Upregulation of Dpysl2 and Spna2 gene expression in the rat brain after ischemic stroke.

Ischemia activates the synthesis of potentially damaging and protective proteins in the central nervous system. Dihydropyrimidinase-like 2 (Dpysl2), a protein involved in neuronal differentiation and axonal guidance, and alpha-spectrin 2 (Spna2), a protein involved in maintaining neuronal membrane integrity, were found altered in various nervous system diseases. Modifications of Dpysl2 and Spna2 proteins have been reported in focal ischemic stroke, but their significance is not yet established.

Combinatorial-approached neuroprotection using pan-caspase inhibitor and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor following experimental stroke in rats; is there additional benefit?

Energy requiring apoptosis and presumably unregulated necrosis are considered conceptually and morphologically distinct forms of cell death which have been initially identified as two exclusive pathways. However, several apoptotic characteristics have been observed in the necrotic core lesion in ischemia which led to the controversial theory that cell death advances via a number of hybrid pathways among a continuum between the two processes. ATP availability has been shown to influence the decision between apoptosis and necrosis.

Poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase expression in human traumatic brain injury.

Object: This study was designed to elucidate the pattern of expression of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in human pericontusional brain tissue and to correlate these findings with commonly used clinical parameters.

Methods: The expression of PARP was ascertained using immunohistochemical studies in eight specimens of human pericontusional brain tissue obtained when the patients underwent craniotomy for mass effect. The following demographic and clinical parameters were also analyzed for each patient: age, sex, postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS), computerized tomography findings, intracranial pressure (ICP) recordings during the first 24 hours postsurgery, and the time interval from injury to surgery.