Structure-based design and confirmation of peptide ligands for neuronal polo-like kinase to promote neuroregeneration.

Neuronal polo-like kinase (nPLK) is an essential regular of cell cycle and differentiation in nervous system, and targeting nPLK has been established as a promising therapeutic strategy to treat neurological disorders and to promote neuroregeneration. The protein contains an N-terminal kinase domain (KD) and a C-terminal Polo-box domain (PBD) that are mutually inhibited by each other. Here, the intramolecular KD-PBD complex in nPLK was investigated at structural level via bioinformatics analysis, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and binding affinity scoring.

Neuroglobin and Nogo-a as biomarkers for the severity and prognosis of traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To identify the early changes of serum neuroglobin and Nogo-A concentrations and the relations to traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity and prognosis.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained and analyzed from 34 patients with TBI within the first 96 h after injury. Comparative analysis combined with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and the 6-month prognosis of these patients was performed.

Endostatin/collagen XVIII is increased in cerebrospinal fluid after severe traumatic brain injury.

Recent studies have suggested that endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin/collagen XVIII might play an important role in the secondary brain injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, we measured endostatin/collagen XVIII concentrations serially for 1 week after hospitalization by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 30 patients with TBI and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 8 or less on admission. There was a significant trend toward increased CSF levels of endostatin after TBI versus control from 72 h after injury.

The influence of hemocoagulation disorders on the development of posttraumatic cerebral infarction and outcome in patients with moderate or severe head trauma.

Posttraumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI) is a severe secondary insult of head injury and often leads to a poor prognosis. Hemocoagulation disorder is recognized to have important effects on hemorrhagic or ischemic damages. We sought to assess if posttraumatic hemocoagulation disorders were associated with cerebral infarction, and evaluate their influence on outcome among patients with moderate or severe head trauma.

Progressive epidural hematoma in patients with head trauma: incidence, outcome, and risk factors.

Progressive epidural hematoma (PEDH) after head injury is often observed on serial computerized tomography (CT) scans. Recent advances in imaging modalities and treatment might affect its incidence and outcome. In this study, PEDH was observed in 9.

Induction of apoptosis in glioma cells and upregulation of Fas expression using the human interferon-β gene.

We investigated whether IFN-β inhibits the growth of human malignant glioma and induces glioma cell apoptosis using the human IFN-β gene transfected into glioma cells. A eukaryonic expression vector (pSV2IFNβ) for IFN-β was transfected into the glioma cell line SHG44 using liposome transfection. Stable transfection and IFN-β expression were confirmed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

A prospective clinical study of routine repeat computed tomography (CT) after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Purpose: To discuss the repeated CT scanning in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to identify the conditions under which this approach is necessary.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-one patients who suffered TBI but were not surgically treated were divided into two groups: the routine-repeat CT group (n = 89) and the non-routine-repeat CT group (n = 82). The patients' clinical characteristics were compared.

D-dimer as a predictor of progressive hemorrhagic injury in patients with traumatic brain injury: analysis of 194 cases.

This study sought to describe and evaluate any relationship between D-dimer values and progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In patients with TBI, plasma D-dimer was measured while a computed tomography (CT) scan was conducted as soon as the patient was admitted to the emergency department. A series of other clinical and laboratory parameters were also measured and recorded.

Risk factors for posttraumatic cerebral infarction in patients with moderate or severe head trauma.

We examined the incidence and timing of posttraumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI) and provide predictive factors for the development of PTCI in patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. Three hundred and fifty-three consecutive patients with moderate or severe head trauma were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence and timing of PTCI and to evaluate the effects of age, gender, admission Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS), decompressive craniectomy, brain herniation, and low systolic blood pressure (BP) on the development of cerebral infarction. Risk factors for posttraumatic cerebral infarction were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.