Simultaneous ischemic regions targeting and BBB crossing strategy to harness extracellular vesicles for therapeutic delivery in ischemic stroke.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC-EVs) hold great promise for ischemic stroke treatment, but their therapeutic efficacy is greatly limited due to insufficient targeting ability. Previous reports focused on single ischemic targeting or blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, precise delivery to the brain parenchyma has not been fully considered. This study leveraged the targeting ability of RGD peptide and the cell penetrating ability of Angiopep-2 peptide to deliver ADSC-EVs precisely to the impaired brain parenchyma.

Pathogenesis of miR-155 on nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disease in the central nervous system and is the primary cause of dementia. It is clinically characterized by the memory impairment, aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, visuospatial and executive dysfunction, behavioral changes, and so on. Incidence of this disease was bound up with age, genetic factors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular dysfunction, and other basic diseases, but the exact etiology has not been clarified.

Schwann cells-derived exosomal miR-21 participates in high glucose regulation of neurite outgrowth.

As a common complication of diabetes, the pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is closely related to high glucose but has not been clarified. Exosomes can mediate crosstalk between Schwann cells (SC) and neurons in the peripheral nerve. Herein, we found that miR-21 in serum exosomes from DPN rats was decreased.

Notoginsenoside R1-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles targeting the site of injury through inflammatory cells improves heart repair after myocardial infarction.

Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is the main monomeric component extracted from the dried roots and rhizomes of Panax notoginseng, and exerts pharmacological action against myocardial infarction (MI). Owing to the differences in compound distribution, absorption, and metabolism in vivo, exploring a more effective drug delivery system with a high therapeutic targeting effect is crucial. In the early stages of MI, CD11b-expressing monocytes and neutrophils accumulate at infarct sites.

Effects and Mechanisms of Taohong Siwu Decoction on the Prevention and Treatment of Myocardial Injury.

Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD) is one of the classic prescriptions for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. With the continuous in-depth excavation in basic and clinical research, it has been found that THSWD has made greater progress in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Mechanisms of the current studies have shown that it could prevent and treat the myocardial injury by inhibiting inflammatory reaction, antioxidant stress, inhibiting platelet aggregation, prolonging clotting time, anti-fibrosis, reducing blood lipids, anti-atherosclerosis, improving hemorheology and vascular pathological changes, regulating related signal pathways and other mechanisms to prevent and treat the myocardial injury, so as to protect cardiomyocytes and improve cardiac function.

Exosome-Mediated miR-21 Was Involved in the Promotion of Structural and Functional Recovery Effect Produced by Electroacupuncture in Sciatic Nerve Injury.

Purpose: Our study is aimed at investigating the mechanism by which electroacupuncture (EA) promoted nerve regeneration by regulating the release of exosomes and exosome-mediated miRNA-21 (miR-21) transmission. Furthermore, the effects of Schwann cells- (SC-) derived exosomes on the overexpression of miR-21 for the treatment of PNI were investigated.

Methods: A sciatic nerve injury model of rat was constructed, and the expression of miR-21 in serum exosomes and damaged local nerves was detected using RT-qPCR after EA treatment.

Effects of exosomal miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by a variety of cells, and they participate in intercellular communication by transferring microRNA (miRNA) and other substances. Among the various internal and external factors involved in the occurrence and development of AD, exosome-derived miRNAs have become essential in the pathogenesis and treatment of AD.

Blood Pressure Variability during Angiography in Patients with Ischemic Stroke and Intracranial Artery Stenosis.

Our aim was to investigate factors predicting blood pressure (BP) variability during diagnostic cerebral angiography and associations between BP variability and clinical outcomes in patients with acute and subacute ischemic stroke and intracranial artery stenosis. 114 patients with ischemic stroke and intracranial artery stenosis (stenosis rate >50%) were recruited. Patients who underwent cerebral angiography within 3 days and 3-14 days of disease onset are referred to be Group A and Group S, respectively.

Lack of Correlation Between Intracranial Carotid Artery Modified Woodcock Calcification Score and Prognosis of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke After Intravenous Thrombolysis.

There have been few studies about the association between intracranial carotid artery calcification (ICAC) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). We aimed to analyze the association between ICAC and prognosis (including symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), functional outcome and death) of AIS patients treated with IVT. In this retrospective study, we consecutively included 232 AIS patients treated with IVT between April 2012 and December 2018.

DNA Methylation Analysis Identifies Differentially Methylated Sites Associated with Early-Onset Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis.

Aim: Studies have suggested that genetic and environmental factors do not account for all risks and mechanisms of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). DNA methylation may play a role in the progression of ICAS.

Methods: DNA methylation profiles of peripheral blood leucocytes from 7 patients with early-onset ICAS and 7 perfectly matched controls were interrogated for the first time using the Illumina Infinium Human MethylationEPIC BeadChip.

RVG-modified exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells rescue memory deficits by regulating inflammatory responses in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Exosomes are lipid-bilayer enclosed nano-sized vesicles that transfer functional cellular proteins, mRNA and miRNAs. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes have been demonstrated to prevent memory deficits in the animal model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the intravenously injected exosomes could be abundantly tracked in other organs except for the targeted regions in the brain.

Plasma Levels of miR-125b-5p and miR-206 in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients After Recanalization Treatment: A Prospective Observational Study.

Introduction: Multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the response to hypoxic/ischemic and ischemia-reperfusion events. However, the expression of these miRNAs in circulation from patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receiving recanalization treatment has not been examined, and whether they are associated with the severity and outcome of stroke is still unknown.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective cohort study, plasma levels of miR-125b-5p, miR-15a-3p, miR-15a-5p, and miR-206 were measured at 24 hours after thrombolysis with or without endovascular treatment in 94 patients with AIS, as determined by qRT-PCR.

Comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed profiles of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in kaolin-induced hydrocephalus.

Backgrounds: The pathophysiology of hydrocephalus induced brain damage remains unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be implicated in many central nervous system diseases. However, the roles of lncRNAs in hydrocephalus injury are poorly understood.

Previous chronic symptomatic and asymptomatic cerebral hemorrhage in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Purpose: Identifying previous chronic cerebral hemorrhage (PCH), especially asymptomatic cases in patients with ischemic stroke, is essential for proper antithrombotic management. The study aimed to further clarify the prevalence of PCH and the associated factors in patients with acute ischemic stroke using multi-modal neuroimaging including susceptibility-weighted MR imaging (SWI).

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 382 patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Exosomes derived from hypoxia-preconditioned mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate cognitive decline by rescuing synaptic dysfunction and regulating inflammatory responses in APP/PS1 mice.

Administration of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) could improve some neurologic conditions by transferring functional biomolecules to recipient cells. Furthermore, exosomes from hypoxic progenitor cells exerted better therapeutic effects in organ injury through specific cargoes. However, there are no related reports about whether exosomes derived from MSCs or hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs (PC-MSCs) could prevent memory deficits in Alzheimer disease (AD).

Assessment of gray and white matter structural alterations in migraineurs without aura.

Background: Migraine constitute a disorder characterized by recurrent headaches, and have a high prevalence, a high socio-economic burden and severe effects on quality of life. Our previous fMRI study demonstrated that some brain regions are functional alterations in migraineurs. As the function of the human brain is related to its structure, we further investigated white and gray matter structural alterations in migraineurs.

Relationship between intracranial internal carotid artery calcification and enlarged cerebral perivascular space.

Purpose: The association between intracranial internal carotid artery (IICA) calcification and lacunes, white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) has been well researched. However, enlarged cerebral perivascular space (PVS) has not yet been reported to correlate with intracranial internal carotid artery calcification. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between IICA calcification and enlarged PVS.

Electroacupuncture improves memory and protects neurons by regulation of the autophagy pathway in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Acupuncture is a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its clinical effects and underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Emerging evidence suggests autophagy is involved in β-amyloid (Aβ) clearance. We hypothesised that electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of AD involves the autophagy pathway in rats.

Electroacupuncture Suppressed Neuronal Apoptosis and Improved Cognitive Impairment in the AD Model Rats Possibly via Downregulation of Notch Signaling Pathway.

Acupuncture is a potential strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the possible mechanisms worth to be explored. In this study, we proposed and tested the hypothesis that whether Notch signaling pathway is involved in the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment. Rats that received EA treatment on the acupoints of Baihui (Du 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) had shorter latency and remained in the original platform quadrant longer and crossed the former platform contained quadrant more frequently compared to the Aβ injection rats without EA treatment.

Designer Self-Assemble Peptides Maximize the Therapeutic Benefits of Neural Stem Cell Transplantation for Alzheimer's Disease via Enhancing Neuron Differentiation and Paracrine Action.

The neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include the presence of extracellular amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the form of amyloid plaques and neuronal loss. Neural stem cell (NSC) is being scrutinized as a promising cell replacement therapy for various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the unfavorable niche at the site of degenerative disease is hostile to the survival and differentiation of transplanted cells.

Cognitive impairment among elderly individuals in Shanghai suburb, China: association of C-reactive protein and its interactions with other relevant factors.

Objectives: To investigate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and cognitive impairment as well as interactions between CRP and other relevant factors.

Methods: Patients with cognitive impairment and 1 to 2 age- and sex-matched controls nested from a population-based study among residents aged 60 years and older in Shanghai suburb. The associations of serum CRP concentration and other relevant factors were examined with logistic regression analysis.

The association of weight status with cognitive impairment in the elderly population of a Shanghai suburb.

Objective: A population-based survey was conducted to analyze the association of under-weight, blood pressure, glucose and lipid metabolism with cognitive impairment in people, 60 years and over, living in 2 towns of Shanghai.

Methods: Face-to-face interviews were carried out to collect relevant information with questionnaires. Anthropometric indices of height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference were measured.

Sustained delivery of VEGF from designer self-assembling peptides improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction.

Poor vascularization and insufficient oxygen supply are detrimental to the survival of residual cardiomyocytes or transplanted stem cells after myocardial infarction. To prolong and slow the release of angiogenic factors, which stimulate both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, we constructed a novel self-assembling peptide by attaching the heparin-binding domain sequence LRKKLGKA to the self-assembling peptide RADA16. This designer self-assembling peptide self-assembled into nanofiber scaffolds under physiological conditions, as observed by atomic force microscopy.