B gene is related to the length of survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This prospective study examined 212 patients with ALS, who were genotyped at the rs2275294 locus in ZNF512B using the ligase method. Genotype was compared with clinical data and survival.

Peptide OM-LV20 exerts neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a common injury leading to ischemic stroke. At present, I/R treatment remains limited, highlighting the urgent need for the discovery and development of new protective drugs for brain injury. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of short peptide OM-LV20 previously identified from amphibian against I/R rats.

Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Is Associated with Inhibition of Apoptosis, Bcl-xL Upregulation, and Recovery of Neurological Function in a Rat Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common disease that usually causes severe neurological damage, and current treatment is far from satisfactory. The neuroprotective effects of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation in the injured nervous system have largely been known, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and their limited sources impede their clinical application. Here, we established a rat model of TBI by dropping a weight onto the cortical motor area of the brain and explored the effect of engrafted NSCs (passage 3, derived from the hippocampus of embryonic 12- to 14-d green fluorescent protein transgenic mice) on TBI rats.

Principle of relative positioning of structures in the human body.

The arrangement of various biological structures should generally ensure the safety of crucial structures and increase their working efficiency; however, other principles governing the relative positions of structures in humans have not been reported. The present study therefore investigated other principles using nerves and their companion vessels in the human body as an example. Nerves and blood vessels usually travel together and in the most direct way towards their targets.