Knockdown of Porf-2 restores visual function after optic nerve crush injury.

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the sole output neurons in the eyes, are vulnerable to diverse insults in many pathological conditions, which can lead to permanent vision dysfunction. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to protecting RGCs and their axons from injuries are not completely known. Here, we identify that Porf-2, a member of the Rho GTPase activating protein gene group, is upregulated in RGCs after optic nerve crush.

A Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid Presenting as the Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) is an uncommon malignancy that is difficult to diagnose and differentiate. There is no consensus for the early clinical, radiological, or ultrasonic identification of PSCCT before pathological changes are observed in patients. There is also no suitable treatment due to the absence of a definite diagnosis.

Porf-2 Inhibits Tumor Cell Migration Through the MMP-2/9 Signaling Pathway in Neuroblastoma and Glioma.

Tumor migration and invasion are key pathological processes that contribute to cell metastasis as well as treatment failure in patients with malignant tumors. However, the mechanisms governing tumor cell migration remain poorly understood. By analyzing the tumor-related database and tumor cell lines, we found that preoptic regulatory factor-2 (Porf-2) is downexpressed in both neuroblastoma and glioma.

Identification and Management of Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) has predominantly been described after traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is associated with hyperthermia, hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, diaphoresis, dystonia (hypertonia or spasticity), and even motor features such as extensor/flexion posturing. Despite the pathophysiology of PSH not being completely understood, most researchers gradually agree that PSH is driven by the loss of the inhibition of excitation in the sympathetic nervous system without parasympathetic involvement. Recently, advances in the clinical and diagnostic features of PSH in TBI patients have reached a broad clinical consensus in many neurology departments.

Take it seriously or not: postoperative pneumocephalus in CSDH patients?

Pneumocephalus is a common finding after burr-hole drainage of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Its effects have not been specifically studied. A retrospective analysis was performed in 140 patients with CSDH with single burr-hole drainage.

4-Phenylbutyrate Ameliorates Anxiety Disorder by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress after Diffuse Axonal Injury.

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is accompanied frequently by adverse sequelae and psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, leading to a decreased quality of life, social isolation, and poor outcomes in patients. The mechanisms regulating psychiatric disorders post-DAI are not well elucidated, however. Previous studies showed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress functions as a pivotal factor in neurodegeneration disease.

Neuronal GAP-Porf-2 transduces EphB1 signaling to brake axon growth.

Axonal outgrowth and guidance require numerous extracellular cues and intracellular mediators that transduce signals in the growth cone to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. However, the way in which cytoskeletal effectors respond to these signals remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that Porf-2, a neuron-expressed RhoGTPase-activating protein, plays an essential role in the inhibition of initial axon growth by restricting the expansion of the growth cone in a cell-autonomous manner.

Rac1 Guides Porf-2 to Wnt Pathway to Mediate Neural Stem Cell Proliferation.

The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative effects of preoptic regulator factor 2 (Porf-2) on neural stem cells (NSCs) remain largely unknown. Here, we found that Porf-2 inhibits the activity of ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) protein in hippocampus-derived rat NSCs. Reduced Rac1 activity impaired the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, ultimately causing a repression of NSCs proliferation.

Rho GTPase-activating proteins: Regulators of Rho GTPase activity in neuronal development and CNS diseases.

The Rho family of small GTPases was considered as molecular switches in regulating multiple cellular events, including cytoskeleton reorganization. The Rho GTPase-activating proteins (RhoGAPs) are one of the major families of Rho GTPase regulators. RhoGAPs were initially considered negative mediators of Rho signaling pathways via their GAP domain.

Porf-2 Inhibits Neural Stem Cell Proliferation Through Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway by Its GAP Domain.

Neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and differentiation play a pivotal role in the development of brain, the plasticity of the brain network, and the repair for brain function in CNS diseases. The mechanisms regulating NSC behavior are not well elucidated. Previous studies showed porf-2 functions as a modulator in central nerve system development.

Insight into astrocyte activation after optic nerve injury.

In response to optic nerve damage, astrocytes become reactive. This reactivity can be identified by the presence of morphological and molecular changes throughout the retina and optic nerve as well as the formation of a glial scar. The process of astrocyte activation exhibits spatial and temporal characteristics, and it is finely regulated by complex signaling mechanisms.

[Early, middle and long-term clinical outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting for left main coronary stenosis].

Objective: To evaluate the early, middle and long-term clinical outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for a special subset of left main coronary stenosis (LMS).

Methods: A total of 626 LMS patients, recruited at our hospital between January 1998 and March 2008, were classified them into the statin therapy group (Group A, n = 322) or the non-statin therapy group (Group B, n = 304) according to whether or not taking statins pre-operatively. Then their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.

[Repair of anterior leaflet mitral valve prolapse: the comparison between chordal replacement and chordal shortening].

Objective: To compare the relative merits between chordal shortening and artificial chordae to repair the anterior leaflet prolapses (ALP).

Methods: The clinic data of 50 cases underwent repair of ALP from March 1990 to March 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 29 male and 21 female patients with a mean age of (42.

[Ross procedure in treatment of aortic disease: clinical experience of 15 cases].

Objective: To summarize the clinical experience of Ross procedure in treatment of aorta valve diseases.

Methods: The clinical data of 15 patients with aorta valve diseases, 12 men and 3 women, aged 30 +/- 14, including 13 cases of congenital aorta valve disease, 1 case of senile degenerative aortic valve disease, and 1 case of subacte bacterial endocarditis complicated by aortic stenosis (AS), with the heart function (NYHA) of class II in 11 cases and class III in 4 cases, underwent Ross procedure from October 1994 to September 2002 in Anzhen Hospital. Before operation, ultrasound cardiography showed moderate to severe AS and/or aortic insufficiency (AI) with an average aortic valve annulus diameter (AVD) of 2.